1. Take your pit bull to a puppy training.
The classes are great for socialization with all kinds of dogs and people and situations that you wouldn’t encounter otherwise. It will also helps your pittie learn how to interact with dogs that aren’t as well behaved.
2. Don’t hit your dog when it does something wrong.
A "good spank" isn’t necessary. All you’re doing is making your dog fear you.
3. Pit bulls need a firm, steady leader to thrive.
They should never fear you or others. They need to have confidence in themselves, or you’ll create a basket case.
4. Resetting
If you have an event or you lose control or something happens. You need to keep calm and walk away. No shaking. No yelling. No jolts. It’s called resetting. You have to clear out that dogs mind. Find an attractive smell. Pull out a toy. Get that dog out of the idea "I’m safe by being aggressive towards other dogs". Sometimes you have to completely leave the environment.
5. Take your pit bull through an obedience course.
One that does not treat train. Being able to have your pit bull respond immediately to a vocal command without physical contact can save your dog’s life, both immediately and legally.
6. Set boundaries and stick to them.
Pit bulls like to test their limits and appreciate knowing who’s in charge.
7. Train your dog to never go into a room before you.
This can help prevent cases of a dog bolting out the door when it is opened.
8. Cutting of bad behaviors early
Don’t allow them to get away with jumping on people, nibbling on things they shouldn’t be just because they’re young and cute – behaviors like that need to corrected early on for a well behaved dog later down the road.
9. Socialize socialize socialize.
Introduce them to dogs and cats and people of all sorts. Take them everywhere. Take her into various environments and show her that new things are good and not to be afraid of. The more they sees the world as a fun and exciting place at a young age, the more confident and calm they’ll be as an adult. However, be weary of dog parks, they are unpredictable and can set your pit bull up for failure.
10. Get your pit bull fixed early for better behavior and a longer life.
This will curb territorial aggression and roaming will be dramatically reduced. All dogs are MUCH nicer to be around when they have been fixed.
11. Patience and repetition in training is key.
They are as smart as they’re stubborn and the last thing you want is an animal stronger than you that you can’t control.
12. Treat it with love and kindness
But also make sure it understands that you are in charge.
13. Exercise your pit bull daily
Do not just leave them in the house all day, or leave them in a fence unsupervised, they will get unruly if you do. They have lots of energy and unless all that energy gets a constructive outlet, they will find a destructive outlet for it. “A Tired Dog is a Good Dog.”
14. Prey Drive
Pit bulls have a strong prey drive. They will chase bunnies, squirrels, and birds so hold the leash tight on walks.
15. Figure out what motivates your pit bull
Attention/Food/Toys – use that thing to train. A dog who likes praise won’t sit as well for toys and vice versa.
16. Start cutting their nails at a young age
Pit bulls toe nails often grow at a point so they don’t grind don’t on the pavement like many other dogs. It can cause a lot of pain if they grow out and split so get your pittie used to the clippers.
17. Be patient with other’s reactions to your dog.
Understand people will have their own reservations about your dog, despite how confident you may be in their obedience. Always leash them for the comfort of others.
People who buy into the stigma may yank their dogs away from your at the park or cross the road to avoid you. Just remember that your energy and emotions really affect your dog and if you stay calm and keep a positive attitude your dog follow your lead.
Treat other people’s ignorance with patience and understanding. Teach them.
I am sick of articles like these all these tips apply to all dogs. You jerks in the media are wat causes the prejudice against this wonderful breed just as you keep the fans of racial injuctice flamed. Think before you write.
I personally like these articles because eventho I’ve owned many dogs since childhood, I was always a lab lover. I got my first pit pup when she was 8 weeks old.. she is now almost 2 years old and I have her mama now as well who’s is 4. The pup is rambunctious and the mama is kinda iffy, so these articles help me out quite a bit. Thank you for the information you give.
Very helpful, I’ve just become a pitbully owner, this article has been great for me. Thank,you
I think it is good of you to post something breed specific. A lot of the banned dog breeds are big dogs. Big dogs need a lot of specific training that small dogs tend to get away with not having. As much as all dogs need socialization and the stuff on this list I think it is especially important for big dogs.
Thanks for this information. It is very helpful not just for my Bull Terrier but also with my other animals, big and small.
That’s not a pit bull you it’s stupid people who don’t no the difference between a pitbull ,American bully,American Stafford shirer American bulldog American bull terrier or bull terrier cross breed is why the humans society are full of dogs being put to sleep because of idiot’s that can’t tell difference between the breed over 99.9 percent of the dogs in the humans society are not pit bulls but they don’t know either
Hey F***ya, you think you’re so smart… You can’t even spell right! It’s humane society, not humans society. I think most of us here are mature people who love dogs in general without making childish comments. So please why don’t you return to the idiot society where you belong and let the grownups talk. Oh, and F*** you!!
Who gave you permission to be a commentator first of all as a pit bull owner unless there is a reason why you should fix a dog you are taking years off its life a female can end up having internal wounds from the butcher Spade job done and die and the males get cancer much easier biggest thing to make a dog act right is pay attention to it if you’re just going to get a dog to change it up in the backyard don’t go that way or even in your own home if you don’t pay attention to it it’s going to misbehave I have the best pitbull in the world and also you only need no more than two and even if that 1 is the best number they are dogs that you need to separate when they eat. But if you can’t treat them like part of the family don’t get a pitbull and if you do treat them right when some nut comes along through your bedroom window you have a good chance of living
Nobody said you had to read this article…. You’re obviously in the wrong blog. You want the “people who are nasty and know-it-all blog! Take your negativity somewhere else!!
My opinion, this breed should be eliminated from the gene pool.
So should child molesters, rapist, murderers and pedofiles 🤦
I’d eliminate you long before you got any chance to eliminate my pit bull. Unfortunately we don’t always get what we want and have to keep dealing with whiny f*cks like you. My pit bull is worth a lot more than a lot of people walking around today. Too bad people get to live longer cuz lots of them sure don’t deserve to
You need to be eliminated from the gene pool, obviously you’re a nasty, hateful person. Take it somewhere else!
Articles like things doesn’t help the breed because obviously they don’t know what a pit bull is. This is spreading ignorance and false information on a breed you clearly know nothing about. Stop killing innocent dogs.
Wow, all of this about a dog article. People I don’t care what kind of dog you have…train it. Do yourself and mostly your dog that favor! YES, if you are going to own a dog that looks like what others think is a Pitt Bull take extra steps to train your dog to a greater degree so they can be ambassadors of the breed. All dogs bite. As well, people keep your dogs 🐕 on a leash…I don’t care what breed it is.
I love my pit bull to death and hate to see so many of them getting put down because they end up abandoned at shelters. However, if you are not going to take the time to train it and be responsible with it then don’t get one. Any time an incident happens it’s going to be easy to point the finger at the pit bull. Socialize your dog very early, always be strict or they will walk over you and always have your dog leashes in public. If you have any doubts muzzle it in public. I’d rather have my dog be a little uncomfortable getting used to a muzzle rather than take a chance at having an incident and having someone put my dog to sleep
Hey F***ya, you think you’re so smart… You can’t even spell right! It’s humane society, not humans society. I think most of us here are mature people who love dogs in general without making childish comments. So please why don’t you return to the idiot society where you belong and let the grownups talk. Oh, and F*** you!!
reading this article has made me sure that people, not dogs, are the ones with anger and aggression issues. Dogs, just like child learn from the environment they are raised in. So blame whatever issues you can on the ” breed” of dog it is just the same way society administers justice on the under represented masses. So try just for today to look in the mirror and ask your self “could my actions be the reason things are the way they are”. Kindness, honesty,compassion, hard work. Try these actions instead of lashing out at your fellow man
Deborah layton please explain the purpose of separation of the dogs while the are eating..both mine eat side by side..start them at a young age prevents food aggression
How do you train with vocal commands instead of treats if your dog is deaf? I’ve had this breed as part of my family for over 20 year’s and wouldn’t trade them for anything
I can’t believe people out there ,that would say to eliminate a breed .Animals don’t have a maliscious bone in their body they only defend themselves if threatened or protecting a property or a family member. Any dog can have behavioural issues they need to be trained by a professional if you as an owner are having difficulties .Ive owned all all types of breeds Bullmastiff, Staffies ,Pomeranian, many more I’ve never had a problem I’ve trained them all the same firm voice ,consistent lots of love and patients I treat them how I want to be treated with respect! Never ever abuse any animal and hitting and yelling at them is mental and physicaly damaging just as it is to us I see them as humans