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Training can be started at any age, the sooner the better. You can start simple training with your puppy as soon as he or she has settled into his/her new home. Adult Pit Bulls are as well receptive to training, although several might be less keen or quick to learn than a younger Pitbulls.

Done correctly, training should be fun, both for you and your pit, as well as exercising his brain and reinforcing the good quality relationship between you.

A Well-Trained Pit Bull Is One Who:

• Doesn’t beg at the table
• Comes when called
• Doesn’t jump on people
• Doesn’t bother guest
• Doesn’t pull on the leash

Positive Rewards:

In order to be valuable and to achieve the finest results, all training must be based around positive rewards. Positive reward training works for the reason that if you reward your dog with something he wants as soon as he does what you ask, he is far more likely to do it again. Rewards can be anything that your dog or puppy really wants and may well include; food treats, a favorite toy, playing a certain game or petting. If you are using food treats, you will need to reduce the size of your dog’s regular meals or use his full meal divided up into smaller portions, to prevent your dog putting on weight. Always combine the giving of a reward with verbal praise such as “Good dog”.

As soon as teaching a brand new command, you will need to reward your dog each time that he does what you ask right. When he has the hang of the command, it is a good idea to switch the way you reward by only giving the reward every now and then, because this will make your dog try harder for his reward. All the time verbally praise your dog, even if he is not being rewarded with a treat.

Why Punishment Doesn’t Work:

Punishment must never be used in training. If you punish your dog, it will just teach him to be scared of you and might eventually teach him to be aggressive. He will mistrust you and your relationship could break down. If your dog is being what you consider to be disobedient or badly behaved the greatest thing to do is to take a ‘time out’. You should completely ignore him (and that includes looking at him) or shut him out of the room for 5-10 minutes. This works because dogs crave attention and being part of the pack and so removing this is something that your dog understands far better than being shouted at or hit.

The Basic Commands:

The six basic commands you will need to teach your Pitbull in order to acquire a decent degree of control are:

• Look At Me
• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Come
• Heel

SERVAL SUGGESTIONS BEFORE YOU GET STARTED:

All the time Practice While Your Dog is Hungry – We’ll be using treats through our exercises and your dog will do best while he’s hungry.

Practice the training before your dog eats. If you’re concerned that your dog will gain mass, you can even use his dinner as his rewards.

• Use phrases such as “Good Sit” and “Good Down” – Use these “specific” phrases instead than just saying “Good Dog.” He doesn’t know our “vocabulary” and we need to teach him what the commands really mean.

• Use the word “Off” instead of “Down” – If you don’t you may well be confusing your dog. If you tell your dog “down” when you want him to “lay down” and “down” when your dog “jumps,” then you probably are confusing him. To decrease confusion, use the word “Off” while your dog jumps.

• Don’t Use “NO” Too Often – Be exact! We use “No” for so many things that your dog possibly will think it’s his name!

•Use phrases like “No Bark” and “No Bite” to help your dog understand.

• By no means Punish Your Dog for running from you – This is very crucial and can potentially save your dogs life.

• More Time Rewarding Than Punishing – 90% of your training should focus on rewarding good behavior while only 10% must focus on punishing bad behavior.

• No Harsh Methods – There are many training styles that focus mostly on punishment. This can have long lasting psychological effects on your dog.

• Every time Reward Good Behavior – If you dog is behaving correctly, be sure to let him know. Even if you didn’t tell him to be good. You don’t have to save rewards for training sessions.

Exercise 1 – Look At Me

This is the simplest and probably the most crucial exercise. I recommend that you practice this exercise to start with since it helps gain your dog’s attention, which is crucial for proper training.

To execute this exercise:

Exercise 2 – Sit

Getting your dog to sit is very crucial and must be practiced in many diverse Situations. Make him sit while someone comes to the door. Make your dog sit when He greets you. Make him sit when he meets small children. Starting early on can help prevent “jumping problems” and “safely” create your “rank” within the household.

To perform this exercise:

Note:

• If your dog moves back instead than sitting down, start over.

• If you feel your dog just isn’t getting it or getting frustrated, break the training down into lesser parts. For example: Reward him just for moving his head back.

Remember that dog training takes patience and devotion.

Exercise 3 – Down

To perform this exercise:

Note:

• Again if your dog is make an effort or is feeling frustrated break the training into smaller pieces.

• Remember to use the word “Off” when your dog jumps so that he won’t be puzzled about the meaning of “Down”

Exercise 4 – Stay

To perform this exercise:

Note:

• If your dog doesn’t stay, start over and keep practicing. Eventually your dog will be trained.

• As soon as you can take one step, take another and so on. (You only need to hold the leash higher than your dog’s head until he understands what you want him to do after you tell him to “Stay”)

• Please all the time practice on a leash when outside.

Exercise 5 – Come

To perform this exercise:

Note:

If he does not get nearer to you straight away, do not pull him to you but hang on until he eventually decides to come to you. When he does come, praise him, no matter how long it takes. Punishing him, no matter how cross you are, will only make him scared of you and less likely to come.

Exercise 6 – The Heel

To perform this exercise:

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The Difference Between Tricks and Training:

You might think that your pup doesn’t need dog training courses. Maybe he or she can already beg, roll over or play dead. What you have to understand, though, is that those are tricks, not serious training. Serious dog training involves things like teaching your dog not to jump on or bite guests or teaching your dog to go to the bathroom outside. One of the biggest things that dog training courses can teach is how to recall, though.

What Recall Is:

Recall simply means teaching your dog to come when you call them. Recall is the most valuable command for you and your pet. Why? Well, if your dog gets off the lead or runs out the door accidentally, they could be in a lot of danger. Dog training courses can teach you how to get your dog to turn right around and come back to you immediately. That can save your dog’s life, as well as making it easier to train your dog to do other things.

Bonding:

Another reason that dog training courses can be beneficial is that they can help you to bond with your dog. Training builds trust and friendship that will last a lifetime. So, it’s well worth the effort.

Socialization:

Good dog training courses will also benefit both you and your dog because they will teach you how to socialize your dog. When you socialize your pet, you provide them with mental stimulation, teach them manners and get them to exercise with their K-9 and human friends. Socializing your pet with other dogs and with people also allows you to socialize as well.

Levels of Dog Training:

Another thing that you should understand about Dog Training Courses is that they come in different levels. Just as children go through different grades in school, dogs go through different training course levels. Once your dog masters beginner training techniques, you can move them on to higher course levels.

Training Courses Teach Owners:

One of the other things that make dog training courses so important for you, as an owner, is that it can teach you as much as it can teach your dog. We all love our pets and want to do what’s best for them. Many of us don’t realize, though, that our pets are pets, not children. They don’t understand English. Yes, they can learn a few words here and there over time, but you can’t communicate them the same way you do with people.

Dogs have their own language, their own personalities and their own likes and dislikes. Rather than having those things as disadvantages in training, though, a good dog training course can turn those into great advantages. When you learn to communicate effectively with your dog, he or she can learn much better from you.

Online Dog Training Courses:

You might think that courses require you to take your dog to a class. If you don’t have the time for that, though, don’t worry. There are many great online courses that you can use to teach your dog. Many of them include books, photographs and even video clips that can help you train your dog to be a great companion.

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Also, if you already have a Pitbull that you’re thinking of breeding, it’s important to be responsible about that, too. So, let’s talk about both issues, starting with finding a great breeder.

What to Look For in a Pitbull Breeder:

There are several things that should set alarm bells off in your head, when you look for a Pitbull breeder. One big thing is aggression. If the breeder seems aggressive or cruel towards the puppies or encourages the puppies to be aggressive and wants them to be fighting dogs, you shouldn’t buy from them. In fact, you should report them to authorities. They are only perpetuating the bad reputation of Pitbulls.

Next, be careful of breeders who are selling cheap puppies or are unaware of common health problems that the breed has, like hip dysplasia. Anyone who is reputable and intimately familiar with Pitbull breeding should know enough to screen for such medical problems and, as a result, should have incurred fees, which they have to pay for by selling the puppies. Cheap puppies indicate a lack of proper care, especially medical care.

If you’ve ruled all of those problems out, you aren’t done yet. You also need to look out for breeders who want to sell their puppies too early. Generally, that’s another sign that they only care about making a profit, not about the Pitbull breed.

In addition, if you can’t see the puppy’s parents, videos of the parents or, at least, photo of the parents, don’t buy the puppy. When it comes to Pitbull breeding, proof of lineage is very important. It helps to preserve the breed as a whole, but it also helps to guarantee the new owner that their puppy is at least likely to be healthy and have a good temperament.

Also, you should be careful not to buy from a breeder that over-sells their dogs. For example, if a breeder says that a Pitbull is a great dog for any family, walk away. Pitbulls are wonderful dogs and many of them make great pets, for the right owners. However, not every family is meant to own a Pitbull. A good breeder should want to screen any potential owners to make sure that the family is a good fit and that their house and property are a good fit, since Pitbulls are also notorious escape artists.

Finally, you should look for the things you would expect from any dog breeder, regardless of breed. That is, the dogs should be well cleaned for. The house and property should be reasonably clean and the dogs should look happy, healthy and friendly.

What to Look For in the Pitbull Itself:

In general, Pitbulls should be intelligent and quick to learn. They also love people. So, when selecting a puppy, make sure that it seems as interested in befriending you as you are in befriending it. Also, if you’re looking to show or breed the dog, make sure that you get proof of lineage and that the Pitbull’s appearance and temperament match the breed standard.

Breeding Your Own Pitbull:

Now, if you have your own Pitbull and want to breed it, there’s a whole other set of information that you should know about Pitbull Breeding. First of all, you shouldn’t breed your Pitbull unless it has a traceable pedigree and displays all the proper physical traits, as well as personality traits. Why?

Well, in many areas, Pitbulls are banned. They have a bad reputation, due mainly to bad breeding and bad ownership. People breeding them for illegal fighting or allowing them to escape and run loose and go without proper training have done a lot to damage the breed’s population.

What that all boils down to is that there are a lot of Pitbulls already out there who can’t find good homes. Many of them will be destroyed, simply because they are Pitbulls. So, it’s important to preserve the breed, but it’s also important not to increase the Pitbull population unless those puppies are going to help to preserve the bloodline and improve the Pitbull breed’s reputation.

Remember that being a responsible breeder of Pitbulls isn’t just about the dog you’re breeding, either. You need to make sure that the dog it’s being bred with also has the right lineage, proper health and a good owner, for one thing. Pitbull Breeding is, after all, a huge responsibility for everyone involved.

Because of over-population and how many Pitbulls and other dogs are without homes, you also should pre-select families for the potential puppies before you ever breed your Pitbull. When you do that, keep in mind that Pitbulls tend to have a strong instinct to go after small animals, like cats, rabbits and many other dogs. So, they should go to families that don’t have other pets, typically. It’s also a good thing to avoid selling Pitbulls to families with babies or small children. Also, Pitbulls are fairly big dogs. They have a lot of energy. So, it’s good for them to go to homes where they’ll have a big, fenced in yard to run and play in.

The other thing you need to remember is that there’s a considerable expense that goes along with breeding your Pitbull, particularly if you own the mother. She’ll need veterinary care. Also, you’ll be responsible for the pups for the first several weeks of their lives and you should guarantee the new owners that you will take the pups back if there are problems. So, you should be willing to accept the responsibility and cost of potentially raising one or more of the pups, if things don’t work out. That’s just part of responsible Pitbull breeding.

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Have you ever thought about why puppies bite? There are a lot of reasons for it, but none of them have to do with demonic possession. When you understand why puppy chewing happens, it will help you to control your own puppy’s chewing. So, let’s look at some of the top reasons for it.

Aggression or Fear:

One of the big reasons that puppies chew things is because they are aggressive or fearful. That can come from abuse, improper socialization or being taken from their mothers too soon. It can also happen just because of inexperience, though. For a puppy, the world is a huge place. So, if he or she hasn’t seen certain things before, especially big things, they can be easily scared.

Separation Anxiety:

Separation anxiety chewing is also one of the worst sorts of puppy chewing. Puppies, again, are new to the world. So, they’re easily spooked. They also get very attached to their owners. So, if you leave your pup alone for too long, they’re likely to get upset or nervous and start chewing various objects in the house.

Exploration:

Another reason that puppies chew things is just to figure out what those things are and learn about them. After all, puppies don’t have hands like we do. So, they tend to feel their surroundings with their mouths.

Teething:

The fourth popular reason why puppies chew things is that they’re teething. Like babies, puppies cut new teeth. The teething process is very uncomfortable. So, puppies will chew to relieve the discomfort.

Treating Puppy Chewing:

There are a lot of strategies for treating puppy chewing. Some of them are more general in nature. For example, no matter why your puppy is chewing, one way to reduce the issue is to put something that the puppy doesn’t like the taste of, such as pepper, on the objects he’s been chewing. If you try that, however, make sure you use a substance that won’t damage your property and that won’t harm your puppy, if they do choose to chew anyway.

Another thing you can do, in general, to prevent puppy chewing is to simply make the rules clear to your puppy. That means associating verbal commands with stopping the chewing, such as “no chewing” or “stop chewing” or anything else you pick, as long as you’re consistent.

Another thing it means is distinguishing between non-chew items and puppy toys. For instance, it’s never a good idea to give your puppy old shoes or socks to chew on. Many people think they can recycle their old shoes and socks as dog toys. There are two big problems with that, though.

Problem one is that it’s not healthy. Your old shoes and socks are likely to be covered in dirt and other materials that your puppy shouldn’t be eating. Also, shoes can be chewed into small pieces that can be swallowed or cause a choking hazard.

Problem two is that it’s not clear. In other words, your puppy won’t be able to tell the difference between shoes meant as toys and your good shoes that you plan to wear to an important dinner or other occasion. So, the pup can’t be blamed for chewing your favorite shoes to pieces, if you’ve taught it that shoes are alright to chew.

Another solution to the chewing problem is the watch and replace technique. That means watching your puppy and giving them a correction word, like “No!”, when they chew the wrong thing. Then, you need to quickly replace the wrong thing with your puppy’s chew toy and, when the puppy chews it, give them lots of praise.

You can adapt that exercise by putting several “bad” objects on the floor and one or more “good” objects on the floor. Then, watch your puppy’s chewing behavior. Correct when they choose the bad objects to chew and praise when they chew the good objects. The puppy will find the game fun and interesting, but they’ll also learn something along the way.

Others solutions are designed to treat specific chewing problems. For example, if your puppy is fearful or aggressive, it might be a good idea to get down on their level. Look at their territory (your house and yard) from the puppy’s point of view. Then, try to either teach them that the scary objects won’t hurt them or put the scary objects someplace where the puppy can’t see them. Generally, it’s the biggest and noisiest objects that scare puppies the most, but it also depends on the individual puppy a bit.

Another specific puppy chewing fix is for teething puppies. Teething puppies often find certain temperatures or consistencies make them feel better. So, it’s important to give them toys that are specifically meant for teething. You may need to experiment a bit to see what material your puppy wants and what temperature. If you have doubts about it, talk to your puppy’s veterinarian.

Finally, remember that you can’t supervise your puppy twenty-four hours a day. So, it’s important to puppy proof any section of your house that you plan to leave the puppy unsupervised in. You can do that by putting the objects out of reach of the puppy. However, you can also put the puppy out of reach of the objects by crate training the puppy. Just remember, puppies shouldn’t stay in crates more than a few hours.

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You see, the confusion starts with the fact that many dogs are called Pitbulls when they actually aren’t. That was perpetuated by misinformed members of the media and the public. How many Pitbull breeds are there? Well, surprisingly, there’s only one breed with “Pitbull” in it’s title.

You see, when Pitbulls started getting a bad reputation, which, by the way, is mainly undeserved, people started to fear anything that looked even a little like a Pitbull. People also started to confuse the American Pitbull Terrier, or APBT for short, with various other dog breeds. So, dogs that weren’t actually Pitbulls were soon mistaken for them. For example, American Bulldogs, Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are all confused, on a regular basis, with American Pitbull terriers.

Those are all at least breeds of dogs, though. The confusion was intensified by the addition of descriptive words like “Blue”, “White”, “Red Nose” and more. It’s enough to make anyone dizzy with confusion.

Where These Names Came From:

There is no clear reason for the start of the name issue but, in general, a lot of it has to do with the lines of Pitbulls. There’s a big difference between breeds of dog and lines within a breed, but people who aren’t involved in showing or breeding the dogs don’t often understand that.

Defining Pitbulls as a Breed:

American Pitbull Terriers as a breed are defined as muscular dogs that are usually between thirty-five and about sixty-five pounds. Pitbulls that are to be shown have to have certain physical characteristics. For example, show Pitbulls have to have black noses. Where, then, does the “red nosed” Pitbull come from?

Defining Pitbull Lines:

Pitbull lines, or lines of any dog breed for that matter, refer to the specific bloodlines of a dog. Certain lines are bred for certain characteristics. Some are larger than others, for example. Some are also stronger than others. Breeding Pitbull lines specifically for fighting is popular even today, when dog fighting is illegal. Such dogs are usually larger and have worse temperaments than dogs that are responsibly bred.

One of the main reasons to breed different lines of dogs is color, though. People like a wide variety of colors in all things, including their pets. That’s why different lines of Pitbulls are often different colors. For example, the Sorrell line is characterized by a black nose and muzzle, but a fawn colored body.

On the other hand, a Pitbull that is from the Colby line is a completely different color. Colbys are generally black with a head that is totally white. Sometimes they also come in fawn and white. The point is, though, that Colbys and Sorrells are very different types of American Pitbull Terrier, but they are still all American Pitbull Terriers.

Are different colors worth more money? Well, that all depends on who you are and what you want. For example, red nose Pitbulls can’t be show dogs, so they aren’t worth much to people who do dog shows. Pitbulls in the show ring have to have black noses. On the other hand, though, many people who are just looking for a great dog as a pet like more colorful dogs and will pay more for a red nose, blue nose or other color of Pitbull.

The Point:

If you have an American Pitbull Terrier, regardless of what color it is, it’s an American Pitbull Terrier. There’s no such breed as a Red Nosed Pitbull, White Pitbulls and Blue Pitbulls don’t exist as a breed, either. They do exist as color types within the breed, though.

How That Information is Valuable:

If you’re looking to get a Pitbull, that information is extremely good for you to know. After all, you don’t want to get confused by all of the hype and confusion yourself. If you’re looking for a show dog or a good dog to breed, that’s especially important. After all, Pitbulls have to have specific characteristics to qualify in the show ring or to breed other show dogs.

Also, though, you don’t want to buy from a confused breeder. Pitbull breeders should know the breed. They should not try to tell you that a Red Nose or any other color is a different breed of dog. If they do, you should definitely get your Pitbull somewhere else.

A Word of Caution:

Pitbull lines are bred, as mentioned earlier, to have different characteristics. Color is not the only characteristic that can vary from line to line. In fact, color should take a back seat to almost everything else, if you’re trying to pick a good pet Pitbull. You should always begin by making sure that the dog is healthy, hasn’t been mistreated at all and has a good temperament. It’s great to have a pretty dog, but it’s much better to have a well-mannered and well-adjusted dog.

So, now that that confusion is cleared up, don’t let anyone tell you your dog isn’t a Pitbull, just because of the color of its fur or nose. It’s a bit like the fact that we are all human beings, even though we may have different skin color, eye color or hair color. It’s what makes us unique and interesting and the same is true for our dogs.

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First of all, yes it’s true that Pitbulls as a breed are no stranger to fights of one sort or another. Sometimes it’s Pitbull fights where two or more dogs are pitted against each other. Throughout history, though, Pitbulls have also been used to fight bulls and bears. In fact, most historians believe that dogs very similar to the modern Pitbull were originally bread for bull baiting.

Bull baiting was a practice where a dog was put in with a bull and expected to attack it. The excuse for that was that the biting of the bulls made the meat more tender. However, the real excuse was that many people made a fast and good living by accepting bets on bull baiting events.

Other Animal Fights:

Of course, aside from Pitbull fights and bull baiting events, Pitbulls have also been used throughout history to fight various other animals. They’ve been known to fight everything from donkeys to tigers and lions. They’ve also been used to hunt wild boar and kill other animals that their owners considered to be pests, like badgers, possums and raccoons.

Why Pitbull Fights Took Hold:

Why did Pitbull fights originally take hold? Well, there are a few reasons. One is that the poor people at the time didn’t have the resources to run big events like bull baiting. Allowing their dogs to fight other dogs provided a cheaper way to get entertainment and, much more importantly, to make a profit.

Pitbull Fights and Bans Today:

Unfortunately, Pitbull fights still go on even today, even though they’re very much illegal and immoral. In fact, dog fighting rings are broken up by authorities much more often than you might think and even more fights aren’t discovered in time to be broken up. Why do they still go on? It’s simple. There are still people around who have no morals and are looking to turn a fast profit.

Overlooked Facts:

What many people don’t realize about Pitbulls is that they’ve had a good reputation as family protectors for many years. In fact, they’ve also had a reputation as war heroes for getting messages passed between the troops on the front lines.

You see, Pitbulls are strong dogs. Breeders in the old days leading right up to just a few years back were smart enough to know that. They may have had no morals, but they had enough intelligence to know that their dogs could kill them, too, if not controlled. So, Pitbulls were intentionally bread to be extremely smart, quick to learn and fiercely loyal to their human companions. Those are traits that still show up in properly bred dogs today.

The Recent Hype About Pitbulls and Violence:

Why, then, have Pitbulls gotten such a bad reputation just in recent years? Well, most of it is because of irresponsible breeding. A few bad breeders/owners have bred their dogs not only for fighting, but to be as violent as possible. Those people haven’t thought ahead about how to control their dogs, not just during Pitbull fights, but out in the real world. Many such dogs turn on their owners or their neighbors. Then, those few reported attacks are covered by the media and a fear frenzy begins and continues on.

The Good Side of Pitbulls:

What the media doesn’t usually talk about is the good side of Pitbulls. Not all Pitbulls are bred for Pitbull fighting. In fact, there are many many more responsible breeders and owners than there are irresponsible ones. Pitbulls can be very loyal companions and they’re highly intelligent, so they can learn lots of commands and even fun tricks.

That ability to learn and need to please their owners makes Pitbulls ideal pets for some people. It also means that Pitbulls that are properly trained are great candidates for certain activities, like agility or Frisbee competitions. Those are much more rewarding than Pitbull fights, which are both cruel and illegal.

Banning Pitbulls:

While Pitbull fights should definitely be banned, there’s a great debate on whether or not to ban the whole breed. In fact, in some areas, it’s already illegal to own Pitbulls. In others, they’re highly regulated and special permits are required to own them.

Unfortunately, because of the stigma surrounding Pitbulls, many animal shelters immediately put any Pitbull that comes through their doors to sleep. That’s not at all fair to the breed as a whole. An entire breed shouldn’t suffer because of a few bad owners.

An Important Fact About Pitbull Aggression:

Although some Pitbulls are aggressive, they are really the only breed that gets lumped together as “bad dogs”. People tend to disregard the fact that any dog can be aggressive or angelic, regardless of breed. It all has to do with ownership and responsibility.

For example, the Disney film, 100 Dalmatians, spawned a Dalmatian craze several years back, but many of those dogs were actually aggressive or difficult to train and had to be returned. Also, lots of people carry their Chihuahuas around like babies these days. They probably don’t even know that Chihuahuas used to be notorious for killing chickens.

So, all breeds have their issues, but many of those can be controlled through owner responsibility. Are Pitbulls destined for Pitbull fights? Certainly not! Many of them can be excellent companions, if they’re given a fair chance and the right leadership. All it takes is a little time, patience and education to give the breed the reputation it really deserves.

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Pitbulls Are a Breed:

This is one of the biggest Pitbull myths. There is actually no breed simply called a Pitbull. There is, however, only one breed with “Pit” in it’s name, The American Pitbull Terrier, or APBT.

However, that doesn’t stop people from confusing APBT dogs with various other breeds and lumping them all into the category of “Pitbull”. A couple of the breeds that are commonly referred to as Pitbulls are the Staffordshire Terrier and the American Bulldog.

When people picture images of mean dogs fighting other animals, including other dogs, or attacking people, they often picture a Pitbull. Generally, that reference is actually about APBT’s. So, let’s look at some more myths surrounding the American Pitbull Terrier.

The Red, White and Blue Myth:

This may sound like a patriotic myth, but it actually refers to the color of the Pitbull. You see, one of the top Pitbull myths is that Pitbulls of different colors are actually different breeds. The truth is, though, that any APBT, regardless of color, is still an APBT. The different colors were just bred into different lines. It’s much like human beings are all the same species, but we all have different skin, hair and eye colors.

The myth within a myth there is that one color of APBT is more desirable than another one. The reality is that, if you plan to show the dog, certain traits are more desirable. If you’re just looking for a pet, though, the color doesn’t matter. You should be much more concerned with the temperament of the dog, not its outward appearance.

The Temperament Myth:

That brings us to the next item on the top Pitbull myths list. All Pitbulls have a horrible personality and will attack anyone or anything at the drop of a hat. That’s completely false. APBT’s are not all born bad at all. Actually, it has a lot to do with how they are raised and how well socialized they are, just as with any other type of dog.

In fact, many APBT’s have been trained for great things. For instance, American Pitbull Terriers have been heroes in various wars for delivering messages on the front lines and protecting soldiers. APBT’s have also been used as therapy dogs and assistance dogs. Perhaps most famously, Helen Keller owned an assistance dog that was an APBT.

The Pain Myth:

One of the worst myths about Pitbulls is that they fight so fiercely because they can’t feel pain. APBT’s definitely can feel pain. They have thoughts and emotions, just like any other dog and just like human beings. That myth was perpetuated by people who wanted to keep making a living from dog fighting.

The Locking Jaw Myth:

Another Pitbull myth is that Pitbulls have jaws that lock when they bite things, so that they can’t actually let go for some set length of time, even if they want to. That’s totally false. Pitbulls can stop biting at any time. Some have such a prey drive that, once they get in a fight, it’s hard for them to stop from a mental standpoint, but they can physically let go.

If you don’t think that’s true, just watch Pitbulls playing with toys. They can drop toys at your feet on cue, just as any other dog can. So, it’s clear that their jaws don’t lock, unless, of course, a specific Pitbull has a medical problem that affects their jaw. That’s another story and should be looked at by the dog’s veterinarian.

Pitbulls Are Great or Horrible Pets Across the Board:

Another one of the top Pitbull myths works in two different ways. Some people claim that Pitbulls make perfect pets for any family. Others claim, though, that all Pitbulls are horrible pets and should be killed and banned. The truth is that neither of those is correct.

Pitbulls have a strong prey drive and a strong instinct to protect their human companions and their property. While they can live with other dogs, small animals and small children, they need to be well trained and well supervised. So, they aren’t good for every family.

On the other hand, though, not all Pitbulls are automatically bad. They can be great companions. They just require a family that has enough time for them and keeps them well-exercised and entertained. The trick to having a great dog is being a good owner. If you take the responsibility to train your dog, they can be a great pet.

The Shelter Myth:

Another of the top Pitbull Myths is that all Pitbulls in shelters should be destroyed because they could be fighting dogs. Many people think all Pitbulls are bad. Others think that only Pitbull puppies are alright because they can be properly trained. The truth is, though, that there are many reasons that an adult Pitbull could wind up in a shelter. Their owner could have died, for example. This is not their fault and they shouldn’t be ignored, punished or, worse yet, killed for it.

So, if you’re looking to adopt a Pitbull, you may actually want to look for a shelter dog. By rescuing one, you can dispel a lot of myths about the breed. Just be sure that the shelter screens you responsibly and can answer all of your questions accurately. Also, of course, be sure that the APBT you select has a good temperament and personality that will fit with your family.

• Pitbull Training

• Pitbull Puppy Training

• Potty Training Puppies

• Pitbull History

• Crate Training Puppies

• Puppies Biting

• Puppy Chewing

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Reason 1 – Separated Too Young:

In the litter, puppies learn a lot about biting.  They learn what to bite, how hard to bite and when not to bite.  Playing with their brothers and sisters and hearing them yelp if they bite too hard teaches puppies when enough is enough.  The problem is that, these days, people aren’t careful about when they take a puppy away from its litter.  A puppy should ideally be at least ten weeks old before it’s separated from its mother and litter.

Reason 2 – Teething:

All puppies, just like human babies, go through a period of teething.  As their teeth are coming in, they often feel better if they mouth or bite something.  Sometimes a cold or warm wet cloth to chew on or a specially designed toy for teething puppies can help.

Reason 3 – Natural Curiosity:

Puppies biting out of curiosity will generally bite or mouth almost anything.  It helps them learn about the object.  However, they’ll usually bite gently, in a tentative, curious way, not hard out of aggression.

Reason 4 – Aggression and Over Reaction to Play:

Another reason that puppies bite is because of fear or aggression.  That can happen if they haven’t been socialized properly.  It can also happen as a result of rough play, though.  Certain games that people play with their dogs encourage biting and pulling with the mouth.

There are, luckily, many ways to stop puppies biting at inappropriate times and for inappropriate reasons.  Many of them are simple techniques.  Let’s look at a few.

Socializing Your Puppy:

Your puppy needs to be well-socialized as early as possible.  That means exposing them to a variety of situations.  For example, the puppy should get used to seeing children, adults, other dogs and even cats or other pets.  The more your puppy is exposed to new things in a positive way, the less likely he or she is to be fearful or aggressive later on.

Word or Phrase Association:

There are certain things that your puppy should be allowed to bite, like his or her own toys.  So, it’s best to associate a word or phrase with things that the puppy is allowed to bite and a different word or phrase for things the puppy shouldn’t bite.  That will help the puppy to distinguish between the two and figure out what it is that you want.

Getting the Puppy Used to Hands:

Another thing you should do with a biting puppy is try to get them used to hands.  Particularly for large-breed dogs, it’s best to be able to get your hands near them in any situation while they’re young, so they’ll be easier to control when they get older.

For example, it’s best to cure food aggression at a young age.  One way to do that is to feed the puppy by hand.  If they start getting too aggressive, simply stand up and/or close your hand into a fist.  Then, once they’ve calmed down, start again.

If your puppy bites too much for that at first, you can also use a fake hand on a stick as a training tool. Use the fake hand to “grab” at the puppy’s bowl while they are eating and, gradually, switch to using your own hand.  Don’t allow children to do such an exercise, though.

Shifting the Puppy’s Focus:

The can and treat method usually works well.  It involves filling an empty can with something that will be loud when shaken, such as coins.  When the puppy bites, the idea is to shake the can and use a verbal command.  Then, when the puppy stops, give them a favorite toy or a treat and praise them.  The only problem with that technique is that involves carrying cans, toys and/or treats with you everywhere during the training process.

A similar method that you could try is clicker training.  Clickers are generally used as positive reinforcements when the puppy stops biting.  However, some people choose to get two clickers that make different noises and use one to indicate that you want the puppy to stop and the other to praise when he or she does.

What Not to Do:

There are several things you shouldn’t do, when you’re training a puppy not to bite.  One of those things is not to scream, say “Ouch!” or over react to the situation.  This is particularly important if the puppy is biting out of fear or aggression.  If the puppy learns that he can get you to leave him alone, hurt you, or in any way dominate you by biting, he’s going to consider it a successful tool.  So, it’s important to stay calm.

Another thing you should never do when you’re trying to stop your puppy from biting is to yell at or in any way hit or hurt the puppy.  Some people think they have to hurt a dog to show dominance over it. Your puppy will be much happier and much more respectful of you and willing to listen if you treat it with firmness, but kindness.  If you treat it poorly, it’s only likely to misbehave more.

Finally, don’t encourage rough play with a puppy that likes to bite.  There are plenty of games that you and your pup can play that don’t involve biting.  If you’re looking for some good play alternatives, a little Internet research or talking to your puppy’s veterinarian will give you many great ideas.

• Pitbull Training

• Pitbull Puppy Training

• Potty Training Puppies

• Housebreaking a Puppy

• Crate Training Puppies

• Puppy Chewing

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What Crate Training Is:

Crate training basically means getting a crate for your puppy. The idea is that you would put your puppy in his or her crate for short periods of time during the training process, such as when you need to leave them unsupervised to go to the store for a few minutes. Another use is to confine the puppy while you are asleep at night and can’t be constantly watching them.

Many people also use Crates as a step in the housebreaking process for their puppy. Puppies don’t like to urinate or defecate where they are sleeping, so, by crating them for certain amounts of time, people can train them to go outside at specific times.

Problematic Crate Training:

The controversy over crate training comes from the fact that many people look at crates as being a bit like jails. The truth is that they can be, if they’re not used properly. When they are used properly, though, they can be comforting to a dog, as well as great training tools.

What you need to understand about dogs is that they used to be wild. Humans eventually domesticated them, but they still have many of their old instincts, such as the desire to sleep in a designated area, like a den. A crate can be as close to a den as you can get in a house.

Proper Crating:

Proper crating means not locking your puppy in his or her crate for too long at any given point. In fact, you should start out only crating your pup for very short periods of time. You can gradually extend that time, but it should never be an all day thing.

Another part of proper crate training is the position of the crate. To make it as comfortable as possible for the pup, it should feel like a den. So, it needs to be in a corner or, at least, up against a wall. If not, a towel should at least be draped over a couple of the sides, to make it feel darker and more den-like.

Dens/crates shouldn’t be jails, though. So, when crate training puppies, it’s important to place the crate in an area where the puppies can still socialize and feel like they have the ability to be part of things. A good choice would be the kitchen or the living room, where families tend to congregate.

Another good thing to do is allow your puppy’s crate to stay open when your puppy is allowed to be out. That way, the puppy can go in and out as it pleases. That avoids the puppy feeling like, if he goes in the crate, he will always be locked up. So, he’ll be more likely to enjoy crate time, even when it is required, not optional.

Benefits of Proper Crate Training:

There are many benefits to crate training puppies, for both the owners and the puppies. One big one is, of course, how much it helps with potty training. The puppy learns to “hold it” for short amounts of time and also learns to go outside on a set schedule that way. The other big benefit is that small puppies who aren’t trained well yet tend to be destructive. Crating them when you plan to be out for short periods will keep your house from being destroyed. There are other benefits to crate training that are often overlooked, though.

For example, crate training can actually give your puppy peace of mind, especially if you have other dogs, cats or kids in your house. Having his own home base can make the puppy feel more at easy. He or she will always have a safe haven to go to if the other pets or the children start playing rough.

Crate training is also good for your dog’s health, indirectly. Puppies who are allowed to roam freely in the house when you aren’t home are likely to eat a lot of things that they shouldn’t. They could get in to almost anything. That could mean sickness, surgery or even death. So, it protects your puppy’s health, as well as saving you from considerable worry and expense.

Another benefit to crate training at home is that your dog is going to be much easier to travel with later on. Although it’s better not to transport them int heir home crate, you can get a travel crate and they’ll be used to the process. That means that getting them to the vet, taking them on vacation or having a friend or a kennel watch them while you’re away will be much simpler later on.

Quick Crate Notes:

1. Never crate a dog for more than 6 hours and young puppies shouldn’t be crated for more than two.

2. Don’t crate your puppy unless you’ve taken it to relieve itself right before.

3. Don’t crate a puppy in dangerous conditions, such as when it’s too hot, when the puppy is wearing a collar that could get caught on its cage or when there are any things that the puppy could choke on in the cage.

4. Always keep your puppy’s crate well stocked with water and toys. Crates can be very boring and uncomfortable, if the puppy has nothing to do.

Choosing a Crate:

Finally, crate training puppies is much easier if you know how to choose a crate. The crate should be just big enough for your puppy to lay down and sit up in. However, you don’t want to be constantly buying new crates as your puppy grows. So, if you have a breed of puppy that you know will get big, it’s best to get a larger crate that has dividers that you can put in and then remove, as your puppy grows. That way, you can make the most of the crate training and reduce the chance of accidents or injuries in the crate.

• Pitbull Training

• Pitbull Puppy Training

• Potty Training Puppies

• Housebreaking a Puppy

• Puppies Biting

• Puppy Chewing

• Pitbull History

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