Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
When training these dogs, it is paramount that you remain absolutely ruthless in your own right! They need to know who's the boss from the get-go. However difficult, it is necessary to be very stern with your cute little puppy. A loud "NO!", combined with a decisive but gentle pat on the rear end, goes a long way in establishing your dominance.
Don't even think about being violent with your new friend because 1.) it's cruel, 2.) it will create behavior issues down the road!, and heck! this is your little buddy we're talkin about here! The key is to establish yourself as the alpha male/female at a very early stage of your pet's development. I know it's hard, but it's imperative for the sake of the pet's mental health as well as your own. In saying that, it's equally important to offer love in ridiculous quantities the rest of the time (very easy).
By jhorn from Vancouver, B.C.
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RE: Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
I have a 5 month old Pitbull/Lab/Rott mix and she chews on everything including my hands and hair and every other limb. I've tried my best to get her to quit biting, I know she doesn't do it aggressively she's playing but I don't want this to grow into aggressive behavior. I've held her mouth closed and firmly said no, she hates water so I've taken a spray bottle and sprayed her when she does, and I've put her in time out but I really don't know what else to do. She is very outgoing and excited constantly she doesn't bite nearly as much as she used to but it is still a regular activity. And she's also knocked down m 2 year old nephew. I know she was playing but that is not ok, I have to find a way for her to understand how to play nicely, not to bite and be very gentle with children. If anyone has any advice please let me know.
Post by angiesmiles37
RE: Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
I have a five month on Pit Bull Terrier. She is a very submissive dog although I don't want her to be Cujo I do want her to not be scared of every noise she also will not bark at people coming towards the house. My other dog will alert us to anyone coming near the house but the pit bull does not bark and if she does then she will bark then run away. Do not mistake me in no way do I want a dog that scares everyone but I also don't want a dog that may get stolen in the future because she is either to friendly or to scared to alert to strangers in the yard. Please Help Someone!
Post by thughes0215
RE: Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
We have a pitbull that wondered into our yard over 8 years ago and he quickly found his place in our pack with 3 other dogs one male (Black Lab) and two females a queensland and queensland mix (All neutered or spayed of course). He is the most submissive and polite dog of the bunch. He loves our neighbor kids and a few times they have fallen asleep with him on his bed. I have worked as a veterinary technician for 11 years and I have seen the occasional pit bull that cant be trusted but more often than not they are one of the most friendly breeds we work with. Their brave and confident nature serves them well in stressful environments where other breeds become aggressive because of thier fear. This actually makes them one of the least likely patients to bite when being handled by strangers in unusal ways. Yes, they can be stubborn and do need you to establish your dominance but that should NEVER require striking them EVER.
Post By Bones (Guest Post)
RE: Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
Please visit http://www.badrap.org "NILIF" or Nothing In Life Is Free is a very successful method to establish dominance that doesn't involve HITTING your dog. Resorting to violence is never an answer for professional/great trainers. When was the last time you saw a Killer Whale trainer beat Shamu? That's because Pure Positive Methods work! Especially for intelligent animals and the people who work WITH them.
Post By PitBullRescuer BadRap.org (Guest Post)
RE: Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
I agree that terriers are a strong breed and need a strong leader to follow but as for ruthless and natural born killers i would have to disagree. It is the human animal that turns a dog in to a killer.
Post By Lori Burke (Guest Post)
RE: Firm Training For Your Pit Bull
I think you've overstated the case on ALL terriers. I've had 3, and never had a problem with aggression. They were all born to love. My little Lakeland terrier in particular would roll his eyes in disbelief if he were still here to read your post. (I exaggerate only slightly. Terriers are very smart, as you must know.)
I've been bitten 3 times by a neighbor's black shepherd, and have been charged by the dog 7 times. And the dog has not an ounce of pit bull in her.
But I certainly see your point - pit bull terriers have often been bred to kill, and that is a terrible thing to do to any dog. Good obedience training, done well, is of paramount importance with any dog who exhibits aggressive behavior, pit bull or otherwise. And most aggressive canine behavior can be controlled by a good, caring owner who sees to it that the dog is properly trained.
Our community has an ordinance for wolf hybrids. Owners are required to have a $150,000 insurance policy covering the wolf-dog. I would like to see this raised to $1 million, extended to all "dangerous dogs" (i.e. those who have bitten more than once) and I would also require the owner to have a fenced-in exercise area for the dog that the dog cannot escape from.
It's also worth noting that many property insurance companies will not insure so-called "aggressive" breeds, e.g. pit bulls and German shepherds. Your insurance agent can tell you which breeds your insurer does not cover. And if the dog is initially covered, and bites and bites and bites, the insurance company will eventually cancel their house insurance. Try keeping your mortgage without house insurance. Or try renting with a dog that bites, and see how long the landlord puts up with it. He is liable too, if he allows the dog to be on his premises.
For more info on laws re dog bites, you can check out www.dogbitelaw.com.
Post by Jantoo
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