Walk your pit bull as often as necessary and take the time to clean up the dog’s mess. A well-exercised dog is a happy dog.
Before you get your puppy, pick a toilet area outside your home that will be his go-to spot. As soon as he gets home, take him to this area until he uses the bathroom. Praise him for doing his business. Look for signs that he needs to use the restroom and lead him to the area when he shows them. He may be scratching or sniffing the floor, walking in small circles, or generally looking agitated.
Some signs that your dog is uncomfortable around another dog or creature include a stiff posture, curled lip, growling, air snapping, tucking his tail between his legs, or even trying to hide behind you. If your dog freezes, he also feels uncomfortable and his guard is up. Find what you need to do to calm your dog down when he exhibits these behaviors, whether it’s to move him away, give him a treat, praise him, take him for a walk, or to find a combination of these behaviors.
When you use positive reinforcement, be consistent. Just as you would discipline a child, if your dog does something right, you should reward him every time (even if it’s just by petting him and giving him kind words), or he will get confused by your mixed signals. Always be firm. Don’t give in, even if your dog looks particularly cute. This will only cause him to be more confused – and more likely to act up in the future.
Give your dog praise so he knows that you own him. Give him this praise quickly but don’t drag out the praise. If your pit bull does something wrong, quickly correct him without dragging it out. Dogs have a memory attention span of 5 seconds; they live in the now moment. Give and deny your pit bull permission to do things like eat, jump on the bed, or go outside. You do this to demonstrate your dominance. When entering the house, your dog should follow you, allowing you to go first. Your pit bull should obey you on your first command if you have established dominance.
To train, the dog must learn that the leash should be slack at all times. If he puts tension in the leash, turn around and pull him the opposite direction. This will teach him to follow you and to not try to lead the way. If your dog is keeping the leash slack, praise him or give him a treat so he knows he’s doing what he is supposed to.
Another way to prevent your pit bull from biting is to have lots of chew toys for him. This will channel his aggression in a playful and productive way. If he has no toys to bite, he’s more likely to aim for your body. [13] X Expert Source Jessica PowellCertified Professional Dog Trainer Expert Interview. 5 October 2021.
Many people recommend that you enroll your puppy pit bull in a puppy training class after he reaches six months. The right class can help him get accustomed to other dogs and to learn how to behave.
Introduce the dogs by walking them in a parallel direction with their leashes on, choosing a neutral territory so neither of them gets territorial. Continue to walk the dogs a few feet apart, alternating between which dog is in the lead. Don’t let your dog run up to other dogs if he gets excited – you’re in control of his socializing. If both dogs still have their leashes, make sure not to tangle them, or this can cause a fight.
You may have to take many walks before you can go past the introduction stage.
Make sure to keep the dogs in an enclosed area throughout the encounter. Keep around a squirt bottle to use on your dog in case things get out of line. Don’t let two pit bulls play together without full supervision. You never know what can happen.
And if your dog is always excited around other dogs in an off-leash situation, or just has proven not to enjoy the company of other dogs, it’s better to let him have his space than to force him to spend time with other dogs when he doesn’t enjoy it.
Pit bulls are actually known for loving children – don’t think that all pit bulls are mean to little kids. Unfortunately, if you spend a lot of time with children and can’t get your pit bull ready to get along with them, then you will have to find a new owner.
Once the dog is comfortable with the stranger, then they can slowly try to get closer to him.
