How to Train My New Puppy Pit Bull

Pit bull puppy

A pit bull is a generic name used to describe American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers. Understanding the characteristics of and myths about pit bulls will help you be comfortable with how easy it is to train the newest edition to your family.

Things You'll Need

• Leash
• Dog food

Instructions

1. 

   Black and white pit bull

   Pit bulls come in all colors and are very stocky and agile. Their hair is short and thick. Typically they weigh 35 to 55 lb. They are very eager to please, very intelligent and highly responsive to training. Their single-mindedness and determination can be a trait that is exploited or developed in a positive way. They have a strong desire to be close to humans and they have a high drive; in short, they are cuddly and energetic.

2. 

   Dogs fighting

   Pit bulls are not naturally aggressive toward people. While they were originally bred for dog fighting, they were bred to not be aggressive toward their trainers and handlers, and thus all people. People didn’t want to be bitten when they were in the pits with the dogs. The other myth is that pit bulls have stronger jaws than other dogs and can bite deeper. There is no locking mechanism unique to pit bulls. What is characteristic to pit bulls is their strong, single-minded determination. If they want to hold on, they are going to be stubborn about letting go.

3. 

   Dogs playing

   Media and myths have given pit bulls a bad reputation so it is very important to socialize your puppy with other dogs. Take your puppy to a dog park or to a neighbor's fenced-in yard. It is important to take your puppy to a safe environment where it can interact one on one with other dogs.

4. 

   Curious puppy

   Make your puppy work for his breakfast and dinner. Take a few pieces of kibble and start training him with one basic command. Continue to work on that one command until he has gotten the idea. This won’t happen in the first feeding. Begin additional commands after the first command is mastered half the time. Feeding time is a great opportunity for you to take a regularly scheduled break to train your puppy for a reasonably short period, in keeping with the puppy's brief attention span.

5. 

   Puppies learning to sit

   The four things to remember when giving commands are: verbal, visual, position and reward. Choose one word that is one syllable and unlike other commands that he knows. When you give him this command just say the word and nothing else. Make a simple visual hand or arm gesture unlike other arm gestures that he knows at the same time you are making the verbal command. Put your dog in the position you want him in, such as a sit position. Immediately reward your puppy when he is in the position with food and praise. Basic commands are: sit, stay, walk, down, off, come, speak. The simplest method for training a dog is to communicate a command reinforcing what he is already doing. For example when a dog barks, tell him to speak and give him a hand signal and eventually he will make the association and speak on command.

Tips & Warnings

• Have patience. Repetition will prevail in making your puppy the model pit bull ambassador.

• Every member of your household needs to know the dog's training commands and reinforce them. Treating and responding to the puppy for bad behavior is training them in a negative way.

References

• Dog Breed Info: Training Your New Puppy
• Adopt a Pit Bull: Search by State
• Pit Bull Rescue Central: Breed Information