How to Train a Pit Bull Terrier

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Are you looking for a proper training regime for your Pit Bull but don’t know where to start from? Don’t worry; I got you covered. This master guide elaborates on how to train a Pit Bull terrier in detail.

The Pit Bull is a medium-sized, solidly built dog. They are muscular and well-balanced with a square build. The head is broad and flat with a muzzle that tapers to the nose. The ears are set high on the head and may be cropped or left natural.

How to Train a Pit Bull Terrier

Pit bulls are strong dogs that were bred to compete. They are high-energy canines that fall into the working breed category. Agility games, obedience exercises, tugging, and retrieving are all excellent ways to improve your Pit Bull’s training sessions.

Reinforcement is the best way to train your pit bull terrier. It is a training method that relies on rewarding desired behaviors with something the dog likes such as treats, praise, or play.

Aversive methods are those that rely on punishing undesired behaviors with something the dog and other animals do not like, such as shouting, hitting, or shaking.

Close-Up shot of brown pit bull dog

These are the 7 methods on how to train a Pit Bull:

  • Take Care of Your Pit bull Puppy
  • Teach Relaxation to Your Pitties
  • Socialize Them
  • Use Positive Reinforcement
  • Consider Getting Your Dog Certified
  • Advance Your Pit Bull With Professional Dog Training
  • Proofread the Underlying Issues

1. Take Care of Your Puppy

If you’re getting a pit bull puppy or an adult pit bull dog, start by training your puppy how to tolerate things and being handled. All pups and dogs must learn to accept touching and touch, especially for those who have big dogs.

You’ll probably have to bathe your dog, cut his nails, clean his ears, and potentially give medications and do other stuff that dogs dislike; be prepared to teach your puppy tolerance and how to appreciate this type of touch.

Other Challenges Taking Care of Your Dog

There will be days when you will have to rush to the vet in your working days or maybe during working hours. You will have to take them out during your lunchtime. In short, you will have to dedicate your time to them.

It might not sound like technical training that everyone talks about, but to gain something, you have to invest in it first, right?

Grooming, nurturing, and affection bombing is the pre-stages of dog training. One cannot skip these and expect exceptional results. These steps can ensure that your Pit Bull can live as long and as comfortably as possible.

2. Teach Relaxation to Your Pitties

Watch this video, and train your Pit Bull to relax on cue, whether by touch, verbal cues, or a combination of both! You don’t know when your dog will panic or decide something isn’t for him.

Dogs are, well, dogs. I can’t sit them down and tell them that the sound of gutters crashing against the house during a windstorm is “natural” and nothing to be concerned about.

Fears, destructive behaviors, and other unwanted behaviors in dogs are frequently developed in response to situations over which I have little control. This is particularly true for those who have acquired a beautiful Pit Bull without prior training or experience.

Preparing Your Puppy for Training

Most of these Pit Bull mix dogs have come from awful, heartbreaking situations where they have been abused and have never been socialized.

Imagine being able to reach down and touch your puppy’s ear in a specific way to help him take deep breaths and relax!

This is a fantastic way to prepare your little pup for training.       

3. Socialize Them

Make socialization a key priority if you have a small pit bull puppy or plan to get one soon. A pit bull baby must learn to feel comfortable around a range of people and settings from a young age.

Let your puppy interact with your people. With early socialization, it will develop better social skills and behaviorism. These social skills will also help it come out from the shy bubble and perform exceptionally well in physical dog training from an early age.

Close-Up shot of cute pit bull dog

4. Use Positive Reinforcement

Due to their muscular bulk and power, American pit bull terriers do not often respond well to puppy training that includes collar corrections or other forms of punishment. Reinforcement strategies, such as obedience dog training or additional incentive dog training, will likely produce more significant results.

Most American pit bull terriers are keen to learn and would gladly work for a reward from early age. Instruct your Pit Bull how to interact with other dogs positively.

Because pit bulls were raised as fighting dogs in the past, they aren’t always tolerant of other canines. In the presence of other dogs, you must maintain control over your dog by training it to focus on you to prevent dog fighting. It is when the command “look” comes in helpful.

Giving Proper Instructions to Your Dogs

Wait, approach, and the urgent recall are some more valuable instructions. Take the time to practice orders in various locations and scenarios to guarantee that your pet will listen to your commands even if it is distracted by other dogs.

It’s critical that your dog responds to your commands equally as well in the park as it does in your lounge room. Proofing is the term for this stage of puppy training. It’s crucial to keep in mind that each dog is unique.

Some dogs get along well with other canines in the house, while others are aggressive toward them. One cannot emphasize enough that dog hostility is not the same as human aggression. A pit bull’s indifference to certain other canines does not imply that it will be hostile against humans.

5. Consider Getting Your Dog Certified

The American Kennel Club (AKC) created the Canine Good Citizen Program. It entails putting your dog through a series of skills tests, and if it passes, the AKC issues a Canine Good Citizen certificate.

Your Pit Bull must have some obedience commands skills, be able to stroll through a crowd, tolerate strangers’ petting, and not overreact to other dogs in order to pass the exam. Dog owners must also sign the Pledge of Responsible Pet Ownership.

Canine Good Citizen for Dogs

The Canine Good Citizen Program can help any dog. It can also serve as evidence that you own a well-behaved, friendly pit bull.

It’s something you can show future renters or neighbors as confirmation of your dog’s good behavior. It’s just another step in changing people’s perceptions of most pit bulls as aggressive dogs.

You can search for Canine Good Citizen classes and evaluators on the American Kennel Club’s website.

6. Advance Your American Pit Bull Terrier With Professional Training

Pit Bull terriers are generally highly energetic and enjoyable to train. Many of them excel at advanced obedience and canine sports like agility and rally obedience training.

These games are a terrific way to have fun with your American pit bull terrier while also reinforcing excellent behavior.

Advanced compliance and dog sports also provide the ideal balance of exercise and dog sports along with the mental stimulation that these energetic and bright dogs require.

Close-Up shot of black pit bull dog in cage

7. Proofread the Underlying Issues

Instead of responding to the sight of another dog, a very well-trained dog will take its signals from you. Consider consulting with a trainer if you’re experiencing difficulty keeping your dog from aggressive toward other dogs.

Many training institutes provide classes to address this issue. They’re also known as Feisty Fido or neurotic dog classes. Whenever it comes down to it, pit bulls are no different from any other dog in training.

The distinction stems from how pit bulls are viewed by the general public. Take your time to instruct your pit bulls, and you’ll have a happy, healthy family friend who is a true representative of one of the most popular dog breeds.

Games to Train Your Pit Bull Terrier With

Dog Training GameDifficulty Level
Fly Ball Easy
Obstacle Course Hard
Dock Jumping Intermediate
Weight Pulling Easy
GRC (Gameness, Relationship, Control) Hard
Cani-cross Easy
Barn Hunts Intermediate

Related Questions

Are Pitbull Terriers Easy to Train?

Pitbull terriers are easy to train compared to other breeds. They are more likely to obey owners and require fewer repetitions of command.

What Is the Right Age to Train a Pitbull?

The right age to train a pitbull is between 3 to 8 weeks. A puppy can easily retain and remember commands and it’s easier to become a habit as it grows older.

How Do I Get My Pitbull to Listen?

You can get your Pitbull to listen by giving it a reward. Rewarding your pitbull with a treat and pet will reinforce certain behaviors like listening.

Conclusion

With several different training techniques and ideologies to choose from these days, finding the best approach to train your Pit Bull puppy can be difficult.

Don’t be deceived by pit bulls intimidating exteriors: pit bulls are a highly intelligent breed, affectionate creatures with a tender side just like many other animals.

Positive reinforcement training (rewards and lots of praise) helps your new pit bull puppy form a deep attachment and makes the training process exciting and gratifying.