Tame that Free Spirit in your Pit Bull

Pit bulls sometimes get a bad rap. While there are some unscrupulous people out there who train these dogs to fight, many people have good-natured animals that just need a little obedience training. Before deciding upon a Pit Bull, you have to research the breed to ensure that they are something that you can handle. Pit bulls need an ever-ending supply of attention and love in addition to receiving an obedience training education in order for them to be the wonderful pet you want them to be. The great thing about the pit bull is that they are super smart and will catch on quick to any training you give them.

Your pit bull can be very headstrong which can be trying when it comes to training them. In other words, they can be very stubborn! They have a mind of their own and sometimes will go off on a tangent. You will have to work very hard to keep them on task. Patience is the key ingredient to training a pit bull. Becoming frustrated and annoyed does not solve any problems; rather, it just creates more when it comes to obedience training.

Starting when your pit bull is a puppy will make your obedience training go more smoothly. Eight to ten weeks of age, after being weaned from mom, is the perfect time to get started. Regardless of the age you decide to start, just know that your training will be more successful if you incorporate some fun and games into it. And most of all stay positive and focused on your goal - an obedient pet who loves you!

Integrating your pit bull with other dogs and people is an essential part of your every day training routine. Social skills are important, even with dogs. By mingling with others while he is still a puppy, your pit bull will be less likely to be aggressive. If you decide on a group obedience training class, your puppy will get plenty of socialization.

Just like a teenager, your pit bull will try and test his bounds several weeks into the obedience training. He will push you and push you to see what he can get away with. Typically, this can occur at around twelve to seventeen weeks of age. This is also the time when he will discover his teething skills. He may try and nip or nibble on you during play time. Do not allow this to happen! Assert your dominance and authority over him and immediately correct the nipping and biting behavior. Your dog will respect your position as top dog, if you pardon the pun.

Pit bulls can be loyal and loving to their families, especially with the proper obedience training. That is why you should make the time to ensure that he gets the training he needs. This breed is a very social animal and is a big attention getter. With obedience training, you will get an exuberant dog with good manners and behavior. Don’t forget though – they have forceful doggie personalities. You have to be consistent and strong. Your own reward is a wonderful pet for years to come.

Puppy Obedience Training

When you welcome a new puppy into your home, your first thoughts about about how cute they are and who is going to help take care of it. Children often promise, but it is usually mom and/or dad that takes over most of the puppy duties. No matter how sweet your new pup might be, you have to think about puppy obedience training. Just as with children, you have to teach them right from wrong and you have to do it when they are young. Otherwise, your pup is going to grow into an unruly dog that will take over your life. Discipline is just as important as love, playing, food, and water.

Most puppies have to be housebroken. You can go about this a few ways. Some use puppy pads so that the pup can go in the house and other prefer to teach their dog to go only when they are walked outdoors or are spending time in the backyard. Never use negative punishments like hitting, swatting, or yelling at your new puppy or he or she will be afraid of you. Instead, find a good book about positive housebreaking, or see where you can get help and advice locally. It should not be that hard to do and minus a few accidents, most dogs train without issue.

Puppies are going to go through teething phases, which means they are going to chew on everything in your house if you let them. Puppy obedience training can help you deal with this. If you can divert them to something else, like a chew toy or bone, your new shoes are going to be spared. Even better, the habit of chewing up things when a dog is bored or upset should be a thing of the past as well. There are no guarantees, of course, but certainly teaching them what they can chew on and what is off limits at an early age is a splendid idea.

Puppy obedience training should most definitely be about where the dog can be and where they are not allowed. They should learn not to jump on people and how to greet people that come into your home. Bark is another issue that you should try to find some control over or the sake of your sanity. If you do not worry about these issues, you will soon have a full grown dog that jumps on any child it sees, barks continuously when you are out of the house, and that will sleep just about anywhere it pleases. As you can imagine, this is not the way to go.

Just as any person needs guidance to learn what is expected of them and how to function smoothly with society, your pup needs puppy obedience training so they can learn how to function in your family. Just like children, they are a clean slate and only do what their instincts tell them to do, which is not necessarily what you want them to do in your home. There are always positive ways to train and as long as you give it the right amount of time, your pup will catch on.