TRAINING YOUR PIT BULL

Pit bulls need healthy food, proper shelter and humane, effective training to ensure that s/he is a well-behaved ambassador of the breed.

PHILOSOPHIES OF DOG TRAINING
Our biases are science and the desire for humane treatment of animals. Although there are many varieties of dog training techniques to choose from, modern dog trainers base their techniques on science-based, humane methods that are fast and effective. You can get the job accomplished without all of the risks that come with using old-fashioned war dog training techniques which employ force, fear, pain and startle; all of which are detrimental to your bond and can create an unstable, unpredictable dog. That may be okay for a war dog, but not for family dogs who we need to trust around kids, visitors and a variety of other circumstances. Dogs that have been trained with aversive methods often develop such unwanted side effects as an aversion to hands, an aversion to people approaching, aggression/fear towards other dogs and people in general, and illness due to stress. These are not the results you want from training. Building a trusting bond should be the underlying intention of any training program. As responsible guardians of pit bulls, we need to present ourselves in a kind and loving manner towards our dogs for their sake and for the impression we send to the general public.

PUPPIES
Experiences make an indelible impression in puppies that they will carry with them throughout their entire lives. All puppies are mouthy, jumpy and challenging. They need to be taught proper behavior with gentle, consistent guidance. Please refrain from using ANY harsh or aversive training or communication methods with any dog, but especially with a developing puppy as it can result in a host of future behavioral troubles. Get your puppy enrolled in a modern, reward-based puppy class that focuses of socialization, bite inhibition and handling.

TRAINING IN THE REAL WORLD
It is a myth that it takes hours a day to train your dog. Although it is helpful to have a basic foundation before moving on to more distracting settings, dog training does not have to always be done at certain times set aside. Some of the most important training you will ever do is what we call “Real World Training”. Real World Training happens during the time you would normally spend with your dog such as when you are on a walk or hanging out watching TV. Dog training can happen all the time (anytime!) once you know how to incorporate it into your daily routine. Many of our clients have limited time, limited space and need to achieve success in the real world.

CHANGING DOG BEHAVIOR REQUIRES CHANGING HUMAN BEHAVIOR
If changes in your dog’s behavior are needed, you will need to change your approach and your thinking about your dogs’ behavior in order to achieve success. Dogs are amoral and seek to please themselves. They do what works and what is safe. We never can know for sure what a dog is thinking but we do know what it is that they are doing and if we want more or less of it. We can achieve our goals using humane techniques based on science without compromising the trust of our animal or risking anyone’s safety. If this is what you are looking for, then Pit Bull Guru would love to hear from you.

DOGS ARE INDIVIDUALS
Many people have rescued Pit Bulls that may have been trained with out-dated aversive methods or suffered from some sort of abuse or neglect. Change for these dogs will take time and the work will require dedication. How fast goals are accomplished depends on several factors including but not limited to age, temperament, learning ability, owner commitment and experience, and training goals.

DID YOU KNOW THAT DOG TRAINING IS AN UNREGULATED PROFESSION?
Some trainers simply use the “dominance” panacea or the “aggression” panacea to explain things that they do not understand and to justify their use of forceful training methods. Some trainers who do not understand dog behavior are especially intimidated by pit bulls and resort to “being the boss” and use harsh vocalizations or corrections with a hand, foot, leash and/or collar. This is always a dangerous approach to use with any dog and leads to behavior problems that can be very difficult to undo. Thankfully there are more sophisticated, easier and safer approaches to get the job done. Many times our dogs are simply being dogs and by learning to understand normal dog behavior, you will be better equipped to train and manage accordingly with humane methods. Take the extra time to do extensive research on any potential trainers. If the trainers are not certified in science-based, humane training, you should really consider what this could do to your dog’s mental and physical well-being.

TRAINER GUARANTEES
Some “trainers” guarantee results. This is a red flag. Because of variables in dog breeding and temperament and owner commitment and experience, a trainer cannot and should not guarantee the results of his/her training. Behavior changes within different contexts. Just as our behaviors are not always the same each day, neither is your dog’s behavior. We do however guarantee your satisfaction with our professional services.

YOUR DOG
By understanding how dogs learn and tapping into the working nature of Pit Bulls, you can get fabulous results and build a stable dog who is an ambassador to the breed. Contact us to discuss more about training your Pit Bull with modern, reward-based training.