Question 1
At what age should my pitbull start training?

Answer
If you use positive training you could start even at seven weeks, but formal obedience lessons should be at 4 to 6 months.

Note: A dog should understand behaviour to learn it. Teaching a seven week pup to keep to heel is not realistic since it cannot concentrate to that level at this age.

Question 2
Do their dominant personalities make pitbullls more difficult to train?

Answer
On the contrary pitbullls are a submissive breed rather than a dominant one. There may be individual dogs that are somewhat dominant but largely they are not.

They are also not even harder to train. They only need proper technique and not even any kind of special handling.

Note: nearly seventy percent of dog bites in America are from chained up male dogs who have received no training. Giving your pitbulll training is extremely important.

Question 3
I have a stubborn dog that will not obey me. What could I do?

Answer
It is a myth that dogs are stubborn. Their behaviour is only what he has been allowed by bad handling. You may say your dog is stubborn as he only comes after you have called him ten times. It is truer to say that your training has taught him to come after ten times and not at the first.
So it is not stubbornness but that you have not consistently set standards of a single command, single reaction and a single result.

Question 4
What’s the best way to house train my dog?

Answer
Take him out 20 to 30 minutes after his feed. If he is taking awhile, come back in for a couple of minutes and take him out again to establish the idea that going out to the toilet is good.
Don’t rub his nose in the dirt, hit or scold. Just say ‘No’ when you see him and take him outside.

Note:  Dogs don’t know they have done something wrong. This is a human concept.

Question 5
How can I get rid of troublesome behaviour?

Answer
Except for a genetic or medical cause pitbulls behaviour problems arise from insufficient mental stimulation, exercise, discipline and training. Try to increase walks – exercise alone has been found to curb behaviour issues.

Question 6
How could I prevent leash pulling?

Answer
You just turn and go back home to establish that he is never allowed to leash pull. A prong collar will only work till you take it off. A very good system is to often change direction. This makes them correct themselves as they have to watch you to go with you comfortably.

Most frequent question – Lifelong Training
Question 7
When can my pitbull ’s Training be stopped?

Answer
Never. To keep your animal alert and reliable you should continue the process all their lives. Ten or fifteen minutes a day will suffice, together with proper technique, patience and some treats.
You will enjoy your dog better when he is well adjusted and well mannered.