Pit bulls are notorious for their reportedly aggressive personalities, but is it possible to train a pit bull as a member of your family? The American Kennel Club thinks you can, and my experiences with pit bulls have been wonderful. If you are starting a family, don’t be worried about selecting a pit bull as a pet. Simply follow these steps to train a pit bull to be a family-friendly pet.
1. Always be firm when disciplining a pitbull. When the owner of a pit bull changes his or her mind on training commands or gives the dog mixed signals, the animal will become confused. This is especially true for pit bulls because they are significantly loyal animals. They want to please their owners and will do what they can to give you what you want. If your pit bull does something wrong (urinates on the carpet, chews up your favorite shoes, etc.), let the dog know that you are not pleased.
2. Make sure you stay consistent through every training session. When an owner uses different tones in his or her voice or goes from seeming very happy to very sad and then to very upset the dog becomes unaware that this is a training session and feels it can do what it pleases. When you are ready to train your pit bull, make it clear that instruction is the goal. Do your training in the same place every day, and don’t change the way you behave to avoid confusing the pit bull.
3. Appreciate your pit bull and never get too angry. If an owner shows his or her dog how much they care when training them it usually produces much better results. An owner should also never get too angry with their pet when training. Remember: This is a dog, not a person, the animal can not understand you nor can the animal talk back to you telling you what he or she cannot understand. Remember that if your pit bull disobeys you, it is very likely because he or she is simply confused. Go back to the beginning and start over again; it might take more time, but you’ll have a far more family-friendly pit bull for your efforts.
4. Keep children away until you know your pit bull is safe. Many people are concerned about having pit bulls around their children, and for good reason. There have been plenty of instances in which a pit bull has attacked a child, which is certainly not family-friendly. Keep your pit bull away from children until you have developed a bond with him or her, and if you think that your pit bull has any aggressive qualities, find him or her a new home.
5. Be careful when purchasing a pit bull. When you go to a kennel, dog pound or private breeder, pay close attention to the way the animal behaves. If the dog is snarling at people as they walk by or snapping at its litter mates, you might be looking at an aggressive pit bull. Some pit bulls are bred for their ferocity while others are meant to be house pets. Always purchase a pit bull from someone you know.
By using these simple and quite easy steps you as an owner may feel like you can train your pit bull much easier, and help your pit bull to become the family-friendly pet that you know they can be despite what you hear on TV. Also an owner of any pet needs to remember, its not always the pet that seems to have the problem, it can just as easily be the owner. Be good to your pets in every aspect and they can be just as good to you back, and not be the pet you see that winds up in animal control or an animal shelter.
