training an agressive 4month old pit bull pup?

Question

Lately when trying to move him while he's sleeping on the couch or telling him to get down off of it he becomes agressive and starts to growl and bite at our hand while trying to move him. Help!

Answer 1

We have pitts too & they can be a real challenge to train-they're notoriously stubborn. If you're serious about keeping him, you have to get him to understand clearly that you are in charge all of the time-do not tolerate any more aggressive behavior. I wouldn't recommend using shock collars, either-they make dogs fearful & anxious, rather than actually teaching them what behaviors you want. For us, it always worked to take the dogs back to square one-no special privileges-and make him do something before he gets something every time-like before feeding, make him sit, or before going outside, make him come to you & wait-the key is to only reward the good behavior. It might sound extreme, but keeping him on a leash, even indoors is the easiest way to train-it allows you control over him all the time and helps him learn commands because you can show him easily what you want. Be consistent! Consistency is key!

Answer 2

I think you should look into obedience training classes. Pitbulls can be great dogs but, I am sure as you know they do have that negative stigma following them. They are known for being agressive if not trained properly. The key words "not trained properly."
Obedience classes will help your dog learn that you are the master. He will learn to obey you and over all be a much better behaved dog. A dog trainer can help you learn how to deal with agressive behaviors.
You have to nip this in the bud now before you have a 2 year old muscular pitbull growling and biting at you. That won't be fun!
Good luck with your pup!

Answer 3

Hi,

To the jerkoff that said to get rid of him, you're an idiot.

Anyway, I have two pitties and love them to death. Our male was my boyfriend's before we started dating, and he has some issues with aggression that we're still working on. However, he wasn't neutered until he was three, and very undersocialized as a pup. Our female was neutered at five months and socialized with all different types of dogs and people early on, and doesn't have a single ounce of aggression.

If you haven't neutered him yet, do it! Waiting could cause this aggressive behavior to become learned. Besides, there's no good reason not to, and in many cities, they have low cost or free programs to neuter pitties.

Secondly, anytime he growls or snaps at you, don't back down. Simply calmly push him off the couch and ignore him. Right now he thinks he's the leader of the pack. You should withdraw all affection that isn't directly following good behavior (sorry, no cuddle sessions for awhile, I know it's hard). I would also make him sleep on the floor if he sleeps in your bed now. This will help assert your dominance as well. It's pretty hard to show him your top dog when he's doing everything that you do. If you have other dogs, make sure you feed him last. Dog leaders in packs eat first, so making him eat last and on a strict schedule will show him you're in control instead of him. If he refuses to eat when you feed him, simply take the food away and don't give him anymore until his next meal time.

Withdraw treats and anything that's unnecessary praise. This isn't to be mean to your dog, just simply show him that you are in control and he needs to respect you. I know it might be hard to enforce boundaries, especially with a willful puppy, but trust me. If you do it now, you'll save yourself years of rehabilition and frustration. It's much harder to do when he's older. And he'll actually feel better having set structure. Good luck!

Answer 4

Well my first reaction is to euthenize him. I own and love pits but that is no way normal. Not even close. You could talk to a trainer but at 4 months to be doing that is very scary. My dog is 7 and had never even looked at me crossways. When I got him at 4 months he was a bit stand offish but never acted agressive once, he just had to get to know us and he had traveled 4 states in less then 24 hours so he was sort of tired.
Regardless, either seriously seek help or put him to sleep, it sounds cruel but with all the Media hype about Pits we do not need another one on t.v.
Good luck

Answer 5

At 11 weeks old, you have not even begun to experience what a teething puppy can really do. The third and fourth months are often the most difficult because the dogs are teething and will begin to lose their baby teeth. They will bite and nip...It is part of being able to survive puppyhood. Once the adult teeth start coming in a four and five months, the biting and nipping should stop. Keep lots of chew toys around even after adult teeth have come in. It is at this time they begin strengthening their jaw muscles and need something firm to chew on. Your pup is still really almost too young to grasp training. I have two German shepheds, one 6 months old. Everytime my pup bit me, I put him down and left him alone in the room. This seemed to work better than any command we tried to teach him. Be patient and good luck!

Answer 6

first of he is asleep, he doesn't know its you messing with you. call his name before you touch him.how old was he when you got him? did you let him on the couch since you had him? if so you did this to yourself. not to be rude. but all dogs are trainable. show no fear and let him know that you are the boss. i have a female pit and I've had her since she was 4 weeks old. it seemed like between 2 months and 1 year is their terrible stage. she is two years old and knows never to bite or growl at me. training can be done just be persistent. this is why pits have a bad rep because all people see when looking in there face is just them being vicious. don't give up on him..

Answer 7

If a four month pup is displaying this sort of behavior, you need professional help NOW. A pup is a dog at its sweetest. Your boy will only get worse as time goes on.

Unless your boy thinks you are playing, unless you routinely play with him in such a fashion and he simply thinks the game is beginning, he is displaying a potentially very dangerous disposition.

Get help now. Contact local dog clubs, animal shelters, pet supply stores, and find someone in your area who is an experienced trainer, especially in your breed.

Answer 8

Well what i did with my dog is i got a bunch of newspaper, and i wrapped into a big cylinder shape, and taped it, and i called it 'the club' and whenever my pup was doing something that he wasn't supposed to do, i would say "don't make me get the club" and he would respond by doing what it was that he was supposed to be doing. Then it got to the point where he didn't even need 'the club' and we were able to just tell him what it was that he was supposed to do.

Answer 9

You need help of a professional. I would search online or in the yellow pages for respected dog trainers in your area. You don't have to get rid of him just yet. You can certainly try to fix the problem before it gets any worse. Good Luck.

Answer 10

be very firm with him , pin him down and hold him until he stops growling. if you are afraid of him, he will sense it.With a pit bull you have to be the master and he is the dog.don't let him run your house,have rules about the sofa or jumping , ect.,but be firm and consistent .