Boyfriend and I are buying a Pit Bull next week, anyone have any training advice?

Question

It's a male, and was just born, barely can open its eyes. It's red or redish? If that matters at all.

Answer 1

It depends on the bloodline of the dog. If the parent of the dog were aggressive, then there is a pretty good chance that the dog will be aggressive without proper socialization and training. Immediately after you get the dog, sign up for obedience classes. Pit bull terriers are strong and often don't know it, so it will be an asset to be able to keep them under control.

Make sure the dog is at least two months old before you adopt, as improper weaning can have a very bad effect on the dog later in life when you attempt to socialize it.

Although there is a lot of ignorance pertaining to pit bulls as a species, they make very loyal pets, and with the right training and handling are very good dogs.

Answer 2

As soon as possible, take your dog for obedience classes so he can socialize. Handle him a lot and get him used to other animals and people. I have a dog that is mostly pit and she was a rescue I bottle fed since three weeks old. She is a real sweetheart and trained faster than my other two. She went through a chewing stage where she had some incidents, like two holes in a wall, but because she was supervised and then kenneled when I was away, this never became a bad habit. Also she had plenty of chew toys like Kongs and Nylabones. Rawhides made her sick. She's perfect now, chews nothing she isn't supposed to, is healthy, well behaved.
Sometimes she can seem aggressive as around others she can be quite vocal. She had some additional training for this. She doesn't do that good on a leash around other dogs if they approach her quickly, because she was attacked on the streets by another dog that was off leash (not a Pit Bull that attacked her). She doesn't bite, she just doesn't like another dog getting first thing in her face.
She loves the dog park and her two adopted sisters and she loves to swim. Off leash she is very social and well behaved with other dogs and with people. She does not fetch or play with toys much but loves to chew.
GL with your Pit. Mine is the sweetest dog I ever had.

Answer 3

The first 2 people on here are IDIOTS! Don't listen to their Ingorance. The color doesn't matter. The fact is that nearly ALL pits will be dog aggressive towards other big male/female dogs depending on what sex it is. I have a male and a female, both of them are very well socialized, we go to the park all the time, local baseball games, the lake, etc. and they will both fight other dogs of the same sex and size, usually only if the other dog is aggressive first. However, they love ALL people, old people pet them, kids, and I have a baby and they are great with babys/kids because of their high pain tolerance. The only way to train it is to make sure you are consistant, and sturn, and NEVER hit it, EVER! If you do this then you won't have any problems, pit bulls are the best breed alive and VERY intelligent.

Answer 4

I am guessing that you have little experience with pits. It sounds like you're getting a red-nose pit (which are lovely, congratulations). I don't know what the circumstances are that you are getting him so young, but the puppy should not leave his mother until he is 8 weeks old. I have never had such a young puppy and don't know what the implications of that will be.

Pit bulls are a fantastic breed but require a lot of work. I suggest you do a lot of research online about them, especially regarding aggression and seperation anxiety. Those have been my 2 biggest problems with my dogs. The key to owning a happy pit is to establish dominance right from the beginning. THIS DOES NOT MEAN ABUSE/HIT YOUR PITBULL!!! However, you must let him know that you are the boss... think of it this way. Dogs are pack animals and he must view you as the alpha male/pack leader. Otherwise, he will view you as an equal or worse, a subordinate, which means he will do whatever he wants, when he wants...

Someone mentioned socializing your pit... this is an excellent suggestion, but be aware it is more important that you get him adjusted to other dogs. Pit bulls are by nature extremely people friendly (unless taught otherwise) but unless introduced/socialized with other dogs early on, he may develop some aggression (especially between same sex dogs).

And try to ignore the ignrorance of those who don't know what they're talking about. Pits have a bad rep, it's true, but they are great dogs. I'm sure there are millions of dog attacks that don't make headlines in the news... people just love to make it worse for Pits.

There is way too much to go into on this forum. If you have any specific questions, please let me know and I will be happy to try and help. Good luck with your new dog. I hope he brings you all the happiness mine have brought me.

P.S. Please be cautious if you keep him outdoors at all. One of our pits was stolen (it was the one that had aggression problems) and we are sure that someone took him to fight him. Please don't let your puppy get stolen. (also, just because he is small means nothing-- they will still take him and use him as a training aid for older dogs). Be careful and again, good luck.

Answer 5

We had a red nose pitt at one time (they're excellent dogs when trained properly). I'd say to socialize it very well if you want it to be people-friendly. Also, train it to walk with a specialized collar (I can't remember what they're called exactly, but it's made to have the same effect when pulled as another dog biting the dog on the throat gently and exercising its authority; it has kind of like spikes on the inside, but they're not spikes, and they don't hurt the dog), otherwise it may be hard to train the dog not to yank and tug on the leash. To help ours fill out more and strengthen her muscles, we would keep her outside sometimes tied to a cinder block. Once she would start being able to drag that cinder block around, we'd add another. Works very well on toning the dog's muscles. If you don't neuter him and he gets a female pregnant and he's around the puppies after they're born, don't leave him alone with the puppies, and watch him closely. Most dogs will eat their first litter, and males often eat the males of the litter so they remain "top dog."

Answer 6

no puppy should leave it's mother till at least 6 weeks of age. If the mother has neglected them and isn't feeding them then get some newborn puppy books to fill in all the blanks of what you don't know. One thing for sure, do NOT play tug of war with the dog. Dogs that can lock their jaws learn how to by accident. It just happens, if you play tug of war, you can teach him how. It's not the best thing for them to know. Other then that, pits are very sweet dogs, just remember, train him! don't let the dog wear the pants in the house.

Answer 7

The pounds are full of pits. Why would you buy one? Especially if you have to ask advice? They are dogs for people with experience. There is no short course on answers to handl these types of dogs. Any mistake can be very costly.
If , for whatever reason you feel this is the right thing for you, consult a pro in dog training. Don't take hearsay and short cuts.
They can be great, but only if taken seriously
Too easy to end up a statistic.

Answer 8

canines in maximum situations do no longer know or comprehend their potential as domestic dog's to a splash one. i be responsive to this from first hand adventure, no longer with a pit, we've a Saint Bernard that replaced into our daughters first birthday present, The bonus, they the two weighed roughtly the comparable as quickly as we extra him domicile. even nevertheless, he loves our little lady, they are the better of acquaintances, i would be unable to maintain her off of him and he's very comfortable together with her, loves her, we comedian tale that she's his domestic dog. Oddly adequate it fairly is not a good distance from the certainty. so a good distance as brining a sparkling infant in with a dogs, i could artwork specifically with a coach on the thank you to incorprate the youngster into your place. you fairly could desire to commence now. prepare the dogs to no longer bounce on people, mutually as that's ok if it fairly is you, how could you like the dogs leaping on your infant? back, basically commence now with the instructor and that they could answer all your questions, help instruct you presently what you're able to do to make valuable your new infant is properly-known while it comes domicile.

Answer 9

Best advice I can give you is get a full grown dog from the pound. That way you arent promoting eugenics or succumbing to narcisisstic masturbation with your "purebreed" dog. Also, pound dogs are much easier to train and more loyal. Oh and pitbulls are crazy and violent. I speak from experience, had one 9 years, never aproblem then one day for no reason it attacked me and my son, 2 years old. Had to kill it in the back yard with a shovel before it killed me and my son. We were playing catch. Good luck.

Answer 10

that guy is such an ***..don't listen to him. here are a couple things you should really check out. Are the parent's agressive? If so..you may have problems from day one. You should SERIOUSLY consider obedience classes. Pits are VERY stubborn. Not mean...but stubborn and this needs to be broken as quickly as possible. DO NOT be mean when training them, this will lead to distrust and distrust will lead to aggressivness. there are several good books out there that will help you in your journey! Goodluck!