Many pet owners usually note that to train pitbull puppies is easily said than done due to their annoying, bully, and dangerous behaviors. However, this breed of puppies is highly trainable by just giving them a potty pad, crate, newspapers, and consistent praise to learn basic habits, traits and tricks.
Here are some guidelines on how to train pitbull puppies, whether American or blue pitbulls, early in their lives.
- Educate yourself on the basics information about pitbulls, physical attributes such as their red or blue nose; their behavior; when they litter from breeder; their diet; how to train them; and their supplies such as kennel and food dishes.
- Start to train pitbulls while they are still young. This is the ideal age for the dogs to earn everything such as treats, love and attention, having feet toweled off, food and feeding, being invited onto the couch or bed, having put on leash and collar, and being able to go outside and return inside.
- Remember not to yell at pitbull puppies or smack them due to an accident. This will just enable them to develop aggression and may refuse to respond when being corrected. Punishment will only lengthen their housebreak training.
- Prevent confrontation if the puppy is aggressive. In this case, aggression becomes a learned behavior if the dog is continually placed into situations in which he has no other options than to defend himself.
- Have specific feeding times to make him feel that he is in control. Offer the food yourself only when he does or follows a certain command.
- Do not forget to give him praise in every good thing he does. The dog views your control and ration as more authoritative rather than an appreciation. You do not do him a favor if you are spoiling him.
- Control the dog’s use of toys as well as the time he spent in playing with them. Set a rule that he can only access one toy at a time.
- Discipline the dog not to sleep on the couch or bed unless you ask him to do so. Dogs tend to feel authoritative when they are placed on high-level areas.
- Do not be a perfectionist. Just like human beings, pitbull puppies are capable of committing mistakes. Expect mistakes on the part of your puppy and yours and pay attention for his pushy, subtle, and defiant attitude.
- Do not give into the demanding behavior of your puppy. For instance, if your dog barks to catch an attention, give him the no-reward signal and walk away. Afterwards, try to call him and let him sit and give attention.
- Involve children in the puppy’s learning process to be a good dog. You may solicit ideas from these little ones on how to have some safe fun with the puppy.
The above-mentioned tips are critical if you want to keep intelligent and cordial pitbull puppies for a lifetime.