Dealing With the Negative Pit Bull Image

I recently "puppy-sat" two hyper and rambunctious Labrador puppies. In the short time that I had them, I was: bitten, nipped, screamed at, pummeled over, and pounced on. Rocky sat nearby quietly watching these two pups, Bonnie and Clyde, get into anything and everything. Once Bonnie and Clyde were (thankfully) returned to their owners, I sat down with Rocky and thought about my experience. Why is that no one flinched when those chocolate Labradors behaved in the manner described above? Why is it that Rocky, who is the exact opposite, receives negative comments and worried glances?

For the last several years, Pit Bulls have had to endure a very negative public image. Sensationalism sells. Responsible Pit Bull owners have done their best to remedy the hysteria by training their Pit Bulls to be ambassadors for the breed. However, for every positive mention Pit Bulls receive from the media, we can expect ten negative ones. People aren't able to see just how mild mannered Pit Bulls can be in day to day interactions.

If you are a Pit Bull puppy owner, this mountain can seem insurmountable. Don't be discouraged, because there are some things you can do for you, your puppy, and the Pit Bull community.

1. Enroll your puppy in obedience classes. The first step to improving the Pit Bull's image to have a well-mannered puppy. In other words, don't let your puppy become a Bonnie or a Clyde.

2. Be responsible. Being a Pit Bull owner can be challenging due to the stigma related to the breed. You have to remain one step ahead of the pack. For example, don't allow your dog off leash at dog parks (better yet, avoid them altogether), don't leave your dog unsupervised around children (kids can effectively push ANY dog's buttons). These are but a few things you can do to display responsibility.

3. Educate your community. Oftentimes, fear is the offspring of ignorance. What people don't know or understand, they justify with theory and assumption. This fact has been demonstrated countless times throughout history. You may have heard that the jaws of Pit Bulls lock and can exert 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. Ridiculous. As Pit Bull owners, we have to make an effort to educate our communities and extinguish the myths and fear that plagues this beautiful breed.

Raising a Pit Bull Puppy

Raising a Pit Bull puppy to be a healthy and happy part of the community is actually very straight-forward. At its simplest, raising a Pit Bull puppy requires that you be consistent and fair. Follow this neat little guide to get you headed in the right direction raising your puppy.

Establish boundaries early. Your pit bull puppy, like a child, needs boundaries and rules. A Pit Bull who knows its place within the pack is very happy. Decide before you adopt your puppy whether they will sleep in your bed (discouraged) or their own crate (better option).

Give puppy a lot of exercise. The old saying, "A tired puppy is a good puppy" applies here. By providing an outlet for your puppy's excess energy you are reducing the possible occurence of undesired behavior. Most destructive dog behavior such as chewing, digging, and fighting can be traced to boredom and excess energy.

Provide mental stimulation. If a tired puppy is a good puppy, then a puppy who isn't mentally engaged is a bored puppy. Puppyhood is an exciting time in your Pit Bull's life. They are literally like sponges, absolutely absorbing every bit of information they can get a hold of. Use this opportunity for basic obedience training.

Be consistent. Puppies, especially, respond to consistency and routine. When obedience training, consistency is key. For instance, if you are trying to teach your puppy not to jump up on visitors, imagine how confusing it is to be scolded for jumping up only half of the time. If something isn't allowed in your home, please make sure it stays that way.

Socialize. Proper socialization is of utmost importance when raising your Pit Bull puppy. Expose your puppy to different people, places, and things. To minimize the chances of dog-aggression in your Pit Bull puppy, give your puppy supervised play time with other dogs. Note: Pit Bulls were originally bred to be dog-aggressive, not human-aggressive. This doesn't mean that Pit Bulls can't or won't get along with other dogs. It simply means that, due to their history, some Pit Bulls may need to be provoked less than others to engage in a fight with another dog.

How to Deal with a Mouthy Pit Bull Puppy

Puppies like to explore the world around them with their mouths. This isn't so different from a human baby. However, those needle-sharp little puppy teeth can hurt! Good news: this is normal puppy behavior. Better news: with some consistency, your Pit Bull puppy will learn that mouthing and nipping is unacceptable.

Puppies are fairly predictable. You can use this trait of theirs to your advantage. Certain actions from you will result in certain responses from your puppy. For instance, if you notice that your puppy becomes over-stimulated and compelled to nip or mouth during a game of tug-of-war, play fetch or hide-and-seek instead. Don't give the puppy any inclination to be tempted to nip or mouth.

If your puppy was taken from its litter before the age of eight weeks, you can expect to have to teach them bite inhibition. Littermates instill this trait in each other. If one puppy bites another a little too hard, that puppy will yelp and walk away leaving the biter bewildered and suddenly alone. The puppies soon learn that if they want playtime to continue, they must play nicely. You can accomplish the same result by yelling "Ouch!", walking away, and completely ignoring the puppy for several minutes. This technique is very effective but must be performed consistently.

Bitter apple spray. While the "yelp and walk away" technique is perfect for long-term bite inhibition, you can get even quicker results by using bite and mouthing deterrents, such as Grannick's Bitter Apple® Spray. These products have a strong, unpleasant taste and were initially used to discourage dogs from biting or excessively licking their wounds. Simply spray some of the product on your hands before a play session, or when your puppy is most likely to be over-stimulated. After tasting the product once or twice, your Pit Bull puppy will be less than eager to have to taste it again. This product may also be used in discouraging the puppy from biting furniture and other "teeth-off" items.


Rocky's Pick of the Week

Basic Pit Bull Puppy Training

Many new Pit Bull puppy owners express a similar sentiment. They want their puppy to listen to them and obey commands. If your Pit Bull puppy thinks that "come" is a suggestion rather than a command, read on to learn how to mold your puppy into a model canine citizen.

The first, and often overlooked, thing you must do is have a clear vision of how you want your puppy to behave. Keep this vision in your mind's eye during training sessions. Also have a clear vision of your own posture, voice tone and quality. Remember that Pit Bull puppy training begins with you.

Your Pit Bull is young and everything around them holds the promise of a new adventure. This is a fancy way of saying that they have very short attention spans. For this reason, keep training sessions short, fun, and focused.

To avoid future dominance issues, only give your Pit Bull puppy what they've earned. Before each meal, tell the puppy to sit-stay (you can learn how to teach your dog the sit-stay command here). After they've obeyed, offer them their meal.

Never engage in any play fighting or tug-of-war games when your Pit Bull puppy is hyper-stimulated. This can lead to misbehavior or dominance issues in the future.

Make sure that you give your puppy outlets for excess energy. A bored puppy can be a destructive puppy.

For more in-depth Pit Bull puppy training information, check out Pit Bull Zone Training Guide, a neat report that gives practical ideas on how to train your Pit Bull puppy.