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.