Monday, January 28, 2013

What You Need to Know About Pitbull Training

By Geraldine Dimarco


You will probably agree with me when I say that pitbulls are one of the best pets to ever have around your home. They are fun to be with, affectionate and generally a healthy bunch.You did well in adopting one of these furry friends but now you want more-training. What are some of the most effective training methods and how can this be applied to our blue pitbulls today?

It doesn't matter what people say, every canine can be trained-including your pitbull. Sure they sometimes seem to be too combative with other animals, but that doesn't mean they cannot be trained. In pitbull training you need to put yourself in your dog's place to be most effective. What will work best with him? The answer is positive reinforcement.

What does positive training mean? This simply means that you reward the completed tasks with a treat, or better yet, effusive praise. Remember, pitbulls are very affectionate and sociable pets to humans. They love to please you and is eager to be obedient if they see that any particular behavior makes you happy with them. The problem many trainers fail to see is not the stubbornness of your dog- it is the breakdown in communication when your pet doesn't understand what exactly you want with him.

Therefore it is critical that you be constant and repetitive in the manner and words you use in training him. Obviously, dogs aren't gifted with stellar linguistic skills like some of us, so be as simple and forthright in the commands you use on him. Repetition makes for better understanding so be unfailing in your patience towards your dog as you commence in obedience training. Use the same phrases and techniques consistently and your dog will get it soon enough.

If you want to correct a certain behavior, see where your dog is coming from first. Is he being destructive or barking excessively? This might be because they are bored with a lot of pent-up energy inside. Blue pitbulls are one of the most active and energetic dogs there are so you need to let them have their exercise every day. They say a tired pitbull is a good pitbull. You don't want them to get too tired as to be completely exhausted; but you want them to release nervous energy so that they don't become destructive and ruin things around your house.

Aside from physical stimulation, pitbulls need to be engaged mentally also. Your training sessions should be interesting and kept short and sweet because they can only hold their attention on you for a short time. 10 to 15 minutes blocks of training sessions throughout the day should be sufficient. Be creative and proactive in what you use for teaching him.

Remember, pitbull training can be effective in theory, but it needs implementation for it to make any kind of headway in your dog's life. Always be kind to him, but use a strong and firm hand in exercising your authority. This is the foundation of any good training. Have an excellent relationship with your pet and see everything else fall into place when you do.




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