Pit Bull Terrier Dog Training

image courtesy of Steve

"There is a considerable portion of dog training which is actually thinly disguised abuse. It has little to do with education of an animal, but it does have a lot to do with our egos, our assignment of importance to relatively unimportant actions, and our own deeply seated beliefs about animals. Humane training begins with a critical look at the premises and assumptions which undergird many traditional approaches. We become better trainers by refusing to swallow uncritically what is tossed to us as truth, by developing our powers of empathy and observation, and by searching for better ways to teach and educate the dogs we love." - Suzanne Clothier

• SitStayFetch is designed to be the easiest system to follow on the market today for learning how to train your dog and change its behavior. It is jam-packed with information, including how to solve over 25 dog behavior problems, real-life case studies, the best dog training techniques, unlimited dog behavior consultations with the SitStayFetch team, loads of photos that will boost your learning AND step-by-step instructions... all within one instantly downloadable package.


• After-The-Fact Discipline
  Behaviorally unsound approach to correcting undesirable behavior(s). After-the-fact punishment is NOT an effective way to correct undesirable behaviors (such as destructive chewing or housesoiling accidents, which occur when the owner is absent or unaware). NOT recommended.


• Clicker Training
  Developed by noted animal behaviorist Karen Pryor. Excellent, motivational  method of teaching and reinforcing desired behaviors.


• Eclectic Training Method
  A combination of different methods, with a specific emphasis on whichever method(s) are best suited to each individual dog being trained.


• Koehler Method
  Heavy-handed, compulsion-style dog obedience training method developed by William Koehler. Some of his problem-solving and disciplinary techniques are extremely harsh (which we do NOT recommend.)  Strong emphasis on compulsion and physical correction, as well as after-the-fact discipline.


• Lure Training
  Uses an object of attraction (toys, treats, etc.) to teach obedience commands  (such as "Sit", "Down", "Heel", etc.). Lure is gradually phased out. Excellent  motivational way to teach commands using or incorporating hand signals. Often proves very successful where other methods fail. Highly recommended for puppies, sensitive or timid dogs, as well as aggressive and "difficult" dogs.


• Playtraining
  Motivational training method that incorporates both play and prey drives. Recommended for many dogs.


• Target Wand Training
  Developed by noted animal behaviorist and dog trainer Gary Wilkes. Excellent, "non-force" training method. Works well with puppies and dogs of all ages.

- via American Dog Trainers Network

©Mike Twohy

• No Free Lunch Program - by Cinimon Clark


• Desensitizing a Cat-Aggressive Dog - by Cinimon Clark


• Desensitization Training - by Cynthia Castillo


• Cat/Dog Households - by Andrea Kilkenny


• Crate & Rotate - by Andrea Kilkenny


• Fostering Pit Bulls - by Andrea Kilkenny


• Dog Introductions - by Andrea Kilkenny

Dr. P's Dog Training: One of the best source of information about dog training and behavior on the Internet. This is where you should begin your search if you need training tips and support.

- via Pit Bull Rescue Central

• American Dog Trainers Network: Clicker Training - Information is given about related sites, books, newsletters and other resources.


• Clicker Training Fast Start - A step-by-step guide includes suggestions about treats, clickers, and shaping.


• Clicker Training for Deaf Dogs - Provides alternative ways to mark desired behaviour.


• ClickerTrain - A centre in Virginia offers local classes, nationwide seminars, and free on-line sample articles from their Journal.


• Gary Wilkes' Click and Treat - A founder of this method offers free articles, a schedule of seminars and a list of products for sale.


• Introduction to Clicker Training - An owner/trainer in New Zealand provides definitions and an outline of the process.


• K9 Clickers - Free articles can be downloaded which cover basic and advanced methods.


• Karen Pryor's Clicker Training for Dogs - Basic information is provided as well as problem-solving and opportunities for further learning and involvement.


• The Well Mannered Dog - Site of trainer and teacher Shirley Chong. Includes a list of products and services, photo gallery, mailing lists, and training tips.




• PBS Scientific American Frontiers: Wilkes - Interview with Gary Wilkes about training. (October 23, 2001)

Aggression
Barking
Basic Training Techniques
Crate Training
Destructive Chewing
Digging
Dog Care
Dog Toys: You Need Them
Dominant Dogs
Eating Strange Objects (Such as Feces)
Escaping
Fear of Thunder (and Other Noises)
Fearful Dogs
Housetraining
How to Use a Head Halter
Introducing Pets to a New Dog
Positive Reinforcement: Training Your Dog with Treats and Praise
Puppy Behavior Basics
Puppy Chewing
Puppy Nipping and Rough Play
Removing Pet Stains and Odors
Separation Anxiety
Submissive and Excitement Urination
Urine-Marking Behavior

- via the Humane Society

1. Not being consistent within the family
Everyone in the family wants to be involved in the dog training process. Each and everyone comes out with its own commands and methods. While this is understandable, this kind of training will confuse your dog. Proper planning such as specific routine, methods, responsibilities and rules should be discuss among your family members before the dog or puppy arrives home. In this way, everyone will understand their own role and the importance of consistency.

2. Not Socializing Well
All dogs thrive on companionship and need to be socialized. Restricting your dog's contact to other humans and species can limit his/her ability to learn and will result in behavior problems like fear or aggressiveness in the long run. Walking your dog along busy walkways, visiting friends and exploring new places should all be a part of your pet's educational growth.

3. Training too much, too fast
Are you ever guilty of introducing too many new commands or tricks to your dog in one to two training session? Unfortunately, this is happening frequently among many dog owners and will usually cause your dog to be more confuse. Instead, you need to work on one new training exercise or command per training session. Dogs have a shorter attention span. Train your dog 15 minutes per session each, twice per day. Having patience will also set up your dog to comprehend each command better and be more successful in the training process.

4. Not praising or rewarding immediately
If your dog has performed a desire action and you delay giving out immediate rewards, you will find it tough training your dog well. A dog will fail to understand what it is doing right unless you associate it with praise or food immediately after each action. Rewarding immediately also ensure you are rewarding the correct behavior. You should only withhold rewarding in the event when your timing is late so that you won't unintentionally reward the wrong behaviors.

5. Unintentional Approval
Your dog jumps up on you enthusiastically every time on your homecoming or you see your dog cower into a corner from the sound of thunder, have you ever reach out by patting it? Then you are telling your pet you approve of its behavior. Though it may seem harmless, these kind of unintentional approvals may lead to more serious behavior problems when they figure out that it results in increased direct attention from you. Once a dog has learned a bad behavior or developed a phobia, more time and effort will be needed to correct and retrain your pet again. Therefore, always be mindful of your actions and plan ahead on how you want to train your dog.

6. Giving Commands With Unpleasant Actions
Never give out a command or call your dog's name, only to be disciplined by you. Once it perceive any command or recall with an unpleasant experience, it will start to ignore and run away from you whenever you use that particular command. Always greet your dog positively for each command and action. Do not yell but use a stern voice when you catch him make mistakes.

7. Training your dog when you are in a bad mood
If you are having a bad day, do not train your dog. Your tone of voice will be different and you are most likely to get frustrated and display anger more easily. Neither should you continue to train if either you or your dogs are finding it difficult to concentrate. Your dog is less likely to have problems and enjoy the training if he/she can experience more things positively.

8. Not hand feeding
If you have never hand feed your dog before, then you ought to start now. Hand feeding will allow your dog to bond better with you. It also teaches him/her to like human hands, especially more so when you try to get near his food bowl while it is feeding.

9. Not Playing With Your Dog
A lot of dog owners forget to play with their dog after each training session. All dogs enjoy a good game of "fetch". Playing games with your dog will also boost your dog's interest in learning and it will also tend to look forward to its next training session with you. At the same time, it can also alleviate boredom, burn out excessive energy and provide your dog with the much needed mental and physical stimulation.

10. Not Seeking Professional Help
One of the big mistakes in dog training is dog owners not seeking professional help when required. Professional can save you from many hours of frustration. Do not assume that you have fail in your dog training just because you seek professional trainers. Just like a student asking the teacher for advice and help, seeking professional help on the other hand is the best sign of commitment to your dog.

-via DogTrainingClassroom.com

It is important to know that Staffordshire Terrier and "pit bull" are not official breeds. They are common terms used to describe a certain type of dog. There are actually three breeds that can be easily confused. The correct designations are:

  o American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) - recognized by the ADBA and UKC
  o American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) - recognized by the AKC
  o Staffordshire Bull Terrier (SBT) - recognized by the AKC and UKC

They are essentially the same dogs but have been bred for different purposes and/or size standards since the mid 1930's. Some are even dual registered (i.e., registered with both the UKC as an APBT and with the AKC as an AST). Pete the Pup from The Little Rascals was among the first APBTs to be registered with the AKC as an AST.

How can we tell the difference? We can't, really. We can only try to guess the breed based on subtle characteristics. Note that even experts can't always tell if a Pit Bull is an APBT, an AST or a SBT. For the average pit bull owner, however, these distinctions are not really relevant. As a general rule, dogs of these breeds tend to have stable and loving temperaments.

- via Pit Bull Rescue Central

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