How to Train a Pitbull

After all, it’s not as if there is some great mystery locked inside a particular breed’s genetic code that makes training just fall into place once you know it.

The thing is, a lot of people search for training information related to a specific breed—hence the title.

And, it is widely known that certain breeds have traits that make them well-suited to perform specific jobs.

Sometimes, that involves a specialized kind of training. But, most dog owners just want a well-mannered companion who doesn’t tear up the house, jump on visitors or run into the street.

The good news is that whether you intend to compete in utility trials or whether you just prefer that walking your dog doesn’t involve a rotator cuff injury; there is one thing that really does bring everything about training into focus and make it fall into place.

It is simply this—understanding, I mean really understanding how dogs learn. It’s shocking how few trainers get this. They still cling to the J & P (jerk and praise) methods that were widely touted 25 years ago. If you think that is how to train a pitbull, you couldn’t be more wrong.

For one thing, during the days when pit bulls were bred as fighting dogs, one of the traits they were bred for was high pain tolerance. That doesn’t mean that pit bulls don’t feel pain. They do. But, they tolerate it better than many other breeds.

The particular danger with such methods for this breed is that it is entirely possible to seriously injure your pit bull before you realize it because they seem impervious to physical discomfort. So, if a trainer insists you use a choke, prong or shock collar--run, don't walk in the opposite direction.

The fact is that there is no need to use that kind of antiquated tactic on any dog now that we know so much more about how dogs learn best. Training when done right is a source of joy for both you and your dog.

After all, it’s a game! It may be a serious game--like a serious game of chess. Dogs (unless they’ve become lethargic from years of boredom or had it pummeled out of them) love to play games with their humans.

How Do Dogs Learn Best?

It’s called by any number of names. You may have heard it called positive training, positive reinforcement, clicker training or shaping. By whatever name it goes, the cornerstone is its reliance on positive rewards (reinforcements) to modify or shape desired behavior and to extinguish unwanted behavior.

Generally, it’s pretty easy to spot dogs that have been trained with positive techniques. They exhibit a certain joie de vivre that is lacking in dogs that have been trained with a heavy reliance on punishment (sometimes called “correction”).

If you’ve used aversive training in the past, the new positive methods may take some getting used to. But, it will absolutely transform your relationship with your dog. The bond that develops between you and your pit with positive training is something that has to be experienced to be appreciated.

Getting Started

While there are a few people who are naturals at training this way, for most of us there is a learning curve. So first, make a commitment to educate yourself about positive training methods.

Over the years, I’ve worked with my own dogs, hundreds of shelter dogs and had the privilege of attending workshops that were held by some of the best trainers in the world--experts like Karen Pryor and Ian Dunbar. And, I plan to share with you much of what I’ve learned from these experiences in future articles in this section of the website.

In the meantime, here are my top three book recommendations to get you started. If you really want to learn how to train a pitbull to be a great companion, these belong in your library:

1. Don’t Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training (revised edition) by Karen Pryor

2. The Culture Clash: A revolutionary new way of understanding the relationship between humans and domestic dogs (new second edition) by Jean Donaldson

3. Clicker Training for Obedience: Shaping Top Performance—Positively by Morgan Spector

Additionally, if clicker training or positive obedience classes are offered in your area, by all means, check it out. Most people find that a hands-on class rapidly accelerates their learning of the techniques.

And, if you are going to be anywhere near Syracuse, New York from September 1-3 2006, you might just want to attend the first annual

Bull-ympics!

This promises to be a fun-packed and informative event whether you bring your dog and compete or simply go as a spectator. As the name implies, the emphasis will be on bull breed dogs. And Gary Wilkes, who is a nationally recognized dog trainer, will be offering clicker training workshops during the event.

If you do go, please drop me a note and share your experience!