Pitbull Training

As soon as someone hears the name “PitBull”, they usually think of some article they read, or some news report they saw that left them thinking all PitBulls are dangerous. That’s just not true. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous dog owners train their PitBulls to be fighters which give the entire breed a bad rap. Yes, those particular dogs are to be feared, but that’s the owner’s fault, not the breed.

There are actually a number of variations of PitBulls, and each was known by a different name. They were originally bred by breeders in England, Scotland, and Ireland who crossed terriers with bulldogs and they were first known as Staffordshire Bull Terriers. However, because of the reputation they gained from unprincipled owners who trained them specifically for fighting, their name was eventually changed to the American Pit Bull Terrier in the hope the breed’s reputation would be left behind.

In general, PitBulls are wonderfully friendly to people and yet protective, devoted, and loyal to their owners. In fact, most PitBulls don’t make good guard dogs because of their friendly nature, although they can be trained to do so. As you probably already know, they’re muscular dogs with incredible agility so this is one breed you wouldn’t want your 6 year old taking for a walk. Unfortunately, it would be your PitBull who would be walking your 6 year old. Then too, because of their incredible strength in ratio to their smaller size, they need a firm hand and obedience training to protect them from traffic and other hazards.

Many PitBull owners have found that during Pitbull Training, PitBulls can be easily agitated by other dogs. Without knowing the long history of their own particular dog’s genealogy and pedigree, it’s important to socialize them very early in their puppyhood; not just to people but with other dogs as well. By introducing them to other dogs, allowing them to make friends and interactively play with them on a regular basis, they can redirect any possible aggression, and it helps to burn off the incredible energy they have. By continuing that socialization throughout the life of their dog, the owner will find they’ll have one of the most loving and compassionate dogs around. In fact, it was a PitBull that was the beloved and faithful companion of Helen Keller!

PitBulls are sleek and powerful looking with a strong chiseled head that’s particularly wide between the cheeks. They have extremely powerful jaws, a very high pain tolerance, and when they need to protect their family they’ll fight to the death. Unfortunately it’s this devotion to their family that has been preyed upon and has prompted bad owners to train them to fight.

Their eyes are large and round, or almond-shaped, ears are sometimes cropped, tails are not generally docked, and they come in every color of the rainbow … except green, blue, or purple. Their coat is very thick, short, and extremely shiny. Think of the Pit Bull as that beach-tanned, gleaming-skinned, well-toned, athletically-built lifeguard, of the dog world.

If you’re PitBull’s just a puppy, you’ll want to start grooming him early. It helps him become that much more socialized as he’s handled often. Then too, because he’s just a medium shedder and his coat is short, even young children can brush him which also helps with bonding to the family. By using a chamois cloth to dry him after a bath, his glossy coat will be even that much more impressive.

Overall, the American Pit Bull Terrier ranges in weight from 25 to 100 pounds but most are between 30 to 55 pounds. They are prone to hip dysplasia and congenital heart disease but they’re commonly known as a healthy breed that can live an average of 12 years. They do prefer warmer climates and space to run, but if they live in a small home or apartment they’ll do just fine provided they are given the opportunity to exercise regularly. PitBulls flourish with lots of human attention and they love to play. So, the next time you see that Frisbie, or a lone tennis ball lying around in your garage, let him show you what a good game of catch really is!