If you are a new pitbull owner, the first question that pops into your mind is: How do I start training my pitbull? We know the concern and stress. Pitbulls generally have a bad rapport in their interaction with new people and situations. We hear and read news about brutal pitbull attacks quite often and think we can’t have any luck around pitbull dog training.
Nonetheless, if properly socialized, pitbull dogs can behave as the most civilized, friendly, and obedient breeds of dogs. Therefore, we’ve written this article to provide you with a detailed account of “how to train a pitbull puppy” effectively on all forms of behavior.
How to Train a Pitbull Puppy?
It’s easier to get the best hang of pitbull training when you start earlier. Here is an age-wise training breakdown for pitbull and puppies:
0-8 Weeks: Early Socialization & Bonding
Normally, at this stage, pitbull puppies are still with their mother and littermates. If you get a pitbull puppy at this age, you should focus on:
- Bonding: Hold and gently play with your puppy to build trust.
- Handling Exercises: Touch their paws, ears, and mouth to prepare them for grooming and vet visits.
- Mild Socialization: Introduce them to different sounds, sights, and gentle human interaction.
8-12 Weeks: Basic Commands & House Training
Now that your puppy is ready to learn, focus on:
- Crate Training:
- Get a comfortable crate and make it a positive space.
- Use treats to encourage your puppy to enter and rest in the crate.
- Never use the crate as punishment.
- Housebreaking (Potty Training):
- Take them outside every 2-3 hours, especially after eating, playing, or waking up.
- Use a consistent command like “Go potty.”
- Reward them immediately after they go outside.
- Name Recognition:
- Say their name in a happy tone and reward them when they look at you.
- Repeat this often to ensure they respond to their name.
- Socialization:
- Expose them to different people, pets, and environments to reduce fear.
- Keep interactions positive and supervised.
- Basic Commands (Sit, Stay, Come):
- Start with simple commands using treats and praise.
- Keep training sessions short (5-10 minutes) and fun.
3-6 Months: Leash Training & Advanced Commands
Between the ages of 3 and 6 years, pitbull puppies are more curious and active, so focus on the following aspects of training:
- Leash Training:
- Start indoors with a lightweight leash.
- Encourage loose leash walking using treats.
- Teach “Heel” to keep them by your side.
- Bite Inhibition (Stopping Play Biting):
- If they bite, say “No” firmly and redirect them to a chew toy.
- Stop play if biting continues to teach that biting means no fun.
- Advanced Commands (Down, Leave It, Drop It):
- Teach “Down” by luring them with a treat to the ground.
- “Leave it” prevents them from picking up harmful items.
- “Drop it” ensures they release objects safely.
- Stranger & Dog Socialization:
- Arrange controlled interactions with other friendly dogs.
- Reward calm behavior around strangers and other pets.
6-12 Months: Reinforcement & Behavioral Training
A 6-week-old pit puppy might test boundaries, so consistency is key:
- Obedience Reinforcement:
- Continue practicing commands in different settings.
- Increase distractions to ensure they obey in any environment.
- Curbing Aggression & Reactivity:
- Never encourage rough play or aggression.
- Redirect negative behavior with firm but calm commands.
- Reward calm and friendly interactions.
- Preventing Jumping on People:
- Ignore them when they jump; only give attention when all four paws are on the ground.
- Teach “Sit” as an alternative behavior.
- Exercise & Mental Stimulation:
- Provide daily walks, playtime, and puzzle toys.
- Boredom can lead to destructive behaviors, so keep them engaged.
1 Year & Beyond: Ongoing Training & Socialization
- Off-Leash Training (Only When Ready):
- Train in enclosed spaces before trying off-leash in open areas.
- Reinforce recall (“Come”) to ensure safety.
- Continued Socialization:
- Regularly expose them to new people, places, and animals.
- Encourage positive experiences to maintain confidence.
- Strength & Agility Training:
- Engage in structured exercises like agility courses or fetch.
- Avoid excessive strain to prevent joint issues.
How to Train a Pitbull Puppy Not to Bite?
Puppies bite during play, but they must learn bite inhibition. For that, you can keep these training tips in consideration to control an aggressive pitbull or from becoming one:
- If they bite, say “No” firmly and stop interacting/ playing.
- Redirect biting to appropriate toys, mainly chew toys.
- Use positive reinforcement as a main tool. Reward your pitbull’s gentle play with treats.
- Avoid rough play, as it can encourage aggressive biting.
- Let your pitbull puppy socialize with other puppies. They learn bite control from playing with other dogs.
How to Train Your Pitbull Puppy to Protect You?
Some people like to take pitbull puppy training to another level by training their puppies to protect them. Pitbulls are naturally protective, but proper training ensures controlled protection.
- Start with basic obedience. Teach your young pitbull basic obedience commands such as “Sit,” “Stay,” “Come,” and “Heel” before advanced training.
- Teach alert commands. Use commands like “Watch” to get their attention.
- Socialize them well. A protective dog must know the difference between real threats and normal situations.
- Introduce guardinggames. Have a friend act as an intruder so your puppy learns when to be alert.
- Avoid unnecessary aggression. A well-trained pitbull protects by presence, not by attacking.
What to and What not to do with a Pitbull Puppy?
Here are some does and don’ts for pitbull puppy training:
- Start early training
The earlier you start pitbull dog training, the easier it is for them to learn. So, as soon as you get a pitbull puppy, start its training. Focus on taming and socializing them well around different environments, sounds, people, and fellow dogs.
- Be consistent with commands.
It’s important to use the same commands every time for your pit bull’s better understanding. If you keep changing commands, it will confuse your pitbull puppy and interrupt their learning curve.
- Train daily
There’s no substitute for daily training your pitbull. If the routine breaks, they’ll not be able to catch commands easily, and the training duration will elongate.
- Use positive reinforcement
Pitbull puppy training can be a lot easier when combined with positive reinforcement. It means you reward your dog for behaviors you like and ignore the ones you don’t. You can offer them treats or praise as rewards for their good behavior. Because of their intelligence, most pitbulls happily work for rewards.
- Avoid harsh punishment
Training a dog can be a boring and frustrating task at times. So it’s very likely for the owners to punish their pitbulls when they don’t listen. The key, instead, is to stick to gentle training, as pitbulls respond best to gentle commands and cues rather than harsh punishments.
- Provide a secure setup to prevent pitbull escapes.
Like many other dog breeds, pitbulls are also escaping artists. Pitbull escapes can be dangerous in cases when they are not fully trained. They might get into a fight with another dog or may harm people on their way. Therefore, as a pitbull owner, you must prevent their runaways by providing them with a secure set-up and supervising their outdoor playtime. Also, put them on a collar and tags so you can easily find them if they get lost.
- Don’t contain pitbull dogs indoor.
A pitbull is an agile and active breed of dog. They like to run around and play, so it’s not fair to keep these social butterflies indoors all the time. Take them out daily for playtime and let them see strangers regularly. This will serve their active nature and help you train them better.
FAQs
- Are pitbull puppies easy to train?
Yes, pitbull puppies are easy to train. The hack is to ensure early socialization and consistent reinforcement training so that they learn civilized behaviors.
- What age is too late to train a pitbull?
Though it’s never too late to train a pitbull, it’s easier to control a young pitbull than an older one. A 7 or 8-week-old pit puppy is ideal to start the training.
- What do pitbull puppies need?
Pitbull puppies need proper diet, socialization, attention and love, training, and routine vet checkups. They behave well when provided with a safe environment and chew tows to spend time.
- Are pitbull aggressive?
No, pitbulls aren’t naturally aggressive if you train and socialize them properly. However, like any breed, carelessness in training can make a pitbull dog aggressive.
- Are pitbulls a good family dog?
Yes, pitbulls can be excellent family dogs. They are known for their loyalty, affection, and love for human companionship. With proper training and socialization, they can be gentle and protective, making them great companions for families, including children.
Bottom Line!
In short, there are a lot of myths around pitbull dog training in the dog world. Therefore, when you go out in public with your pitbull, you’ll encounter people who wouldn’t interact with you and your pitbull dog out of fear. However, if you are accompanied by a well-behaved and friendly pitbull dog, everyone will be at ease. So, it all boils down to how do you train a pitbull puppy and make your and others’ lives easier.
