How to train a Rescue Pitbull?

There are several breeds of dogs roaming on this planet. Some of them are larger, some small enough to fit in a small plate. Some are cute and fluffy, and some are strong-looking and dangerous.

Pit bull

A pit bull is one of the most common breeds of dogs that are known for their bad-ass character, anger, and aggressiveness. Well, many people believe that a pit bull is a dangerous breed and should not be kept open and especially should not be allowed to roam around small children.

This notion of pit bull being a dangerous and harmful dog is denied by the owners who own a pit bull and have given him proper training. Proper training is what a pit bull needs. Pit bulls are aggressive and dangerous because of their owners who haven’t trained them or trained them to be offensive.

What is this article about?

In this article, we will discuss the different characteristics and traits of pit bull. We will also discuss how to train a rescue pit bull, different training methods, how to socialize your pitbull, and much more about the rescue pit bull.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Pit bull

Taming a pit bull in your house can be a fun job to do. It can provide more sense of security in the house.

On the other hand, pit bulls can sometimes be aggressive and out of control too, which in the case can create a harmful environment for guests and small children in the house.

Advantages

Pit bulls create a good bond with the owner and are very friendly if appropriately trained.
Pit bulls are good to other pets until and unless it is attacked or challenged by anyone of them.
Pit bulls can live in a hot climate.
Pit bulls can live in cold climate
Pit bulls can take care of the home and can guard them against any threat or intruder.
Pit bulls are smart and highly obedient. With proper training, they can really learn fast and do things for their owners.

Disadvantages

Although pit bulls are friendly, if they are not given proper training and guidance, they can become violent and aggressive. This kind of behavior of pit bull can create a harmful environment for guests and small children at home.
Pit bulls love other pets, but if any pet or animal tries to attack him or challenge him, Pitbull never backs down and can attack with full force. They won’t leave the competitor until he dies or cannot fight anymore
A specific diet is needed to keep them healthy because they have a solid body and demands.
Pit bulls can be aggressive and be a bully sometimes. If a pit bull grows without proper training, he can be a bully and can hurt others for fun, food, or to make its way.

Where to find a pit bull?

A rescue pit bull can be easily found at local shelters. Contact the nearest shelters and organizations made for stray or rescue animals.

If you are told that a pit bull is available, go and check the pit bull. Check his temperament, aggressiveness, friendliness, etc. to make sure you are getting the right dog of your choice.

Things to consider before training:

There are few things to consider before starting to train a rescue pit bull, and they are :

Make sure the pit bull is in good health
The pit bull must not have any medical condition or any allergy.
Take control of the pit bull and punish him for bad things
Do not let the pit bull roam freely before training him to be friendly and socialize. A wild pitbull without training can and will hurt people.
Buy good dog food for training.
Set a particular time for training and a specific duration too.

Related articles : How to train my puppy to be a therapy dog?
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Training a Rescue pit bull:

Training of pit bulls must start at a very early age before the dog becomes violent and aggressive according to its genetics.
Train pit bull to be friendly and give a treat to him as food whenever he shows good behavior.
Start by making him obey basic commands like sit, stand, run, stay, fetch, etc. Show him what to do when you say a word.
For example, when you say sit, make him sit. When you say stand, make him stand. This exercise will make him understand what to do when you say a particular word.
If pit bull does obey any command, give him treat. This reward will keep him motivated towards training and listening to you.
Give him treats when he does an excellent job in listening and doing things, but also punish him for bad behavior.
Pitbull can sometimes be rough and do whatever he wants, make sure you keep the leash tight and never allow him to do things he shouldn’t do.
For example, if you don’t want your pit bull to bark at kids outside, sit on the sofa, sleep on the bed, etc. punish him for doing so and restrict him from that place.
Make your pitbull socialized. Take your pit bull to dog parks and let him meet more dogs and animals. Make him feel comfortable and friendly around them.
Do not let him fight with any other animal as it can result in injuries and can hurt other animals and even your pitbull.
When he starts to follow basic commands and orders like sit, stand, run, fetch, etc. teach him complex tasks like carrying morning newspaper, wake you up in the morning.

Training Programs.

There are different types of training programs that you can choose to train your pit bull.

Obedience training program for dogs:

A program where professional dog trainers teach the dogs to obey commands and orders.

Service dog training programs:

A program where dogs are given the training to perform specific tasks for people suffering from some mental or physical disabilities.

Army Dogs training programs:

Army dog training programs are special programs in which dogs are trained by army professionals and soldiers to serve the nation. The armed forces dogs are trained to detect explosives and other harmful material.

You can enroll your pit bull in any of these programs and make him get professional training instead of training him at home. But, training your pit bull at home keeps a strong bond between you and the pit bull that can result in a more friendly and obedience pit bull.

Duration of Training:

It depends on the owner, how he or she wants to train the pit bull. One can opt for training his/her pit bull at home and dedicate their time for the training. Another option is to provide your dog with professional training, which can ensure good results, but then again, it will disrupt the bonding and relation between the dog and the owner.

With any of the above options, it can easily take a few months to a year to train a rescue pit bull. For more advanced training like that of a service dog, it can further take up to one to two years.

Things to consider after training:

There are few things to consider after the training is finished and provided excellent results.

Don’t let your pit bull to be aggressive and keep as much friendly environment as possible.
Do not teach your pit bull to attack someone, unless it is a threat or intruder of some kind.
Stop giving treats as food every time he does a good thing.
Replace food with a lot of praise and cuddling. Overeating can make pit bull over-weight, fat, and obese.
Take care of the diet and quality of food of your pit bull.
Punish pit bull for bad behavior but never beat him or get angry at him. Beating and abusing the dog can create fear inside him for you.
Do not let your pit bull run wild in parks and roads. Stray dogs will bark and challenge the pit bull or tease the pit bull; pit bull will not back down and will get aggressive.

In conclusion, Pit bull is a perfect, friendly, and obedient dog if given proper training and guidance. Pit bull in the wrong hands can become a wild beast with immense power for an animal of that size. Pit bull has the power and aggression to hurt any animal, child, or even grown adult.
If proper training is given to pit bull at the early stage of his life, he can become the most loyal, obedient, and friendly dog.

FAQ

Q. What food should I give to my pit bull?
Ans. For Pit bulls, dog food has at least 30% protein, 20% fat, 30% carbohydrates.

Q. Can I train my pit bull to be a service dog?
Ans. Yes, absolutely you can if he is not too aggressive and in good health condition he can be any kind of service dog.

Q. Can my pit bull eat peanut butter?
Ans. Yes, pit bull can eat peanut butter but not in large quantities, and it should not have some specific chemicals like xylitol.

Q. Can a pit bull eat raw chicken?
Ans. Yes, chicken is good for pit bull, but raw chicken has some risk of having bacteria. Either buy good quality raw chicken or the traditionally cooked chicken.

Q. Does a pit bull need a sweater during the winter season?
Ans. It depends upon the age and size of the pit bull. If he is smaller and feeling cold, then he might need it. A full-grown adult has a layer of fur that can protect him from getting extremely cold. Still, it depends on many factors.

To know more about training rescue pit bull, please refer these videos

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Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_bull

https://www.pmarinc.org/pit-bull-training-basics/

https://www.thesprucepets.com/train-a-shelter-or-rescue-dog-1118219