How to Train an Adult Pitbull

When we have a dog as strong and powerful as a Pitbull, there's no excuse for not training them properly. In fact, if for whatever reason you don't have the time or knowledge, please see a professional.

It's entirely necessary to train your American Pitbull Terrier well, since it's a highly impulsive breed and could give us a scare if not trained.

How to Train an American Pitbull Terrier?

We need to start training from puppyhood, though obviously with plenty of patience and affection. Puppies don't want to learn anything, just eat and play, so don't despair.

Generally we should wait until three or four months old before starting with the most basic things, and it's from a year old that we need to take their training very seriously.

The Best Training Technique: Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is the most widely used canine training technique in the whole world, being the most effective and least aggressive. Every dog responds well to this technique, so don't hesitate to put it into practice.

It involves giving our Pitbull puppy or adult dog a reward (a treat or dog biscuit) when they do something right, such as obeying the "sit" command or simply coming when called.

The dog links obedience with food as a reward and learns quickly and eagerly, since food is every dog's weak spot. Remember never, under any circumstances, to use aggression.

If your dog sees you being aggressive, with them or with other dogs or people, they'll learn to be aggressive simply through imitation. So it's entirely forbidden to physically punish a Pitbull or use an aggressive mood with them.

Essential Training for a Pitbull Breed Dog

We all know how fun it is when a dog learns to spin around, play dead, or stand on two legs trying to imitate a human. Even so, be smart and forget all these gimmicks… what really matters is precisely the most basic stuff.

How to Teach a Pitbull to Come When Called

It'll be enough to call them by name and show them a bit of food — a dog biscuit or a small piece of sausage will work. Dogs learn through repetition, so we'll repeat this daily.

When calling our Pitbull, once they come, we'll praise them a lot (positive reinforcement) and give them a small reward, a piece of food. Within just a few days they'll learn to always come when we call them.

The right way is to call them by name and then give the command, for example "Thor, come here!!" Even if they learn within a few days, we need to repeat this exercise constantly so the command stays firmly ingrained, and later on, they'll come even when other distractions occupy their mind.

Learning to Sit on Command

Once again we'll use food as a reward so they easily learn to sit. The right approach in these cases is to call them by name and give the command "Thor, sit!!" Obviously the dog won't know what "sit" means, so we'll help them.

With our left hand we'll hold the reward, while with our right hand we'll press on their back to get them to sit. We'll do this very gently, so they're the one who sits down.

When they do, we'll praise them and give them the reward. Sitting is something very simple to teach, and very, very practical.

Training a Pitbull to Lie Down on the Ground

Once our Pitbull has properly learned the sit command, which generally takes a couple of weeks with daily sessions of half an hour's training, we can teach them to lie down.

Once they're sitting, we'll give the lie-down command, "Thor, lie down!!" and since they won't know what to do, we'll help them using food.

With them sitting, we'll put the reward in front of the Pitbull's muzzle without letting them eat it. We'll gradually move it away from their muzzle, lowering our hand to the ground and moving it away a little, so instinctively they lie down to eat the reward.

Once they lie down, we'll praise them and give them the reward. It's genuinely simple once they know how to sit.

Why Is It So Important to Teach Them These Things?

Let us stress again — besides being a great life companion and a hugely affectionate dog with us, a Pitbull is also a very strong, impulsive and energetic dog, which can pose a danger in tense situations.

Imagine some silly dog won't stop barking at our Pitbull, or even provokes them into fighting, or our Pitbull sees someone suspicious and their protective instinct kicks in… What do you need them to know how to do — a forward roll, or how to sit calmly and stay still?

Teaching a dog to sit and obey while sitting whatever happens is the most important thing of all. Also that they always come when called, without exception. With these two commands well under control, we'll have a far calmer life with our Pitbull.

What to Do if I Can't Train Them Myself?

The American Pitbull Terrier can be a bit stubborn sometimes — if you can't teach them these commands yourself, or they don't listen to you, we strongly recommend you see a dog trainer.

A trainer can teach your dog, or help you teach them yourself. And trust us, it's entirely necessary for them to learn to obey us, no matter what.

What Should I Never Teach My Pitbull?

Never, under any circumstances, teach your Pitbull aggressive training techniques, such as defence commands (attack, bite, bark and so on).

Pitbulls are genuinely strong dogs — if we teach them bad techniques, they'll become very dangerous dogs. Remember that when a dog attacks another dog or a person, they're usually put down. Do you want that future for your Pitbull?