Pitbulls need a lot of attention.
A nervous or highly-strung pitbull may well alarm people when it displays inappropriate behavior. Pitbulls were originally bred for fighting and sometimes react badly to other dogs. Although they are usually friendly to people, their weight and strength makes excitable behavior highly problematic. A 90-pound dog that leaps up at people is, at the very least, annoying. Calming your pit bull down involves understanding why your dog is behaving like this and finding ways to retrain and reassure it.
Instructions
1. Arrange to have your pitbull spayed or neutered. This reduces neurotic or problem behavior in males and females. Get a new puppy fixed as soon as possible; pitbulls are heavy enough for these procedures to be safe from eight weeks onward.
2. Locate a professional dog behaviorist in your area and arrange an appointment. Ask your vet or the local branch of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or Humane Society for a recommendation for a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) or a veterinary behaviorist (ACVB). According to the ASPCA, the other possibility is a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT), but check that she has experience and training. Professional help is essential if the pitbull is behaving aggressively and advisable for other problem behaviors. Try to find a trainer with specific experience with pitbulls.
3. Socialize a pitbull puppy right from the start; ensuring it has plenty of contact with people and with other dogs. Pitbulls are not necessarily more aggressive than other breeds but they are exceptionally strong and can injure other dogs if they get carried away. Note that some pitbulls do not relate particularly well to strange dogs, although most are fine with people.
4. Take your pitbull on three-mile or longer walks twice a day. Especially in young dogs, hyperactive behavior may simply be an excess of energy. Pitbulls are muscular dogs that need a lot of exercise. If you have access to an off-leash park, your dog gets more exercise and the opportunity to socialize with other dogs. This is only, however, an option for an already well-socialized animal that relates well to strange dogs.
5. Show consistency and stick to your ground rules. If your pitbull is not allowed on the sofa, do not allow it to jump up "just this once," which will only confuse the dog. The same applies to excitable behavior. Do not allow the pitbull to jump up at people on some occasions but not others. Turn your back, block the dog with your knee or pull it down every single time.
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