Asserting dominance is an important part of training any dog.
Over the past several years, the media have portrayed pit bulls as an aggressive, dangerous breed. However, aggressiveness tends to be a result of purposeful training or illness and is not an inherent trait of the breed. As with any puppy, asserting your dominance as the house leader will help provide your pit bull with a sense of direction and make the training process simpler. With dominance training, the ultimate goal is not to strike fear into your animal, but to teach him that there are enforced behavioral boundaries within the home.
Instructions
1. Start your dominance training as early as possible. As puppies, pit bulls are highly receptive to commands and are quick to adopt habits or fall into routines. Though retraining is possible, the process is much simpler if your pit bull is under 1 year old.
2. Cradle your pit bull's face gently and make eye contact with him. With a locked gaze, repeat your dog's name in an even tone of voice. Speak to him for several minutes in this way daily to assert your voice and gaze as a dominance signal.
3. Handle your pit bull frequently if his size allows it. Exposure and rubbing of the legs, paws and belly will help teach your dog that he plays a subservient role in the household. Sprawl your pit bull on his back, extend both legs one at a time and massage his stomach regularly.
4. Set territorial boundaries within the home. Make some furniture, such as your favorite chair or the couch, completely off-limits to your pit bull. If the dog crosses one of the boundaries, remove and gently reprimand him. In time he will learn and respect the areas that you have asserted dominance over.
5. Avoid feeding your dog from the table or regularly giving him scraps. Make a clear distinction between your food and his by feeding him in the garage or a separate room, and only after you have eaten. This establishes pecking order, a principle which is instinctual in pack animals such as dogs.
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