Wondering how to train your red nose pit bull?
Overall, it’s not much different from training any pit bull puppy.
Red nose, blue nose or purple nose (no, that’s not a real thing!), all pits respond well to positive training methods.
If you have a red nose pit bull, you already know that you have a special and beautiful dog.
Despite the hype saying otherwise, the pit bulls are people-pleasing family dogs who crave social interaction with their people.
Because pits are so eager to please, they are also relatively easy to train with a little bit of effort and focus.
Here are some tips to train your red nose pit bull.
How to Train Your Red Nose Pit Bull
- Don’t ignore history. Red nose pits come from a line going back to Ireland, and they were often used for blood sports like bull baiting. With the breed’s strength, energy, and ability to respond well to training, they were a natural choice for this sport. All of these breed characteristics remain, and keeping them in mind will help as you train.
- Be patient with house-breaking. APBT puppies often have weak bladders, so housebreaking can be a little more challenging than with some other breeds. Be vigilant with taking your puppy outside, as frequently as every hour, until he’s got the hang of not relieving himself indoors. Because he responds well to focused training, house-breaking shouldn’t take more than a week or two (in most cases).
- Make it fun. APBTs are known to be playful and energetic, so the more fun you make training, the better it will be received by your dog. Incorporate training games into your routine; much like with kids, if your dog is having fun, she won’t even realize she’s learning! Plus, games are a great way for you and your dog to strengthen your bond.
- Be firm, but don’t yell or hit. APBTs tend to be emotional dogs, so yelling or hitting while you’re trying to train will only cause your pup to have a negative experience. If you catch your APBT doing something she shouldn’t, walk up to her, look her in the eye, and say, “no!” firmly. Redirect to a preferred activity, and give her lots of praise. She wants to make you happy, and giving her positive reinforcement will help her learn quickly!
- Repetition is key. Until your dog has mastered the new behavior you are trying to teach or ceased whatever behavior you’re trying to un-teach, you need to be consistent and frequently practice with your APBT. You’ll be surprised at how quickly he catches on.
- Do your part. APBTs need exercise to burn off energy, and they also need approved chew toys to satisfy their strong instinct to chew (otherwise, you’re just asking for furniture damage!). Make sure you meet your dog’s needs in order to prevent him from acting up simply because he’s bored.
Although these tips are focused on the red nose pit bull, most are true for all APBTs. They are the same breed, after all, though the origins of their coloring may differ. With a little effort and a lot of praise, you will find your APBT to be a model trainee – it’s simple when they live to make you happy!
