Although it’s untrue, pitbulls have been portrayed as one of the most aggressive dogs.
The reality is, any dog can be aggressive.
My chihuahua is more aggressive than my pit when she meets someone for the first time!
How do you handle it when your pit (or any dog) gets aggressive with you?
Check out our pitbull puppy training tips for dealing with aggression.
Pitbull Puppy Training Tips: Dealing With Aggression
Learn the signs of aggression
First of all, you need to know what aggression in your dog looks like.
- She might become very still and rigid
- She might show her teeth while giving you a very deep, threatening growl
- She might even snap at you!
Anything that lets you know she is not happy! It is important to know that dogs give warnings before they get to this point. You must pay attention and get to know your dog. A good warning sign is she has her ears back. She might also give out a small, low growl. She can’t talk but she is trying to warn you she isn’t happy with you!
Related: Understanding Dog Aggression
Establish yourself as the leader
You also need to establish yourself as the alpha dog in your house.
This is one of the most important pitbull puppy training tips for dealing with aggression.
If you let your dog become the alpha, you are going to see behavior you do not want and you are going to have a hard time controlling her. She will be controlling you!
A dog’s instincts are to run in packs, and they need a leader, or they become the leader.
How do you become the alpha?
You have to set limits, rules and boundaries.
Reward good behavior, be exaggerated in your praise and give treats to let her know you like what she did.
Dogs love to please their owners, she will do more of what you like and less of what you do not.
Related: Pitbull Puppy Training Tips – Train the People Around You
It is important to understand that dogs’ behavior is never premeditated (they are way better than humans!)
You come home from work and find that Cuddles has gotten into the garbage, how do you react? How do you punish her?
Never get physical with your dog.
Following proper basic pitbull puppy training tips, like our pitbull puppy 101, will help to keep the aggression at bay.
Commands will come in handy when you need to reprimand your beloved furry friend who decided the garbage tasted better than his own food.
Have you encountered aggression in your dog? How did you handle it? Did you keep your pet and work on it? Or did you find you weren’t able to fix the problem and it was an unsafe situation and had to find him a new home? Share your experiences and pitbull puppy training tips for aggression and your dogs.
