Taming an Aggressive Pit Bull Puppy

The pit bull breed is highly social and not innately aggressive towards humans. The animal has a particularly long period of maturation, so you'll need continual attention to proper training methods to prevent aggressive behavior. With two to three years of intensive training and consistency, a pit bull can become an excellent family companion.

  1. Establish Dominance

    • Establish a position of power in your relationship with your pit bull puppy. Early signs of aggression towards humans can include a pit bull jealously guarding her physical position, toys or treats. Apply rules that prevent the puppy from obtaining a position of perceived superiority, which could include a ban on human furniture such as couches and chairs. If the pit bull exhibits a pattern of guarding toys or treats, temporarily remove the objects.

    Rewards & Encouragement

    • While maintaining a position of power is essential to taming an aggressive puppy, offering positive feedback is essential to reinforcing good behavior patterns. Avoid routinely lavishing the creature with attention, particularly after a session of misbehavior. Offer verbal feedback and physical attention in the form of a pat on the back, and reward good behavior with active play time. Spend a predetermined amount of time throwing a favorite toy or Frisbee to the dog.

    Consistency

    • Consistent behaviors and expectations are key to taming aggression and training a well-behaved pet. Though busy schedules can make establishing a consistent feeding time a challenge, feeding the Pit Bull at the same time daily can significantly reduce food-related aggression and territorial behaviors. Train the dog to sit until directed to begin eating. Be consistent when applying household rules regarding furniture, barking and behaviors. Avoid letting well-meaning friends and house guests spoil the dog with unearned treats.

    Socialization

    • Early socialization of a pit bull puppy can prevent undesirable displays of aggression towards humans or other animals later in life. Raising a pit bull puppy to be a family pet requires a commitment to training. Teach children to apply commands and rules consistently and to report signs of aggression. Teach the dog to avoid barking, growling or jumping on guests upon arrival. Enroll the puppy in group training sessions to learn appropriate behaviors around other canines.