Instructions
Walk or jog your dog in the morning before feeding it or giving it affection. This sends the message that the dog must earn food and attention. Ensure you are the first one out the door and the first one back in.
Feed your pit bull after you and the rest of your family has eaten. Before putting the food dish down, have your dog complete a command. This shows the dog its place in the pack and reinforces the idea that is must earn its food.
Initiate play time with your dog only when it is behaving. Do not respond to your dog when it tries to initiate play. The American Dog Trainers Network suggests that you avoid "games that pit a dominant dog's strength against yours." Instead play games that require the dog to work for you, such as fetch.
Ignore your dog when it climbs onto your lap for affection. Stand up to move the dog off your lap, command it to sit on the floor, then give it affection. If your dog is being submissive, you may invite it onto your lap at this point.
Do not let your pit bull in your bed at bedtime. PitbullsOnTheWeb.com explains that "high places are a way dominant dogs gain control. Dogs (like people and other mammals) feel more authoritative when on a higher level." Only dogs who respect their owner's authority should be invited in the bed.
How to Establish Yourself as the Alpha to Your Pit Bull
In the dog world, every pack has an alpha, or dominant, leader. This leader has the supreme authority over the other members of the pack. Your dog views your family the same way. Unless someone establishes himself as the alpha, your dog may attempt to take over that role. Pit bulls are an intelligent, perceptive and active breed that need a dominant alpha leader in order to live happy, balanced lives. Making adjustments to you and your dog's daily routine that mirror pack life will help your pit bull realize you are the alpha of your pack.