Ask Me Help Desk - Pit bull pup training

We found a pit bull female pup (might be a mix) and I have a couple of questions regarding their training... She's about 2 months old...

1. How do you keep her from snapping shut when you give her a treat- truly hurts if you get a finger caught in there...

2. Is potty training more difficult for this breed? Right now, she'll occasionally use the wee wee pad but rarely...

3. She was one of two female pups left on the side of the road, do people usually dump the females on this breed? I'm glad we found her, but I think it's a bit odd that there were two females dumped... Just curious, I guess...

4. I also have an older, geriatric min pin... He gets aggrivated by her hyperness-any thoughts there?

5. Am I right in assuming I have no worries with my 9 year old son because I got her young enough...

I think many housebreaking problems stem from poor technique. Much of what I see elsewhere leaves out much of what works for me. Compare what you find at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251809 to what you see elsewhere.

Early socialization can only go so far in counteracting misbreeding. At 2 months you still have some time to work with them. At least they are still young enough to do thing right. If they are 2 months old, they should still have all their puppy teeth, but the jaws should have grown enough that there are gaps between them opening up.

Many older dogs want little to do with puppies, and worse yet if they are almost as big as them. Treat him like the sofa. When you see a puppy starting for him, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'', and offer it a chew toy. Allow him to snap at it to let it know he doesn't want to play.

RubyPitbull should have some good ideas too.

Hi monessa! Thank you so much for being kind enough to take in a dog that was thrown away like that.

I don't have time to respond in detail to your post tonight. I will try to get back to you with as much help as possible, answering all your questions, tomorrow.

Just as an FYI, follow labman's link for his puppy training advice: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...man-53153.html
Basic pup training isn't any different for a pitbull than any other dog. The biggest concern is socializing her with as many other animals and people as possible, and view every day situations as an exercise in training. As labman states, allow your older dog to correct her. Your minpin may be small, but the pup recognizes him right now as the alpha dog and will learn from his corrections.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monessa

We found a pit bull female pup (might be a mix) and I have a couple of questions regarding their training...She's about 2 months old...

1. How do you keep her from snapping shut when you give her a treat- truly hurts if you get a finger caught in there...

2. Is potty training more difficult for this breed? Right now, she'll ocassionally use the wee wee pad but rarely...

3. She was one of two female pups left on the side of the road, do people usually dump the females on this breed? I'm glad we found her, but I think it's a bit odd that there were two females dumped...Just curious, I guess...

4. I also have an older, geriatric min pin...He gets aggrivated by her hyperness-any thoughts there?

5. Am I right in assuming I have no worries with my 9 year old son because I got her young enough...

Okay, the thing with pitbulls is that they are very intelligent, very active, and usually very great pets. You have to keep in mind that they are not like other dogs. Pitbulls take signs of aggression differently than other dogs. If a pit perceives something as a "challenge" they will defend themselves or their owners until either they die or the threat dies. They don't back off once dominance is established, they will fight to the death. Now, this does not make them bad dogs, I have one myself and love her to death! They are more of a challenge and a liability. They MUST be socialized at an early age. They need to be around dogs of all sizes, different types of people, children, and other animals. You will need to continue this socialization throughout their lives. NEVER leave them alone with animals like cats, rabbits, birds, etc. They have a strong prey drive and if not monitored may "hunt" these types of animals. Also, you should NEVER leave ANY type of dog alone with children. Pits are actually less likely to harm kids than other types of dogs, but if they do the results are much more severe. A pitbull has 1500 pounds of jaw pressure, that is 3 times as much as a german sheperd. This is why pits are seen as "killer" dogs. If they do attack, the results are either very severe or deadly. Potty training this breed isn't anymore difficult than any other type of dog. It just requires consistency and time. If you need more info on this topic, just ask. If these dogs came from someone who was using them for fighting purposes, then the females would be considered less valuable due to their decreased aggressiveness and smaller size (lack of testosterone). That may be one reason the females were discarded. If you want her to stop nipping when you give her treats, don't give her the treat unless she waits for you to hand it to her. If she still snaps, keep holding the treat and pull it away. When you do this say OUCH! Very loudly. When you offer it again, say "Gentle". Hold the treat in front of her nose and let her lick it. Only when she doesn't use teeth, give it to her. If you need more info on this, just ask. My best friend is a dog trainer, so I know a lot. In response to your older dog not wanting to play problem, it may be necessary to set aside a chunk of time every day for someone in your family to play only with her. If she gets her energy out, she may leave the other dog alone. It is good that he is smaller and a different sex. Pits tend to be a bit dog aggressive, especially toward other pits or similarly sized dogs of the same sex. If you get another dog, do not get a female. Also, you should have her spayed as soon as possible. If you get another dog, have them fixed as soon as possible. If your smaller dog gets aggrevated enough to snap at the pit, there may be a problem. If your pit starts to fight, your other dog has no chance. I actually have had this older dog/pitbull puppy problem before. I have a 12 year old dog who doesn't always want to play with my pit and she does snap. Luckily, my pit just takes it as a warning, not true aggression, and then leaves her alone. If you have anymore training or pitbull questions just let me know, I'm happy to help!

What happened to the other female puppy that had been dumped?

When we found the pups, we took them to the vet... They were a bit malnourished and we thought they had worms so we didn't want them around our other dog without being checked out so we took them in... After describing to them the difficulty of getting a no kill shelter to agree to take them (I had called around while they were taken down to the vet), the vet took one and we decided to take the other one... I had to take my older dog to the vet yesterday and she said the other pup is doing great...

As for the advise, I'm going to try it all... I'll keep you posted... Thank you...

Penguin, you are making my job very tough here today. LOL.

Monessa, please click on this link to see my response to another post made by Penguin regarding pitbulls. A number of issues and facts that he has brought up, I have added clarification to and, as a new pitbull owner, it is very important that you read it. https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/a...it-116511.html

Unfortunately, this week is a bit dicey for me. I was hoping to give you more of my time earlier today but wound up responding to Penguin's other post because I felt it was important to clarify certain things he stated about pitbulls. I am currently retraining/rehabbing another dog that we are getting readied for adoption. I have a training session shortly but will be back later to give you additional information. As stated in my earlier post to you, please follow the link to labman's basic puppy training. You have a lot of work there with a young puppy and that will keep you pretty busy.

In re: the treat training/biting, follow Penguin's advice. That is (except for a little more detail required) for the most part, spot on. If you are having trouble with it, post back. I will be back later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monessa

1. How do you keep her from snapping shut when you give her a treat- truly hurts if you get a finger caught in there...

All puppies bite and grab. They all have those sharp little teeth and yes, they truly hurt. So, please don't allow yourself to be fearful just because she is a pitbull. You need to treat her like any other dog when it comes to basic training and correction. They ARE like any other dog except for the dog-on-dog aggression that usually occurs with maturity. I talk about additional training further down in my response. For now with the treat training, hold the treat with your fist closed and the treat sticking out between your thumb & forefinger, or between the last knuckles of your forefinger and middle finger. This will keep her from clamping down on one of your fingers and hurting you. Then follow Penguin's directions. If it doesn't work, let us know. There is a another slightly different method I use when that first one doesn't do the trick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monessa

2. Is potty training more difficult for this breed? Right now, she'll ocassionally use the wee wee pad but rarely...

No, as both of us have stated, it isn't any more difficult to potty train her than any other dog. Actually, I have found them to be much easier than most dogs. They are very bright and learn quickly. I don't suggest using the weewee pad. As stated, follow labman's directions on this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monessa

3. She was one of two female pups left on the side of the road, do people usually dump the females on this breed? I'm glad we found her, but I think it's a bit odd that there were two females dumped...Just curious, I guess...

Athough I agree with what Penguin has stated, the serious breeders for fighting usually just kill the pups they deem not quality fighting or breeding material. You stated that you (or the vet?) think she is a mix? More than likely there was an accidental breeding and these two were the survivors of an unwanted litter. I cannot begin to tell you some of the places we have found puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats dumped by ignorant and uncaring people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monessa

4. I also have an older, geriatric min pin...He gets aggrivated by her hyperness-any thoughts there?

This is where my concern lies. Only for the fact that I know your minpin is ill. With his heart condition, he doesn't feel well and will not be very tolerant of her. As I stated earlier, let him correct her when she becomes too pushy with him. Watch them carefully. Due to his health, you need to make sure that he is not overstressed. You know him well enough to be able to know when to intervene and separate them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monessa

5. Am I right in assuming I have no worries with my 9 year old son because I got her young enough...

9 years old is not too young a child to allow around a pitbull pup. Honey, part of the problem is that you don't know where this dog came from and you don't know if she is a mix at this time. If she is a product of inbreeding, there could be a potential problem later on as she matures. But, overall, if you put in the time to make sure she is socialized with all dogs and people, and she trained properly to follow all of your commands, you shouldn't have any problems. Over the next year, as she grows she is going to become much stronger, so it is important to ensure that you and your son have complete control over her actions. Labman has some information regarding training yourself to be the Alpha that you will find quite useful. Hopefully he will see this post and stop by to post it. He also has a number of excellent resource books that are listed on the links we provided you here. I don't know if your 12 year old minpin is the last dog that you trained, but if he is, there has been a lot of changes in the past 12 years regarding training techniques. Positive reinforcement training is the correct method to be used with all dogs. I think it would be wise for you to seek out experienced trainers in your area and find out what puppy training classes they are offering. This way you can see the methods in actual use. I always encourage people with children to allow the child to be the one handling the dog in the class. It is a wonderful bonding experience for them, your son will learn the correct way to handle the dog, and the dog will become accustomed to your son being the Alpha and will take her direction from him, as well as you. Call your vet and ask if they can offer recommendations on experienced trainers in your area, preferably with someone who is comfortable working with pitbulls. Since your vet is keeping one of the pups, I am sure that he/she will help you with finding someone responsible. If not, ask your friends, neighbors, local pet stores, groomers, Humane Society, or ASPCA, for recommendations. You will definitely find someone. Quite a number of the rescue organizations offer classes themselves. You will find that as your dog ages, her energy will be boundless. Keep taking her to whatever the next level of training class is. They are excellent in agility training. and it is a great way for her to work off that excess energy. It is a rewarding experience for the dog, and will be for your son as well.

Oh yes, before I forget, I completely agree with Penguin regarding spaying. Please talk to your vet about this. It would be preferable if this is done before her first menses. Vets differ on when they are willing to do it, some will do it early, some a bit later. But it is a safe bet that most will do it by the time a dog is 6 months old.

A nine year old? 4-H. With somebody the right age in the family, 4-H dog training is a great idea.
In my area, clubs form soon after the first of the year. Even many urban
Areas have 4-H. For info look in your phone book under government listings
For extension or cooperative extension offices. Ask specifically about a dog
Or canine club. The dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a
Pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much
Easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn
To play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience
Class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete.

I think here the kids need to be 10 by the first of the year, and the dog whelped before Labor Day.

You guys have given me a great deal of information... I will be sure to use it and keep you posted... I will probably have a ton more questions as we go along... I appreciate your taking the time out of your day to help... Thank you very much...

I forgot about 4-H Labman. It is another good way for her son to make new friends too. Monessa, whatever you decide about training, please don't put it off. You need to start this process immediately to minimize any negative behavior from her, and you need to be diligent about her training. They are terriers and can be stubborn at times so be patient. Any further questions just let us know and keep us posted if you are having trouble finding a good trainer. We are happy to help in any way that we can.

Okay, update... Happy (the pit or pit mix) has gone potty outside 4 times today and counting... Still no luck with the poopies, but that will come I'm sure... Yelping has helped her not to bite me as much... I don't know if she's pit or pit mix... I'm just guessing on that one... We'll see... I have my associate bring her dog in and he's a pup, too... Hopefully that will help... I'm not helping any aggressive tendencies by letting them play together, right? I know somebody posted that was normal for these types and for rotties?

As far as getting rid of the pup, I can't say that I can do that until I see the first sign of her becoming aggressive... I am going to take the belief that if you raise it right and eliminate any unsafe situations it will be okay. I can't imagine that ALL pits would be harmful towards others, even when they're raised in a loving home. Right?

monessa, that is part of what I was talking about with socialization. It is very important that she is exposed to all animals and people. Play time with other pups is most definitely the right thing to do. As many different dogs,and as often, as you can. I still do it with my 5 year old. She loves it. This will help in diffusing any aggression she may have with new dogs as she ages. If she gets used to the routine of playing with new and different types of dogs all the time, it will lessen the chance of her reacting negatively to new dogs when, and as, she matures.

I didn't see your second post when I posted my response above. Being a responsible pet owner is the number one rule. Love is wonderful but it isn't enough. It is training and proper socialization that will help you achieve your goal of a dog that is mentally balanced. If your minpin is a good dog and without aggression, then you know that you have it in you to do the same with this new one. Minpins are notorious for not being very accepting other breeds outside of their own. Chihuahuas too.

Really... I didn't know that (about minpins)... He gets aggrivated and growls at Happy, but hasn't bit him yet... Just warning him... I'm keeping the dog... I believe things happen for a reason and Happy belongs with us... If it requires a little more work, so be it... I believe I'll be able to keep any unsafe situations from happening... Fortunately, her paws aren't very big so hopefully she won't grow to be very huge... Is there any way you can tell if she was inbred (she doesn't have 6 toes) or if she's full pit?

Yep, minpins do have trouble with other dogs. So, you must have done something right. :) Yours doesn't feel well and he is warning Happy to leave him alone. Guaranteed, she gets it. They have their own language and the young pups always take direction from the older dog. She may test him as she gets older. You just need to keep an eye on the situation, as I said before.

As she ages and fills out, you will be able to tell if she is a mix. There isn't any way of telling at the moment, if she is inbred. It takes time, getting to know their personality and monitoring them very closely for negative behavior. You will know if inbreeding has occurred because the behavior will be out of the norm. If she is sweet and loving now, don't worry about it, just watch her closely. If this makes you feel any better, a lot of the stuff Penguin was stating on his posts about pitbulls is the same stuff I was told when I first started working with them. When I adopted my crazy rescue, I was also told by a "qualified pitbull trainer" that she was a bad dog and either needed to be put on meds or euthanized. I couldn't see what he was talking about. She was hyper and untrained, but I watched her very very closely, and never noticed any aggression from her as a pup or as a young dog. I started doing more and more research, talking to more people, working with more pits than before, and realized a lot of the stuff I was told was like a pre-recorded blanket message. Every dog is different, just like people. You need to train her as you would any other dog and correct any aggression you may see. Mine didn't become dog aggressive, and there really is very little of it from her, until she matured fully. I keep her on a short lead when we are in public and watch her very closely. I can feel on the leash when she tenses up over another dog, and immediately correct it by directing her to lie down and blocking the other dog from her view, forcing her to focus on me.

I have to leave now, I am running late. When you get a chance, post her picture on here if you can. Full face view and side view of the entire body. I might be able to tell if she is mix or not. Can't make any promises. It is so hard to tell when they are so young.

If any other questions come to mind, or if I didn't answer your questions clearly enough, let me know. I will pop back in later or early tomorrow morning.

I'll get a pic this weekend... Thanks...

Young dogs need time to play with other young dogs. That was part of the reason I said yes when Cheri asked if we could keep Ella for a week while they went to Disney World. She and my Gretchen had a great time:

http://www.photolocker.net/images/La...llaplaying.jpg

You need to take great care with young puppies in which other dogs. It needs to be somebody you know keeps their puppy up to date on shots and is careful about what dogs it is exposed to. Your associate's pup may be a good choice. No shot program can eliminate a window where a dog is vulnerable to parvo and other diseases.

Edited to add:

The comment below is just plain wrong showing poor judgment of dogs. The Lab Ella lived in a home with a couple of older dogs that were mostly past wanting to play such games. Gretchen was the only dog we had in our home at that time. The 2 of them made good use of having a chance to play together that week. The 2 of them were freely allowed to play together all week with no problems. Later Ella graduated as a dog guide in a program that has rejected dogs for just growling at somebody. Gretchen was retained as breedign stock as the best of the best. Mowermans comment is one more good indication of why nobody should take any of his advice on dogs.

His comment of watch the news in one of RubyPitbull's post is another. The news reports are often inaccurate and sensationalized.

The puppy looks mad... Fortunately, I haven't seen any of this behavior in Happy... But then again, we've only had her for two weeks... She's very loving... No matter where I am, when she wants to take a nap, she comes and lays on my foot (even if I'm cooking dinner)... Absolutely adorable... Parvo isn't non-existent out here, but it is much rarer than east coast... I know my friends dog has all of his shots... Happy does too... We'll see...

The yelping thing when she bites is a God send... It works so well...

Working on it one step at a time... She's getting more personality every day... It's so cute...

And Skebo ran for a treat today... He's getting better... Yay!! :)