| Training isn't a something that you do for a short | | | | the dogs head until the dog sat down. Then I would |
| period of time and quit once your dog has started | | | | give the dog the treat while verbally praising her. |
| being obedient. Training needs to be an important | | | | It is important to keep the sessions short and fun. |
| part of your daily routine with your pit bull. | | | | For young dogs its best to keep it too around 5 |
| When it comes to training your dog, there are as | | | | minutes, as they get older and their attention span |
| many techniques out there as there are trainers. Talk | | | | increases you can increase the time of the sessions. |
| to ten dog owners about how they train, and you | | | | As the dog learns that the sitting after hearing the |
| will get ten different answers. | | | | command sit, means he gets a treat, you will notice |
| I always suggest that new owners avoid prong | | | | that you no longer have to trick the dog. However, |
| collars, not because they can't be effective at | | | | at this point it is important that you keep giving the |
| training, but because the techniques required to | | | | treat. Once your dog masters one trick its time to |
| effectively use a prong collar on your dog isn't easy | | | | move on to something else. |
| to learn. An inexperienced trainer runs the risk or | | | | Always remember that when you teach new tricks it |
| over correcting and causing potential dog - trainer | | | | is important to continue to review old tricks as well. |
| relationship problems by using a prong collar. I have | | | | Dogs are like people in the sense that they |
| never met a dog that didn't respond well to positive | | | | sometimes forget what they did yesterday. |
| reinforcement training techniques. It may not be the | | | | Once your dog has learned the basic commands of |
| fastest way to train a dog, but in my opinion it | | | | Sit, Lay Down, Roll Over, and stay you can move on |
| produces the best results both in the dogs attitude | | | | to something more difficult. With my young dogs I |
| and his desire to learn new things. | | | | play a game of "Name that Toy", where I say a toy |
| When starting to train your pit bull with positive | | | | name and the dog goes and picks it out. Training for |
| reinforcement, I find that the use of treats works | | | | this game takes some time and patience but it |
| the best. You may be able to try using a favorite | | | | teaches a lot the skills that the dog will use later, |
| toy. I try to wing my dogs off of treats and on to | | | | including releasing the toy after he has brought it |
| toys once they get older. | | | | back too me. |
| To train using positive reinforcement is quite simple. | | | | Always remember to keep training sessions fun, this |
| For the first couple of sessions with your dog, you | | | | is good for both you the owner and the dog. By |
| are going to have to vocalize a command and then | | | | keeping it fun the dog will look forward to learning |
| use the treat to trick the dog into doing it. For | | | | new things, and you the owner will be amazed at |
| example I would say "Sit" and then hold a treat over | | | | how capable the pit bull is at learning. |