A calm, mild-tempered pitbull can do a world of good in clearing away the many misconceptions about this wonderful breed. We often get stopped by people asking if they can pet our dogs as we walk through the park or the pet store. Some people who are not familiar with the look of a bully pitbull are surprised to find out they’ve had their hand so close to a “deadly” pitbull. Some of my favorite moments are the dumbfounded look of shock that shows on the faces of many people as they process that information. Even people who know and love pitbulls often comment on the extremely calm temperament of Bigfoot and Balou, our two large males.
What if your pitbull naturally has more energy than most people can handle? Before taking him on public excursions, tire him out with a long walk, some vigorous play or some challenging training – or all three. If there are specific situations that create excitement for your dog, work with him specifically on those situations, even if you have to simulate them so you can control all unknown variables until he is adjusted.
Socialization of your blue pit is also extremely important. This will help him to be friendly and calm as he meets new people and encounters new situations throughout his life. Try to expose him to as many new things as possible while he is still a puppy. It will help him to handle new things better if he is tired (see above)– that way he will be more focused on you and where you lead him and less likely to be overly eager or easily stressed. Make sure that you are not nervous as you begin a new experience with your pitbull. If you are nervous or scared, he will pick up on that and respond the same way. Sometimes you just have to fake your confidence by making sure you don’t transfer any tension onto his leash and try to mask your nervous body language by holding yourself up strong and tall, no matter how you’re feeling inside.
I’ve found that when our dogs are scared or nervous it is not the best time to pet them or let other people pet them. If they stop short as you enter a new place (like going into a store for the first time) wait 10 to 20 seconds, still facing the direction you plan to go and try moving forward again. Avoid walking back to your pitbull and petting him or getting behind and pushing him in because either one of those maneuvers will just make things worse.
Bonus Tip: What should you do if your pitbull gets away from you but she’s still in sight? First, don’t yell or scream at her. Would you run joyfully to someone who is obviously furious with you? I wouldn’t. Instead, use pitbulls’ natural love of play and the chase to your advantage. If you have a toy nearby, get really excited and happy playing with it. Grab anything you can: squeaky toys are great, but even a stick, or a jacket if you’re willing to let it get slobber on it….Once you have your pitbull’s attention with the distraction of your choice, get a strong hold on her leash or collar if she has one. If she wasn’t wearing one when she got loose, let her play with you and chase you back into the fence or house. This has worked for me with our females Reina and Luna, who both got out when we were moving. Pitbulls can’t resist a good game and that goes for ours too.
Comments
Post new comment