How to Take Care of a Pit Bull Puppy

While a pit bull terrier can make an excellent family pet, the breed has been maligned throughout the country for perceived aggressive behavior. However, many muscular dogs are inaccurately identified as pit bulls when they are, in fact, unidentified mixed breeds or different breeds altogether. Today's pit bulls were bred from English bull-baiting dogs and faster terriers for the purpose of dog fighting. It's important to properly care for and socialize your pit bull to make her a good example of the breed.

Because pit bulls are muscular dogs that were originally were bred to fight dogs and other animals, begin socializing the animals immediately to curb any potentially aggressive tendencies. Pit bulls can have a strong prey instinct, so start socialization on leash. Start by teaching him to look at you on command by rewarding him every time you say his name and he responds.

When introducing your pit bull to another animal, first say your dog's name and reward him for looking at you. Wait for him to respond to your commands and look at you before allowing him to sniff the other animal. Reward with praise and treats for any positive interaction, such as sniffing or trying to engage play. If he gets too excited, eliciting barks or growls, put him in a time-out space and wait for him to calm down. Keep interactions short and positive.

Watch your dog closely and learn his tolerance level when it comes to other dogs. Even well-socialized pit bulls will fight back if attacked, so monitor interactions and remove your dog if necessary.

In addition to socializing, your pit bull will need a lot of positive training to ensure he behaves properly. Pit bulls are very energetic and tend to jump on visitors and pull on their leash. Start by taking your dog to a training class so she is exposed to other dogs during training. Begin all greetings on leash and never let your dog greet while jumping. Soon she will learn she can only greet while calm and polite.

If she starts to pull, stop walking. When she makes the leash loose by turning around, praise her and continue walking. This positive training will increase your bond and reduce the chance of triggering negative behavior.

Like many breeds bred for activity, pit bulls have lots of energy. To control this, plan to exercise your pit bull for at least an hour each day, especially as an adolescent, about 6 to 18 months. While walking is a good exercise, pit bulls love to run and chase, so include at least half of the exercising time for playing with other dogs, chasing a ball, or running. This is an important part of pitbull puppy care and will help your dog learn to be calm in the house because he will have an outlet for his energy.

As a mixed breed, pit bulls have few common health problems. However, many are known to have allergies, so choosing a high-quality food is important. If she is chewing or scratching frequently, try switching the food under your vet's supervision.

The other common health problem facing pit bulls is hip and elbow dysplasia, which can be exacerbated by extra weight. To avoid this, feed the recommended amount, altered based on the amount of exercise he receives. You should be able to easily feel the ribs on your pit bull.