Some of the most common bully breeds include: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boxer, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

In my professional (or not so professional) opinion, if you have a rescue dog with no papers who looks like he/she might have some of those breeds mixed in, it’s safer to label them a bully mix rather than a “Pitbull” since they could be any number of breeds! Unless the dog has had a DNA test and is 100% American Pitbull Terrier, it seems pretty unfair to slap the “Pitbull” label on them since that term has become shorthand for so many traits.

I personally call my own Disco a bully breed. He’s a rescue from NYC’s Animal Care and Control and we’ve never had his DNA tested. Maybe someday we will out of curiosity, but for now I’m content to love him for who he is without knowing his lineage!

Would the real “Pitbull” please stand up?

I like to tell people to imagine that their dog starts each day with a full tank of energy. Each time you burn up some of that energy with a game, an exercise, or a mental challenge there’s a little less of that fuel left for jumping on furniture, counters or chewing on inappropriate items.

In addition to a few leash walks per day (which provide mental stimulation), high-energy dogs should get their heart rate up at least once a day. Generally, most Bully’s do well with a minimum of two to three 20 minute walks and one good hearty 20 minutes of interactive play. This play time can be with other dogs or with people. Very few people have hours on end to play and train with their dog but if you can give your dog at least an hour of combined walks and play throughout the day it’ll make a huge difference. Obviously the more you can give the better, but don’t be misled into thinking that you need six hours a day to take good care of your Bully’s physical and mental health. The weather and age/health of your individual dog will also be factors in determining your dog’s daily routine, not all dogs require the same amount of exercise.

Walks

Walks don’t tend to cut it as exercise for most dogs. Exercise means exertion. It’s a lot to ask of a puppy or adolescent dog to walk nicely on a leash before they’ve used up some of that energy. While out on walks, please allow your dog to sniff – this is a big deal to them! This is the equivalent of you returning emails, or as Dr. Ian Dunbar calls them “pee mails”. Walks are for elimination, sniffing and socializing. Use consistent words to tell your dog when to take their time sniffing (such as “Go Sniff”) and when it is time to move on (such as “OK, let’s go”). Walking should be a cooperative activity. It’s also an excellent time to incorporate training (more on this below).

Play

Play can be with humans or other dogs, but public dog parks are not recommended for a variety of reasons. If your dog is social, set up play dates with his/her friends. Many people ask, “Are Pitbulls are safe to play with other dogs?” All dogs are different – there’s no way to give a definitive answer! If you have any concerns about your dog’s behavior around other people or dogs, contact me or another positive, reward-based trainer in your area. It’s best to avoid dog parks unless you have what I call a bomb-proof dog. These dogs are far and few between and are so socially fluid/relaxed that they don’t ever confront or aggress on other dogs no matter what the situation is – very rare. Having insight into dog play is fun and is a great way to understand your dog better. During play, work out your Bully dog with games like fetch, tug and hide & seek. Belly Ball (developed by CTC trainer Drayton Michaels) is another great way to work in training and exercise if you have the space! All of these games integrate training and impulse control into them so you can tire out your dog while training!

Mental Enrichment

Sometimes dog owners focus too much on exercise alone and inadvertently end up creating a super athlete that they can’t keep up with! For this and other reasons, it’s important to burn off some of your dog’s energy with mental enrichment strategies as well. Dogs need to think and problem solve. If we don’t provide opportunities for them to do this legally, they will come up with their own ideas such as garbage can raiding, counter surfing and digging. Providing proper outlets for mental stimulation will go a long way in preventing unwanted behaviors.

Dogs are hunters and scavengers. In a more natural environment, they would be expending quite a lot of energy to secure food. Adding some puzzle/work-to-eat toys such as the Kong or Tricky Treat Ball to get your dog working harder for his food will help burn up some more of that energy and further satisfy his need to think and problem solve. Remember to stuff Kongs loosely at first and only stuff tighter as the dog gets good at unstuffing – tongue dexterity is an acquired skill!

Alone Time

If you are away from your home for more than four to six hours at a time, please consider getting a dog walker or a trusted friend to walk your dog in the middle of the day. Most Bully dogs love to be with people. Spending large amounts of time alone can develop stress related behaviors, such as separation anxiety, excessive barking, crate or furniture chewing and house soiling.

Functional Rewards

Training happens every day and usually it’s our dogs training us! It’s important to focus your efforts on what I call functional rewards instead of always thinking about using food. Using food to quickly train a behavior is usually the most effective, but once your dog has learned it, a reward can be the door opening for them to go outside, a tug game starting or even a water dish being put down. These are known as functional rewards and I like to make sure people understand how to effectively use them. For example, once your dog knows how to sit, have them sit before going outside. Once they know sit and wait, go ahead and ask for that. The reward for waiting is the access to the outdoors! You don’t always need treats to train, you just need to remember that you are the gatekeeper to your dogs resources. Once you get into the routine of doing this, you’ll notice it can actually be fun for both you and your Bully!

For more ideas on how to apply this practically, check out my article on it.

PHILOSOPHIES OF DOG TRAINING

My personal biases are science and the desire for the humane treatment of animals. Although there are many varieties of dog training techniques to choose from, modern dog trainers base their techniques on science-based, humane methods that are fast and effective. You can get the job accomplished without all of the risks that come with using old-fashioned war dog training techniques which employ force, fear, pain and startle; all of which are detrimental to your bond and can create an unstable, unpredictable dog. That may be okay for a war dog, but not for family dogs who we need to trust around kids, visitors and a variety of other circumstances.

Dogs that have been trained with aversive methods often develop such unwanted side effects as an aversion to hands, an aversion to people approaching, aggression/fear towards other dogs and people in general, and illness due to stress. These are not the results you want from training. Building a trusting bond should be the underlying intention of any training program. As responsible guardians, we need to present ourselves in a kind and loving manner towards our dogs for their sake and for the impression we send to the general public.

PUPPIES

Experiences make an indelible impression in puppies that they will carry with them throughout their entire lives. All puppies are mouthy, jumpy and challenging. They need to be taught proper behavior with gentle, consistent guidance. Please refrain from using ANY harsh or aversive training or communication methods with any dog, but especially with a developing puppy as it can result in a host of future behavioral troubles. Get your puppy enrolled in a modern, reward-based puppy class that focuses of socialization, bite inhibition and handling.

TRAINING IN THE REAL WORLD

It’s a myth that it takes hours a day to train your dog. Although it is helpful to have a basic foundation before moving on to more distracting settings, dog training does not have to always be done at certain times set aside. Some of the most important training you will ever do is what we call “Real World Training”. Real World Training happens during the time you would normally spend with your dog such as when you are on a walk or hanging out watching TV. Dog training can happen all the time (anytime!) once you know how to incorporate it into your daily routine.

CHANGING DOG BEHAVIOR REQUIRES CHANGING HUMAN BEHAVIOR

If changes in your dogs behavior are needed, you will need to change your approach and your thinking about their behavior in order to achieve success. Dogs are amoral and seek to please themselves. They do what works and what is safe. We never can know for sure what a dog is thinking but we do know what that they are doing and if we want more or less of it. We can achieve our goals using humane techniques based on science without compromising the trust of our animal or risking anyone’s safety.

DOGS ARE INDIVIDUALS

Many people have rescued dogs that may have been trained with out-dated aversive methods or suffered from some sort of abuse or neglect. Change for these dogs will take time and the work will require dedication. How fast goals are accomplished depends on several factors including but not limited to age, temperament, learning ability, owner commitment and experience, and training goals.

DID YOU KNOW THAT DOG TRAINING IS AN UNREGULATED PROFESSION?

Some trainers simply use the “dominance” panacea or the “aggression” panacea to explain things that they do not understand and to justify their use of forceful training methods. Some trainers who do not understand dog behavior are especially intimidated by Bullys and resort to “being the boss” and use harsh vocalizations or corrections with a hand, foot, leash and/or collar. This is always a dangerous approach to use with any dog and leads to behavior problems that can be very difficult to undo. Thankfully there are more sophisticated, easier and safer approaches to get the job done. Many times our dogs are simply being dogs and by learning to understand normal dog behavior, you will be better equipped to train and manage accordingly with humane methods. Take the extra time to do extensive research on any potential trainers. If the trainers are not certified in science-based, humane training, you should really consider what this could do to your dog’s mental and physical well-being.

TRAINER GUARANTEES

Some “trainers” guarantee results. This is a red flag. Because of variables in dog breeding and temperament and owner commitment and experience, a trainer cannot and should not guarantee the results of his/her training. Behavior changes within different contexts. Just as our behaviors are not always the same each day, neither is your dog’s behavior. A better bet is to look for a trainer who guarantees that they will do all they can to safely and professionally help you and your dog.

Your Pitbull should be supervised (within your view) or managed (in a crate or other dog proofed area) at all times until fully trained. Until then, set your Pitbull up to succeed by making it impossible to make the wrong choices as far as what to chew and where to eliminate when you are not present to interrupt and redirect to an appropriate location or item.

PROPER USE OF A CRATE

Crates are a wonderful training tool when used properly. It is important that the crate not be overused and the dog should be taught to have a positive association to the crate. Beyond management while training proper habits, most dogs will need to be crated at some point in their lives – such as when boarding or when admitted for veterinary procedures. For this reason we recommend that all dogs are trained to love their crates. Also, crates come in handy for many situations — feeding, sleeping (dogs like dens, when introduced properly), when company comes over, after a bath or after a wet dirty play time or because you have a dog who isn’t fully trained and you need a break from supervising. We recommend sturdy metal folding crates that are see through.

Here are 10 Tips for Teaching Your Dog to Love the Crate

1. Choose a central location where your dog will see the family often – such as the kitchen or family room. Avoid low traffic areas such as garages or basements.
2. Set up the crate and leave the door open – do not force your dog into the crate or immediately lock the dog in the crate. Let the dog go in and out of the crate on their terms at first. This builds trust.
3. Use some twine to tie your dog’s favorite chew toy to the back of the crate so he has to enjoy it in the crate (with the door open). Flossies work great for this.
4. Toss in some treats when your dog isn’t looking. Don’t point them out — let your dog discover the crate and the treasures inside on his own.
5. Start daily feedings in the crate. Walk to the crate with the food bowl; ask your dog to go in, once in the crate place the food in the crate. After he finishes, open the door.
6. At least once a day ask your dog to go in the crate and give a treat for going in and allow the dog to exit the crate immediately after. A treat could be a bone, a toy, a special cookie, a stuffed Kong, etc. Make going into the crate FUN!
7. Slowly build up the duration of time (starting with 5 minutes or less and gradually working up to longer periods of time) that you keep the dog in the crate, without ever exceeding 4-6 hours.
8. Put the crate or exercise pen next to sofa, rent a video and keep the dog confined next to you while he works on a stuffed Kong or other chewies (bully sticks, sterilized marrow bone, etc.).
9. It’s always a good idea you give the dog something to do in the crate. Chew toys and work to eat toys make great crate activities.
10. Take your dog outside to eliminate as soon as you get home and immediately after allowing him out of the crate.

Is your dog soiling the crate?

If you discover your dog is soiling his crate, the first thing to try is removing the pad or blanket for a week – the porous material may be triggering elimination. Be sure, also, that you are not stretching the dog too long between bathroom trips and forcing him to eliminate in his crate. Keep both the dog and the crate scrupulously clean. It would be prudent to have him checked for a bladder infection if he is urinating really often. Finally, a minority of dogs is just not inhibited from eliminating by crates or have lost their cleanliness instinct by being confined continuously. Call for pointers if you can’t get your dog to stop soiling his crate.

Due the overabundance of false information, myths and urban legends about Pitbull dogs from both the pro and anti-Pitbull camps, it seems wise to present two well-researched position statements from a seasoned trainer I know on aggression. The PDF’s below are about 10-20 pages each, but if you have an interest in how and why aggression develops and how much of it is related to environment vs. breed, I strongly recommend you read them!

The key points are that environment and the dog’s history have much more to do with displays of aggression towards people or dogs than some behavior abnormality, code in the dog’s genetics, or dominance myths. Human behavior is the greatest variable in a dog’s training and socialization whether in the past or currently; this is the foundation of any dog’s soundness.

If a dog has significant fear, anxiety and/or aggression issues, it is strongly suggested that you have the dog thoroughly checked by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes.

• Position Statement on inherited dog-directed aggression in Pitbull Dogs (PDF)
• Aggression directed towards humans and the soundness of Pitbull type dogs (PDF)

Operation Pit is the ASPCA’s canine health program specially designed to help Pits and Pit mixes be all that they can be! Operation Pit offers free spay, neuter, or vasectomy surgeries to Pit Bulls, along with free Distemper/Parvovirus vaccinations and free microchips. Vaccination and microchipping are optional, but dogs must receive spay, neuter or vasectomy services. Anyone may enlist their Pit Bull in Operation Pit—the program is not limited by income or place of residence.

For more information visit the ASPCA’s site or call (877) 900-PITS

Ongoing – Every Tuesday and Thursday by appointment
FREE Wellness Care for Your Pitbull
Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, 424 East 92nd Street (between 1st Ave. and York St.)

Also check my calendar for classes + non-bully events/seminars.

• Bully Project hosts free classes and events for bully dogs on the upper-west side.
• NYC Pitbull Meetup Group Forum is a great place to meet other responsible NYC bully owners. Set up walks or play-dates for socialization.
• BadRap has an fantastic information-filled site with lots of great reading.
• Animal Farm Foundation has some great information and resources to fill your community with.
• PitBull Guru has a great list of links to other resources.
• Pitbulls.org has a good number of well written and vetted articles specifically targeted towards bully breeds. The Diet and Health articles are particularly helpful.
• Hello Bully also has a great education section on their site.
• Pit Bull Rescue Central