How do we teach our pit bull/shepherd mix not to be so aggressive when she plays with us and other dogs?
By Debra Winters from Holland, MI
Sometimes it is a matter of not having enough exercise and this will solve it. If it's momma did not teach an inhibited bite, this will cause rough playing. You can try yelping and then grabbing it's snout gently but firmly and saying "NO BITE" in a firm voice. Here are some more tips: http://www.dogstardaily.com/training/teaching-bite-inhibition
By Robyn Fed
We have 2 80+ pound pits that are 3yrs old and they still get really excited when playing with us and each other. They are great dogs, not mean at all! Just they get really excited like that and we make them stop playing for a few seconds and sit until they get their right frame of mind back. And like Robyn said they need lots of exercise. Ours live in the house, so every day when daddy gets home out they go for an hour and run and play and fetch! (04/15/2009)
By Sis
If your dog tries to jump on you just turn your back and wait till she's calm. Put her on a leash and show him other dogs. If she tries to jump on them too then pull him back and keep doing this until she can play happily with the dogs. (04/17/2009)
By kailey
First, it is normal behavior from the puppy's point of view to play bite and chase it's pack members. Here is a great website on dog training. Learburg.com
Look for the articles or podcasts or streaming video. It has lots of different subjects and it is a great training site for people! Also check out the article Theory of Correction in Dog Training at this same site.
Remember to scream out when the dog bites too hard whether it hurts or not. When it refuses to calm down take all the toys away and leave the room. Don't over engage him or her in too rough of play as this will increase the need to chase and bite. If the dog is really acting out and you can't get it's respect, then grab its cheeks softly on either side of the head and lift it's feet off the floor gently and tell it NO Bite and stare at it until it looks away and submits.
By Robyn Fed
If you don't get it under control while it is a puppy, you are setting yourself up for disaster when it gets older, bigger and stronger. Watch the Dog Whisperer/Cesar Millan or get one of his books at the library. You can also go to his website. www.cesarmillaninc.com and get lots of help. It may be cute now, but I promise aggression is a serious matter and needs to be addressed immediately. Lee in FL (04/19/2009)
By Lee Taylor
Try watching It's Me or The Dog, on animal planet. She says to yelp really sharply & lift toy and turn away. Don't play no matter what for a while, then try again. They usually get the idea. After all, playing with you is what they want most. If you turn away & not play again till she sits or stops completely, dogs are smart enough to realize it's not the way to play.
If it shows aggression towards you while playing, yelp really sharp and quick like a puppy's yelp because this is their natural way of saying, "hey that hurts", "or that's too much". You probably can't get it to be non dog aggressive. They are dog aggressive dogs. Especially if you have 2 males or 2 females in one house. Over excitement will also break into dog fights, too. (04/20/2009)
By Becca
I raised German Shepherds. One thing I was always told was that you didn't play aggressive games with them; no rope pull, tug toys, etc. or other aggressive games. (04/20/2009)
By Carol
I don't know. I believe aggression is inbred in pit bulls. I'm not sure if you can "train" the animal to not be aggressive.
That said, I must add that I would SURE try very hard because once the animal is grown you are going to have trouble. (04/22/2009)
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