Over the years I have noticed that the majority of Pit Bull owners love to train their dogs. From the simple to the complex training seems to be a high priority for the majority of folks who love this breed.

I became so obsessed with training my dog Angel that it landed me in the professional dog training industry and I do not regret my decision to make dog training a career at all. Thanks Angel.

I wanted to share with you, from my experience, what seems to be the way to go regarding training Pit Bull Terriers.

Pit Bulls, by and large, respond very well to what I call positive drive training.

I’m sure others have used this type of training before me, I am not a pioneer by an stretch.

What is positive drive training? Glad you asked this very important question.

Positive drive training uses your dogs natural instincts (drives) to help them learn, perform, and maintain their behaviors.

Pit Bulls have a lot of the same drives as other breeds. However, one drive that stands out amongst most Pit Bulls is prey drive.

Prey drive is the instinct to chase, catch and kill prey. You can see this drive show itself in a game of tug of war. After you let the dog have the toy they shake it and run with it (killing behavior).

There are other drives involved in tug of war but we won’t get into those. Suffice to say, you want your dog in prey drive.

If your dog doesn’t have prey drive (rare amongst Pit Bulls) then you can use food instead of their toy to train them.

I prefer toys because the toy keeps their focus longer, they work harder for it, and you can’t fill them up with fetch or tug.

The Training Game

I use a game I call the training game to teach my dogs and clients dogs obedience and even complex tricks.

The game is simple and is based on one or two of the toys your dog loves. For example, my girls Angel and Honey both have a love of tug of war. Angel on the other hand is a real fetch freak as well.

In order to teach her a new behavior I excite her for her toy, show her what I want, then let her have the toy.

In short, the game of fetch becomes the reward for performing the behavior. You do not always have to use treats to get your dog to do something.

BACKFIRE PROBLEMS: Sometimes the drive for the toy can override their senses making it near impossible to teach them something because they are so focused on the toy. Lower the value of the toy and try with that instead.

If your Pit Bull loves tug of war, play that game with them and require obedience before the game starts and ends.

For example, you and your dog are playing tug. You ask your dog to let go of the toy, they do, reward with another game of tug.

Play the game again, if they let go say, “good dog!” then have them bite after the toy but make them miss. When all four paws are on the ground say, “sit!” when they do, reward with a game of tug.

I use tug almost exclusively when training competition dogs and my own dogs. Fetch is used when the dog shows more interest in that game. However, I have yet to see a Pit Bull that when done properly, was not into a good game of tug of war.

Over time your dog will learn discipline and obedience through playing these games. Then, when it really counts, you ask for something, you get it because obedience means play time for your dog.

I could spend another two hours and 2000 words or more on this subject alone but alas, time doesn’t allow that.

If you are interested in learning more about training your Pit Bull using these methods you can find more information at PitBullLovers.com and in The Pit Bull Training Handbook

Have a great day,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Web Site Online

Emma has been trained to pick up trash and put it in the trash bins. Keeping the streets a little cleaner and providing a positive image for Pit Bulls. I ran across this story and I couldn’t help but share it with you. Just another example of the diversity of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

You can read the full story at: Little Litter Dog: Pit Bull Doing Its Part to Keep City Clean

Hope you enjoy the story as much as I did.

Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Website Online
The Pit Bull Training Handbook

Beautiful and squeaky clean are two descriptions that I use quite often when describing their facility. I describe Uptown Hounds like this, “Once you walk in the front door you will say, “Holy *&^&!” It is that nice. Beyond that top notch facility you have a top notch staff with owners who really care about your dog.

We have created fun training programs, their staff are all certified pet care specialist, they put their hands on your dog (in a good way) and your dog is given the 5 star luxury treatment at a great price.

My favorite part is Uptown Hounds does not discriminate against Pit Bulls. They welcome all dogs of all breeds. I was truly impressed by their willingness to work with dogs that most dog boarding facilities turn away.

If you are in or around the Lexington Ky area you should stop in for a free tour of the facility. I will likely be there training and or just hanging out in the Cafe drinking a cup of coffee.

Check Uptown Hounds out by going to Uptown Hounds Luxury Resort for Dogs in Lexington Ky.

Best Regards,
Jason, Angel, Honey and Patch
The Most Complete Web Site Online
The Pit Bull Training Handbook

Dear Friend and Fellow Pit Bull Terrier Fancier,

I am writing you today to request that you withdraw all support for the ASPCA and HSUS. If you are donating money to these organizations please, for the love of our breed, stop right now.

There are many Pit Bull owners and animal lovers out there who willing support this organizations thinking they are doing “good works.” Sadly, these organizations are doing anything but “good works” in regards to our breed.

The HSUS has taken it upon itself to become an animal police force when in reality they do not have any legal authority to take the actions they are taking in regards to Pit Bull owners and their dogs.

With shows like Animal Cops and Miami Animal Police they are telling the viewer they are law enforcement. This is not true. In fact they do not have any legal authority at all.

Let’s take a look at a few cases where the HSUS stepped in and helped the animals.

Case #1: Floyd Boudreaux

Notorious dog fighter or victim? Actually he is both. He openly admits to fighting his dogs in the early days, when it was legal. Now though he is a famous APBT breeder and his dogs are from some of the best game dog lines out there.

Victim? Yes. Last year Floyd spent time in jail on dog fighting charges. Those charges were dropped due to the fact the authorities created false evidence. Evidence which was used to secure a warrant to raid his home and steal his dogs.

How many of his 50 plus dogs were re-homed? None. They were all put to sleep. Even the puppies. Why? No one really has given me a straight answer on this and I have asked the Louisiana ASPCA without a reply.

So Mr. Boudreaux and his son lose their dogs, whom they loved, are jailed and after the HSUS and law enforcement can’t make a case they are aquitted. It doesn’t matter, the damage is done, and the HSUS succeeded in smearing the name of a American Pit Bull Terrier fancier and steward of the breed for longer than I have been alive.

Case #2: Joe Woodall

Joe emailed me the other day and told me his story. I think it is important to share his experience here because from what I gather this is just another HSUS/ASPCA scam to steal people’s dogs and kill them without having to answer for their actions.

Mr. Woodall is fighting to get his dogs back but here is the rub. They were never charged with any dog fighting crimes but that is why their dogs were stolen.

There are many aspects to these two cases that bother me. First and foremost is lack of real evidence before the animal right organizations storm people’s homes. Second, why are law enforcement agencies allowing dogs to be taken, re-homed, or killed before anyone is charged with anything!?

My friend this is theft. Plain and simple. If I came to your home and said, “You know I think you are a dog fighter. I am taking your dogs.” Then I take your dogs, kill them, or sell them to new homes, would that be right?

No, it would be theft.

The HSUS and the ASPCA are theives who are profiting from illegal seizures of perfectly healthy animals who are well cared for and loved.

Let’s not kid ourselves. No one is a perfect angel. We all make mistakes, we all have our demons, we all have our hang ups. However that does not give the HSUS or ASPCA the right to come into a persons home, steal their property (their dogs), and sell them (adoption fees = selling a dog) or kill their dogs.

Even if someone is fighting their dogs it is still not right to steal their dogs and kill them because they say they can’t rehome them due to the fact they were used for fighting. Fighting dogs, by nature and a rule, are excellent dogs with people. And for all those lovey dovey, wishy, washy, why can’t we all get along, short bus types, who cares of a dog is dog aggressive! It doesn’t make a difference one in the grand scheme of our breed.

American Pit Bull Terriers are noble canines that deserve our respect and our love. Not our hate and contempt. Allowing anyone to come in and say, “Well you have a Pit Bull, we are going to take them now without any reason whatsoever and kill them because well, they are fighting dogs.” Is stupid and it must stop right now.

I will end this post by saying this. I am not a supporter of dog fighting. I hate it. It is a dead activity that does not belong in our society. However, I have more contempt for power hungry, law breaking, evil people like John Goodwin of the HSUS and organizations like the ASPCA than I do for dog fighters.

That’s right, these organizations are lower than the lowest animal abuser on this earth. These organizations abuse thousands of animals per day. They kill innoncent dogs and drive good people into the ground and criminalize them without ever bringing real proof they are in fact criminals. They ruin people’s good names and then they ask you for money to help support more of these actions.

As I said at the beginning of this post. If you donate to the HSUS or the ASPCA or both, stop right now.

Best Regards,
Jason, Angel, Honey and Patch
The Most Complete Pit Bull Website Online

With all the stress, worry, and crunched bank accounts I am kind of amazed there are not riots in the streets on a daily basis.

This year though I have made a vow to do three things.

1. Smile more.

2. Tell those that I love that I love them more often and express it to them by action. Saying I love you is just words unless you back it up with action.

3. Be thankful.

This year I will show up at my oldest brothers house, bearing gifts for my family, a smile, and a thankful heart.

I know it might sound corny or cliche but this year, my hope is everyone takes that one extra step to make Christmas super special, even if it’s just one person you make it special for, make the effort.

Money might be tight, the world around us might be mixed up, you may run into rude people while shopping or trying to get the parking spot at the mall, but if we take a moment to think about what really counts, is it really that important that we get that parking spot? Is it really that important that we save 20 minutes of our time by speeding?

I would like to wrap this up by saying that I love Christmas. Not because gifts are given or because cards come in the mail from friends and family, though I like those things, I love Christmas because my Savior Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day. Everything in my life I owe to God. Glory be to God and may you have a blessed Christmas.

Sincerely,
Jason, Angel, Honey, and Patch
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Site Online
Cool Gifts For Pit Bull Owners

P.S. Angel, Honey and Patch wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!