Pit Bull Training 101: Buyer Beware!
Today I would like to talk with you about a growing concern of mine and many other professional dog trainers who specialize with Pit Bull Terriers.
Internet websites are popping up like crazy that offer “Fast Pit Bull Training” or “Training Your Pitbull the Easy Way!” When you arrive at these websites it is usually some story about how someone with a Pit Bull found these outstanding books/ebooks/videos/ that helped them “train their Pit Bull faster than ever!”
My concern is not with websites devoted to helping you learn more about how to train your dog my concern lies in who is offering you the help.
Training is a serious profession. Myself and others in the industry have spent years honing our craft. We take it very serious and the fact we go to schools that cost thousands of dollars, work towards certifications, and constantly attended continuing education workshops and seminars attest to our commitment.
My concern lies also with the information you are being given or sold. I have purchased many of the products on the web that are being sold to you. All in all, they stink. They offer you nothing that with about 10 minutes of searching online you couldn’t find for free.
Why pay $29.95 for an ebook by some guy who calls himself an “expert” yet you cannot find him actually training Pit Bulls? Does that make sense? That’s like going to a doctor for major surgery and finding out the doctor researched the type of surgery for 12 months and now they are going to operate on you. Oh yeah, and they are not a real doctor.
Now I know you may be thinking, “Jason you have an ebook too. I think you’re jealous/knocking the competition/worried/ etc… and that is why you are saying this stuff.”
Yes, I have an ebook. The difference here is I am a professional dog trainer who does train dogs and Pit Bulls. I hold certifications in my field. I attend seminars and workshops to keep my education top notch and then I share that information with you.
You can look me up and find my background, certifications, and what professional organizations I belong too. I do not hide behind a made up name either.
Finally, you don’t have to purchase my ebook package if you do not want to. You can find a ton of information for free here on the blog and at the main website.
Look it, the bottom line is training your Pit Bull is something that can literally make or break having a peaceful life with your dog.
You should listen to a professional more to the point a professional with actual hands on experience along with certifications. I don’t care if that is me or someone else so long as they fit that bill. So long as they are professionals and not some hack looking to make a buck with an affiliate product (a product they offer and make money from when they make a sale).
I have seen some incredibly irresponsible advice given by “experts” on the Internet. One guy, a breeder, encourages people to buy shock collars because, “The other training methods are time consuming.”
When I think about the people who take his advice and buy a shock collar I cringe inside. How many great dogs are going to be ruined by this one uneducated, uncertified, persons advice? I don’t even want to think about it.
All I wish is that you think about your decision when it comes to who you listen too and what methods you use. Despite what a lot of “trainers” are trying to sell you there is not an easy/fast/quick/brainless way to train your Pit Bull. It takes work. It takes educating yourself. It takes respecting your dog for the animal they are. It takes understanding that ANYONE can tell you how to train your dog and that this industry is not regulated in anyway shape or form.
Literally anyone can hang up a trainer shingle outside their door and start dishing out advice. That doesn’t make it right and that doesn’t make it safe for you to listen too. Being on TV doesn’t make one an expert, authority, or even a competent professional either.
In short, I encourage you to be careful who you listen to and make sure they know what they are talking about before you act on their advice.
Until Next Time,
Jason Mann
Author – The Pit Bull Training Handbook
PitBullLovers.com – Offering Pit Bull Owners Free Help Since 2004
A Pit Bull Saved My Life . . . . He was adopted from the pound where he was on the euthanize list. Without hesitation he was willing to give up his life for mine . . There are over 20 breeds that are often mistakenly identified as Pit Bulls. There is a link in an article I wrote recently to a fun test that asks you to identify the Pit Bull from the 26 photos. It took me 4 tries & I own a pit bull!
http://www.care2.com/news/member/517189515/2894884
or
http://web.me.com/shanewheel/Synthesis/Home/Entries/2011/8/5_A_Pit_Bull_Saved_My_Life.html
I really appreciate you posting this comment, I agree that it is very important to properly train your pit bull and too many people just look for the quickest or easiest way to do this instead of doing it right. It’s great to find a trainer who knows what they are doing and also obviously cares about the animals they are training. Hopefully people pay attention to the advice and warning you gave and find the proper person or method to train their pit bulls.
I think this is great advice for owning ANY breed of dog. I own a pit bull. Before this I owned a beagle. My beagle was raised by my parents who learned to raise dogs by shoving their nose in crap when they had an accident. I raised the pit bull on my own. I took her to puppy kindergarden and socialization groups. I never hit her or rubbed her nose in it. What a difference between the personalities of these dogs. Our beagle was afraid of my father and would listen because Dad raised his voice. My pit bull listens just because I asked her nicely. Our beagle had a bad attitude. My pit is sweet, loving and friendly. My beagle came from a breeder. My pit came from a shelter. Both puppies, yet both trained and socialized in different ways. I agree with everything written above, which is why I think my pit is an exception. She was starved nearly to death and left in a crate to die. I’ve read many articles that dogs that are food deprived as puppies become food aggressive. Mine would let you take her bone off her with your own teeth and just wag her tail assuming you are going to play with her. When I first adopted her, people scared me about training her. The best advice I received was from my vet. Training any dog is not ever going to be a quick and easy process! It’s a lifetime experience.