Reid says many things can lead to a tendency toward aggression. That includes breeding dogs for protection, dog fighting, social status, or financial gain. Abuse, neglect, chaining, tethering, and inadequate obedience training and supervision also make the list.
Rehabilitation often takes extensive time before the dog appears to be nonreactive in specific circumstances, and there are chances that an aggressive dog with a bite history may never be entirely cured. Management, in those cases, may need to be a lifelong commitment.
Pitbull Training and Socialization
The key to preventing Pitbull aggression is to socialize with them early and often. Make sure your Pitbull has plenty of positive interactions with people and other animals, so they will be less likely to become aggressive in certain situations.
Aggressive response to eye contact or verbal correction. Food guarding or other aggressive behavior while eating. Persistence about leading the way on walks or through entryways. Sitting in high places and looking down on people or other pups.
But pit bulls, like all dogs, are products of their environment and these dogs can be trained to be obedient, gentle companions. Positive, reward-based methods using treats, praise and lots of playtime are the most effective methods.
Most scientific studies indicate that it is very possible to rehabilitate a dog after they bite another dog or person.
Is training an aggressive dog possible? Yes. Aggression in dogs, whether it be toward a dog's owner or other dogs, is a serious behavior that should be adjusted with the help of a professional dog trainer.
Look for calm behavior
One of the most effective methods to train your Pitbull puppy to be gentle is to start to be aware of times when she is already calm and gentle. Go out of your way to reward these times in ways that do not get her too excited and break the peace.
American Pit Bull Terrier
They have been traditionally used as fighting dogs due to their muscular, stocky stature. They are highly intelligent and have a hunting instinct. For these reasons, they were banned from importation in Australia in 2011.
Usually it's animal aggression, but occasionally they have turned on their owners or neighbors. We have also seen Pit Bulls behaving really well with other dogs for years, and then suddenly turn. It truly is not their fault; it's simply human error.
Stress, neglect, and abuse are also one of the most common reasons why a Pitbull gets so aggressive and attacks other people or family members.
Pit bulls will commonly start developing signs of dog aggression between the ages of 8 months and 2 years, although it can develop at any age and can come on either gradually or quite suddenly. It is important to note that many pit bulls do not display the "typical" signs of dog aggression before a fight.
Fisher said that pit bulls do extremely well on the “canine good citizen test.” “From my years' experience, pit bulls are the most people-friendly, children-friendly, human-social, and passed temperament tests higher than most breeds,” she said. “I will not adopt out a dog that I think has any human aggression.
They do not typically slow down until they hit 5 years of age, and sometimes, not even then. We recommend: daily running, climbing, agility, weigh pulling, tire swinging, hiking...you get the gist. Any kind of strenuous activity will drain a Pit Bulls energy.
Dogs choose their favorite people based on positive interactions and socialization they have shared in the past. Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period.
Pit bulls are well known for their killing instinct and it's equally, if not more dangerous bite force. Their first instinct is clamp down and shake the victim, even if physical pain is being inflicted on them.
"Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls will attack without warning signals. It will always look like the attack is sudden. One minute it's on your lap, the next minute it's attacking you. It's unusual for most dog breeds to attack their owners, but pit bulls have a history of that in spades," she said.
Pit bulls have unfortunately been stereotyped as aggressive and dangerous animals, but a well-socialized and trained pit bull is far from it. Modern pit bulls were actually developed specifically to be friendly and gentle toward humans, and people who live with pit bulls can attest to their loving, loyal nature.
Remember, a dog that doesn't like you might actually just be kind of scared of you — and this fear can manifest itself in physical ways. "If the dog is fearful, he may cower or crouch, pull back his ears, tuck his tail, hide, or tremble," Sueda told Insider.