Myth: Pit bulls need a "strong hand"

October 14, 2024

Pit-type dogs - whether American Pit Bull Terriers, any of the dozen-or-so other ‘bully breeds,’ or mixed breed dogs with big heads - are often labelled as “tough” and “stubborn,” even when they are displaying normal dog behaviors, some of which may even be considered cute or funny when presented by another type of dog.

The idea that pit-type dogs learn differently than other dogs, need to be handled with force, or must be punished for their behavior because of their perceived breed makeup is misguided at best and, at worst, downright detrimental to the dogs, their families, and the community at large.

A grey and white dog with a very large head smiles at the camera with mountains in the background

The dangers of aversives

Aversive tools and methods rely on pain and punishment to change behavior. These methods are outdated, relying on the long-debunked dominance theory, focusing on absolute obedience and human-centric goals that disregard the dog's physical, physiological, and mental needs. This includes, but is not limited to, use of the following:

Choke, prong, and shock collars
Physical corrections, including leash corrections, pinching the dog's neck, hitting the dog's nose or rear end, etc.
Loud noises, including a can of pennies, yelling, airhorns, etc.
Anything that comes in physical contact with the dog, including squirt bottles, citronella spray, etc.

While these tools and methods may appear to change behavior in the moment, they rely on behavior suppression, not behavior modification. They do not address the underlying cause of a behavior, such as fear, frustration, or physical discomfort; in fact, aversive methods often make the underlying cause of unwanted behavior worse. While a dog may stop performing a given behavior, they are not taught what to do instead. For example, a dog who is uncomfortable with another dog's presence may stop barking, but only feels more fearful or frustrated by the dog's presence without being given the resources to express that discomfort or move away.

This is often the source a of dog "biting out of nowhere;" the dog has been taught not to present warning behaviors when they are uncomfortable, eventually escalating to more extreme behaviors like biting to create distance from whatever or whoever is making them uncomfortable.

Handlers who do not have a thorough understanding of canine body language may interpret a lack of behavior as calmness or comfort rather than recognizing that a dog is 'flooded' or has shut down. They may not realize that they have suppressed a behavior that indicates discomfort or fear.

Additionally, the use of aversives is damaging to the relationship between dog and human. A dog who anticipates pain or punishment and whose communication is ignored or misinterpreted will often struggle to trust or truly bond with their human.

Myths & realities of positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement (R+) and force free methods are commonly misunderstood as “treat pushing,” utilizing bribery to achieve behavior, or an absolute reliance on food in training and behavior modification.

In reality, positive reinforcement relies on understanding why a dog is presenting a particular behavior; addressing a dog’s physical, physiological, and mental needs; utilizing management; and reinforcing the behavior that we want to see with any number of positive reinforcers. Reinforcers can include, but are not limited to, any of the following:

Food
Toys and play
Distance from a trigger (a person, animal, or object that is making the dog uncomfortable)
Naturally soothing behaviors, like sniffing
Praise and affection
Anything that the individual dog finds reinforcing

R+ methods focus less on obedience and more on communication; dogs can effectively be taught to reliably perform a specific behavior on cue, but communication goes much farther than that. Better communication allows humans to accurately interpret their dog's body language and behavior, meet their dog's needs so that the dog does not need to resort to undesired behavior, and coexist in a way that is beneficial to both the dog and human.

Positive reinforcement and force free training is effective for dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, including pit-type dogs and dogs with unknown histories. Dogs that are often labelled as "stubborn" or resistant to training when using aversive methods are typically strong communicators - they simply need someone who listens and addresses the dog's needs to achieve behavior that works for both dog and human.

Through R+, dogs are also considered as individuals, with methods customized to fit that specific dog's needs. A qualified trainer should be able to adjust any lesson or method to better fit the dog in front of them, as needed.

Dog training is unregulated

While there are private organizations who provide certification for dog trainers who have completed a particular educational course, have fulfilled a certain number of hands-on training hours, and/or pass a written test, there are no legal regulations on dog training. Anyone can call themself a dog trainer and charge for their services, regardless of their education or experience.

Certification is not the be-all, end-all of a qualified trainer, but it is an indication that a trainer has some level of education and experience. Because the best practices in dog training and behavior modification evolve over time as we learn more about communication and the way in which dogs’ brains work, a qualified trainer should regularly engage in continuing education.

Access to certification is inequitable, disproportionately impacting BIPOC and other marginalized individuals who may not have the resources to invest up front or who have less access to mentors in their community. On the other hand, trainers who have achieved certification may still not be qualified for all situations and behavior goals.

When searching for a trainer, be on the lookout for red flags, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

Guarantees behavior within a specific timeframe
Will not openly discuss their training methods and/or openly uses aversive methods/tools
Cannot provide records of their training and behavior experience
Does not pursue continuing education, including collaboration with other professionals and attending online or in-person workshops/classes
Works with dogs without providing education to the handler
Cannot or will not make modifications to better suit an individual dog or handler
Shames or puts down handlers for any reason
Makes the handler feel uncomfortable in any way

Start your search for a trainer or behaviorist with these databases:

Harsh treatment for rescue dogs

Rescue dogs, especially pit-type rescue dogs, tend to be subjected to irresponsible and unqualified training, not only because of the stereotypes that come along with pit-type dogs and dogs of unknown or “bad” backgrounds, but because many rescues rely on free and heavily discounted training services.

Qualified trainers who have invested more in their education may have less availability for free/discounted services than trainers with limited experience, especially those that are just getting started in their training career. Qualified trainers will often be in much higher demand, which may contribute to the illusion that they provide less opportunities for rescues than a trainer with less demand.

Rescues have a responsibility to the dogs in their care, their staff/volunteers/fosters, and future adopters to properly vet all trainers before using their services, regardless of cost. Their resources may stretch much farther by investing in education for their staff and volunteers, including group classes and workshops that focus on teaching the humans how to address specific behaviors and problem solve with a force-free mindset. Doing so can greatly reduce the number of situations in which a rescue needs direct support from a professional for a specific dog.

Rescues would also benefit from a stronger focus on supporting adopters through behavior challenges rather than striving to offer a "fixed" dog before adoption. Because environment and other situation-specific factors play a large role in behavior, investing in programs like board and trains that focus more on the individual dog than on providing the humans with tools to better understand and address behavior with their dog may not achieve the desired results in the long run.

Changing the mindset

Thanks to decades of research, we know that force free methods that prioritize positive reinforcement are both the safest and the most effective way to train, and that ‘dominance theory’ is inaccurate and a poor basis for dog training and behavior. This is true for dogs of all breeds and backgrounds.

Instead of focusing on human-centric methods that prioritize absolute obedience, both humans and dogs benefit from dog- and relationship-centric methods that prioritize the dog's physical, physiological, and mental needs.

When we focus on relationship, we build trust and communication in all situations. Not only does this making training and behavior modification easier and more effective, we often see natural behavior changes as a dog becomes more comfortable and confident.

Transitioning to force free

Handlers who have utilized aversive training methods in the past can absolutely transition to force free methods, even with dogs who have a prior history with aversives.

Transitioning to force free, R+ methods is often much easier for the dog than the human. Humans must modify their own behavior before they can effectively modify their dog's behavior, which takes time and patience.

If you are interested in switching to R+ methods, start by considering the following:

Understanding dog body language and identifying how your dog may be feeling when they present a behavior. These resources are great places to start:

How to Read Your Dog's Body Language When Training, Emily Larlham (video, 5 minutes 29 seconds)
The Canine ‘Ladder of Aggression, BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behaviour (infographic)
Body Language of Fear in Dogs, Cattledog Publishing (infographic)

When your dog presents a behavior that you do not like, what do you want them to do instead? Dogs benefit from being taught what they should do rather than what they shouldn't do, and both dog and human will experience less conflict
Does your dog trust you to listen when they communicate with you? Recognize and respect signs of stress and fear, when your dog may need a break, and when your own communication is not sufficient enough for your dog to understand what you're asking for
Provide more opportunities for choice. Dogs are captive animals who do not get to make a lot of choices in their daily life. Providing opportunities for your dog to make choices about the toys they play with, what direction they walk, or when and where to stop and sniff are inconsequential to the human's day, but make all the difference to the dog
Have patience for your dog, but also for yourself. Changing your mindset will take time, and that's okay

Progress, not perfection

Remember that "trained" is not a destination; it's an ongoing conversation between you and your dog for the entirety of your relationship. Behavior modification takes time, and so does changing your mindset to one that is focused on relationship and communication.

Whether you're working with a pit-type dog, a rescue dog, or any other dog, celebrate the small wins and remain open to adjusting your methods and communication as you go. You and your dog will both benefit from it.