How to Train Your Bull Terrier Dog to Not Bite

Hello, First, when you take pup outside are you going with pup and watching them to make sure they are actually peeing and pooping each time and relieving themselves fully instead of just marking a bit? If not, I would start taking pup potty on leash again for a while, tell pup to "Go Potty" while walking pup around slowly, and give a treat if pup goes (hide the treat in your pocket until pup goes so its not a distraction). At this age a lot of puppies will get distracted while outside and not actually finish going all the way, then when they come inside and things are calmer, that's when they go. They need someone to insist they actually go while outside for a while, and keeping them focused on the task using the leash to walk them around, so they don't just stop to dig in a hole, sniff something, or chase a squirrel. If you know that pup is fully pottying while outside, then pup is coming back inside and within an hour having an accident despite having fully gone potty recently, I would actually check with your vet. That can be due to a medical issue like an infection or gi issue. I am not a vet, so I would seek your vet's advice in that case. If pup is going inside, having gone potty fully recently, then peeing small amounts around the home, pup might be marking, especially if you have another male dog or male cat in the home. I would put a belly band on pup, tether pup to yourself with a hands free leash for a while, crating pup when you can't have pup tethered. When pup goes to lift a leg or mark by squatting, I would clap three times to interrupt without touching pup or yelling, then quickly rush pup outside. Tell pup to "Go Potty" then reward with a treat whenever pup does go potty outside, so pup knows that it's not going potty in front of you that's the issue, it's pup going potty inside that's the issue - pup goes potty in front of you outside - then good things happen still. If you suspect marking, I would still have your vet evaluate pup to see if the frequent small pees are incontinence related since it's pretty young to be dealing with that yet. I would rule out a medical cause before assuming it to be marking. If it's due to something like an infection, you don't want to wait to treat that. I am not a vet. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

July 25, 2022

Hello Lauren, Check out the article linked below. Starting today, use the "Bite Inhibition" method. BUT at the same time, begin teaching "Leave It" from the "Leave It" method. As soon as pup is good as the Leave It game, start telling pup to "Leave It" when he attempts to bite or is tempted to bite. Reward pup if he makes a good choice. If he disobeys your leave it command, use the Pressure method to gently discipline pup for biting when you told him not to. The order or all of this is very important - the Bite Inhibition method can be used for the next couple of weeks while pup is learning leave it, but leave it will teach pup to stop the biting entirely. The pressure method teaches pup that you mean what you say without being overly harsh - but because you have taught pup to leave it first, pup clearly understands that you are not just roughhousing (which is what pup probably thinks most of the time right now), so it is more effective. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite I would also work on teaching the Out command, and then use the section from the article on How to Use Out to Deal with Pushiness, to enforce it when pup doesn't listen, especially around other animals or kids. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ When pup gets especially wound up, he probably needs a nap too. At this age puppies will sometimes get really hyper when they are overtired or haven't had any mental stimulation through something like training. When you spot that and think pup could be tired, place pup in their crate or an exercise pen with a food stuffed Kong for a bit to help him calm down and rest. Know that mouthiness at this age is completely normal. It's not fun but it is normal for it to take some time for a puppy to learn self-control well enough to stop. Try not to get discouraged if you don't see instant progress, any progress and moving in the right direction in this area is good, so keep working at it. The section on how to use out to deal with pushiness in the Out article, once out is taught, will probably be the most helpful command to use to teach pup to give your kids space. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

June 23, 2022