We have a pitbull mix i got as an 8-week-old pup.
I never let him outside of the fenced back yard unless i was there. For the 1st 9 months or so, he would run out to "meet" other dogs walking by and I would immediately intervene (sprinting to engage). He didn't want to "fight", just do the normal butt-smelling stuff.
Understandably, the passersby did not know that hence my instant running out to secure him and apologizing profusely (then instilling h.
However, after nine-ten months of getting his head literally hammered (not literally by a hammer...just my closed hand), he learned unconditionally I was the alpha.
I had consulted a police K9 trainer i personally know. I had participated in some of their "training events" (I was a bad-guy wearing a padded suit!) multiple times. I had seen my friend use some seemingly too-rough discipline on his 105lb Belgian Shepherd (a sharp crack on the head via his 6 D-cell MagLite). He assured me the dog was OK and some needed a little more "convincing" than others.
My young children were also involved in the leash training i had learned (making the k9 sit if they pulled the leash at all) with the added pronged pinch collar to assert the dog's low position on the authority "totem-pole".
It all worked and our "dangerous" pitbull is very-well adjusted (we semi-frequently have 25-35 people at our house for my wife's work functions) and he is very social and loves being petted (and fed!).
When i am working outside on our never-ending landscaping projects/updates, he will just lay on the and driveway in the sun. If another dog walks by on the sidewalk, he remains sitting and doesn't even stand up.
But all this positive behavior came after a year of (seemingly harsh) head-cracking negative reinforcement of unapproved behaviors.
He is a superb watch dog though. Our neighbors (we share a fence with) have came up the stairs to our front door (when we weren't home) and reported he was nothing but 85lbs of popping teeth and growling/barking.
It took nearly two years for our dog to accept our friends who come to take care of our chickens (and known him since our adoption) when we weren't home. Now, they board him at their house (they have 3 very small kids) and he protects their house and kids the same and recognizes them as Alpha's.
It all takes a lot of time investment, but is well worth it.
all thats true and i did all that with mine, but one day he decided he wanted to be top dog and i had to kill him with my bare hands. i know most will make good dogs with the right people, but if you have a male get him cut... i should of with petey.
