Some exasperated dog owners ask me, “How you do you train a pitbull not to bite?” My answer is always, “That depends.” If you’re dealing with a puppy, getting him to stop biting will be a lot easier. It may be a bit more of a challenge though if your pitbull is already an adult. But it can be done, and easier than you’d think. 

But first, we have to get clear on a few things.  When you say “bite” do you mean your pitbull bites people out of viciousness?  Or do you mean “bite” as in your puppy nips people? There are significant differences between the 2 kinds of biting I just mentioned.  No reason is ever acceptable though.

Bitting Due to Teething

When your pitbull puppy’s teeth start to grow, he begins the teething process.  Because teething is painful, your pitbull puppy tries to find anything hard on which to bite in order to stop the pain.  Your pitbull pup will also try to chew your hand if nothing else is available in order to relieve the painful process of teething.  

In terms of your dog’s motive for biting you, this may seem harmless.  However, you need to nix the behavior quickly before it becomes a habit.  

Aggression and Biting

Nipping or biting out of aggression is entirely different than biting due to teething.  If your baby pit tries to bite you when you try to take something from him, he’s trying to show you who’s boss.  Your dog’s biting behavior is never acceptable.  If you allow him to get away with it once, he’ll do it all the time.  He’ll also learn that to get what he wants, all he has to do is bite you.

Here are 3 tips to stop your pitbull from biting:

1. Let Him Chew On Ice - If your puppy is teething, give him ice cubes on which to chew. The coolness will soothe his achy gums while the hardness will allow him to have something solid to bite into.
2. Demonstrate You’re The Alpha - Every dog needs a pack leader.  Demonstrate to your pitbull puppy that you’re the dominant and he’s the submissive.  One way to do this is by touching his food before feeding him so that the food  will have your scent on it and so that he accepts your handling his food.
3. Buy A Reward-Based Dog Training System - Based on scientific studies conducted, Pitbulls respond best to reward-based dog training systems.  ClickerTraining: The 4 Secrets to Becoming a Supertrainer is the best dog training guide for Pitbulls.  

Lastly, make sure you socialize your pitbull puppy early on.  If your puppy’s biting is fear based, socialization will enable your dog to become comfortable around other dogs, thereby lessening his fears.  

Read an in-depth review of ClickerTraining: The 4 Secrets to Becoming a Supertrainer at www.dogtrainingbreeds.com and learn more ways to train your pitbull to not bite.  You can also take a look at my reviews of some of the best dog training guides online.