Hey no problem Giovanna, it's always awesome when people write in-depth articles that pass on the knowledge of experienced dogmen.
In manner training (or any tricks really) I take a positive affirmation approach, ALWAYS. Basically, praise them for what they do right, and avoid using the word "no" as often as possible. I actually rarely use "No" and it's the approach I take with any pitbull esk breed, just because of how stubborn they are.
My Lucy was trained a week or so after I brought her home as an adolescent, not trained at all. Treats really aren't needed, but you can use them to start with. Just remember, how often do you want to carry treats around in your pocket? (I use a plastic baggy in my pocket lol). I opt for the praise method, ya know, pets and rubs with the few octave higher than normal "voice".
As for socializing..? Well, these are pitbulls, and this is where many people have problems. If you are talking about going to the dog park around the corner from your house, I'd probably drop that idea as an option. While our APBTs are very cute and are surely cuddle-bugs with their humans, same sex play will not happen if either challenge for dominance and it isn't a living arrangement type situation.
Have you been to a UKC show or any APBT show? The dogs get a little... frisky with each other and it is tolerated by the judges, as this was intended in the breeding of these dogs a long time ago. Would you classify your pups more on the side of American Staffordshire Terrier, or America Pit Bull Terrier? I think you said Sub-Zero was bulky? That seems to me to mean he's AmStaff style, so in that case you'd want to make sure he is leaned out, as AmStaffs get chubby pretty easily versus their lean and tiny counterparts. This AmStaff breed is much easier to maintain than the 45 lb APBTs that you'll see hopping all over the place and randomly letting out an anxious fit of barking, only to calm down and relax for a bit. The American Pit Bull Terriers are also, from my experience, the more savvy weight pull contestants, but I've seen alot of AmStaffs have a ton of fun pulling for their owners.
So for socializing, I'd say stick to introducing them to opposite sex dogs, ones that are NOT dominating and are not going for the same Alpha position (if they are both males, they will "bicker" over who's the head hancho). Try more to work on their "tolerance" of other dogs, not necessarily playing with them. My girl Lucy will walk by the other dogs but if they keep getting too close to us walking some day on our daily walk, she won't even bark, just slam herself against the leash in the direction of the other female. No barking, no yelling, she is just intent on "showing the female up". I try to discourage the behavior anywhere on my property, but you can't train over genetics and have it be dependable.
That's about all I can think of right now, but once I get home I'll have to see if there is anything I forgot or droned on about =P Hope my experiences could be of help!
Cheers,
-MolosserConnoisseur-
In manner training (or any tricks really) I take a positive affirmation approach, ALWAYS. Basically, praise them for what they do right, and avoid using the word "no" as often as possible. I actually rarely use "No" and it's the approach I take with any pitbull esk breed, just because of how stubborn they are.
My Lucy was trained a week or so after I brought her home as an adolescent, not trained at all. Treats really aren't needed, but you can use them to start with. Just remember, how often do you want to carry treats around in your pocket? (I use a plastic baggy in my pocket lol). I opt for the praise method, ya know, pets and rubs with the few octave higher than normal "voice".
As for socializing..? Well, these are pitbulls, and this is where many people have problems. If you are talking about going to the dog park around the corner from your house, I'd probably drop that idea as an option. While our APBTs are very cute and are surely cuddle-bugs with their humans, same sex play will not happen if either challenge for dominance and it isn't a living arrangement type situation.
Have you been to a UKC show or any APBT show? The dogs get a little... frisky with each other and it is tolerated by the judges, as this was intended in the breeding of these dogs a long time ago. Would you classify your pups more on the side of American Staffordshire Terrier, or America Pit Bull Terrier? I think you said Sub-Zero was bulky? That seems to me to mean he's AmStaff style, so in that case you'd want to make sure he is leaned out, as AmStaffs get chubby pretty easily versus their lean and tiny counterparts. This AmStaff breed is much easier to maintain than the 45 lb APBTs that you'll see hopping all over the place and randomly letting out an anxious fit of barking, only to calm down and relax for a bit. The American Pit Bull Terriers are also, from my experience, the more savvy weight pull contestants, but I've seen alot of AmStaffs have a ton of fun pulling for their owners.
So for socializing, I'd say stick to introducing them to opposite sex dogs, ones that are NOT dominating and are not going for the same Alpha position (if they are both males, they will "bicker" over who's the head hancho). Try more to work on their "tolerance" of other dogs, not necessarily playing with them. My girl Lucy will walk by the other dogs but if they keep getting too close to us walking some day on our daily walk, she won't even bark, just slam herself against the leash in the direction of the other female. No barking, no yelling, she is just intent on "showing the female up". I try to discourage the behavior anywhere on my property, but you can't train over genetics and have it be dependable.
That's about all I can think of right now, but once I get home I'll have to see if there is anything I forgot or droned on about =P Hope my experiences could be of help!
Cheers,
-MolosserConnoisseur-
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