I got an email asking about a pitbull that goes nuts when new people enter a home.
A: Hello Audra,
First of all, thanks for contacting me, I can definitely help you.
Funny, but we are in almost the same boat. I recently rescued a red nose pitbull puppy from Craig's List and she exhibits the exact same behavior as you describe. Also, I too am a big fan of Cesar Millan. I was already a great dog trainer for many years, but Cesar's tv show and books haven taken me to a whole new level.
Do not despair because everything you describe can be fixed with a little effort and patience. I would suggest having me come to your home for personal training. However, I would be glad to offer you some tips and advice free if you'd like to give me a call. You can try them on your own and see if you have success.
If you try them and still have trouble, then you could consider hiring me for some training - my rates are the cheapest in the metro Detroit area, by more than half what the next guy charges, and I am a better trainer!
That being said, I will give just a little bit here to try and help you right now (I am not a great typist, and it would take me all day to type out what I could tell you in a 2 minute telephone conversation).
First and foremost, these dogs are naturally hyper, get really excited around new people, and will chew to the point of destruction when bored or trying for attention. Take heart, once they reach a year to 18 months old they really calm down and mature to the point of being trustworthy and reliable.
When meeting new people - such as when people come to your house - you really have to take control of the dog in a serious manner. Do not even open the front door until have complete, 100% control over the dog and the dog is sitting in a submissive state of mind. What I suggest is (and Cesar will disagree with this, but it definintely works with me and my new puppy) if the dog absolutely will not calm down, put it in the cage and then let the person into the house. Wait until the dog is no longer crying or excited before letting it out. If you let it out and it goes completely spastic toward the person, put it right back in the cage. Wait until no noise or crying before letting it out again.
What I have found out is that over a few times of doing this, the dog will learn something! If it does not calm down, it will go in the cage (or a bedroom or whatever). Also, it will learn that it will not be let out until it is calm and stays calm. It is already happening with my pitbull (she is 6 months old).
Now, when people show up and she doesn't calm down, I just start to take her to her kennel and she immediately stops jumping and calms down. As I mentioned, it will take a few repetitions of this and probably a week or 2 before it sinks into your dog's brain, but it will work, it works for me. I have heard Cesar say that timeouts don't work for dogs, and it makes no sense to them. I would respectfully disagree with him on this point. My dog has learned what they mean, that if someone enters my home and she goes spaz, she will get put up until she calms down. And she does calm down, so she has put 2 plus 2 together and made the connection in her brain.
Occasionally, she still goes ballistic when someone comes in. However, instead of having to lock her up for a half hour or more until she calms down, now she calms down literally in minutes and I am able to let her out again. If I let her out and she gets really excited, I just make a noise and point to the kennel, she gets it and calms down before I can even get her into it.
Another thing you can do is what is called the 'alpha roll' - which Cesar sometimes uses on his show. It is not something I recommend to everyone nor do I recommend using it all the time, as it is a drastic thing for a dog. But what you do is pin the dog to the ground by the scruff of his neck and hold him there until her surrenders and calms down. That is the most serious correction you can give your dog, even more so than hitting it or yelling at it. If you are not a solid pack leader with complete control over your dog, this may cause more problems than it solves. The dog may bite you or if it can get away, then it further undermines your authority. But I will say this, when your dog is at its worst behavior, and completely out of control jumping, etc, you have to be at your most dominant behavior, you have to be harsh and strict and really take control to teach the dog there are unpleasant consequences when it goes into that state of mind.
If you have someone who can help with a few training sessions for this, you can cure it quicker. Have a relative, friend or neighbor help. Arrange for them t come and knock on the door. Again, claim the area around the door, make the dog calm down and sit or lie down, do not open the door until they do. Once they come in, if the dog spazzes, take control over the dog in a harsh manner. If you cannot gain control of the dog or the dog will not calm down, put it away. Have the person leave and after a few minutes come and knock again and repeat. Each repetition should make the dog more and more calm and give you more and more control.
As far as the morning thing and chewing, this can also be fixed with a little effort and patience. First and foremost, for a week or 2 you'll have to do some training sessions where you show the dog what it is allowed to chew and what it isn't. Gather up some things, like shoes, dirty laundry, blankets, etc, and the specific things it destroys, and let the dog know he is not allowed to chew them. Put them in the middle of the floor and invite the dog to investigate, then let him no in no uncertain terms he is NOT allowed to chew them. Claim them with your brain and keep the dog away from them. At first, you will probably have to physically block the dog, after a short time, you should just be able to give a look or snap your fingers and have the dog stop and leave them alone. Follow this up by showing the dog what it is allowed to chew. And
I recommend leaving 4 or 6 or 8 things laying around at all times that the dog is allowed to chew: rawhides, pig ears, squeaky toys, rope pulls, etc. You can get all types of things at a dollar store for very little cost.
Personally, I leave a chew in every room of my house so that no matter where she goes, she'll have something that is acceptable to chew on. Treat this as a training session as well, show her she is allowed to have them and encourage her to chew them. When she shows any interest at all in these items, make a big deal of praising and showing affection. If, during the course of a day, you see your dog chewing something that is ok, praise, pet give love and all that, make a big show that you are really happy with the dog.
For the first week or two, you might have to get up when the dog does to do your training. Catching the dog in the act is most effective way to eliminate problem behaviors. Catch the dog chewing something it isn't allowed to. A loud no, show your displeasure, but then give the dog something it is allowed to chew, change your mood back to positive and encourage the dog to chew it instead. It will work quickly. If you put in the effort and get up early now, for just a short period of time, this will be cured and you won't have to do it anymore.
I have only had my dog a short time, she is only six months old, but I can leave her with free run of the house, she doesn't and hasn't destroyed anything. She only chews rawhides and pig ears - and she does, because everytime I return I do an inspection and the pig ear will be gone or the rawhide will be half chewed up. So it is basically a 2 part thing here: 1) show the dog what it CAN'T chew, then 2) show the dog what it CAN chew.
Remember that all dogs, but especially pitbulls and even more especially very young pitbulls, are going to chew. Anytime they are bored or frustrated or missing you or wanting attention, they are going to chew. It is instinct and they don't even realize they are doing it. You have to mold that into chewing what is ok and avoiding what is not ok. The dog will not know until you point these things out. My dog also chewed up blankets and pillows and such - at first, for about a day, until a few training sessions solved the problem.
So take heart, the dog will learn. A little effort and patience now will result in many years of a wonderful relationship with your dog. You will be able to trust your dog in all situations and your dog will be reliable. It is a tradeoff, a few weeks of work now, then you won't have to worry or even address it for the rest of the dog's life.
I am all typed out now!! I hope this helps and feel free to contact me anytime, either by email or just give a call.
Regards,
Brian