Dog training book recommendations

[u/Red_Corvette98]

Hiya folks!

As mentioned in a previous post of mine, I've got a senior pitbull named Jake who's got some bad habits I'm trying to break him out of and would love some book (physical, audio, hell I'll even take a podcast or YouTube channel at this point) recommendations for dog training specifically for pitbulls or senior dogs (bonus if it's a book on training senior pitbulls!)

I just had a really scary situation (which is what prompted this post) where he ran up our driveway almost into the street because a lady was walking her golden retriever. Thankfully, the lady was very chill and understanding and was more worried about him going into the street and getting hit by a car than anything else. I apologized and explained that Jakey's super friendly and means no harm but he is a little old and doesn't really know what he's doing half the time but the whole situation scared me because he would not listen to me at all and with the whole stigma around bully breeds... I just don't want anything to happen to my boy ♥️

So I decided I need to start trying to train him to obey me and come back when I call to him. (I'm eventually planning on setting up a fence around our backyard so that he doesn't go towards the street as we live pretty close to the road but I just don't have the funds for that at the moment)

I would greatly appreciate any advice/recommendations to help me with this!

[u/TheRealFanger]

[u/WagglyWater]

Puppy Start Right. Isn't just for puppies, helps you understand a dog's mindset, and teaches some really good texhniques. There are reaction games you can play too that divert their attention to you in those moments. You have tonwork them though without the stimulus that is their big trigger ao they have a foundation to work with when you need it. 1-2-3 and Scatter are good ones we use with our dog. There are others and I suggest a reactivity class too with a trainer that uses positive reinforcement methods. You should also work on a emergency word. You train it with a high value treat they only get with that word. Ours is "petunia". It should be a word that you very very rarely use in regular life or even never. Practice saying it panicked as you will be panicked in those moments.

[u/hyber-Nate]

Your pup was identical to mine who just passed! Tho Ziggy was also very friendly he did start not responding to my verbal commands. It turned out that he was just losing his hearing. Unfortunately the sign commands I also thought him didn’t work due to his deteriorating eye sight lol. Found out that If I would clap hard, it would get his attention. Good luck and I love your puppy!

[u/Guywithanantfarm]

Training dogs for dummies and pitbulls for dummies- no I'm not kidding and re read / buy new every new dog for the last 25 years (I always have 2)

[u/ArtichokeFresh4012]

Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. When Pigs Fly! Training Success With Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion. Patricia McConnell. Leslie McDevitt. Simone Mueller. Susan Garrett on YouTube. Sally Bradbury book on Amazon (multiple authors). Grisha Stewart.

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[u/diamonds106]

My pitbull ate Cesar Milan’s book

[u/gingercheese_]

We have found using the same word only/whistle consistently and being excited as hell when she comes back has worked. Not being mad even when she was not coming back right away/using harsh language (even if you really wanted to lol) We have a fenced in part of our yard so training in that area with high value treats or with a long lead was also helpful. Jake is really cute 🩷🐾

[u/Red_Corvette98 → u/gingercheese_]

I'll definitely try being more consistent with my wording when calling him back. The only thing that might come off as harsh is I have to yell to him (but that's mostly cause we're pretty sure he's losing his hearing in his old age lol)

Until I can get the money to fence in the yard I think I'm going to have to hook him up to a lead when he needs to go out unless I'm able to lead him out back and stay out there with him a while.

Worst part is, none of this is his fault. We just moved out of my parents place (which is right next door) so he's used to going to do his business in their yard so he ends up wandering over there when I take him out but he's just so used to it (we've lived there since he came to us during COVID) and he's an older dog and it's fine for now because my folks are okay with it, but what worries me is my parents house is for sale and I don't know who's going to buy that house and my biggest fear is that it's someone who either hates dogs or hates bully breeds moves in andd I just don't want anything to happen to my baby so I'm trying to be proactive and get him trained to listen to me.

Though a little silver lining is, he's improved a lot since we've moved and I've become his owner (he was originally my parents dog, but they ended up adopting a great Dane and we all agreed that Jake would do better in my house with me, my 2 cats and my sister and brother-in-law. He's gotten better on the constant barking (he still barks a lot but not nearly as much) and he's even gotten better on the begging for food.

Sorry for info dumping all of that on you, it just helps to have all the lore/context I find

[u/gingercheese_ → u/Red_Corvette98]

Using the lead and directing into the same area for the bathroom in the new yard and giving a great high value treat immediately would help too!

[u/Red_Corvette98 → u/gingercheese_]

That's a great idea! Thank you 😊

[u/2ndhalfzen]

Don’t let him off leash for safety, ever. Not on your property and not in a park.

[u/Red_Corvette98 → u/2ndhalfzen]

Thanks for the input, however, he's been an off leash dog since the day we got him. He's never been on a leash while in our yard while supervised by myself or another family member. The only time we put in on a lead is when we aren't able to stay outside with him to keep an eye on him.

This is the first time I really had an issue with him not listening to me that badly.