Knowing how to train your American Bully is essential to dog ownership.
It should be a priority for any new dog owner.
Think about it.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of an untrained dog?
Tore-up furniture or ate-up shoes with slobber in them?
What about an aggressive or uncontrollable dog?
Or everyone’s worst nightmare, doggy poo on the floor!
Many other things come to mind, too.
And that’s because an untrained dog is a nuisance and is a danger to itself and everything around it.
No one wants to own a dangerous nuisance.
So, keep reading…
We will cover why training the American Bully is more important than most breeds.
We also go over what to train, training methods, and some training essentials to use while doing it.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Start training your American Bully around eight weeks old.
- American Bullies are easier to train at a young age.
- American Bullies are suitable for companionship, sports, service work, personal protection, and guard work.
- A few training methods to use when training your American Bully are Clicker, Electro, and Alpha.
- Clickers are a tool used in clicker training to mark when the desired behavior occurred.
- E-collars send electric stimulation to the wearer of the collar activated by remote control to correct unwanted behavior.
- Alpha training assumes the dog needs a firm pack leader to provide direction.
- Obedience training consists of housetraining, sitting, laying, and other basic commands.
- Operant conditioning consists of 4 methods of training, positive reinforcement, positive punishment, negative reinforcement, and negative punishment.
Why You Need To Train Your American Bully
I know.
The need to train your American Bully may seem obvious.
Still, I want to highlight some not-so-obvious reasons you need to train your American Bully.
Owning a well-behaved dog that will be enjoyed for years is part of the joy of owning one.
And you can only achieve this through training.
But.
The American Bully is a muscular breed with an aggressive, intimidating appearance.
They also resemble several other more aggressive bully breeds that people fear.
So when these dogs lack control, it adds to the negative reputation associated with bully breeds.
These breeds, some of them mixed breeds, are referred to as “pit bulls” by people who do not know the difference.
Doug Goguen from AllLaw.com says,
“The typical strict liability dog bite statute says that a dog owner is liable if their dog bites someone, regardless of whether the owner did anything wrong, as long as the injured person was not trespassing or otherwise breaking the law at the time of the incident, and did not provoke the dog.“[3]
I don’t say this to scare you, and of course, this is one of the worst cases that could happen, but you don’t want to be responsible for a dog that bites someone and has to get euthanized.
And that’s why…
Every owner of an American Bully has a RESPONSIBILITY to represent their dog and breed in the best way.
You can accomplish this with proper training.
Basic Tools for Training
Before we talk about training, it would help to point out some things you can use to help train your dog.
Collar
You don’t need anything fancy. A standard flat nylon dog collar will do.
A martingale collar will give you more control to correct dogs that like to pull.
There will be plenty of time to get your dog an oversized spiked or gold collar later.
Leash
If you plan on walking your dog, you will need a leash.
One that is 4 to 6 feet is a good length to use.
Leashes aren’t only for walking, though. Try using a hands-free leash as a tool to help with potty training.
Clicker
A clicker is a small handheld device with a button that clicks when pressed.
The click helps mark the exact moment your dog has completed the task you are teaching.
Some of the better ones have an easy-to-press button and aren’t so loud that they scare the dog.
E-collar
Like a standard collar, except it has a set of prongs that make contact with the dog’s skin.
These prongs provide the electric stimulation the dog feels when being corrected.
They also come with a handheld device that activates the collar when correction is needed.
Find one that can beep, vibrate, shock, and has adjustable levels for each mode.
Are American Bullies Easy to Train?
American bullies are easy to train because they are intelligent and love pleasing their owners.
Most puppies are eager to learn but may need the motivation of a treat or toy to stay engaged.
They love the praise of their owners, which makes a great reward, especially if you don’t have any treats.
Basic commands like sit, stay, lay, etc., are easy to teach, and even an older dog will not have too much trouble learning.
That means that they will learn only some things the first time. They won’t learn it the second time either, so be patient when teaching them something new.
Puppies are easier to train than adult dogs.
Teaching American Bullies to do tasks they were not bred to do is challenging.
So if you are getting an American Bully for herding or retrieving waterfowl, you will need a lot more patience than if they were a breed bred for those jobs.
Behavioral Psychology and Operant Conditioning
I know.
You may be thinking, “What does behavioral psychology have to do with training my American Bully?”.
Well.
You will want to know these four concepts to increase your dog’s ability to learn what you’re teaching.
Operant conditioning is a theory of learning in behavioral psychology.
Operant conditioning classifies the methods of reinforcing behaviors as positive reinforcement (+R), negative reinforcement (-R), positive punishment (+P), and negative punishment (-P).
I will get to what they mean in a moment.
Let me explain something first.
The terms +P, -P, +R, -R are easier to understand if you associate positive (+) with giving or adding something and associate negative (-) with taking something away, as opposed to positive, meaning good, and negative, meaning bad.
Positive Reinforcement (+R)
Positive Reinforcement means adding or giving your dog something when he does the desired action.
If a dog is rewarded for laying or sitting when asked, it will be more likely to do it again the next time.
Negative Reinforcement (-R)
Negative Reinforcement means to take something away that might be uncomfortable or undesired when your dog performs the desired behavior.
Like pulling back on the leash when your dog walks too fast, making his collar uncomfortable.
You release the tension from the leash, removing the discomfort when the dog slows down.
Positive Punishment (+P)
In this form of conditioning, we add punishment as a consequence of behavior we would like to change.
The electric fence will keep your dog from the area.
If he gets too close and touches the fence, he gets shocked as punishment.
The shock will decrease the likelihood that he will go near the fence again.
Negative Punishment (-P)
Remember, negative means to take something away.
With negative punishment, you are taking away something that is desired.
For example, when your dog jumps on you because he is excited to see you, turn your back until he stops jumping.
He will associate his jumping with you turning around.
Because he wants you to give him affection and not turn and ignore him, he will be less likely to jump on you the next time.
Which To Choose
Operant conditioning helps your dog associate their behavior with consequences.
Which one you use will depend on the situation and your dog’s receptiveness to it.
You will likely use a combination throughout your dog’s training, but the AKC recommends focusing on Positive Reinforcement [6].
Ultimately, you must decide which is best for you and your dog.
Training Methods
We’ve covered some basics of conditional behavior.
Pair the principles of operant conditioning with the methods below to train your American Bully.
Positive Reinforcement Training
You may have noticed that this training has the same name as the operant conditioning method.
Positive reinforcement is also important in dog training.
It uses the same principles during training, which helps your dog learn a task faster. [5]
Remember.
Positive reinforcement training focuses on rewarding desired behavior, usually with a treat, praise, or a favorite toy to help reinforce that behavior.
Training your dog with rewards and praise helps to build trust and confidence and encourages good behavior.
Positive reinforcement will also help build their confidence while teaching desired behaviors.
Clicker Training
Clicker training adds the use of a clicker with positive reinforcement training.
A clicker is a small device with a button that makes a “click” sound when pressed.
A clicker is used to mark the exact moment the desired behavior occurred.
Instead of saying “good girl” to show the correct behavior occurred, you would click the clicker instead.
The clicking sound she hears signals that she has done what you have asked her.
Then reward her.
The clicker makes it easier to teach advanced tasks broken into small steps.
New tricks broken into smaller steps are easier to learn.
Clicker training is an effective tool for positive reinforcement.
It was first discovered in the 1940s.
It became popular with dog trainers in the 80s and 90s [1].
Electro Training
To electro-train a dog, you need to use an e-collar.
It sends electrical stimulation to the wearer of the collar.
This is a form of positive punishment used to correct undesired behavior.
Electro-training dogs started after the invention of the shock collar, patented in the late 1950s [2].
It was marketed to the general public in the 1960s to train hunting dogs.
Early Models needed revisions.
The technology is better than before, and models can now change to beep or vibrate and provide electrical stimulation.
They remain controversial amongst trainers and dog owners.
Alpha
If you’ve watched the Dog Whisper with Cesar Millan, you heard him mention Alpha training.
Alpha training theory says that dogs, as pack animals, need an alpha leader to set boundaries for the pack.
As the trainer or owner, you fulfill that role as pack leader.
Alpha training has become outdated and controversial because of newer methods like positive reinforcement and science-based training.
Alpha training is still used.
There are a few styles of Alpha training.
Nicole Etolan at Alpha Trained Dog recommends combining Alpha training with positive reinforcement methods.
She says you want to be “the person they look to for guidance and support, not someone they obey out of fear.”[4].
What Can You Train American Bullies To Do?
The American Bully is an excellent dog for companionship. They are loyal and love to please their human companions.
The American Bully is a new breed developed from other working dog breeds.
Each breeder will have different priorities in their breeding program, some keeping the working ability within their bloodline.
So.
They are capable of more than just becoming great companions; just like most breeds, you will find a “show” line of American Bullies and a “working” line.
Their size, strength, intelligence, and the reputation it inherited from the APBT, make the Classic, Standard, and XL Bully good at other things like:
- Service Animal – A service animal can be a psychiatric service dog, a seizure alert dog, or various service jobs to help with multiple disabilities.
- Emotional Support Dog – Emotional support dogs provide companionship to help relieve loneliness. They may also help with depression, anxiety, and specific phobias. They do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. The friendly temperament of the American Bully makes it a great candidate for an emotional support dog.
- Sports – American Bullies are good weight-pull candidates who can also excel in other sports like lure-coursing, dog surfing, or Schutzhund.
- Protection – They are loyal and protective of their family. They can be intimidating, which helps make them suitable for home protection. Protection work is where the reputation and the look of an APBT help deter someone who would like to harm you or your family.
- Guard Work – American Bullies are great for people who want a dog to guard their property while away. The look and reputation it gets from its founding breed, the (APBT), also help with protection work by acting as an effective deterrent.
Pocket Bullies are American but more compact.
They are great companions and emotional support dogs and are not used for other jobs or sports.
Establish a routine
Establishing a routine for your dog is the first step in successful training. Dogs thrive on predictability.
Set regular times throughout the day for meals, exercise, and training sessions.
You will create trust with your pup and set your pet up for success each day.
Be Patient and Consistent
Patience and consistency are necessary when training your pup.
Training your dog requires patience and consistency to achieve the desired results.
Inconsistency in commands can confuse dogs and make it harder for them to pick up on what you’re trying to teach them.
Be sure to stick to the exact words and cues every time you interact with your pet.
Break it down into small steps
Divide up long-term goals into smaller, achievable steps that are easier for your pup to understand.
This way, it’s easier for you to understand what needs to be accomplished to reach the end goal.
Additionally, breaking things down into smaller chunks makes it much less daunting for your pup each step of the way!
Have fun
Training should be enjoyable for you and your dog!
Keep things light and happy, even if you make mistakes in the process!
As long as everyone involved is having a good time and feeling positive about their experience, mistakes are bound to happen.
Still, these bumps along the road don’t have to bring things down too far – laugh it off and keep going!
Housetrain Your American Bully
No one wants a dog that poops and pees anywhere, anytime it pleases.
It’s disgusting and takes time and money to clean, so potty training is usually the first thing that comes to people’s minds when getting a puppy.
Housetraining your dog doesn’t have to be a challenging task.
The key to successful housetraining is consistency and patience.
Begin by establishing a regular housebreaking schedule for your dog, including trips outdoors at least every two hours.
Take your pup outside as often as possible — immediately after meals, upon waking up, and before bed are all great times.
During these trips out, make sure to use the same commands (“go potty” or “hurry up”).
Reinforce good behavior with treats and praise whenever they have gone in the right spot, so they understand that this behavior is desirable.
When accidents happen indoors, offer no punishment — instead, use the accident to remind your pup where it should go next time.
Clean up any accidents quickly and thoroughly, as scent can cause them to repeat undesirable behaviors.
Finally, practice consistency; any changes or deviations from the established routine can confuse your pet and increase the housetraining process.
Be patient during this process, and remember that it takes time for puppies to learn.
With enough determination, you’ll have a successfully housebroken pup in no time!
Bonus:
A hands-free leash is an excellent tool to use while housetraining.
The ability to keep your dog close while doing other things makes it a great tool.
It frees your hands but keeps your dog from wandering off and finding a place to relieve herself.
It would be best if you still watched for when she is ready to go, but those moments should be easier to catch.
Crate Training
Crate training benefits your pup by giving them a safe space to call their own.
When you are at home, you will want to put your dog in her crate, like when it’s time to go to sleep or when guests come over.
A crate also provides a safe place for your dog to travel.
Crate training your puppy is a great way to help them transition into your home.
Crate training your pup can be an effective way to help them learn proper house training.
This method can help create a safe and comfortable environment for you and your pup that will also help establish good behavior and habits.
When beginning the crate training process, make sure that the space is comfortable and inviting — a few of your pup’s favorite toys and a cozy blanket or bedding will do the trick.
Slowly introduce your pup to the crate with positive reinforcement, such as treats or toys, allowing them time to explore at their own pace.
During this time, offer praise and reward your pup with treats.
Once they’re comfortable inside, you can start shutting the door while they’re in there — again, take it slow and only leave them there for short periods.
Use commands like “crate” or “kennel” when asking them to enter their crate and reward them when they do so successfully.
The goal is to associate being in the crate with a positive experience so that, eventually, your pup will enjoy spending time in it on its own!
Train Your American Bully To Sit
Teaching a dog the “sit” command is essential to their training.
Start by having your pup stand, facing you, and show them the treat in your hand.
Slowly move the treat from their nose to the top of their head while saying “sit.”
As they follow the treat with their eyes, it should naturally cause them to sit down.
Once they are sitting, reward and praise them for doing a good job.
If they don’t follow the command immediately, try again but be gentle and use reassurance – eventually, they’ll get it!
Practice this exercise several times throughout each day for the best results.
Teach Your American Bully To Stay
Training an American Bully to stay is a valuable skill for them to learn.
Start by getting your pup’s attention and having them sit or stand facing you.
Say the command “stay” and slowly move away from them, taking one step at a time.
As you move further away, keep your focus on them.
If they start to make any movements, quickly stop and reset by guiding them back into the same spot.
Once they stay still for a few seconds, reward them and praise them for doing a good job.
If they struggle to learn the command immediately, use short increments to increase their understanding – eventually, they’ll get it!
Remain consistent with cues and rewards – every time they stay put, give them praise or a treat as a reward.
Train Your American Bully To Lay
Teaching a dog the “lay” command is also an important part of their training.
Start by having your pup stand facing you.
Show them the treat in your hand.
Then move the treat from their nose slowly towards the ground while saying “lay.”
As they follow the treat with their eyes, it should naturally cause them to lie down.
As soon as they lay down, reward them and praise them for doing a good job.
If they have a hard time learning the command, remain patient and consistent – eventually, they’ll get it!
Practice this exercise several times throughout each day for the best results.
Train Your American Bully to Know Their Name
Teaching your pup their name is important in creating a solid bond between you.
Start by standing or sitting close to your pup.
Say their name at regular intervals, and then give them a treat as soon as they look at you.
Say their name in a positive tone, and if they look at you, reward them and praise them for doing a good job.
As they become more familiar with their name, increase the distance while calling out to them.
If they don’t immediately understand, remain patient and consistent – eventually, they’ll get it!
Once they’ve mastered this step, increase the distance between you and have them come when called.
Additionally, you can work on teaching them more advanced commands using their name, such as “come” or “sit.”.
When is The Best Time To Train?
The best time to start training is now.
No, seriously.
There is still time, even if you have an older dog.
And if you bought your puppy recently, chances are there are eight weeks or older, so they are young enough to start.
The first lesson begins when you first pick up your dog to take home.
The first lessons in boundaries and obedience your dog will learn from you start when you get her in the car.
It’s easy to forget that our dogs learn all the time, not just during the time we set aside for training.
Try several smaller training sessions for puppies that last from 5 to 15 minutes throughout the day.
You can train older dogs for longer sessions.
Conclusion
Training an American Bully requires patience, dedication, and positivity.
Positive reinforcement can help, from clicker training to encouraging good behavior with treats.
Moreover, electro and alpha-training techniques can be quite helpful for very stubborn dogs.
By teaching them simple commands such as ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘lay,’ you can make a great bond with your bully.
Implementing these techniques will give you more confidence as a pet owner and give your pup more self-confidence.
The results of most training regimes come over time rather than immediately.
Still, it is worth the investment if you’re serious about getting to know your pup on a more personal level!
The information from this guide should put you on the right track to better understanding how to train your American Bully.
So now it’s up to you.
What are you trying to teach your American Bully?
Comment below and exchange stories with other owners of American Bullies online!
Sources:
- [^] Mars, M. (2022 May 7). 7 Types Of Dog Training: Which Method Is Best for You? [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://www.k9ofmine.com/types-of-dog-training/
- [^] Gartner, T. (2019 June 11). The History And Evolution Of The Ecollar. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/The-History-and-Evolution-of-the-E-Collar.aspx
- [^] Goguen, D. (n.d.). Dog Bite Liability Rules In Each State. [Blog Post]. All Law. Retrieved on 10 September 2022. Retrieved from https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/personal-injury/one-bite-strict-liability-dog-bite.html
- [^] Nicole, E. (2019 June 14). What Exactly Are Alpha Dog Training Methods?. [Blog Post]. Alpha Trained Dog. Retrieved from https://alphatraineddog.com/alpha-dog-training-methods-review/
- [^] Zazie, T. (16 June 2016). Seven Reasons to Use Reward-Based Dog Training Methods. [Blog Post]. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2016/06/seven-reasons-to-use-reward-based-dog.html
- [^] Gibeault, MSc, CPDT, S. (2021 June 16). Positive Reinforcement Dog Training: The Science Behind Operant Conditioning. [Blog Post]. AKC. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/operant-conditioning-the-science-behind-positive-reinforcement-dog-training/
Other Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_collar
https://www.verywellmind.com/operant-conditioning-a2-2794863
https://www.caninescholars.com/learning-principles/operant-conditioning/
https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/10-types-of-service-dogs-and-what-they-do
