I was over at his house and took the dog for a walk. She's a loving pitbull, very clever.
I trained this dog when he was away on business for most of it's pup years. When we talk together and I stop, it stops immediately and sits waiting for a command or for me to continue.
I told her to sit in front of me and pretended to take out a treat from my pocket, asked her to do some paw, roll over and sit/up commands. She did them all.
I put my hand out and there was nothing there. Again, I did the same thing. She sat, gave paw, rolled over etc.
The second time she saw there was nothing in my hand, she got upset, whine barked and did not comply as easily the third time. In fact, she began investigating my closed fist pretending I had treats.
This dog understands being fooled better than normies.
...pitties have a very high drive to please their masters....
...that is often used against them...
...I work with a Pit Bull rescue that deals with former "fighting dogs"...
...they come to us sometimes extremely aggressive but miraculously often within weeks of loving patient care....
...they revert back to the calm nurturing standard that their breed was originally known for....
True, though I've had many and even saved game bred puppies, they've always guarded well.
Make amazing feral pig catch hounds too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW0PBEcKUqM&t=1s
...as you know, being a wonderful guard dog plays into the nurturing aspect of their character....
...totally different than being an "attack" dog...
...I have been on a few pig hunts and those dogs are fearless....
Our current pig hound project is 14 months old and the strongest we've seen.
...my friend who trains his pitties for hunting uses bowling balls for chew toys...
...and ties motorcycle tires on ropes and hangs them from trees...
...he will pull down a limb, the pitty will engage the tire, then he will release the limb and the dog will hang like a pinata by it's mouth...
...slowly turning in the wind...
...for hours...
...I honestly believe the pitty will go to sleep or into some kind of a trance....
...howls...