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Training methods
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As a pup try to interest your dog in play simular to that which you would deplore would it be a kitten. Use cotton rope for starters, itīs friendly on the gums and very bitable. Just keep it out of his reach pulling it around the floor enticing him, when he catches it, struggle with him but never jerk the rope as this could hurt or disencourage him. Itīs good to quit and let him win when you see any sign of the pup loosing focus or interest, so donīt play for too long and let the pup be the winner carrying his prey home. They all seem to take to it immediately although I have seen AmStaff pups that were totally uninterested. I find it very sad that some have lost even that, without preydrive he is merely a dog. But maybe that is enough for some as itīs become quite popular to keep them as an accessory. A little like Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua. Sad, bred for looks and everything else ignored. Enough about that!
When at home or indoors, remowe whatever you use as bait, so he won't get bored with it plus he will learn when to switch off and when to rew up. For variation I used either warthog hide or clean thick hydraulic hose. Discarded firehose is also a great alternative and is often freely available at your local fire station.
Buy a 10inch Boomerball, expensive but a great excersise toy. They chase it through snow, water, across fields. Just never leave them alone with it, for if they get it into a corner they will wear their teeth down in a course of a day.
Ever tried a laserpointer? Works with cats and PitBulls alike. Itīs good with a bit of variation as they can othervise become obsessive with particular objects for example; balls, sticks or if your unlucky, rocks and soda cans.
As the pup grows I evolve this game further by attaching the rope to a flirtpole and springpole, later maybe as bait on a catmill. I even used to attach it to the back of a kajak. Avoiding croc attack by outmanuvering them in a dam used to be great fun often sending me plunging.
 Flirtpole, if done correctly and with care is like High Impact aerobics for dogs, tight turns, high jumps, making them sure on their feet, strenghtening their muscle attachments and makes you quite a canidate for Drum Majorette in a parade.
Springpole; Never hang your springpole bait to high. I usually hang it so that the dogs backlegs reach the ground and when he pulls, a correctly adjusted spring should let his frontlegs briefly touch the ground. If itīs to low he will shew the bait, if itīs too high he could injure his spine falling - they donīt always plan their landings!
Muscle building Iīve often done by attaching a tires inner tube or a garage type spring (but anything strong that stretches ― m or so will do) to a pole a metre of the ground. Attach a chain that is longer than the dog to avoid him getting pinched by the spring. Then when your dog is set up, run the flirtpole just out of his reach, making him pull forward and forward-sideways. I usually let them pull with a thick collar to strengthen their neck, but a harness is fine too. I used to have three of these setups next to my catmill. Training three dogs at a time switching them around every 10 minutes or so. While one dog ran the two others would cheer him on giving themselves a workout at the same time.
They are great swimmers even under water, easily retreiving things from the bottom of a pool. I had a little female that used to retrieve a ball that was too big for her to bite by hearding it to shore using her nose lika a seal. The same female was also the only dog I have seen that could make her way up a rope when working a springpole without her feet ever touching the ground. When she died eight years old it was after having bit her killer into seven pieces a two metre cobra!
 I now live in Sweden again and after twentyeight years total in Africa, I have had to make some adjustments and sacrifices. At first I lived in a neighbourhood were the houses were close to eachother and it was not possible to train much at home or own as many dogs as I used to, as this would probably have horrified my neighbours plus my wife is not the most understanding when it comes to obsessive dog interests taking over the house. But I managed to keep a dog or two almost as fit as ever. Instead of a catmill we cycled, instead of a springpole at home - I hung one in the woods. It worked but I am happy to now have bought a 100x200m smallholding outside of the small town of Laholm on the beautiful Swedish west coast. On the plot is a modernised 140year old farmhouse, stables and several small storage buildings. I love it! The dogs love it! They play Boomerball in the field, tug o war, wrestle, springpole, flirtpole and for rainy days I have a treadmill in the stables and there are no nosy neighbours to worry about:)
Donīt demand less of yourself than you do of your dog. A lazy dogman often fails to see his dogs weaknesses or to realise the dogīs full potential. Walk, run, jump, climb, swim - it pays off.
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