The Pit Chic - All Breed Dog Training & Municipal Shelter

10/18/2026

🚨 Our phone line is currently down after an update .. for now please send an email [email protected] or message through Facebook

10/15/2026

Yesterday I met the CUTEST little Doodle boy, Bodhi! 🐶🤎

At 9 months old, Bodhi is adorable, energetic, and has some serious puppy manners that need a little fine-tuning. 😂

Right now, Bodhi is struggling with a few things:

- Potty training — he’s still having accidents in the house and gives very minimal cues when he needs to go outside.

-Cat chasing — Bodhi thinks his feline siblings are VERY exciting, so we’ll be working on boundaries, impulse control, and teaching him how to peacefully coexist with them.

-Jumping — and when I say jumping… I mean JUMPING. 😂 Once Bodhi gets excited, he genuinely has a hard time controlling his body. We’ll be teaching him what to do with all that excitement instead.

-Leash walking — perfecting those walks is definitely on our list! We want Bodhi learning to stay connected with his handler instead of letting the environment dictate the entire walk.

But here’s the important part: Bodhi isn’t a “bad” dog at all!!

He’s a 9-month-old adolescent dog who needs clearer communication, consistency, structure, and lots of practice. Training isn’t just about teaching sit and down — it’s about teaching our dogs how to successfully live in our homes and navigate the world around them.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be helping Bodhi turn all of that Doodle enthusiasm into some pretty awesome life skills.
Stay tuned… we’re going to document his training journey!

10/12/2026

Closed through 10/14 🖤
Calls, texts & emails will be returned 10/14

10/08/2026

🏠 PRIVATE TRAINING DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN TRAINING AT HOME.

Training in your home is GREAT — and sometimes it’s exactly where we need to start.

Board & Train programs are also incredibly valuable, and they’re a service we proudly offer.

But one of our favorite things about private training is that our training location is almost limitless. 🐾

Once your dog begins developing solid foundational skills, we can start taking those skills into the places where you actually need them.

🌳 Parks & walking trails
🏘️ Your neighborhood
🐕 Areas where dogs may be present
🏪 Dog-friendly stores
☕ Outdoor public spaces
🚗 Parking lots and busier environments
🏙️ Downtown settings
…and so much more.

Because there’s a BIG difference between a dog knowing how to walk nicely, engage with their handler, hold a position or regulate themselves in the quiet of their own home — and being able to do those same things when the real world is happening around them.

That’s where generalization comes in.

Dogs don’t automatically understand that a skill learned in your living room also applies on a busy sidewalk, at the park or around unfamiliar people and dogs.

We have to teach them.

Public training allows us to gradually introduce real-life distractions while helping your dog practice:

•Handler engagement
•Leash skills
•Impulse control
•Neutrality around people and dogs
•Recovery after distractions
•Confidence in new environments
•Making better choices despite everything happening around them

And most importantly, we’re teaching YOU how to handle those situations.

But here’s the important part:

🚨 PUBLIC TRAINING IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY DOG — AND THAT’S OKAY.

A dog who is fearful, highly reactive, environmentally overwhelmed, easily overstimulated or struggling behaviorally may NOT be ready to walk into a busy public environment.

More exposure isn’t always better.

Putting a dog into an environment they aren’t prepared to handle can push them over threshold and make productive learning much more difficult.

For some dogs, training may begin inside the home.

For another, it might start in the driveway.

Another may begin in an empty parking lot 100 feet away from activity.

And another dog may be completely comfortable working through the middle of a busy dog-friendly store.

Training should meet the dog where they are — not where we think they should be.

Our goal isn’t to see how much your dog can tolerate.

Our goal is to build the skills, communication and confidence necessary so that their world can gradually become bigger.

Private training gives us the flexibility to do exactly that.

🏠 Start at home.
🐾 Build the foundation.
🌎 Take those skills into the real world.
🖤 Progress at YOUR dog’s pace.

📱 716-327-8279
THE PIT CHIC DOG TRAINING
Good Dogs. Bad Habits. Better Communication.

10/07/2026

DOES YOUR DOG LOSE IT WHEN SOMEONE WALKS BY?

A person walking down the sidewalk. A dog passing the house. The mail carrier approaching. Someone stopping near the front door.

Suddenly your dog is barking, growling, charging the door or window, jumping, pacing and completely unable to disengage.

This is door and window reactivity, and simply yelling “NO!” or repeatedly calling your dog away usually doesn’t address why it’s happening.

Every time your dog explodes at a passerby and that person or dog continues walking away, your dog may learn:

“I reacted → they left → it worked.”

That repetition can make the behavior stronger over time.

Training focuses on interrupting that cycle. We teach dogs how to disengage from what they see outside, respond to their handler, move away from the door or window, settle in a designated place and eventually watch everyday neighborhood activity without feeling the need to react.

The goal isn’t a dog who never notices what’s outside.

The goal is a dog who notices—and doesn’t feel responsible for handling it… we can teach your dog that!

📱 Call/Text 716-327-8279

10/07/2026

GROUP TRAINING DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN MULTIPLE DOGS-
—> GREAT FOR RESCUE AND SHELTER ORGANIZATIONS!!

When people hear “group dog training,” they usually picture a room full of dogs and handlers working on obedience together.

But when we’re working with fearful, nervous, reactive or behaviorally challenging dogs, a group lesson can look completely different.

Sometimes our group is:

ONE DOG. MULTIPLE PEOPLE. ONE TRAINER DIRECTING EVERY INTERACTION.

And there is a very important reason for that.

For dogs like Cali, unfamiliar people can be difficult.

Cali likes her personal space. She doesn’t want strangers immediately walking toward her, reaching over her, touching her or assuming that because she’s physically close, she’s ready to interact.

So instead of overwhelming her with multiple dogs AND multiple people, we can remove the unnecessary pressure and focus specifically on what she needs to learn:

How to safely exist around unfamiliar people.

During this type of behavioral group lesson, our trainer controls the environment and directs every participant.

We can work on:

🐾 Appropriate distance and positioning
🐾 Treat & Retreat exercises
🐾 Reading subtle canine body language
🐾 Allowing the dog to approach AND move away
🐾 Teaching participants when to interact and when to completely ignore the dog
🐾 Building positive associations with different people
🐾 Preventing strangers from immediately reaching into the dog’s space
🐾 Helping the dog recover after becoming uncomfortable
🐾 Building confidence without forcing interaction
🐾 Teaching neutrality rather than demanding affection

For a fearful dog, choice can be incredibly powerful.

If Cali approaches someone, that doesn’t automatically mean:

“Pet me.”

It might simply mean:

“I’m curious about you.”

Those are two very different things.

That’s why exercises like Treat & Retreat can be so helpful.

Cali can investigate a new person, receive something positive and then move AWAY again.

Nobody follows her.

Nobody reaches for her.

Nobody traps her in an interaction she wasn’t ready for.

She begins learning:

“I can be around new people without them taking over my space.”

And THAT is a huge lesson for a nervous dog. 🖤

Having multiple people participate also gives us something we can’t recreate with only the trainer and owner — controlled variety.

Different heights. Different voices. Different movements. Different body language. Different appearances.

But instead of throwing the dog into a crowded environment and hoping they “get used to it,” every interaction has a purpose and is adjusted according to what that individual dog can handle.

We aren’t looking for Cali to become a dog who runs up and loves every stranger she meets.

We are looking for confidence, communication and neutrality.

She has already worked incredibly hard on leash skills, reducing outdoor reactivity and becoming more confident navigating the world.

Now we’re adding another piece:

New people don’t automatically mean pressure.
People can respect my boundaries.
I don’t have to interact with everyone.
And I have other options besides reacting when I’m uncomfortable.

Behavior modification isn’t about forcing a dog to tolerate something.

It’s about understanding WHY the behavior is happening and giving that dog the skills and experiences they need to make better choices.

Sometimes the best “group dog training class” has only one dog in the room. 🐾🖤

We work with many local rescue organizations- this is great for volunteer & foster education and trainings!

THE PIT CHIC DOG TRAINING
Good Dogs. Bad Habits. Better Communication.

📱 Call/Text: 716-327-8279

10/04/2026

LET’S TALK MUZZLES 🐾

Meet CHARLIE 🤍

Charlie is a rescue dog with a history of aggressive behavior who we worked with for years. Charlie is wearing a Baskerville-style basket muzzle — probably one of the most recognizable muzzles and one of the most commonly recommended because they’re relatively affordable and easy to find at local pet stores.

But here’s something we want every dog owner to understand:

All muzzles are NOT created equal — and fit matters.

A properly fitted muzzle can be an incredibly valuable safety and training tool for a dog who has a history of biting, has attempted to bite, or may be at risk of biting when frightened, stressed, over-aroused, handled, or placed in an uncomfortable situation.

And no — wearing a muzzle does NOT automatically mean a dog is “bad.”

Muzzles can give dogs, handlers, trainers, veterinary professionals, groomers, and the public an additional layer of safety while behavior modification is taking place.

MUZZLE TRAINING SHOULD NEVER START WITH “PUT IT ON.”

At The Pit Chic, we teach our clients how to introduce a muzzle slowly and positively.

We want the dog voluntarily putting their nose into the muzzle — not running away when they see it.

Through proper conditioning, food rewards, short sessions, repetition, and gradual increases in duration, we can build a positive association with the muzzle.

The goal is for the muzzle to predict good things.

WHAT ABOUT BASKERVILLE MUZZLES?

Baskerville muzzles can absolutely have a place in training. They’re readily available, durable, and their basket design generally offers significantly more freedom than restrictive fabric or grooming-style muzzles.

But they aren’t our favorite option for every dog…..

Depending on the individual dog’s head and muzzle shape and the specific model/size, the fit may not provide the amount of pant room we want for longer periods of wear or more active training.

A dog needs adequate room to open their mouth and pant naturally — especially during physical activity, warm weather, stressful situations, or longer training sessions.

OUR FAVORITES: JAFCO & MUZZLE MOVEMENT 💁🏻‍♀️

For many of our training dogs, we prefer muzzles such as JAFCO or The Muzzle Movement because there are more fit and sizing options that can allow us to prioritize the individual dog’s comfort and function.

Having more sizing and fit options is especially important because dogs’ faces aren’t one-size-fits-all.

A bully breed, German Shepherd, Greyhound, Rottweiler, Poodle, and brachycephalic dog can have completely different muzzle lengths, widths, head shapes, and panting needs.

The muzzle should fit the dog — we shouldn’t force the dog to fit the muzzle.

A MUZZLE IS A SAFETY TOOL — NOT A SOLUTION.

This part is important.

Putting a muzzle on a dog doesn’t fix aggression, fear, reactivity, resource guarding, handling sensitivity, or a bite history… that’s when you CALL US. We can help you through the behavior modification training ☎️

A muzzle isn’t permission to push a dog past threshold, force interactions, allow strangers to approach, or put the dog into situations they aren’t ready to handle.

Management + proper equipment + behavior modification + education = responsible dog ownership.

There should never be shame surrounding responsible muzzle use.

In fact, teaching a dog to comfortably wear a properly fitted muzzle before they ever desperately need one is one of the most useful skills an owner can give their dog.

We will teach you how to introduce it, condition it, fit it appropriately, use it safely, and help your dog become comfortable wearing it.

Because safety and quality of life should exist together. 🖤🐾

10/01/2026

🐾 OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PIT BULL AWARENESS MONTH! 🐾

If there is one thing more than 20 years of working with dogs has taught me, it’s this:

You cannot train the dog in front of you if you’ve already decided who they are based on what they look like.

As a professional dog trainer—and someone who has spent years working with Pit Bull-type dogs in private homes, shelters and rescues—I’ve watched these dogs be labeled before they ever get a chance to show us who they actually are.

National Pit Bull Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to change that conversation.

Not by pretending every Pit Bull is perfect.

Not by ignoring genetics, breed tendencies or behavioral concerns.

But through education, responsible ownership, appropriate training and evaluating dogs as individuals.

Here are a few things I wish more people understood:

🐾 “Pit Bull” does not automatically tell you what kind of dog you have.

The term is commonly applied to several breeds and countless mixed-breed dogs. Two dogs labeled “Pit Bulls” can have completely different genetics, temperaments, histories, drives and training needs.

That’s why we train the DOG, not the label.

🐾 Genetics DO matter—but genetics aren’t the whole dog.

A good trainer doesn’t ignore genetics. We consider them alongside early development, socialization, previous experiences, environment, reinforcement history, health and learned behavior.

Understanding genetics helps us create realistic expectations. It shouldn’t be used to automatically condemn—or glorify—a dog.

🐾 They can be incredibly athletic and driven.

Many Pit Bull-type dogs LOVE to work.

Structured walks, obedience, scent work, tug, appropriate play, agility, hiking and other outlets can give that energy somewhere productive to go.

Sometimes the dog people describe as “too much” simply hasn’t learned what to do with all that dog.

🐾 Excitement and friendliness still require training.

Jumping, pulling, dragging someone toward another dog, exploding out of doors, frantic greetings and being unable to settle aren’t behaviors we should ignore simply because the dog’s intentions are friendly.

Teaching impulse control and neutrality is one of the greatest gifts we can give our dogs.

Your dog does not need to meet everyone.
Your dog does not need to play with every dog.
Your dog DOES need to learn how to exist around the world without interacting with everything in it.

🐾 Socialization does NOT mean unlimited social interaction.

Good socialization is exposure without overwhelming the dog.

It’s learning to see people, dogs, children, bicycles, shopping carts, noises and new environments—and realizing:

“I don’t have to react to that.”

Neutrality is a skill.

🐾 Structure isn’t punishment.

Boundaries, consistency, clear communication, appropriate management and follow-through help dogs understand what is expected of them.

Dogs thrive when their world makes sense.

🐾 Training isn’t about creating a robot.

It’s about giving a dog skills that allow them to safely experience more of life.

Reliable leash manners.
Impulse control.
Recall.
Engagement.
Place work.
Appropriate greetings.
Confidence.
Neutrality.
The ability to settle.

Those skills create freedom.

And here’s perhaps the biggest thing I want people to remember this month:

Advocating for Pit Bulls doesn’t mean denying that behavioral problems exist.

Responsible advocacy means addressing those problems when they appear.

It means training your dog.

Managing your dog appropriately.

Respecting what your dog is communicating.

Not putting them into situations they aren’t prepared to handle.

Seeking professional help before a small problem becomes a serious one.

And understanding that loving a dog sometimes means telling them “not yet” instead of constantly putting them in situations they aren’t ready for.

At The Pit Chic Dog Training, we don’t believe dogs should be defined by stereotypes—but we also don’t believe responsible ownership means looking at behavior through rose-colored glasses.

We evaluate the dog standing in front of us.

We meet them where they are.

We teach the human on the other end of the leash.

And then we build from there. 🖤

This October, let’s advocate for Pit Bull-type dogs through something that can genuinely change their lives:

Education.
Responsible ownership.
Realistic expectations.
Good training.
And better communication between dogs and their people.

🐾 Happy National Pit Bull Awareness Month from The Pit Chic Dog Training.

09/25/2026

Just do it.

Urgent update if you fill out your form on Friday, please go back into the link and update your information. The original form did not capture your personal information. Thank you!

🐾 $50 PIT BULL SPAY/NEUTER! 🐾

Operation PETS is offering subsidized spay/neuter surgeries for just $50 to income-qualified Erie County residents.

✔️ Pit Bull or Pit Bull Mix
✔️ Erie County residents only
✔️ $50 co-pay must be prepaid to hold your appointment
✔️ One subsidized surgery per household during the initial phase
✔️ Limited spots — first come, first served!

📸 Proof of ownership is required. We may ask for a photo of your dog to determine breed eligibility.

👉 REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT:
https://forms.gle/BFuNm8z9gyzLPdJC8

Funding is limited — don't wait!