Pitbulls? help plz.

[GORJESS]

my boyfriend really wants a pit and i was thinking about getting him one for christmas. i really don't know any thing about them though, so i'm starting to do research on them now. do u know any good websites? or about how much they cost? and if you know any breeders in Illinois please let me know. thanks

[alisonJ]

There are plenty of pit bulls in shelters--I wouldn't buy one. PLEASE don't let the pit bull near your Yorkie....that's all I am going to say.

[browniesmom622]

pit bulls are great as long as there trained right good luck & it will Be Fine with your yorkie

[Zoey's Momma]

Pittbulls are great with small dogs, if raised from puppyhood. You have to put them in obedience school from puppyhood. You should be fine.

[Lola LaRue]

I would consider a shelter dog. Most dogs in the shelter are pitbulss or pit bull mixes. Good luck with your search. And be careful.

[RoxyJosMom]

My daughter has 2 pitbull mixes that are both the sweetest things. The male came from a friend that had a ton of dogs. The female was from a pitbull rescue farm. She had belonged to a drug dealer and was thrown from a car when she was a puppy during a high speed chase after a drug bust. She has a bent tail and slightly limited mobility in her hind legs. They have been fine with Roxy when she visits them and they are big and strong. It's all in how pitbulls are raised. Unfortunetly, they have gotten a bad rap over the years. Just spend a little time with the dog before you take it. If you get a shelter dog, you'll be able to see how it reacts around other dogs first. Just remember, they are big and strong, and do tend to play like big, strong dogs do. So they can unintentionally pounce on a little dog. Best of luck in your search.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by GORJESS

my boyfriend really wants a pit and i was thinking about getting him one for christmas. i really don't know any thing about them though, so i'm starting to do research on them now. do u know any good websites? or about how much they cost? and if you know any breeders in Illinois please let me know. thanks

Here is the link for the Club in the US.
http://www.amstaff.org/
Start there. Never buy a breed such as this out of the newspaper or pets for sale boards. Don't even think about a cross breed. You need the information and guidance to keep both you, your boyfriend and the dog out of trouble.
The people in this breed club will be able to give you the information you will need before considering purchasing a dog like this.
Remember you are considering a breed that has a lot of controversy right now. The banned breed legislations are spreading across US and Canada for Pitbulls and most mastiff breeds including Rottweilers. The attacks and deaths that these breeds have started to become known for isn't going to be ignored. It isn't the dogs fault, it is poor management on the part of the owners.
You need to learn aobut the breed, how to manage the dog including training, proper escape proof housing, essentially keeping the dog for 12+ years in a situation where it will never be able to harm any person or other animal. A responsible breeder will tell you also if you are in a situation that would be a good home for the dog. IF they don't feel you are ready, heed their advice and wait or change your situation to meet the requirements.
Personally, I would never recommend a breed such as this housed with a small dog or small children without utter supervision at all times and a safe separate housing for the pit bull or mastiff breed.
A mistake only takes seconds for the outcome that can be tragic and have serious repercussions. You always have to remember these are dogs bred for certain purposes. Dogs react out of instinct most of the time and that can be a fraction of a second.

[GORJESS]

growing up we had 3 pits in our house and they were all so sweet, but we had raised them since they were babies. he really wants a baby pit so that he can raise and train him and make sure he is good around other dogs and people, that's why i haven't really looked in to shelters.

[LaLoca1]

Originally Posted by alisonJ

There are plenty of pit bulls in shelters--I wouldn't buy one. PLEASE don't let the pit bull near your Yorkie....that's all I am going to say.

I am very upset about this comment. My sister's pitbull is ALWAYS around Adrianna. She is so gentle and sweet with her. They run around the house together, will chase each other, everything TOGETHER. Bubbles (the pit) lays down and cuddles with Adrianna. When Adrianna is in her pen, Bubbles lays down beside the pen and will whine until Adrianna comes out.

Like someone above me mentioned, when raised properly, ANY dog...not just pits....can be trained to get along with other dogs. I just think it's unfortunate when people just see the 'bad' side of pits. You never see anything good in the news about pitbulls...just only when they attack. Why concentrate on the attacks (which...btw...do not happen every day), and concentrate on all the GOOD which goes unreported.

I love pits...I love yorkies....I love chihuahuas. I plain love dogs. I don't discriminate against any dog because of a few, irresponsible people who bred their dogs to be viscious. I would hope that others will do the same.

[LaLoca1]

BTW....here's Bubbles. You can see how "viscious" and "dangerous" she is.....

[GORJESS]

BTW i don't live with my boyfriend.

[GORJESS]

Originally Posted by LaLoca1

BTW....here's Bubbles. You can see how "viscious" and "dangerous" she is.....

she is sooo cute!! as much as i love little dogs, big dogs are just so adorable 2!! its like they have a way of melting ur heart and sometimes are so clumsy n cute lol.

[GORJESS]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Here is the link for the Club in the US.
http://www.amstaff.org/
Start there. Never buy a breed such as this out of the newspaper or pets for sale boards. Don't even think about a cross breed. You need the information and guidance to keep both you, your boyfriend and the dog out of trouble.
The people in this breed club will be able to give you the information you will need before considering purchasing a dog like this.
Remember you are considering a breed that has a lot of controversy right now. The banned breed legislations are spreading across US and Canada for Pitbulls and most mastiff breeds including Rottweilers. The attacks and deaths that these breeds have started to become known for isn't going to be ignored. It isn't the dogs fault, it is poor management on the part of the owners.
You need to learn aobut the breed, how to manage the dog including training, proper escape proof housing, essentially keeping the dog for 12+ years in a situation where it will never be able to harm any person or other animal. A responsible breeder will tell you also if you are in a situation that would be a good home for the dog. IF they don't feel you are ready, heed their advice and wait or change your situation to meet the requirements.
Personally, I would never recommend a breed such as this housed with a small dog or small children without utter supervision at all times and a safe separate housing for the pit bull or mastiff breed.
A mistake only takes seconds for the outcome that can be tragic and have serious repercussions. You always have to remember these are dogs bred for certain purposes. Dogs react out of instinct most of the time and that can be a fraction of a second.

thanks for the website!!
oh and me and my boyfriend don't live together so our dogs will only be near eachother when we're together and watching them.

[LaLoca1]

Originally Posted by GORJESS

she is sooo cute!! as much as i love little dogs, big dogs are just so adorable 2!! its like they have a way of melting ur heart and sometimes are so clumsy n cute lol.

Heheheh, thanks for the compliment!! Bubbles is such a sweetheart. But like u said, she is sooo clumsy! When her and Adrianna are playing, she tries to run as fast as Adrianna, and basically trips over her own paws!! I'll try to get a video clip of them playing as soon as Adrianna's stitches are removed on Monday.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by GORJESS

thanks for the website!!
oh and me and my boyfriend don't live together so our dogs will only be near eachother when we're together and watching them.

It doesn't matter if you live together or separate. Just be sure you are well equipped to handle the dog if you do get one.
Always remember an accident can happen in less than a second and it can be a tragic one. Any large dog with any small dog can be a problem. Actually I have to be careful with my Yorkie boys when any of my girls are in heat. They can kill each other if I am not careful with MANAGING them.
In fact I know of Yorkie bitches killing another one because the breeder didn't know they can do that.
I really think all I am giving some warnings especially if anyone is considering a breed that right now is getting a bad rap such as pitbulls and Mastiffs, you really need to be extra cautious and diligent about how you are managing that new puppy that will grow into a powerful breed of dog and continue to manage it throughout its lifetime. There are getting to be whole towns, likely soon Provinces and States that are banning mastiff breed ownership because of owners that were careless and in some cases stupid, got them just to have an agressive dog and made them so, and tragedies happened. These breeds and even their crosses had to be removed from those towns etc or the powers that be were going to have them euthanized. Unfortunately, the responsible owner gets put into the same bag as the irresponsible one when the common factor is a certain breed or look to a dog.
I would never want this to happen to a breed that I might be a fancier of and it is a tragedy.