can yorkies play with big dogs

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Breeze

And I feel it is very dangerous to make people fear certain breeds by false information. Many of us pit bull supporters feel that any dog can be dangerous regardless of breed and just labeling certain breeds does not make anyone safer. People MUST be aware that any breed of dog may attack.

Very well said. I completely agree. ANY breed can be dangerous.

I bought my mother-in-law (Cathie) a female Chocolate Lab as an anniversary present last year. This Lab is her LOVE, her baby, the whole family adores this dog and she's treated like royalty. Anyway, their neighbors who live in the house right next door to them who own a little poodle. Kailua (the Lab) and this poodle are great friends and always play together. Well about 2 months ago the family that owns the poodle had some friends over and they brought their Golden Retreiver with them. They were having a barbecue and for no reason, the GR ran after and attacked this poor poodle and chased her into Cathie's (mother-in-law) yard. Her dog Kailua was outside in the yard (it has no fences) and defended the poodle. She ran in front of the poodle and tried to block the GR. The GR was a male and a lot bigger than Kailua but Kailua put up a good fight to protect her friend the poodle. It's an amazing story but the GR backed eventually down - after he bit Kailua on the neck! Kailua also bit him back but he was a lot bigger than her.

I've never thought of Golden Retrivers to be aggressive dogs but anything can happen. It doesn't matter what breed - ANY dog can be aggressive if they feel threatened or even for no reason at all. I don't think it's fair to pick on Pit Bulls or Rottis when any breed, large or small, does the same exact thing.

[ReconsMomma]

Originally Posted by diva pup

Actually I am NOT debating. I thought and my intention was, to educate some of the posters that seemed to be under the impression that these dogs raised properly will not be dog aggressive. To say anything LESS is giving false information. What you decide is safe for your dog is fine but put out the correct information on the breed.
There seems to be some confusion between dog aggression and people aggression issues, I totally agree that pitbulls as a breed are NOT people aggressive but they ARE dog aggressive.That is a fact.They were bred to fight.That too is a fact.

what experience do you have with this breed and what research have you done?? You aren't educating me. Personally I feel that you are spreading false info about the breed.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I find some of these posts that have hatred and false claims against pit bulls or any breed very disturbing and should not be posted on a site for animal lovers.

Some of our members here own pit bulls and I would be upset if I were them to see these kinds of things posted.

Thank you - very nicely said. I think we are offending our YT friends by saying we hate Pit Bulls. I know a lot of people here own them and they love them just as much as we love our Yorkies. So please let's not be unkind.

As Breeze said, this is a site for "animals lovers."

[Fran42478]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

My input has mainly been because I think it is very dangerous to make people feel comfortable when they really should be concerned.Like Diva Pup said we MUST be aware that dogs that were bred to fight can turn at any given moment.

In no way, by me posting my OPINION and/or PROVEN FACTS on a breed of dog that I have come in contact with am I trying to make ANYONE feel comfortable with allowing their dog to play with them...What I am trying to do is EDUCATE...As I stated in my earlier post...I would NEVER let Sammi play with ANY breed of dog I didn’t know...

EVERY DOG HAS ANIMAL INSTINCTS, one of which being SURVIVAL...My dog is adorable, cute, loving etc...Do I think for ONE MINUTE she would not be able to kill another dog of her size or a small child...NOOOOOO I know she can...She is an animal...

Aggression towards animals is a natural trait of the Pitbull terrier breed (as it is in MANY terrier breeds, among others)

Again, in the end YOU CHOSE what other dogs/animals you want your yorkie around...Not what people post and/or believe...Because REGARDLESS of what I have read re: Pitbulls...Sammi will continue to play with Storm...because this is what I CHOSE, not because I am naive or don’t know the breed or what it is capable of...

[PinkMartini]

Ever heard the stories of a Pit Bull "turning on" its owner when it turns a certain age? That was a myth started years ago by the Humane Societies because they misunderstood the term "to turn on" - turn on, like a light switch, from being puppyish, to being a mature dog. No, Pit Bulls' jaws don't lock, their jaws are built NO differently than any other breed, they're just tenacious dogs. Dogs have strong jaws to begin with and when a dog doesn't want to let go of something it's pretty hard to force it to (ever tried taking a tennis ball away from a dog that didn't want to give it to you?). But Pit Bulls also do not have any more strength in their jaws than any other breed of the same size, so you can forget all of these so called "PSI measurements" that the media quotes all the time and never cites a source for, they can't cite a source or study because there wasn't one, they are numbers pulled out of thin air. Another thing. There are no BREEDS of Pit Bull. Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Boxers, Bulldogs, etc, are not Pit Bulls. American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier are the only true Pit Bulls, in 1936 the AKC wanted to accept the APBT for registration but as it didn't want to use the word PIT in the breed name, they changed it to American Bull Terrier and then to American Staffordshire Terrier. Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are related but went their seperate ways long ago, AKC AmStaffs can still to this day be registered with the UKC as APBTs (though not the other way around unless the national AST club opens its studbooks again, those closed in the 1970s).. By the way, the media likes to target a new breed of dog every few years, and when the media targets one, every scum on earth goes out to buy one in order to be "cool." German Shepherds were targeted many years ago, coincidentally at the time, the Pit Bull was considered the ultimate family dog. Today it's the other way around, German Shepherds are considered the family dogs and Pit Bulls are the new target. When the movie Cujo came out, all the scum rushed out to get Saint Bernards, when the Omen came out, people rushed out to get Rottweilers, and so on. Dobermans were a HUGE target in the 1980's, and in fact, the first time the "brain gets too big for the head and makes the dog go mad" myth was used, it was attributed to the Doberman. Trust me, if the last breed on earth was the Golden Retriever, responsible owners would still have good dogs, and the scum would still buy Goldens to chain in their yards, not train, abuse, neglect and try to intimidate people with. For example - ONE Presa Canario (a very rare breed, this being the ONLY time a dog of this breed has EVER attacked someone in the United States) attacked and killed a woman in California a couple years ago. In one WEEK, every breeder in the US of this breed had their phones ringing off the hook from people calling them up wanting to buy this breed of dog that was virtually unknown before then, and they only wanted to buy them for one reason (luckily most breeders did NOT sell dogs to these people), bet you can't guess what the reason was? Let me spell it out. Status symbol. Period. The owners are always to blame, not the dogs, and certainly not the breed.

[StewiesMom]

Originally Posted by PinkMartini

Ever heard the stories of a Pit Bull "turning on" its owner when it turns a certain age? That was a myth started years ago by the Humane Societies because they misunderstood the term "to turn on" - turn on, like a light switch, from being puppyish, to being a mature dog. No, Pit Bulls' jaws don't lock, their jaws are built NO differently than any other breed, they're just tenacious dogs. Dogs have strong jaws to begin with and when a dog doesn't want to let go of something it's pretty hard to force it to (ever tried taking a tennis ball away from a dog that didn't want to give it to you?). But Pit Bulls also do not have any more strength in their jaws than any other breed of the same size, so you can forget all of these so called "PSI measurements" that the media quotes all the time and never cites a source for, they can't cite a source or study because there wasn't one, they are numbers pulled out of thin air. Another thing. There are no BREEDS of Pit Bull. Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Boxers, Bulldogs, etc, are not Pit Bulls. American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier are the only true Pit Bulls, in 1936 the AKC wanted to accept the APBT for registration but as it didn't want to use the word PIT in the breed name, they changed it to American Bull Terrier and then to American Staffordshire Terrier. Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are related but went their seperate ways long ago, AKC AmStaffs can still to this day be registered with the UKC as APBTs (though not the other way around unless the national AST club opens its studbooks again, those closed in the 1970s).. By the way, the media likes to target a new breed of dog every few years, and when the media targets one, every scum on earth goes out to buy one in order to be "cool." German Shepherds were targeted many years ago, coincidentally at the time, the Pit Bull was considered the ultimate family dog. Today it's the other way around, German Shepherds are considered the family dogs and Pit Bulls are the new target. When the movie Cujo came out, all the scum rushed out to get Saint Bernards, when the Omen came out, people rushed out to get Rottweilers, and so on. Dobermans were a HUGE target in the 1980's, and in fact, the first time the "brain gets too big for the head and makes the dog go mad" myth was used, it was attributed to the Doberman. Trust me, if the last breed on earth was the Golden Retriever, responsible owners would still have good dogs, and the scum would still buy Goldens to chain in their yards, not train, abuse, neglect and try to intimidate people with. For example - ONE Presa Canario (a very rare breed, this being the ONLY time a dog of this breed has EVER attacked someone in the United States) attacked and killed a woman in California a couple years ago. In one WEEK, every breeder in the US of this breed had their phones ringing off the hook from people calling them up wanting to buy this breed of dog that was virtually unknown before then, and they only wanted to buy them for one reason (luckily most breeders did NOT sell dogs to these people), bet you can't guess what the reason was? Let me spell it out. Status symbol. Period. The owners are always to blame, not the dogs, and certainly not the breed.

Thanks, Summer. I think this post needed to me written because I was going to go off the deep end here. I'm glad you took the time!

[vainchick5]

I personally wouldn't allow Coco to play with a larger dog, especially a pit. Not even mentioning the aggression but larger dogs could accidentaly step on or sit on Coco. She is so small and so fast, she just gets into every thing. Sometimes I almost step on her, never the less a large dog that wants to be playful. Now on the other side, just to state my opinion, i just don't like aggressive breeds. I have not done research or anything on pit bulls, rotties, ect..but I know what I see and they make me uncomfortable and nervous. I understand the need to defend them if you own one because that's just our nature. We will protect, and defend our loved ones. All I can say is, a lot of people who's children are now deceased or have lost a limb, thought their dog was the most calm tempered and sweetest dog ever that "wouldn't hurt a flea". All the research in the world can never generalize to any one dog. Aggression can be triggered by just about anything. Even in the "sweet" tempered pit/rott/ect. But I also know of small dogs that are aggressive. I wouldn't let Coco play with them either. Just wanted to throw my opinion out there. I respect other peoples love for the aggressive breeds, but I don't like them.

[diva pup]

Originally Posted by ReconsMomma

what experience do you have with this breed and what research have you done?? You aren't educating me. Personally I feel that you are spreading false info about the breed.

If most the pitbull sites and the ASPCA and the pitbull rescues are wrong please educate me and tell me where there is research done saying pitbulls were not originally bred for fighting and that they are NOT dog aggressive.
I know I would like to hear the other side. If I have missed something in the research I have done I am more than willing to listen.
Frankly, I have merely stated what is out there for everyone to read and your opinion is based on what exactly? Is the ASPCA wrong? Are all the pitbull owners wrong? I thought these were well informed people. By all means tell me who is right on the issue?
I have never been against pitbulls as pets, I truly feel sorry for the breed, they got a bad rep because when they do damage it is usually horrific. Breed blindness is not a good thing either tho. You should be just as aware of a breeds faults as their positive traits. That goes as much for yorkies as pitbulls.
This was a discussion on letting little dogs play with big dogs, unfortunatly the dog in the original post was a pitbull.

[Babbie]

I gave up reading all the posts half way with the thread...simply because a lot of people go by "hearsay" and most know exaclty nothing about the breed. I am no expert either, but at least i take time to research before saying anything... and do you know that akitas and chows are also fighting dogs? And a LOT of attacks are caused by these breeds? Probably not, for some reason pitbulls were chosen to be the "monster".

Research about the breed. Every dog is still an irrational animal and unpredictible, all we can do is teach how to behave and socialize, if every owner understood that we wouldn't have so many problems as we do today. I don;t care if you have a yorkie or a pit, your dog should be socialized and be teached how to behave the same way people (specially kids) should also know how to approach and handle a dog.

I understand that a big dog can cause more "damage" than a small dog, but did you ever think that a confrontation started because of a small dog with a bad attitude? It is just something to think about...

And going back to the original question, i have a labrador, Mojo plays with her all the time, i trust her with my eyes closed...now somebody else's dog i have to know the temperament and will always be supervising them.

[az jude]

My grandaughter has a Sheltie and Bitsy loves it when he comes to visit!!! Mad chase around and around the yard and in the doggie door and back out again!!! The sheltie looks like a miniature Lassie but weighs about 30 pounds. Bitsy weighs about 7 pounds. She sure does give Shilo a run for the money!!!! My Daughter has three miniature doxies and they are pretty well matched in size to Bitsy. Two of them like to play but one is very territorial. Would not suggest letting them play with dogs you do not know or trust.

[diva pup]

You are right and if you do a search I once posted on my Akita and the heartbreak I had when I had to put him to sleep because he attacked and killed another dog. A very non aggressive female elderly dog being walked on a leash.
He was 5 yrs old and it broke my heart. Maybe seeing how unpredictable an otherwise sweet loving dog who was raised right but bred to fight can do has made me argue this more. If you saw the story I posted on Mac you would also know that after that,(I couldn't believe my dog did that)he attacked his older sibling, a maltese.
So I guess I do speak from some personal experience, but not with pit bulls per say.
There are exceptions to every rule, unfortunatly my dog was not an exception.

[JCarlson2004]

Originally Posted by diva pup

You are right and if you do a search I once posted on my Akita and the heartbreak I had when I had to put him to sleep because he attacked and killed another dog. A very non aggressive female elderly dog being walked on a leash.
He was 5 yrs old and it broke my heart. Maybe seeing how unpredictable an otherwise sweet loving dog who was raised right but bred to fight can do has made me argue this more. If you saw the story I posted on Mac you would also know that after that,(I couldn't believe my dog did that)he attacked his older sibling, a maltese.
So I guess I do speak from some personal experience, but not with pit bulls per say.
There are exceptions to every rule, unfortunatly my dog was not an exception.

Sorry to hear about your dog.

[diva pup]

Thank you, he was a good dog except with other dogs. I just couldn't take the chance that he might do it again. And I was afraid for my children too. Although he never did show aggression to them, not even when they pulled the little malt out of his mouth.

[alaskayorkie]

OK, thanks, Flakes (Post #70, my 'quote' feature isn't working). You appear to be right about labs. I googled dog bites and found out that experts rank dog bites in two different ways. 1, Human fatalities, of which pits and rottweilers are responsible for more than half the total; 2, non-fatal bites, of which a more wide range of dogs, including labs, are involved. The interesting thing is there are about 15-20 human fatalities a year in the U.S. from dog bites. But there are 5 million non-fatal bites a year. I won't draw any conclusions. Just wanted to pass along some information for fellow Yorkie owners.
Here are a couple interesting lists.
National study from 1979 through 1996 revealed that the following breeds had killed one or more persons:
Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Doberman pinschers, chows, Great Danes, St. Bernards and Akitas.

1998 study in Montgomery County Maryland listing the top ten biting breeds in Montgomery County in 1998. (This is a local study, but it's the best I could find.)

Chow Chows -- 9 major bites
Labrador Retrievers -- 9 major bites
German Shepherds -- 7 major bites
Pit Bulls -- 7 major bites
Akitas -- 5 major bites
Dalmatians -- 5 major bites
Rottweilers -- 5 major bites
Beagles -- 4 major bites
English Springer Spaniels -- 4 major bites
Collies -- 3 major bites
Jack Russell Terriers -- 3 major bites (tied for 10th)

[Babbie]

Originally Posted by diva pup

Thank you, he was a good dog except with other dogs. .

Thank you...if every owner realized that we wouldn't have so many accidents.
Not every dog gets along well with other pets, and lets be honest, little dogs think they are tough and sure think they can take anybody or animal down. It is not only regarding the breed, i do agree the certain breeds require more supervision, but truth is it can happen to ANY dog, regardless of size and breed.