Pitbulls? help plz.
 

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 :)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I am so upset!!!!!
 

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.

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

BTW i don't live with my boyfriend.

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.

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.

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. :p

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.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: I agree!!

Whenever my family get together we all bring our dogs...alot of different breeds and 4 of them are pits. They are the sweetest dogs!! It's ashame because of IGNORANT people they have a bad rap. They all play nice together and to be honest I think the little ones play harder than them. My fiancee wants a pit too but I told him we have to wait until our house is done...then I am going to surprise him and get him one:D

Well said. :thumbup:

I agree with you 100%. I have been around all breeds some are nice some aren't. My nieces Yorkie Oliver isn't friendly at all, he doesn't like little kids or strangers or hell people in general except for my niece and I. However, Georgie will run next door and roll over on his back for our neighbor to rub his belly:D He loves everyone and gets excited to see anyone that comes in the door. It's all in how you train them, and pitbulls are no exception. They aren't mean or vicious unless their owner is careless and allows them to be.

Good for you. :)

Sorry, but I discriminate against all big dogs. It is a risk I have chosen not to take. My best friend's Yorkie was killed by a larger dog who had never shown any signs of aggression. You can find several horror stories on YT--very often they involve pit bulls. It only takes once, and I am not willing to take the chance. We all make our own choices about how we care for our little ones, and this is the one I made. I respect your right to make your own choices, as I am sure you respect mine.

I agree with you

A very good thread.

from my own personal experience, I would never adopt a big grown dog from an animal shelter, you have no idea what it's back ground could be, if it has bit someone or not. We adopted the Doberman that attacked me from the animal shelter and well, we had no idea about him and he turned on me right in front of my kids, thats how I become so much in love with the Yorkie breed. You just never know.

I agree if your going to get a big dog then you should get it as a puppy, specially since you have a Yorkie.

here is the thread and my pictures of what can happen when a dog bites you, it's not pretty and in a flash this sort of stuff can happen.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39867

Pitbulls are great dogs. But like any other dog, you need to get one that is a puppy so that it can be properly trained and be trained to live and get along with a small dog. I would not get a pitbull from a shelter, it is waaaayyy too risky. You need to get one from a reputable breeder. Also, make sure you get to see both the parents, you want ones with great dispositions.

Any dog can be trained as puppy to be kind and gentle around small dogs. I have always owned big dogs and small dogs at the same time. I have always got them all as puppies and raised and trained them the right way. My dogs knew that the had to be extra gentle and careful with a small dog. They would even look down while they are walking to make sure they don't accidentally step on them. So big dogs and small dogs can live together peacefully. Any big dog breed can be trained this way, it is just important to get them as puppies and really be on top of the training.

Like I said pitbulls are great dogs just like any other dog. Unfortunately they have gotten a horrible false reputation. Anydog can be aggressive and mean, it has nothing to do with the breed, it has to do with the up raising and training of the dog. I have seen even golden retrievers be really aggressive, and they are one of the sweetest dog breeds.

So as long as you get a pitbull puppy, are willing to do the training and will be dedicated to the training, then I say go for it!!!:animal-pa

my brother and his girlfriend has one. Its the most sweetest pit I have meet.

My brother paid 75.00 for his, but he looked in the paper.

My friend in college had a pit lab mix. It was the cuties puppy!

I really dont know much about them thou, But I wish you the best on your search.

OH also you can find bit bull pups in the shelter. Just wont be AKA or anything, if you get them from the shelter.

Best of luck!

Olivia, Bunny and Bella

My friend has 2 pits and they are the SWEETEST dogs i've ever seen!!! Good luck with your search!

I don't want to get grilled for this, but I am actually not a Pit Bull fan by any means. I have seen or heard of so many adults and children either bitten or mauled by these dogs that I just can't recommend ever getting one.

I think the problem lies with the breeding, and these poor dogs are bred to fight, especially in the cities. There is no concern or care for bloodlines or inbreeding, this poor breed has been so messed up by people, and I have just had so much negative experience with them, that it is just my opinion. Now, I'm not saying ALL pits are bad, or ALL breeders are bad, I'm just saying I've experienced a lot of negative qualities in this breed, more than any other.

Having grown up in Chicago, the daughter of a cop I've grown up hearing about Pits and illegal fighting rings, etc. As an adult, I've witnessed my Dad's Pit mix bite unexpectedly, and just this year he attacked an innocent person and was put down. My Dad raised this dog from a puppy, has had dogs his whole life, and the Pit Bull was the only one who acted this way.

In my neighborhood early this year, 2 children and 3 adults were all sent to the hospital after 3 pit bulls tore down a storm door and attacked the 2 children as they walked down the sidewalk. 3 adults were injured badly saving the children. These children are friends of my daughter, and while one was back to school in a few weeks time, the other one has just recovered enough to come back for the new school year. These pit bulls had to be shot after the police arrived and they tried to attack the police. These dogs were known as friendly dogs, and were also raised from puppies. They were contained in their house, and broke down a door to attack these kids. No one knows what provoked them, these kids were across the street.

I just get nervous about Pit Bulls. I have seen that many of you YTers have pit bulls and I'm so happy that they are well behaved dogs, they look so cute and gentle but after my experience I alsways caution people about them. I just want all people to be well educated about Pit Bulls before buying them, as with ANY breed of dog. Please go to a reputable breeder and get a dog that comes from good bloodlines and I'm sure you'll have a great pet for many years to come.

There was a story on here not that long ago where a yorkie was attacked by a pit...IMO...and this ins MY OPINION! I don't trust ANY animal that has been bred for years to fight. I know that most big breeds have gotten a bad rap. The breeder that I bought my yorkies from also breeds Rotties...The Rotties in the kennels sound like they would rip you apart if they got out..Of course they are in kennels and just letting the owner know there are people around...She has another Rotties that stays inside with the yorkies...She is the sweetest most gentle dog I have ever seen. If she wanted to get rid of her I would take her in a heart beat...As far as Pits go we ALL know what they have been bred for and it still goes on today...My husband just told me a story the other day where they arrested a person that had CUT the ears off of her pit puppies with SCISSORS!! not only is that inhumane but why do you think they did this??!! Usually a GOOD breeder will breed to bring out the animals best traits...this doesn't seem to be happening with the Pits...I do feel really bad but if they keep breeding and training for fighting dogs they are always going to be know as a MEAN dog. ANY animal can be mean they are an animal...NO animal should be trusted. Same goes for cats...Bengals for instance...you CANNOT leagally buy a first generation bengal...you have to buy third generation...I know...I wanted one but, when I found out they were bred with a wild cat and should be kept as an only animal I decided this was not what I wanted...Pits are for special people...not those that think of them as a "People will not come near me with this dog by my side" and unfortunately this is what happens with alot of pit owners,,,I know I'm probably going to get yelled at for my opinions but remember...we all have our opinions and this is mine...

GorJess....personally....if you bf gets a Pit....I WOULD NOT let him near your yorkie...I would never take that chance....JMO..