the terrier breeds (pitbull, Staffordshire Terrier, yorkie, vet)

[maggiekate]

Hello, what do people who own a terrier say regarding this breed.

Do you enjoy there fiesty way, or do you wish you had picked a more mild breed. also which of the terriers do you have. do you hand strip or clip.

I have an australian terrier, and got hooked, on the terrier.

[cleosmom]

With my experience through work, terriers can be clownish, eclectic, feisty, territorial and at times down right funny.

I know with the Bostons they must have things certain ways or they will drop fast. One that we frequently boarded always had to have his crate with him, his kennel was large but he liked the denning effect. Well, one of his last boards with us the daughter dropped him off and forgot the crate. I called the owner (mom) and we discussed that we'd simply use one of ours and it would suffice. HA! The dog basically had a nervous breakdown

Last week, we were boarding an older Boston, she's 12 and it was her first time with us. Well, she began not eating much and having loose stools. I touched base with the vet and we continued to monitor her then lo and behold Tuesday evening she began to have nothing but straight blood in her stool. I rushed her to the vet and was taking to the receptionist and asked if she'd boarded with them. She said yes several times and asked if I had her wicker basket Nope there wasn't one dropped off with her. It seems she sleeps in it and I'll bet my bottom dollar that is where part of her stress came from.

One of the owners of where I work has Border Terriers and they are a hoot!

[irishmom]

My only experience with terriers was my beautiful, sweet and dearly missed Cleo. She was a mix, but she looked like a black jack russel....she also inherited all the terrier personality traits from what I have read.

She was incredibly smart....with out training she learned verbal commands to differenciate her toys...she loved squeaky stuffed animals!...she had her own basket in the livingroom with all her different ones piled in it. After playing with each (my husband would wrestle and tug with her with the stuffed animals and say "get the shark" or whatever the name of it was) and she learned all the names. We could then tell her go get the pig and she would root through her basket until she triumphantly returned with the pig stuffed animal...after testing this we realized she knew the names of all 23 of her toys...it was amazing! She was also too smart at times...although she definitely knew the word "no" if you used it and she didn't want to listen she'd look the other direction and give you a look out of the corner of her eye and stay there until you turned away and then go back to whatever she got the "no" for!

Oh I really do miss her...even with 7 dogs at my house now.

[PitBullMommie1206]

My husband and I own two American Pit Bull Terriers and they are the BEST! We couldnt have found a better breed for us. They fit us and our life style perfectly! They really arent as hyper as other terriers I have seen. They have their moments, but for the most part they are just big babies! lol! They think they are lap dogs and just want to be close to their mommy and daddy. They are sooooo smart and they learn very quickly. They are very obedient, they love people (adults and children), and they even like most other dogs. They can be so human like at times and they are so goofy! They always have me laughing! lol! We love our dogs as if they were our children and couldnt even dream up a better breed for us. They are just all around wonderful dogs and to answer your question no, we have not ever and will not ever wish we had picked a different breed! APBTs may not be the perfect breed for everyone... They are a pretty dominate breed and they do tend to be animal agressive, but for an experianced dog owner that is willing and able to properly raise, train and socialize their dog and is willing and able to give them the exercise, love and attention they need, an APBT is an amazing breed and wonderful family companion! : )

[Keeper]

My Harley who was suppose to be JR but if he is he must have gotten into steriods since he is taller than he should be and heavier (my fault there), has stuffed toy he sucks on at night to go to sleep. He takes it outside for his last trip at night, if he forgets it I tell him to go get his baby and he runs around looking for where he dropped it.
I also have a yorkie who is a hoot. He makes funny noises when he is guarding his food or treats from the other dogs. He also will pull on my long pants when he wants to eat. He loves to have his tummy rubbed and will just jump in my lap and fall over on his back, I better catch him or he will just roll off of my lap.

[citybythebay]

Originally Posted by PitBullMommie1206

My husband and I own two American Pit Bull Terriers and they are the BEST! We couldnt have found a better breed for us. They fit us and our life style perfectly! They really arent as hyper as other terriers I have seen. They have their moments, but for the most part they are just big babies! lol! They think they are lap dogs and just want to be close to their mommy and daddy. They are sooooo smart and they learn very quickly. They are very obedient, they love people (adults and children), and they even like most other dogs. They can be so human like at times and they are so goofy! They always have me laughing! lol! We love our dogs as if they were our children and couldnt even dream up a better breed for us. They are just all around wonderful dogs and to answer your question no, we have not ever and will not ever wish we had picked a different breed! APBTs may not be the perfect breed for everyone... They are a pretty dominate breed and they do tend to be animal agressive, but for an experianced dog owner that is willing and able to properly raise, train and socialize their dog and is willing and able to give them the exercise, love and attention they need, an APBT is an amazing breed and wonderful family companion! : )

Props to you for being a Pit Bull lover!! I also have an APBT. And they are an amazing breed, for sure. Everything you have described is the mirror image of mine...especially the goofy part...she is quite the character.

I will add that I didn't pick her...she chose me...
The breed is not for the meek. But if you have a lot of energy, which most terriers have....an APBT will love you even more if you expend that energy on a daily basis, with him/her.

[PitBullMommie1206]

Originally Posted by citybythebay

Props to you for being a Pit Bull lover!! I also have an APBT. And they are an amazing breed, for sure. Everything you have described is the mirror image of mine...especially the goofy part...she is quite the character.

I will add that I didn't pick her...she chose me...
The breed is not for the meek. But if you have a lot of energy, which most terriers have....an APBT will love you even more if you expend that energy on a daily basis, with him/her.

I always love to hear from another pitty parent! Alot of our friends have some type of "pit bull" breed.. American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier and they all seem to have the same goofy, human like personality! I have owned quite a few different breeds, many of which were terriers and I have to say that APBTs are the most unique, wonderful, lovable, gentle, tolerant breed I have ever been around! Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE all animals especially dogs, but I have to say that APBTs are by far the best breed all around (for us anyway! lol!). We have a 1 year 1 month old male named Brooklyn and a 5 month old female named Destiny and they are sooo wonderful! They are so alike in some ways, but so different in some ways. They both do some of the cutest things sometimes! lol... If I say "where is Brooklyn?" he will run in our bedroom and try to hide under the bed! He always ends up leaving his bottom sticking out of one side and his nose sticking out of the other side! It is sooo cute, I cant help but laugh and then lay on the ground with him and tell him what a good boy he is! He will also jump up in our bedroom window seal if he sees a bird or something outside. He looks like he thinks hes a cat.. lol! He will also get up on the sofa and sit on his butt instead of his back legs and he will lean way back until he is almost sitting like a person! I have to go give him kisses when he does that because that is adorable! When I get right up to him he will stick his paws out like he wants a hug.. lol! You really just have to see Desi, she does the cutest things, but you just have to see it. I will just sit and watch her for a while and shes always doing something funny! Oh, just the other day my husband and I were sitting on the sofa watching a movie and next thing I know my husband is laughing, but trying to stay quiet so Desi wouldn't move before I could see what she was doing.. So I look over to her food bowl and she is laying down with her face in her food bowl just munching away!!! lmao! That was sooo funny! And this is kind of nasty, but you own an APBT and any person that owns or has been around any kind of bully breed or bull dog breed knows that they tend to have gas.. lol.. Well, when I am at the computer they will both sit at the window right next to me (like they are right now), rest their heads on the window seal and just watch everything.. Every now and then one or both of them will fart and they will both jump up and start sniffing around and barking, sometimes Brooklyn will even jump up, run to the door and start barking like he heard someone outside! lol! They look like they have no idea what that noise was and they want to find out what it was sooo bad! But anyway, thats my babies! lol! They are definitely unique to say the least and we wouldn't trade them for the world! ... Oh and yes, they are very active! We walk Brooklyn and Destiny at least 3 times a day, take them to the beach once or twice a week, take them to the park whenever we have a chance and play with them ALOT at home!! They LOVE to play tug-o-war and they LOVE their tennis balls, Kong toys (Kong toys are the only toys that last longer than a few hours! lol!) and bones! lol!

Here are a few pics of our babies..

Brooklyn and Destiny
TinyPic - Share The Experience!™

Brooklyn trying to sit like a person! lol!
TinyPic - Share The Experience!™

Destiny just waking up.. lol!
TinyPic - Share The Experience!™

Brooklyn sharing his food with Desi..
TinyPic - Share The Experience!™

And last but not least.. If you havent seen this already you have to read it! This is a "pit bull" poem that I LOVE!!!


**By the way, I just wanted to add that they dont eat IAMS anymore! I say that because if you look at the pic where Desi is eating she is eating IAMS. I didnt know much about what dog food was really good and what dog food was really not good when we first got Desi. They now eat Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dog Food for puppies to adults... lol!**

[jmarkey]

These two I have now are the only terriers I have experience with. One is a Silky rescue and the other is a mix, possibly of Yorkie and Cairn.

After years of dealing with large, laid back breeds it definately was a new experience to train terriers. They're extremely independent and can have a stubborn streak. Housetraining took a little longer, even though I know they understood what was expected of them. Obedience is still a hit or miss thing (coming back when called, sitting or lying down on command). They're just in a constant state of training, though again I know they understand the concepts involved.

All that aside, I don't think I'd ever be without a terrier again. They're incredibly bright and inventive, very loving, totally trustworthy with other animals and kids, and they make me laugh every day. That saying, "life is merrier with a terrier" is totally true.

But if you're not willing to keep them exercised (yes, even the small guys), make sure they have plenty of mental stimulation and a good workout everyday, then go for a less active breed. Just my opinion, but I believe they need a job (even if it's just guarding the birdfeeder from squirrels) and they just plain need to be tired out at the end of the day. Jack is 6, Max is 7 or 8, and this is still the case for both of them. I don't see either one of them slowing down.

Someone mentioned Australian terriers - I love them! What a great breed.

So many terriers, so little time.

[PitBullMommie1206]

Originally Posted by jmarkey

These two I have now are the only terriers I have experience with. One is a Silky rescue and the other is a mix, possibly of Yorkie and Cairn.

After years of dealing with large, laid back breeds it definitely was a new experience to train terriers. They're extremely independent and can have a stubborn streak. Housetraining took a little longer, even though I know they understood what was expected of them. Obedience is still a hit or miss thing (coming back when called, sitting or lying down on command). They're just in a constant state of training, though again I know they understand the concepts involved.

All that aside, I don't think I'd ever be without a terrier again. They're incredibly bright and inventive, very loving, totally trustworthy with other animals and kids, and they make me laugh every day. That saying, "life is merrier with a terrier" is totally true.

But if you're not willing to keep them exercised (yes, even the small guys), make sure they have plenty of mental stimulation and a good workout everyday, then go for a less active breed. Just my opinion, but I believe they need a job (even if it's just guarding the birdfeeder from squirrels) and they just plain need to be tired out at the end of the day. Jack is 6, Max is 7 or 8, and this is still the case for both of them. I don't see either one of them slowing down.

Someone mentioned Australian terriers - I love them! What a great breed.

So many terriers, so little time.

I agree with you about the whole training thing! lol! Our dogs are soo smart and you can just tell that they know what you want them to do, but sometimes they just don't want to do it! lol! Brooklyn (our oldest) was and still is such a breeze to train and he is always very obedient, but Destiny on the other hand was and still is a hand full and a half! She is a wonderful pup and she is very smart, but she just wants to play all day everyday! She never wants to listen! They are both very active and very smart, but Brooklyn is more obedient. Its okay though.. they are always under control because they are NEVER EVER outside of our house without being on a leash! lol! So, whether she wants to listen or not she wont be getting very far! I also agree with what you said about terriers being very loving and trustworthy and being very good with kids! Ours aren't too great with other dogs though They are great with each other and any other dogs that they have spent alot of time around, but if they see a dog they don't know they aren't too happy about it. Thats normal for "pit bull" breeds though, you just have to know to be careful around other dogs and everything should be good!

[BrianH]

I own a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, tis the second ive had in my lifetime. Basically hes a couch fiend, but when played with or walked is extremely energetic which is what I want to shed the pounds
Hes great with the children, and is the only breed id reccomend (from personal experience only) with children, they seem to know when to calm down with them around.