Is it okay to raise a large breed with a small breed dog?

Question

I've had a Rat Terrier now since December but tonight I got a mix breed pitbull that is rather large. They are both the same age but I was wondering if this is a safe idea? They have been playing ruff and the rat terrier isn't looking angry or scared about the situation.

Answer 1

I personally don't like to because if the larger dog does get teed off, one bite that wouldn't do to much to a same-sized dog could kill. However, most dogs will get along. If they are both male and both neutered, the risk of a fight is generally much less too but the oposite is true with females.

Answer 2

It should not be a problem. You got the little guy first. Treat the Ratty as "Top Dog". The Pit will follow suit. My first dog is a Rat Terrier mix. I then got a Beagle which got bigger then the Ratty but respected that the Rat was the top. I then got a Pit Bull which is bigger then the other two combined. The Pit does not push her weight around with the two smaller dogs. They run through the house an play a bit rough but none has been hurt. Get the dogs neutered to cut down the aggressiveness.

Answer 3

As long as they grow up together it SHOULD be alright. Although, my 3 year old miniature dachshund got her eye bit by one of my 6 month old blue tick/black lab puppies and now needs very expensive surgery to fix it. I've had the puppies since they were only 4 weeks, so I assumed there would be no problem. I would monitor everything very closely.

And you said that your pitbull is large already? I honestly don't think this can work. If your poor little guy is already looking angry or scared, this isn't a good idea. If I were you I would send your new dog back now, before you get attached and something bad happens. I'm sorry, I know this is the last thing you want to hear. Good luck.

Answer 4

They should be perfectly fine. Dogs often realize what they can and can't do during play, with each other. The Rat Terrier will let the APBT mix know if he/she is being too rough.

They tend to work things out quite well. It's a lot like when an adult dog plays with a puppy. They often know their limits.

Keep in mind, most likely, your Rat Terrier will be rougher than your APBT mix will be. Haha. APBTs are big babies!

Answer 5

Any dog can be rough with any other dog the size does not matter. The amount of damage that can be inflicted can vary, however, training is the best thing regardless of who the house mates are.

I have a 8 lbs shih-tzu (1 year old) and a 75 lbs husky mix (19 months old). They do play rough with each other, but the larger one knows the limit. He did have to be corrected about 3 times, but the little one has had to be corrected about 3000.

I've had them together now for about 10 months. They play, groom each other, sleep together, they CAN share food, they share toys.... they are brothers!

Just teach both of them limits. This will benefit them when they play with other dogs anyway. They are gentle no matter who or what comes through my door, both with each other and the stranger. Its all in the training as any trainer or behaviourist will tell you. Their steady "pack" is my friend's 3 dogs, a boxer x pit, collie mix and greyhound, my other friends King rottie (130 lbs) who's a day older than my husky mix and my sister's greyhound x lab. The only trouble is with the greyhound mix as he was adopted and his previous family didn't socialize him well.

So long as all the dogs realise they are bottom rung of the pack and all equal, you'll have no trouble.

Have fun with your puppies!

NOTE: Jo is right, check your big dogs legs and ankles often, my little one has made my big one bleed a number of times. He grabs a hold of the big one by the legs until the big one stops running.

Answer 6

It will be fine . I have a pit bull and a terrier type small dog that has been together for some years now. I had the terrier first (just like you) then brought in the pit bull . They played and seem to enjoy each other . They may have some little spat
( like siblings will) but just correct them and it should pass.
Hope you have a wonderful time with both your dogs. I do!!

Answer 7

returned interior the 50's there replaced into no longer the comparable "see it, decide on it & purchase it" approach inspite of the potential of the person to combine parenting a newborn & preparation a puppy. right this moment a poorly bred toy puppy can genuinely be offered by utilising everyone with funds of their wallet, who would have questionable parenting skills & then fails to oversee the interplay between the canines & newborn. no longer all people would desire to be mothers and fathers & no longer all mothers and fathers have the aptitude to advance a tiny puppy, with an exceptional skeletal shape, which left interior the palms of a youthful newborn who treats it like a toy, would reason actual injury or the newborn ought to be bitten. Any canines would nip in defence, if its pushed to its threshold, because of the fact the person did no longer step in & administration the habit of the newborn. i wouldn't in any respect say an absolute no, it may remember on no remember if the guy replaced right into a accountable verify, who've made a reasoned determination to purchase a toy breed, & could save the puppy risk-free from the newborn & the newborn risk-free from the puppy. in accordance with the remark that that's BS to hold the opinion some breeds are actually not appropriate to amateur canines running shoes, i could disagree. some breeds won't shrink an proprietor any slack in the event that they foul up on offering it with the management, obstacles, obedience preparation, some sort of problem to artwork its strategies & socialization this is going to have - & it’s the canines that usually will pay the value.

Answer 8

More than likely they will end up Mutt and Jeff. Make sure they get neutered or spayed at the earliest you can. Their both terriers, they will be buds. Don't forget about little man syndrome, in the rat. He may be the rougher one! Have fun!!!

Answer 9

That is fine... I have a jack russell terrier and a chow/golden mix and they are fine together. My cousin has a pit/american bulldog mix with a corgi and they do well together as well. Just watch them when they play dont let them go to far

Answer 10

as long as they get along you shouldn't worry...i have 2 5-1/2 year old lab/rottweiler/dalmation dogs (they're littermates) and last summer i got a chihuahua puppy (who's now a little over 1 year old) and they all get along fine....the older dogs are 50# and 60# and the chihuahua is only 5#....as long as you see that the bigger dog isn't trying to hurt the little dog there's nothing to worry about!! actually, don't be surprised if your little dog tries to be the boss of the bigger one, b/c that's what mine does!