In a news paper I was reading it said how a dad and his 14 year old son were attacked by their family pet a (pit bull terrier).

Also my local rescue centre has an American pit bull puppy for adoption; I thought they were banned, oh and a neighbor of my friend has one too but they got rid of it as it ripped the ear off of their west highland terrier.

If they are banned here in the UK why do so many people still have them?
The types of people who want to own them here turn them into evil pets like this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229190/Pictured-The-shocking-moment-guide-dog-savagely-attacked-pit-bull.html

Because the DD Act is not being enforced by the police/RSPCA/dog wardens, the people that own them are breaking the law in black market breeding/fighting/selling them and neighbours are not reporting them for fear of being targeted/bullied.

I was at a rescue centre late last year, on display was a Pit Bull which had been picked up…..I asked about it and was told it was a 'staffie' by one of the volunteers and said I needed to give her my details and come back that afternoon and speak with the manager if I was interested in 'adopting' it……… she didn't know me….I do a lot of work for that rescue, so I phoned the manager to find out what was going on, the dog had a great temperament however it is an illegal breed and in the wrong hands deadly, also not neutered so a possible breeding stud. I was informed that they had it on display, it would not be adopted by anyone, however the police who had picked it up wandering the streets wanted to see if the owner or friends of the owner came to collect it for obvious reasons….so maybe that is what they do across rescue services Nationwide, I don't know, however the national rescue services like RSPCA are not going to risk losing their income from the local government with illegally rehoming or the Dogs Trust ( part of the KC) in bad publicity.

The law can only be enforced if the public report and if they did then the many legal bully breed owners would not be having such a hard time when out in public with their legally owned and more than often well mannered dogs.
Banning a breed is not the answer, so Pits and Pit types is at the descression of the law enforcer, it is a bad law, however a law all the same.

Pit Bulls illegal in the UK…yes they are, however there are still regular and a huge amount of dog fighting in the UK attended by 'people' from all over the World…dogs coming into the country via Dublin Sth Ireland, across the border to NI and over in cars on the ferry to the mainland………about 3 years ago one fight attended by over 400 people was raided only 500 yards from my property and I had no idea it was going on until 6 weeks prior to the raid( informed by the police), over 900 dogs were brought out of there ( also a puppy farm for several breeds and a baiting centre) two fighting pits dug, DIY medical room to stitch up their dogs, an execution/electrocution 'room' along with burger and alcohol bar and a gambling 'booth' all very well organised……it was horrific…..and what happened to the organisers, the got bail and skipped off the Spain, 1 year later on arriving back they were fined £300 each with suspended sentencing…….and the dogs PTS, the puppy farmed breeds sent all over the UK for re-homing by the RSPCA, 10 of my customers got one of them and not one survived more than 18 months because of their health issues.

I live in southern California, near LA. I'm looking into adopting a small dog, preferably a westie. I'm not extremely picky on the breed but I definitely don't want a chihuahua. Does anyone know where I can look to rescue/adopt a small dog? I've looked at the pound and I'm keeping them in mind but I also want to know where else to look (besides the newspaper, craigslist, etc).
I've looked on Pet Finder and found quite a bit of stuff. I'm not looking for a puppy because I know they get adopted pretty easily. I'm hoping to find a dog 1-3 years old. I was curious if anyone answering this question knew of a rescue shelter/group.

Try a shelter where they put dogs to sleep after a certain period of time not being adopted. Try the pound or the Humane Society. They'll probably be your best bet. Keep in mind, your pickings of small dogs may be slim & it's highly unlikely that you'll get a purebred (still possible). I personally wouldn't waste time with Craigslist… often it's just a bunch of irresponsible people who wouldn't spay/neuter their pets looking to turn a quick dollar on the puppies. So you're really not "rescuing" them. Puppies are easy to adopt. It's adult dogs who really need your help.

i want to get a Westie or a Cocker spaniel, i don't know what to get? i like to go running a lot can Westie's run 2 or 3 miles in 30 minutes, or will that over work them?

those two breeds, especially the westie, are not good running partners

if i was you and wanted a running companion i would look into a thin dog with long legs, like a greyhound body type, do some research on dog breeds who like to run

before you go out and buy a dog, please visit your local animal shelter, they have plenty of wonderful dogs who need a good home, and are generally cheaper than a breeder or pet shop, that's were i found my westie and border collie

If you could, a link to a picture would be great
Bedlington Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Dandie
Dinmont Terrier
]Glen of Imaal Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Skye Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
West Highland White Terrier

I usually use live traps in the attic and basement and check them every other day but my westie just caught a mouse in my kitchen and I was proud of her and praised her. My sister thinks it is bad that I awarded my terrier for killing something.

What do you think?

Its a good thing… unless you have neighbors who put out poison for the rodents.

Train the dog to bring you the dead mice and trade them in for his favorite treat. I used to know some folks who had a twin black tomcats who had been trained to trade dead rats for hot dogs. Sometimes the pile of rats got pretty big, but it was better than risking the cats eating the rodents themselves and being poisoned.

You can't train the dog not to do it; it is bred right into his bones. You may as well encourage it.

We are looking for a new dog, and have decided on a westie. Can anyone recomend a good, kind, responcible, reliable, and nice Westie breeder? We live in Minnesota, and will be willing to drive anywhere in Minnesota to get our new westie. If you know/are a westie breeder, feel free to leave me an email, we have A LOT of questions! We looked online, but you can't alway trust those sites. If anyone has heard of/knows a good/great westie breeder, please let me know. Get back to me ASAP!! Thanks(in advance!!)

akc.org
find 'breed referral'
there you go

go check the adds in the newspaper. there are plenty breeders selling their puppies or dogs.

or…
you could ask any K-9 club in your country.

How to cut a west highland terrier's hair yourself and what tools u need?????? really neec help! automatic best answer for the one with all good info!

HAND-STRIP…not "cut"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Didn't you do ANY research before you bought a dog??????
If you don't even know the BASICS…ask your breeder!!!
OH…it's BYBd junk & you can't?
Then…PAY A PRO!!!
Do NOT butcher it yourself!

It's definatley not cherry eye. It's like her seconds eyelids when you lift up her eyelids and when she looks to the side. She is a wheaten terrier/westie cross and she went to the groomers for the first time and when she came back her left eye was like this, her actual eyeball isn't bloodshot at all. anyway, the next day her other eye was the same. She got groomed on thursday. Do you think it is the stress of it? I just want an opinion before I go rushing to the vets if it's nothing, because it's nearly an hour away! thanks =]

Definitely see a vet. If the groomers got shampoo or whatnot in her eyes she may be having a reaction to whatever they used. Think of it this way — if your eyelids became red and inflamed would you wait to go to the doctor? Unlikely! I'd be freaking out!

hiya my dog died 6months ago and me and the family have now decided were ready for another gwjazpuppy..(yes i know it'l be hard)//
i had a beautiful lab he had a gentic problam hip AND Elbow dysplasi 2 seprate problams..anyway…i know y as i never cheked his prents hip or elbow scorses silly me.
anyway..a westi carnt get hip or elbow dysplasia what info do i need from breeder?..any papers?..a
and is it realy important that a dog is kc reg?..my lab wasnt..
arww every breeder on websites and ect for west highland terier..in leicester east midlands…just have pedagree to i need the hip scores even though they carnt get hip problams im very confused just wanna get a healthy puppy.

PLEASE PROVID SAME INFO FOR YORKIE TERRIER AS I DONT KNOW WHICH DOG 2 GET..XX
THNAKS

Any dog can get hip dysplasia i have a shih tzu with hip dysplasia
westies do get it

If you are serious go through the uk kennel club and get a list of reputable and knowledgeable breeders that produce high quality dogs

A reputable breeder will have genetically sound dogs they will also have KC registered the mum and the dad
they will also be able to go back many generations of blood lines as well on the papers

I don't know about westies but i do of a reputable breeder through the kennel club that breeds shih tzus and her puppies as well as the parents are hip scored xrayed and looked at by a vet for any problems and are also wormed papered and have there first set of vaccinations