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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

Help! Is it a pitbull ???!!! New puppy

39 replies

mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 11:58

I recntly got a new puppy she is 9 weeks old and I broke all the rules and didn't see the parents (this would probably not have helped as I'm no expert on bull breeds anyway) was told she is a staffie, but people are telling me she isn't and that she is crossed with anything between a ridgeback and a pitbull ?!?! I'm pooing myslef I have 3 young boys and without being predujce don't want their faces ripped off !! She is a all brown or fawn with no white marking and a dark brown spot on her tail. She is very friendly but does have a slight stance and you can clearly see her ribs ??? Please help !!!

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AtYourCervix · 01/05/2013 12:00

There is so much wrong with that I don't know where to start.

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 12:00

I know but I badly need advice as to what to do next

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ClaimedByMe · 01/05/2013 12:04

Take it to the vet and ask advice?

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daisydotandgertie · 01/05/2013 12:05

Don't panic. That's the first thing.

Your pup is too small to do any damage at the moment, so you have a bit of time.

Do those who are 'telling' you what breed your dog is actually have any knowledge? Really? Or are they guessing?

Can you post a picture of the pup on your profile?

You really don't need telling how foolish you've been, I don't think. I think you know. Where did you get the pup from & and how did you find it?

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BookieMonster · 01/05/2013 12:06

Her breed will have far less to do with her behaviour than her upbringing and training. If you want her to respect you and your children, you need to take responsibility for that by using firm, kind, consistent training.

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ClaimedByMe · 01/05/2013 12:06

A pic is important so we can try and help identify the breed and drool over a cute puppy

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 12:11

Thanks guys will try and get a pic up, people who think they know dogs I guess not professionals. Vet said is cross but may be many things ?? Went back to lady I bought her from and she said she will get more info for me as he was selling her for someone else, friend of her husband argh !! She just looked so cute in the pic ! And she is the most loving pup and so far very well behaved ! Didn't even mind the vet !

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BookieMonster · 01/05/2013 12:20

Well, if it is in her nature to be sociable and well behaved, you've got the foundations for a great dog as long as you put the work in.

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Lilcamper · 01/05/2013 12:24

It is my understanding that a pit bull is not an actual breed but a cross of several. Unfortunately with the DDA and BSL, all it takes is a dog warden or police officer with a tape measure to declare the dog is 'of type' and seize it!

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 12:26

HOw do you change your profile pic ?

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 12:28

Seize it ?!?! She's just a pup? Maybe I should take her to the police station and ask them ??

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 01/05/2013 12:31

Go to vet, ask for a DNA test? I saw it done on tv on Australia though worth it though if you can before neighbours report etc. save him time in kennels while they find out.

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TheseGoToEleven · 01/05/2013 12:34

I am a foster mum for a dog rescue in Canada. Last year I was asked to take in a "Boxer cross" which I agreed to, when he arrived I had alarm bells go off (we have BSL here too). I had to get him DNA tested and yup, he couldn't be any more "pit bull" (which is not an actual breed BTW).

There is BSL in our province which makes it illegal for me to own him but I am able to foster him as long as he is adopted outside of the province. Not sure what the law is there but here it means he has to be muzzled every time we leave the house and he can never be off-lead. I can take him to training classes though.

There is no need to be afraid, as others have said it has more to do with upbringing than breed - make sure you put the time and effort in to train her and if you have BSL make sure you know the law and its requirements. I was reading something the other day about the history of pit bulls and while they were bred for dog fighting, any dog that showed human aggression was euthanized so the tendency to be aggressive towards humans was actually bred out of this breed.

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 12:45

Thank you thesegotoeleven !! I think I will get her tested, for my peace of mind ! Still don't know how to put a pic up though :/

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ClaimedByMe · 01/05/2013 12:46

I had my rescue staffy dna tested, just out of curiosity, I am not sure how accurate they are but they when the results came back we were amazed.

No idea how to change your profile pic, I just add pics to my profile.

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 12:55

How do you do that claimedbyme ??

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TheseGoToEleven · 01/05/2013 12:55

I will also say that things are not always as they seem! There was another dog in the rescue group I work with, similar situation where he looked like a Staffie so was on the banned list and only up for adoption outside of the province. The foster mum got him DNA tested and he had no Staffie in him at all, just looked like it. She adopted him. :)

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tabulahrasa · 01/05/2013 13:11

From what I've read of DNA tests are fairly useless in respect of identifying breed, the ones that test parentage against individual dogs are fine but breeds of dog don't have massively different DNA, especially with related breeds like staffs and pits.

It's not very likely in the UK that you've got a pit bull cross, not impossible - but the odds are against it. Some people do breed staffies to look a bit more like them and crossed with something bigger they quite often look a bit like one.

Even if she is... They're not massively different in temperament to staffies anyway, she's still the same puppy no matter what other people think her heritage might be.

If you go to the police stating that you think she might be a pit bull or pit bull cross, you may be told she's not, they may seize her while they decide and if they decide she is they'll either register her and you'll have to tattoo her, neuter her and keep her on a lead and muzzled when out of the house or they'll destroy her. Deciding whether she is a pit bull has nothing to do with parentage or temperament - it's done purely on measurements.

Like I said, I doubt very much she is - I'd just ignore them to be honest, carry on enjoying your loving cute puppy.

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tabulahrasa · 01/05/2013 13:14

Just to clarify - they may decide to destroy her no matter what, because I made it sound like it'd be ok if you comply with restrictions, that's not the case, sometimes they just destroy them.

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Branleuse · 01/05/2013 13:15

just because (if) its a pitbull, doesnt mean it will bite her face off.

Get her checked, but even if she isnt, any breed of dog can be dangerous without the right training

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mummaxmas · 01/05/2013 13:24

Thank you tubalharassa ! I have posted some pics on my profile of her now, it doesn't give a clear picture of her stance tho. Hopefully we will get it right with her training and shell be an amazing dog whatever. I know it's bad minded to think she will bite but people will judge her I'm sure

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 01/05/2013 13:27

Aw squee. So beautiful.

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SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter · 01/05/2013 13:35

Aaw she's so cute :)

I'm not an expert on these things (and I'm sure someone else will have better advice) but she looks like a staffy x to me. Don't read anything into her stance - my dog stands like that, and is also very barrel chested, but he is most definitely not a pit bull.

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ClaimedByMe · 01/05/2013 13:43

She is adorable :) I google imaged pitbull puppies and she really doesn't look like the images. I would take her to training classes get her started soon so she is properly trained, we were also told not to use a harness on our staff as that encourages aggression when they are pulling against it making them stronger, or something like that, we use a slip lead or a gencon.

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Scuttlebutter · 01/05/2013 13:51

OP, please do NOT take your pup to the police - there is a very strong chance that it may be impounded and destroyed. If you think there is the slightest chance that your dog may be of "type" then you need to act. First, take a look at the Doglaw website - Trevor gives excellent advice. here. It's really important you don't let your dog stray, make sure they are chipped, and get yourself to puppy classes ASAP - you will need to show you are doing everything possible to be a responsible dog owner. This could save your dog's life at a later stage. There are also a number of campaigning groups such as DDA Watch and others that may be useful to you. You should also informally find out the police's approach in your area. For instance, in South Wales, the police are invited into local pounds where they simply visually identify stray dogs "of type" which are then killed, since they cannot be legally rehomed. I cannot stress enough these dogs are being killed now - simply for the crime of being lost, not because of any temperamental issue. It's utterly shameful, and is doing nothing to make any of us safer. The campaigning groups will advise you on what steps you need to take to ensure your dog is safe, and how best to prevent seizure.