Just found out that puppy is partly a banned breed

[EvilGoldfish]

(Reposted from dog section as I didn’t get any replies yet and I’m really anxious!)

I know we should have done things properly to start with but my heart completely over ruled my head sad

We were on a waiting list for a Staffordshire bull terrier puppy, when my niece told me of a family she knew giving their 10 week old staffy female away as they couldn’t cope.

I went with full intentions of taking her to a local rescue as the details sounded dodgy (no microchip, no vaccinations, no contact details for who sold her to them) but I couldn’t bear the thought of her being picked duo as a bait dog. They had her in a tiny cat cage, no toys/bed and on adult butchers food. The first thing she did when they let her out was run up for a belly rub.

Obviously, she is completely adorable and I ended up taking her to the vets to be chipped, 1st vaccinations and to get checked over.

I know all puppy owners can say this but she is so responsive to positive training, loving and eager to please. She has only had two accidents in the four weeks we’ve had her, she sleeps at the foot of our bed and usually only needs to get up once in the night. Her little tail wags like crazy the second she sees anyone, including strangers and other dogs (dogs from a distance as her second vaccination is next week) but especially children. We are starting KC puppy scheme classes in a few weeks.

I feel like I have to predefend her as we have just received the wisdom panel DNA results. The breakdown is as follows (can’t post pictures yet?)

36% American Pitbull Terrier
21% Staffordshire Bull Terrier
18% American Bulldog
15% Rottweiler
3% Presa Canario
2% Boston Terrier
1% Bulldog
1% Dalmatian (?!)

I’m absolutely distraught. I’ve contacted the RSPCA (anonymously) for advice but wanted to know what others would do in my position? While I wait for the RSPCA response I wanted to try to figure out what my options are (google returned a LOT of conflicting advice).

Is she going to be taken from me when she gets bigger, even if she is a perfect family pet?

What are the chances of her suddenly turning into a rampaging beast, despite her being a very good natured puppy, and will be trained/socialised well?

Aww op I feel for you I'd be upset in your shoes. Is the DNA test a reputable one or one that says your dog is x% Yorkie when the dog is the size of a rottweiler? Hope you can get something sorted and can keep your dpup she sounds adorable

Well my initial thought is that every Wisdom Panel analysis I've ever seen has been utter bunkum and I would suspect the same of that one (random bit of Boston and Dalmatian, really?!).

Beyond that, who can say - presumably she is a fair mix of whatever, so no-one can accurately predict how she'll look and act as she grows. Chance you take really.

My SIL suspects her much loved, daft as a brush staffy is much the same. She spoke to local police who told her that the best way to solve the problem is NEVER to put the dog in a position where anyone could raise concerns.

So always on a lead, never left alone, trained to within and inch of its life and always kept away from other dogs, kids, people in general.

It's a happy little dog but SIL is taking no chances whatsoever.

Please do let us know what the RSPCA say.

It's shit when people breed pits in with other breeds. The law currently doesn't differentiate. Though that is being questioned...

I thought you could get an exemption and have the dog neutered and chipped and always have it muzzled even it was a banned breed? (Could be wrong — will google?)

Does she look like especially like a pitbull?

Oh, the Dalmatian will be historical, bred in for white fur. Our purebred English bull terrier would come back with Dalmatian too - and a few others.

Bin the DNA test. Does the dog look like a ptbull?

I agree with pp, don’t put it in a situation where it’s questioned. Keep on a lead, puppy classes and don’t let it be around other children or babies.

Will people question it? Does she look like an American pitbull or does she look "full staff"?

Those DNA tests are fun, but not super reliable is my knowledge of them. However, if the dominant result is American Pitbull it could be correct I suppose.

I’ve just looked up Wisdom DNA - it is a US-based company so the ‘worldwide’ results they screen against are going to have an influence - there will be more recorded results for American Pitbulls than Staffies.

In short, I wouldn’t panic.

If you hadn’t done the DNA test you’d be thinking it was a Staffy. I’d be inclined to just keep thinking that.

Enjoy your pup!

Those DNA tests are notoriously unreliable and you need both parents’ DNA to get a reliable result. Please don’t worry, if anyone asks, you just say she’s part staffie, the rest is unknown.

I agree with @HoardingSamphireSaurus - don’t ever put her in a situation where anyone could raise concerns, although every dog owner regardless of breed should do the same.
Also, I think the advice from rescue organisations is to get them neutered to show you have no intent to breed.
You can also do the Kennel Club citizenship award, which is a lovely training scheme, showing you’ve taught her to sit, come back, etc.
And finally, I’d take those dna test things with a piece of salt. I don’t think they are that reliable.

I'd get it use to wearing a muzzle now. Don't invite trouble. It's shows you are being responsible
Enjoy your dog

I saw a pit bull tied up outside Tesco yesterday… yours wouldn’t raise an eyebrow from me.

I’ve had an am staff x rottie in the past (where it was legal). Moved to a county she was illegal and I was just very careful… fwiw, probably my best behaved ever dog and the one I trusted with the kids more than any of the others.

My DF was a vet and would call that mixture of breeding Crossed by everything but the milk cart and they tend to be either very calm dogs or very destructive dogs, very little in between.

You can also do the Kennel Club citizenship award, which is a lovely training scheme, showing you’ve taught her to sit, come back, etc.

That’s great advice. If you work through that from bronze to gold you’ll have a very well trained dog and the certificates to show it. Also agree with getting her neutered - it’s better for bitches health and it shows you’re a responsible owner.

So always on a lead, never left alone, trained to within and inch of its life

Absolutely, I intended on doing this anyway as I have dc so that won’t be a problem.

Everyone asks either if she is a staffy or a Labrador. She looks like she’ll have longer legs to me but still be medium size. I can’t post a picture yet as I’ve just signed up (had an account years ago when I first had dc but lost that email).

I didn’t realise the test could be wrong.

The RSPCA haven’t replied yet.

’Everyone asks either if she is a staffy or a Labrador’

So, from now on she’s a lab cross.

The training club we will be going to soon does the KC awards, I think she’ll do really well

She will absolutely be spayed when our vet gives the go ahead (I guess it will depend on her growth/ whether she is large or medium).

Aww she sounds adorable

I'd say nothing to anyone ever- keep up with the training, be mindful of her being on lead, not left with children etc and enjoy her!

If she is going back to the vet for her 2nd vaccination next week, ask the vet what breed they think she is. Then, after they have answered, show them the test results you have been sent and ask them whether they think the results are correct or not.

Loads of ‘Staffies’ nowadays have pitbull in them, unless you go for a properly bred Staffordshire bull terrier from a breeder, in which case it will look nothing like your average ‘staffie’ from a rescue or preloved.
With the growing popularity of XL Bullies and those pocket bullies that look like toads, and imported Pits/Presa Canario/Boerbels/various other cropped eared mean looking dogs, what many rescues call a staffy is nothing like the nanny dog people think of. They’re mostly just poorly thought out crosses of some of the above breeds and a more traditional staffy.
You won’t be the only one OP, lots of people who rescue a young staffy looking dog will be in the same position. Just be a responsible owner, like you would with any dog, and you should be fine.

Just don't say anything. It's 36%. Does she LOOK like a Pitbull?

I'd register her at the vet as being a Staffie cross or even just say she's a mutt. Part Staff, part wedontknowwhat.

If she looks Pitty then I'd say she's Staffordshire/Labrador cross as they look similar.

They (vets) are unlikely to ever need to run her DNA to know exactly what mix she is. I imagine you only did it out of curiosity.

Pits are good dogs when brought up and trained well. They need good boundaries, a gentle but firm hand, plenty of socialisation while young and very good training.

They have a strong prey drive as terriers and will be after quick moving, smaller animals almost before they know they've done it so be more thorough teaching recall and the first thing they need to learn is Drop It. This needs to be rock solid ASAP and even then, I'd be cautious letting them play off lead, especially with smaller dogs.

It's much the same as with Jack Russells and greyhounds . You can train and train them but as soon as they spot something small and fast moving, instinct kicks in and they are after it.

They are sweet, loving dogs but its a thing with sighthounds and terriers and given that Pits are large, strong dogs, they can do more damage, more easily. I'd keep her on a long line once she's bigger tbh. No matter how gentle she is. Staffies can be the same way. However good they are, I never trust them around other dogs.

Make sure your children know how to behave around dogs. No pulling, prodding, pestering etc. Leave her alone when in her crate/bed. This advice is the same for all dogs but especially larger breeds who might snap in annoyance and hurt them without meaning to. Even we have our FOR FUCKS SAKE LEAVE ME ALONE moments with our kids and dogs don't speak English to tell them to bugger off.

@supremelybaffled the vet guessed she might be a Labrador Staffy cross, so that is kind of what I was expecting from the DNA test!

The DNA test was a present from my husband who thought it would be fun to find out.

I understand that the banned breeds are difficult to categorise when it comes to the bull terrier types. Whether your dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name and if your dog matches many of the characteristics of a Pit Bull Terrier, it may be a banned type.

You just have to hope it doesn't look too much like a Pit Bull and keep a low profile. Good luck.