Has anyone had actual experience of owning pitbull crosses?

[WhaddyaThoughts]

I have changed my name for this.

An acquaintance rescused a dog which was to be drowned for being the "wrong colour". The dog is a greyhound crossed with a pitbull terrier. They are apparently used for hunting, but her colour makes her "useless" by accounts and he saved her from the bucket of water which was to be her fate.

Through the most ridiculous of circumstances, and I do mean really properly ridiculous, it seems probable that we are going to be looking after her for a while, if not giving her a permanent home. She is the most lovely dog, slightly skitty, but adoring and easy to control. She has taken to me and follows me everywhere.

I am experienced with bull terriers, but I am aware of the rep that pit bulls have and have no experience with the breed. To put my postion into context I know that if I asked here about Staffordshire Bull Terriers and children I would have a barrage of "anti" posts, which I disagree with, wholeheartedly.

Has anyone any actual experience? And, yes, I do know they are a banned breed and have been for years. I have never actually "met" one before, and she is a just a sweet skitty darling. Probably far more greyhound than anything else, but I knew the first time I clapped eyes on her that she had bull terrier in her. I was shocked to find out which one.

Thanks.

if it were me i would be inclined to phone the police or RSPCA and talk to them about what has been going on here. The dogs are being used for hunting??? What sort of hunting? Greyhounds are bred for the chase and if they get the "rabbit" they kill it. Pitbulls are bred for fighting - this stinks of something awful like badger baiting - thankfully illegal.

It is not totally ridiculous that her colour is wrong. Certain breeds of dogs are thought to have behavioural traits associated with specific colours.

If you keep this dog, i would get her registered, microchipped and get some advice on whether she needs to be muzzled out and about. You do not want to become attached to a dog that is then reported and have to have her put to sleep. Im not sure about the law on pit bull crosses.

Pit bull terriers are supposed to have quite an even temprement but the tendancy to dislike other dogs with a vengence that is seen in the staffy sometimes will be inherant and she will need lots of socialisation.

Do think about informing the authorities here though as there is clearly something illegal and probably cruel going on.

Pitbulls are illegal in this country - ever since the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act in the 1990s. Pit BUll Types are illegal too - which a PB cross would be.

Inform the authorities - sounds v dodgy

fwiw, i think staffordshire bull terriers are fantastic with children, i do however have some serious reservations about pit bulls, especially british lines which will have been bred to fight and attack small things.

You are right Lucyellen - it stinks.. I have recently found out what they are used for - I hate it. They chase and kill deer and sheep. Thankfully such a young dog (who has been rescued before being "put to use") has no idea of what they can do. The reason her colour is wrong is that it shows up too much. The "proper" colours are dark.

This is a world which is shocking to me, but all I see is a lovely dog. It's ok - I know all about staffs and know how to handle them responsibly. I just don't really know about the implications of pit bull crosses. She looks like a greyhound but you can see the bull terrier in her eyes.

Hobnob - I wouldn't inform the authorities - I know nothing of the poeple who were involved in her breeding. I just know the lovely dog I see through her being

I know. I have reservations too. If I had found her in a rescue centre and having no leanings towards bull terriers, I would not have asked and therefore not known the cross breed - and would have not worried (over and above the normal worry with dogs and children).

Not only is she an illegal part breed, she was bred for illegal purposes - it is an offence to incite a dog to maim or kill another animal (and don't get me started on hare coursing 'competitions').

So do you think the folk that bred her cared about the suitablity as a family pet?

She could be bred from the most vicious inbred dam and sire with all manner of health/behaviour problems.

You are mad to take this dog in.

I would contact the RSPCA, hand her in and give them as much information as I could about the people that bred her.

They are evil criminals who delight in the terror and death of living animals.

I also think Staffies and English make great family pets.

As do greyhounds.

A friend of a friend had her pitbull (purebread apparently) put down last week as it bit people on several occasions and eventually someone reported it. I dont think it was particually well looked after tho tbh.

Suppose each dog is different but I guess they are illegal for a reason.

Marmaduke - nothing disgusts me more than the breeding of animals for the terror of others, and I know exactly what you mean about the people who bred her - it's just that I don't know the first thing about one of them. To have a dog put to death for no apparent reason other than her half breed also disgusts me. I never thought I would say this, but I also never thought I would be in the situation where I would have to think about these things. I tend towards the "deed not breed" philosophy.

All I see is a lovely skitty dog who is very easy to handle.

Sorry, I'm sure I was ott.

Personally it is only something I would consider if I didn't have children and would be in a muzzle in public because no dogs life - no matter how skitty (which would worry me anyway, skitty in my book = a bit high strug and nervy) - is worth more than my DC.

Deed not breed is not applicable (imvho) to a dog with such a dangerous gentic make-up.

No! NOT OTT Marmaduke. I'm just canvassing non-hysterical opinion, which is what I have got from everyone.

I appreciate what you say about skitty btw. I could have said that about my Staffordshire Bull in his youth though. I'm torn. Really torn.

Skitty? What does that mean? More to the point, what does it mean in a dog that has been bred to hunt?

Don't get too attached. She may be a lovely dog, but she's illegal and one day, someone is going to report her, and she'll have to be put down. Combination of greyhound (bred to chase and kill)- and pit bull (bred to kill) does not sound good at all.

What is skitty and adorable in a young dog who has not, to your knowledge, been in a situation that would evoke her innate aggression may not be so adorable in an adult. Who could do an awful lot of damage. Even if not to a human being - what's the betting one day she'll rip some poor child's rabbit or cat to shreds?

Or likely as not rip another dog to shreds. What if you put all the work into socialising her properly and she still "reverts to type" one day? Other smaller terriers are very at risk from these kinds of dogs. We had one of these greyhound crossbreeds living near us a couple of years ago and he killed two cats and was extremely dog aggressive. He was a very big dog, too.

OK - i have thought about this overnight. Do you have small children? If so, please think twice about keeping this dog. If your children are old enough then there might be something salvagable here.

Firstly, a word about her skittishness. This is DANGEROUS! An overexcited dog of any size or breed is a handful, an overexcited dog with this genetic makeup is a time bomb. We took on a rotweiller from battersea that was exactly like this, he weighed nine stone and he was "skitty" this was obviously why his previous idiots owners got rid. He was a nightmare - he would literally run into walls, get hold of me and shake my arms - im a big strong woman and i battled with him. Eventually through much training and heartache we got him right, with the support of dog trainers and battersea behaviour people. We knew what we were taking on and i have had a lot of dog experience having worked as a vet nurse and owned big dogs all my life. But it was TOUGH. The point i am making is don't be fooled by this skittishness, my dog hurt me on more than one occasion despite "only playing" - what is play to a dog apart from a practice for a killing situation. We had to discourage this behaviour at every turn, no toys (too possesive) no hyper play (disaster) and very very strict with him, we were lucky and ended up with a lovely quiet (ish) dog. Don't even think about taking this dog on unless you are willing to do the same.

From a legal point of view it is illegal to breed pit bulls or pit bull types. I think there is room within the dangerous dogs act to allow her to stay with you IF you adhere strictly to a set of rules. She must be registered with a vet, spayed at the earliest opportunity (six months), tattood microchipped and muzzled at all times out in public. I would advise this anyway - alot of grey hounds have to be muzzled out anyway as they have a tendancy to go after cats (ex racing ones i mean). If you are serious about this dog, do your homework and find out exactly how the law stands. You don't want to lose her once you and the children have become attached.

I cannot stress enough to watch that skittishness, as she gets older that will turn into a dominance issue and become a danger if allowed out of hand.

But PLEASE please, if you know where this dog came from inform the police. By keeping quiet you are condoning and therefore part of the terrible cruelty that these CRIMINALS are doing. Highly illegal and god knows what else they are doing, dog fights i would be willing to bet. Terrible. You don't have to give your name, just call crime stoppers, it is a CRIME and not a victimless crime. God forbid if ever one of these dogs got loose and tore a child to peices - highly likely considering their breed and upbrining. The more i think about it the more i shudder greyhound pitbull cross? Nightmare

LEM, I feel the same concerns about this unusual mix of breed traits (like you have much big dog experience and my father was a well respected trainer and behaviourist).

Having had a greyhound (ex racer) and other large sight hunting breeds (afghans and deerhounds) I know that they can be dangerous to other animals.

Add to this the strength, bone structure and muscle mass (not to mention temperament) of a pit bull and you have a perfect killing machine.

I watched my unmuzzled greyhound take down (but not kill or injure) a massive billy goat which weighed 3-4 times his own body weight, it was frightening and awe-inspiring (in the original Boudiccia sense).

actually, this really worries me - so there is an element out there breeding dogs for this purpose - frightening. If you don't want to go to the police OP tell me which area you are in and i'll do it for you.

Thanks for all the thoughts here. I'm just weighing up the balance. We may not yet have to consider it for real, but forewarned is forearmed and all that lot. That's the kind of info I was after LEM - the work involved. I wouldn't mind doing it if I had to - I do realise she would need a firm hand.

She has no muscle on her Marmaduke - she looks like a particularly skinny greyhound, (in fact I think she is the smaller version of a greyhound) and nothing else. In fact I would go as far to say that she wouldn't have to be muzzled as you could never describe her as a "pitbull type". No one would spot her.

LEM - there are hundreds and hundreds of dogs which are bred for terrible purposes. Pitbulls haven't gone away. The law simply doesn't work for people who are so determined, sad to say.

Thanks for all your messages - I do appreciate it.

Just because it happens alot doesn't mean we should accept it - if you want me to report them i will, or i urge you to do the same. Hundreds of people rob and stab and the likes, but we wouldnt stand for that.

I was thinking, if you did want to do something positive dogwise, go along to your local dog rescue where they will find you something that will suit your family. Rather than taking on a potential problem which could lead to loads of heartbreak. So many dogs needing a good home, staffies in particular which you say you are experienced with.

I know nothing about them LEM. I have no desire to either, for that matter! In any case, as I mentioned previously I don't think there would be a way anyone could pin "pitbull type" on the dogs as she looks like a small skinny greyhound.

I'm not looking for another dog tbh - I already have one! (they are both curled up together at the moment) It's just that potential circumstances might lead to needing to look after her for a while, if not a very long while.

By the way, from what I have seen of her tonight I would describe her skittishness as 18 month old dog normal behaviour. Very easy to control and responds really well to commands.

It will probably be that I will never have to look after her - no way to know at the moment, but I thank you again for your comments (and concern!)

Ah, the ASBO time Good luck then, and i hope she finds a home either with you or with someone else.

Nope. You lost me there!

(I hope she stays with her current owner by the way! He keeps her on a lead at all times and is pretty damned responsible).

Just to add my two pence worth Whaddya...pit bulls aren't inherently aggressive, they have potential strength which can be harnessed aggressively (ie. jaws). If the pit is crossed with another breed, the chances are it may not be inherently aggressive, although watch out for yorkies etc. if crossed with a greyhound .

I live in a part of the country where underground dog fighting is rife, it's really scary and really horrible

Having said that though - you must be sure you're comfortable with the dog's temprament (sp?). Does a pit bull cross make it a banned breed though (I'm not sure)? Good luck whatever decision you make about her...

(btw the 'yorkies crossed with greyhounds remark was a joke)