Just found out that my puppy is 36% a banned breed!

[EvilGoldfish]

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

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?

There's a couple of things to know

1. These DNA results are of very questionable validity.
2. The DDA talks about a "pit bull type" which is based solely on looks (+ the use of a tape measure) not DNA. You could have a dog that was lab x (genuine) staffy that could be deemed a pit bull "type" if it looks the part, regardless of temperament. It's a poorly drafted kneejerk piece of legislation.

My advice would be to not tell a soul about these DNA results. You're only going to create problems for yourself if you start telling people.

Keep doing what you're doing with training and socialisation. The chances of her turning into a rampaging beast are low. If she does start to show signs of behavioural problems, see an APBC or CCAB qualified behaviourist sooner rather than later, before any problems become ingrained.

If she ever were to be noticed by the authorities, it's possible to apply for an exemption BUT this is still less than desirable as it would mean her always being muzzled and on a lead in public, and you could never legally rehome her (even if you died / became ill / homeless etc). You would also be unable to get any insurance for her except third party liability via Dogs Trust. So try to avoid her being noticed in the first place. If anyone asks what breed she is - she's a staffy cross.

Thank you Undertones, everything online was so conflicting!

I didn’t realise that it was a type rather than the breed? I haven’t mentioned the results to another soul except my husband and an anonymous message to the RSPCA Facebook page.

The thought of her having to live her life in a muzzle is heartbreaking. She is a dream to train and I intend to keep going to our local groups for her lifetime as she seems to love a bit of agility work.

The advice above is good. But do make sure you nueter her as well to avoid any of those genes being passed on.

If she looks like a staffy and is very well behaved no-one is going to come round DNA testing her, it would only be if there was a complaint about her that it might be looked into.

She’s a mixed breed, not a banned breed.

As with all dogs, keep a close eye on her. Any dog has the potential to snap regardless of breed. I’m sure everything will be alright though try not to worry.

Staff's and even pitbulls can be lovely dogs and have very sweet temperaments it's only bad breeding and bad owners combined with their size and powerful bite that have led them to get a bad name, but if she is good natured and you train and socialise her well she has the potential to be a very nice dog.

Personally, I would do nothing.

If your dog is well behaved and doesn't bite anyone or cause havoc, nobody is going to give two fucks what breed mix she is, honestly.

Please don't worry!

Thank you all, I am calming down a bit more now. I guess it was just a shock (I put my money on Labrador x staffy as that is what the vet thought and what everyone asks if she is).

She will definitely be spayed, the vets said we will wait to see what size she is before decided when.

A friend of mine had a pit bull many years ago. He was the one of most laid back, gentle, friendly dogs I’ve ever seen. Unbelievably strong though, he’d literally push you off the sofa if he wanted your seat

As others have said, I’d do absolutely nothing but watch him closely, as you would with any dog

He sounds gorgeous!

She, sorry!

I have heard of two puppies from exactly the same litter, one was typed as a Pit Bull and had to be PTS, the other wasn't and went on to live a normal doggy life. This is why BSL is barmy and really needs sorting.

As others have said, your dog is a Staffy cross, that's all she is if anyone ever asks. The DNA tests are hit and miss and definitely not what the police use to decide if a dog is illegal under BSL anyway.

Update: The RSPCA have replied and I feel a lot better! They said that the BSL is based off appearance and not DNA, that she would most likely be fine. I do not need to contact the police or hand her over to anyone off the back of a dna test. But in case if I have any concerns that she may appear to be of ‘type’ when older, they gave the details of two organisations that I should speak to.

I do have dc (8 and 6) but they been been taught how to behave around dogs (my father had a nutty Dalmatian) and I’ll be taking the same precautions that I would have been anyway with any type of dog breed. Always supervised and given plenty of space from each other.

She wags her tail like crazy when the dc come home from school, doesn’t jump but sits thumping the floor until they stroke her and say hello grin I’m doing the training obviously but they can tell her to sit/wait/heel.

Have been chatting to DH and really what has mainly changed is that I’m now hyper aware of how she might appear to others and that she can’t put a paw wrong.

That's good news, you should be fine. You sound like you might have some worry about her behaviour now, understandably. It's important though, not to be anxious around dogs, they do pick up on it and sometimes think there is some kind of threat. So make sure you are very calm and positive with her and always have good expectations of her behaviour as she sounds like a lovely dog.

I understand they are banned for bite strength reasons not just temperament. I don’t know if there is a test for that?

@Mymycherrypie

I understand they are banned for bite strength reasons not just temperament. I don’t know if there is a test for that?

Breed Specific Legislation is on how they look, not even temperament (many very sweet dogs have been seized after being reported as type) and not bite strength. Mastiffs and Rottweilers are entirely “legal” and have a much stronger bite strength compared to a Pit Bull.

@Mymycherrypie

I understand they are banned for bite strength reasons not just temperament. I don’t know if there is a test for that?

Bite strength is not something tested when assessing whether a dog meets type. It's to do with appearance, ratios of different body measurements etc.

BSL is utter bollocks and needs an overhaul.
I read a blog recently about someone who sent off their own DNA (cheek swab) to one of these dog DNA places and was identified as a mixture of breeds so I would bin the results and enjoy your pup.
As someone has said up thread, BSL is measurements and not DNA. Often measurements taken by someone who has been on a 2 week training course and can then condemn a poor dog to a life of leads and muzzles.
She is a staffy cross. As is mine.

I meant to update the dog house thread only.

I’m afraid I have an incredibly sad update to this story.

Dpup seemed to start getting fear aggressive around the dc. They were never left unsupervised, not even for a second, so I am not sure what started it. So I kept them apart completely.

We took her to the vet to get her checked over. We had been doing ‘wellness’ visits where she would just go and be fed treats so she wouldn’t be scared.

She sat on the table, wagging her tail and wanting a stroke. Then it just happened. She tried to bite the vet. I couldn’t distract her at all, it was like switch had gone off. No cowering, no growing, no warning. Then she went back to being her happy gorgeous self again.

The vet seemed shocked and explained that this was very unusual for such a young puppy, that she was going to be bigger than 30 kg when grown and would probably need professional help. She said it might be genetic? She then asked if we had young dc and the hairs on the back of my neck went up.

I spent a few frantic hours asking around for advice when I was pointed to a very well regarded local rescue who only ever keep dogs in foster homes before adoption (no kennels - she loves people so much she would never cope) and have experience with large bully breeds.

I explained everything and they were very understanding and said they could come to collect her that very evening. My DH said she seemed to know what she was breed wise without having to ask, and the couple who came from the rescue were so kind and lovely, playing with her. I had to leave, I couldn’t be there because I wouldn’t have let her go.

She has been gone for two days now. I torture myself by checking the rescues Facebook page to see photos of her. Everyone around me says we made the right choice but I can’t see it. I feel like I handed a child away to a stranger. I miss her constantly as she was my little shadow.

I feel I am the worst mother and dog owner in the world and will never have another dog again.

By genetic the vet didn’t mean her breed, she said it could happen in any breed where a bad breeding had happened (I.e. two fear aggressive dogs bred).

How old is she? Was it a proper bite or a puppy mouth? I'm sorry I know I wasn't there but the vet saying they hadn't experienced that is odd.. most puppies will give a nip when they are experiencing something uncomfortable and it's extremely odd that there were no warning signs which would suggest aggression..

And just to add I'm so sorry this has happened xx

Argh sorry I've just reread your post. Please ignore what I said earlier I didn't notice the aggression around your DC. You've made the absolute right choice x

You’ve done the right thing op. But I’m so sorry. The thing that scares me about that type of dog is the power and size of their jaws. I have a tiny yappy terrier who has snarled and gone for me and vets and various people. But the size of him and his little beak means he can do little damage. A larger, more powerful dog doing it would be terrifying. You have children. You put them first but still very sad I know.

So sorry, OP.

She then asked if we had young dc and the hairs on the back of my neck went up.

This is the reaction of a good mother.