Adopting rescue female Staffy - weight / crossbreed query

Hello All. Really happy to find this page and hope someone can advise. I am in the process of adopting a 5 year old female Staffy from a rescue charity. Just going through all her details to find that she weighs 21kg. My understanding so far of the breed is that females are supposed to weigh between 11-15kg and she doesn't look overweight to me. My son is an average 10 year old for size reference. I am now worried she may be pit bull cross. Is this something that a vet could confirm or maybe someone with a trained eye on this breed? What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.

Hi & welcome.

Are you in the UK, and are you adopting from a registered rescue agency?

Yes I am in the UK and I am adopting from the RSPCA - dog rehomed due to family not being able to manage 2 children and 2 dogs. Everyone at kennel and RSPCA has spoken very highly of the dog, Just now worried about size of her.

In that case, don't worry! The RSPCA get all their stafford type rehomes checked for pit bull type, so she's obviously been cleared & if you ever have any queries, they'll back you up!

As for pure/cross, well she looks like a cross with mainly stafford in her, although it's often very difficult to say.

However, she's an absolute beauty & it looks like your son and her are already great mates.

Thanks Gilly. I'd be interested to know what you think she may be cross with..

And how do the RSPCA check for pit bull type? I understood it wasn't possible to detect through DNA testing...

Hello and welcome.

Unless I am mistaken, the pit bull “type” is the part which becomes very subjective as it’s a combination of measurements and overall look.
As gilly says, the RSPCA will have done their homework as they have a responsibility which I don’t believe they’d take lightly.

Your girl is very pretty, what’s her name ?

As said, it's a set of measurements ( stupid, really, but there you are), and must be carried out by a trained assessor. The RSPCA wouldn't dare get it wrong.

It's so hard to say what she might have in her - could be Labrador or similar?

She is a beautiful girl Certainly landed on her paws joining your family Katy is from staffy parents & weighs 30kgs but she is a staffy Back somewhere in the line there may be an accident

Thanks so much for all your kind comments and advice - its been invaluable today.

A few more check with the RSPCA and then she will be coming home with us. Any tips on settling her in would also be gratefully received. We can't wait to bring her home x

I would bring something from home (an old towel or similar), make sure your family's scent is on it & ask the kennel staff to leave it with her. Then, when she comes home, put it away n her bed so she can cuddle up to it for comfort.

A good routine will be useful - meals at set times, same with walks. Also, no real fuss when you go to bed or go out of the house without her. Just a couple of words, a quick stroke & go.

Also, if she takes herself off somewhere quiet, leave her alone & let her relax. It's going to be tough & strange for her & she doesn't need too much pressure to fit in immediately (although she might!).

It can take a few weeks/months to settle fully, but her true character should start to come through in a couple of weeks.

Thanks so much for the tips! So I have heard from the RSPCA - they say this dog is 'definitely not pit bull type' and therefore they haven't had it checked by the 'put bull trained person' apparently. This is causing me concern... I am waiting to speak to them now...

Don't worry - they know what they're talking about and will always back you up in case of problems.

To be honest, apart from her size, she doesn't look like a Pitbull anyway. I doubt you'll have any problems.