Someone at the vets today said they though my pup was a pitbull

Hi all,

Ive got a 8 week old pup that i bought advertised from a private owner not a breeder.
The litter was advertised as 'Red Nose Staffy x Australian Bull Terrier'
I have a boxer cross staff so i instantly bought her for companion with my other dog.

However i went in the the VET to get my pup microchipped, wormed and vaccinated today. And a worker their thought my pup looked like a pitbull. I am a bit alarmed as pitbulls in Australia like most places are illegal.

Can anyone if this pup is a pitbull?

Here are some pictures, she is the copper coloured and the other is my boxer/staff cross. Just hit the 'next' button to view more pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92486756@N06/sets/72157632972395011/

Without papers it's impossible to tell. We all have been told our dogs are pitbulls at one point. Don't let it worry you. In future when asked just say your pup is a Staffy X.

There is no such breed as Red Nose Staffy, & I don't think there's such thing as an Austrailian Bull Terrier either (?). So they have been badly advertised.

Don't let it worry you though, juts be as reponsible as possible

Thanks Mat, im giong to text the owners again just to make sure..., the other pups actually most of them had black noses as you can see in the pics. But i choose this one as she was the most adventurist and was one of the few that had the red nose.

I was just a bit thrown off, because it was a worker at the vet that said she thought it was a pitbull. And im guessing someone that works at a vet has seen more dogs than i have.

No Prob

Come and say hello here, we'd love to hear more about your dog..
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/f7-new-member-introductions

I don't know how it is in Australia, but here in the UK, the chances of having an actual pitbull are very very low, they're usually just crosses that look like pitbulls to people that don't know much about different breeds of dogs. Plus puppies have a LOT of growing to do, she'll look different when she gets older of course. But as Mat said there's no such breed as a Red Nose Staff, just a Staffordshire Bull Terrier that happens to have a red nose

She's lovely

As already said there is no such animal as a red nose Staffy, it is just a sales pitch.. Actual, true pits are as rare as hens teeth.. But yes, true pits are banned here from being bred, imported or sold Crossbreeds that look like pitbulls, can, if they are loose on the street or cause problems where they are reported, can be restricted.. Also if they are offlead and a police officer/ ranger sees them they can be placed on restrictions, such as 7ft fencing, kenneled when not in the direct prescence of 18+ adult etc.. You pup dosen't look like you will have any problems, make sure she is well mannered and socialised, be a responsible owner and you shouldn't have any problems.. The biggest reason why dogs here are confiscated is because they have escaped their yards and people panic and call police/rangers..

And Matt there actualy is an Australian Bulldog Not a Terrier but Bulldog

Kylie wrote:And Matt there actualy is an Australian Bulldog Not a Terrier but Bulldog

I wasn't too sure on that one if I'm honest, thanks Kylie

I checked for Aus Bull Terrier but not for Bulldog.

This is a pic of my friends Aus Bulldog x Staff.. Very similar to your pup

Did you see either of the parents?

I did sort of see the parents but not being so experienced with dog breeds i really couldnt tell the type. Mother was like my pup, father was black. Most of the other pups were black nosed.

Kylie, your dog is georgous, i hope my pup comes out as handsome/pretty as that.

I texted the owners today after this thread, and their reply was that they bought the mom they were told was a purebred staffy, and their father was a Australian bull terrier. Maybe they mean bulldog. Oh well. Im stressing over nothing. I wasnt going to give my new pup up but the girl in the vet made a big hocus pocus about her looking like a pitbull

I wouldn't worry about it too much, the chances of having a pit bull are very very slim, as already stated most are crosses anyway. Most people wouldn't know one if it bit them on the backside.

Don't worry about it too much If you have her well trained and in control you won't have a problem, like I said the biggest problem is if they are stray on the street and get classified a menace or dangerous/banned breed by rangers, as then you will be looking at a costly court battle Always make sure they are well behaved and in a safe properly fenced yard and exercised properly and you will be fine

By the way your dogs look lovely

Very true what Kathy has just said!

Pitbulls aren't a recognised breed anyway so most are crosses.

Dogs that are called pitbulls are no less friendly or no more dangerous than any other dog. It's all the way they are treated. I do understand the legality fears though.

As long as she's happy/healthy and you are getting on well that's all that matters.

There is no way of telling when you buy from an un-reg private seller. It could be a chihuahua for all you know.

you can have Amstaffs in Australia, just under strict rules.

Taryn wrote:you can have Amstaffs in Australia, just under strict rules.

Actually there are no rules to owning Amstaffs here Except the usual rules you need to follow for every breed

ok your right amstaffs are safe, but if your worried about people kicking a fuss about your dog, this site says what happens
for it to be an amstaff it must have papers

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/pets/dog-care/restricted-breed-dogs/things-you-should-know-about-restricted-breed-dogs

Think your ok mate this is an australian bulldog & your pup doesn't look anything like it