Staffy or staffy x

Hi all, i have just taken this little girl from a bad situation. I was told shes staffy and all of her characteristics certainly say she is. However i have had a couple of people mention that she looks crossed with a pit. What do you all think? She is super loving and has settled brill in 3 days I've had her. But i have a 5 year old son and i am worried about taking her to the vets to be checked over incase those people are right and she is taken or were told we have to give her up. Anyone out there know?

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Hi & Welcome to the Forum from Flo and me

Well done on the rescue

Yours is a common question and is usually based on someone saying they think there's a pit mix in there based only on their limited knowledge of dogs in general. From those pictures I see no sign of Pit, a cross with something else yes but no pit.

She looks fab, what's her name ?

Hi and welcome from me and mine

First of all, well done on giving a home to such a sweet looking girl. She's very pretty!

I don't think you've got anything to worry about, other than that you've got to contend with people who give their opinions without knowledge. That sadly is something us bull breed owners learn to live with.

It's hard to say if your girl is a full staffie or not from the photos but my guess is she's probably crossed with something. It actually doesn't matter what any cross might be because the law with respect to pitbulls isn't interested breeding at all, it only interested in looks. That's because there isn't really a pitbull breed recognised in the UK.

A pitbull type is identified by the police, not by a vet so you don't need to worry about a vet deciding your dog should be taken away. Even if you did have a dog that looked like a pit (which I don't think you do) a vet would very unlikely to do anything about it.

I have a fair bit of experience seeing dogs that are assessed as being pitbull types through a rescue where I volunteer and those that get caught in the net there are not what most people would think of as pitbulls. We (sadly) have dogs like your girl in all the time and they don't even get put forward for assessment.

If you have any other comments, just smile sweetly, thank them for their interested and explain that you've looked into it and are quite satisfied that she's fine.

And yes, pop her to the vet for a quick check, a very sensible idea.

Hi all, thanks so much. It is reassuring to here the thoughts of people who know more than the average person on the street!! I am so in love with her already and i cant imagine being parted. Shes a hard time of it i believe and she already had pups from her first season i will be taking her to the vet in the next couple of days and making sure shes chipped (apparently already is but no paperwork whatsoever) i also want to have her spayed.

Shes a bundle of love and loves burrowing under the covers with me.

She was called Prinny, but we wanted to change that really. My little boy has called her Leia (princess leia star wars) and she is taking to it very well.

Shes such a sweet gentle soul and i hate to think where she would of ended up if i hadnt took her <3

Thanks again x

Hi & a warm welcome.

To be honest, to me she looks all Stafford. I don't think you'll have any real problems as long as you train & socialise her.

As far as the microchip is concerned, ask the vet to run a scanner over her. Hopefully there isn't already a chip there as it'll make things a bit more difficult if there is . If not, then chip her, spay her (giving her time to fully settle in her new home first) and then give her all the love she deserves!

Hi from me & Katy, what a beautiful girl you have saved People haven't got a clue about breeds, don't worry she doesn't look anything like pit! I had someone ask me if my Katy was crossed pit the other day Moron!!They wouldn't know a pit if it jumped up & licked them!!!!

Hello and welcome from us.
Good on you for saving the poor girl from a very bad start in life.
Echo on general ignorance on breeds - Nifty got mistaken for a bulldog

Thanks guys. I was pretty sure myself but suppose people just get in your head and i am already so attached i couldn't bare to not have her. Anyway i have now got over my worry and am just enjoying spending time getting to know her and watching her play with my son. X

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People do indeed get in your head and sadly it's usually the wrong ones who decide to shove themselves there unasked.

By the sounds of it I'm not sure who's luckier - Leia, your son or you!

Welcome to the forum from Dodger and me.
We got the same pitbull coments when Dodge was a puppy and a couple of times since. Take no notice, it happens a lot to staffy owners.

Thanks all. To be honest i wouldnt care what she was as long as it didnt effect me keeping her. But her characteristics are so staffy that now i dont see anything else in her at all.

Shes lovely and settled now, shes started playing with her toys which is good to see coz shes coming out of her shell more and more and shes a diamond when im at work, although i do have someone call in 3 times a day to see her and let her out and i only work 3 days.

So all in all its fab and we couldnt imagine life without her now







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Awww - what a beautiful girl. It's so great that you're giving her the life she deserves. As has been said, just ignore peoples' comments. The most important thing is what she brings to you and your family.
My (Princess) Leah says Hi!

Well I think Leia has fallen on all four paws with you, years in f Staffyness to look forward to 

And i couldn't be happier. Feels like a match made in heaven!

Any tips on getting her used to walks? Shes very skittish, scared, jumping up me constantly for reassurance, walking so close to me we fall over each other and just pulling to get home as soon as possible. Also she wont go toilet on a walk. She waits and then soon as we ger home she runs to back door.

I dont think shes been walked much if at all. I want her to enjoy walks and excersize but at minute shes so scared minute we get out the gate. Shes only 1.5 so loads of years coming up and i want her to enjoy the world outside x

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Patience and reassurance, it'll take a little time for her to settle and get in to the routine. When she does go on a walk praise, praise, praise & a treat. It won't take her long to get the idea, same thing with the poop.

Trust me, in a few weeks time you'll see a huge difference when she has settled and understands that things are good now as long as you praise the good behaviour and completely ignore what you don't want her doing.

Fab thank you

I have been just taking her on short 10 minute walks and doing all you said above. Just wanted to make sure i am on right track with her and shouldn't be doing something different. Its odd coz its almost like having a puppy in certain aspects yet shes not!

We will get there im sure, i have all the time in the world for this beautiful girl x

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The other thing I'd suggest is to not focus on 'going for a walk' but rather on just being outside happily. If she has a favourite toy, just take it outside and play with her. If you can then get her to go a little futher happily, then great but don't ask for more. If it means just 50m down the road, sitting looking at the world for a moment, then going home then just do that to start off with. If you do find she's happier turning back after a while, try and only do it in different places and make it a quiet turn for home, not a panic bolt back to safety.

Take it slowly, just ask for a bit more at a time, and you'll get there.

People like this on my facebook

Said at end of comment that i don't actually care what she is, shes mine. Bit ifi ever got a pit for want of a better word "diagnosis" i wouldnt advertise it on facebook and would appreciate he did the same

If i get told i need muzzle my dog, i will because i love her so much i couldnt lose her. But come on

[img]https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/19/8
[url=https://servimg.com/view/19811929/11]1/19/29/th/20171119.jpg[/img][/url]

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She looks fab Katie, couldn't quiet reed the Facebook post though

Vets don't have a legal obligation to report any breeds, and in any case most wont know a pit if it hit them in the face. Just call her a staffy and say no more. For what its worth, any purebred staffy and/or cross can be considered a pit depending on how tall they grow...thats just how the law works (which is why its so insane) but i don't think your girl looks more pit than any other staffy. As for the FB commenter, he must think he knows pits cause that makes him feel cool but he clearly doesn't lol