Update on my friend.

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Mosh

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It looks like she's being taken to court by her ex over custody of their little boy and with some gentle persuasion she has decided to rehome the dog.

I've said i'm going to help her all I can with him and help find him a good home but not sure where to start.
I've said i'm going to vet homes if I can and he won't be going to any "dodgy" characters who are going to use him for "status symbols" etc.
I don't know how to go about it. Never had to rehome a dog before.
 
Well done for doing this for him but please only go for people experienced with bull breeds, someone prepared to neuter and someone capable of ironing out the issues, which, through no fault of his own, he has.
Is he licensed, microchipped etc? Also might be having him DNA'd and registered to a database because of his breeding.

Maybe Cayla could give some advice.
 
CC thats why I'm a little bit overwhelmed! Not as easy to home as a greyhound for example if you know what I mean.
He is vaccinated, not sure about micro chipped and he isn't registered which doesn't really surprise me!!
May have him DNA'd but can't see his owner willing to do that. Apparently his half brother came back as staffie X boxer! The dog is not a staffie x boxer!
I have some numbers to ring (experienced dog trainers and see if they can help) and there is a local dog rescue but they are so full of staffy types I'm not sure they'll take him.
Will PM cayla later on when I get home. Going over to hers now to...well I don't know what, do something with the poor dog.

Just hope I can find him a good experienced and loving home.
 
If you can I would try and rehome him home to home/foster home or from a set up like what Cayla has, rather than for him to have to go into a kennels, I think anyone who has visited one recently can tell you how many staff types are languishing there :(
 
Will try rehoming privately/foster first as my local kennels are rammed with staffies and don't want to add to the burden.

Went over today and he's been allowed out of his cage and has more freedom which is always good. He's already been had by the cat!
I did some training today with him, just a little "sit!" and "down" work and he's learning how to "wait" now.

I did get kisses though which weren't appreciated!
 
Its REALLY hard to rehome staffie or staffie crosses. I keep in touch with staffie welfare and other rescues and they are - literally - overwhelmed. If he really has issues, then that will make him even harder to rehome. If you pm me, I can give you staffie welfare contact numbers who will try to help but this is such an abused breed that a staffie with problems has very little chance. If you are able to help with the training so that this can be a dog that can (as per your posting) live with cats, been in a family with children aged x etc then you have more chance. Its really kind of you to try (I don't know the history) and I hope you succeed.. Just as a footnote - DNA is not really relevant. Staffies have been so overly/badly bred that most "purebred" no longer resemble the kennel club standard. I always get questioned about mine as they look "small" to most people. Oh and staffie kisses? its a breed trait!!
 
The DNA comment was about proving what he isn't, not what he is, if you see what I mean.
I am communicating with a girl who has had her dog (which is DNA registered!) taken off her because of his proportions, and nothing else, so just a bit itchy...perhaps your dog wardens aren't so indiscriminate....
 
I know what you mean CC about the DNA.

Dog is basically an 18 month old staffy cross. Crossed with what looks like a pit bull.
He's a nice chap, Lacks manners, not had the nicest start to life but shown no violent tendancies yet!!
Intelligent boy who wants to be your friend and do stuff. Black with white feet, nose and dipsticked tail.

Taught him how to "wait" today and he got it sussed very quickly. He waited while i left the room, did something for 30 seconds and came back and he hadn't moved. Is quicker responding to sit, I.E i only have to ask twice now, rather than getting his attention every 5 seconds before i can even ask for sit!!
Does live with cats (4 of them) and as long as cats have there own space it will be okay. He's learning you don't mess with the cat otherwise you have a cat sitting on your head with the claws dug in!!!
Lives with two year old boy and he is actually pretty good with the child. Ignores him mainly.

I'm hoping with some right training and socialising he will be rehomable. I just know the kennels are so rammed. If i didn't have my own rather lanky dog I'd have him untill he can be rehomed.
 
I take my hat off to you Mosh, you're doing right by this chap and putting work into him when you could easily walk away and he sounds like he could make someone a lovely dog in the right situation.
 
This is my take on it. It may not be popular but hey.

If he truley is a pit mix he should not be rehomed. He should be DNA tested to find out.

If he is a pit mix it is illegal and he should be PTS.

It is not fair to a new owner for him to be rehomed to them and then the dog taken from them because he is discovered to be a pit mix.

It doesn't cost much to DNA test.
 
I can see your point of view Katielou and to a point I agree.

CC, I just don't want to see him end up even worse. I'd like to help him while he's still got a chance. And its rewarding to be able to help train a dog that gets it. He's a quick learner and enjoys it and its rewarding.
He's not like Scoobs who looks at you like you're mental and its all beneath him!

Just want to see him go to a nice home. He's growing on me. Even the staffie kisses!
 
Sounds like you are doing a great job Most, however I do agree that it would be sensible to have a DNA test. If he looks in any way like a pit bull it is likely it may arise in the future, I am sure we have all heard about dogs languishing in kennels for months or even years whilst arguments carry on as to whether or not they should be subject to DDA. For the sake of this lad its worth finding out, and if it is worst case scenario then pts is sadly the best option.
 
Good luck, he sounds like he's coming on with the bit of training you've given him, just a shame his breed will make him harder to rehome.

Out of interest can a DNA test actually tell if a dog is pit bull or staffie surely this would make the police's job much easier than having to assess if it looks type?
 
I'm now gently persuading my friend she wants a DNA test for him :P
Just makes her, mine and his future life a lot easier.

I'm really pleased with his progress though, I can leave him the kitchen now without destroying things and when I come back in, he sitting calmly on his bed and he will wag his tail but he won't move untill I tell him too.

Started leaving the cats alone, as in he won't chase them upstairs now, he gives up after about 3 strides and goes back on his bed!
I love the little chap I do but I can't and won't take him as my house is just too busy for him. And its not fair on Scoob dawg! :P
 
The main problem with DNA and the DDA is because pits are not a recognised breed in the UK, just a type, there is no database.

FI my dogs are DNA'd and so are their parents - which proves beyond all doubt that they are the dogs their papers say they are, from those two parents. They are all registered to a central database in Germany.
I don't know what other breeds to, but a DNA test can give you a rough idea of what breeds are present or mixed but obviously if the parents are tested as well, it makes life a lot easier.

In the case I am talking about, the wardens are only interested if the DNA test confirms what he IS, but then, that would blow their case out of the water....I wish it were a requirement for many more breeds.
 
Its a minefield this DNA lark!!

Gah....confused now!! How much is it roughly to DNA? and if he is staffy x PB what would happen to him then? Or would he have to be PTS because of being an illegal breed?

And if he is staffy x something else, he would be okay, still hard to rehome but would be allowed to live? Providing I could find him a home?

To be honest, I'd rather see him PTS then spend the next year in kennels. Don't kill me anyone!!
 
I've no idea, mine were done before they arrive (I don't do baby pups :p)
I know Katie has had it done but she is in the USA.
If he was pit bull you'd make the decision to take him to have it done yourself, turn him over or risk him being seized at a later date.

I kinda agree with your last point which is why if all turns out OK it would be better rehoming him direct from you, with advice/guidance from a breed (!) or general rescue, or from foster.
But you never know, I do know a very lucky little staffy cross who is coming to visit us tomorrow :)
 
lol I'd rather not do baby dogs either!
I'll look into the DNA testing for my friend then.
She's admitted that she almost doesn't want to know what breed he is. I can see why tbh. Think its suddenly dawned on my friend what his future could hold if he is PB x :(/

DDA is a very confusing thing!
 
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