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Thread: Mix breed... Pit bull?

  1. #1
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    Default Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Trying to find a good boarding facility for my dogs and the most reputable one I've found does not accept pit bulls or mixed breeds that are "too much" pit bull, even if the facility is outside Denver county. The manager of the boarding/doggie daycare immediately asked what breed one of our dogs is when we arrived for our trial play date. We told him that he's a mixed breed and classified as a "Great Dane mix" and cleared by Denver county animal control. We were told that ultimately, it was under the discretion of the owner if Hank would be able to stay or not. His play date went well, and he's welcome back for now... the owner wasn't in so there's a chance we could be told he's not allowed back when the owner finally does see him.

    We adopted Hank about a year ago and I've never thought he was a pit... I mean, he's a mutt so there's a huge chance he may have some in him, but it's hard to tell how much. He's tall, lanky, lean, and weighs 80 lbs. I was always under the impression that pit bulls are more compact (50-60 lbs) and more muscular/stocky.

    Any ideas of what he could be??? Really, I just need some reassurance!
    Last edited by Mia M; 12-01-2007 at 10:57 PM.

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    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    He looks like a Great Dane/Pitt mix to me, with perhaps a tad of Dalmatian in him.... and MAYBE a lil bit of some pointing/hunting breed... maybe Brittany Spaniel or an English Pointer. The face looks like it has the Dalmatian and the hunting breed in it.
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Why not have a reputatable pet sitter instead of worry-ing about this boarding facility? This person can visit your home to make sure he is well fed, looked after and your home looks 'lived in' and thus increasing the security of the home when you are away. It was something I was going to get into once ... the reputable ones can be recommended by your vet and/or a pet sitter accreditation service or similiar --- http://www.petsittersofamerica.com/


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    Veteran Member Jeanette's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    He definitely looks like a pit. My dog is a purebred American Pit Bull Terrier and I see a lot of similarities between your dog and mine, but how can they really determine what is "too much"? Ugh, I hate the blatant breed discrimination that pit bulls receive, sometimes even before people meet your dog.

    I've had problems as well with finding places to board/get my dog trained, it really does suck! I couldn't even sign him up for socialization classes because the owner of the school I wanted to send him to wouldn't even think of accepting a Pit Bull.

    Your dog Hank(love that name!) is beautiful!

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    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    He could be. But he could just as easily have boxer or something else. Try this - next time, just lie. Don't say "You don't know" what he's mixed with. Say he's a Dane Boxer cross. Like people base it on the forehead features, but if you look here (http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html) you can see that a whole bunch of dogs have similar heads.
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  6. #6
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    He definately has Dane in him. He even has some of the Harlequin markings. Anything else is a coin toss..

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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    ^Yeah, Harlequin Great Dane and I'm guessing either pit or boxer. Whatever he is, he's certainly adorable!!



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  8. #8
    zxcire
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Mia,


    Did you know you can get Hank DNA tested to find out what breed(s) he is? That way you can have definitive proof if he is part pitbull or not.

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    God/dess LuckyOne's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Any dog person can see in a second your dog is pit. No coin toss. No question.

    I have worked at boarding kennels before (reputable ones!) and I would not recommend boarding my dog if you have any other options. Boarding is NOT FUN for dogs. Small space, little exercise, other dogs barking at night so they can't sleep...

    If you don't have a friend or family member that will take care of the dog in their own home when you are away maybe someone you trust could "housesit" for you. I have no experience with it myself, but I also like GoldCoastGirl's petsitter idea.

  10. #10
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Quote Originally Posted by LuckyOne View Post
    Any dog person can see in a second your dog is pit. No coin toss. No question.
    I wouldnt say it is that definate. Its a possibility sure...a high possibility. But the only definate I see here is Dane(and I am most definately a dog person..having worked as a vet tech for many years)

    The head shape alludes to pit, but there are a few breeds with a similar head shape.And he still has the jowels of a Dane. His body is leaner then a pit and his legs are longer.

    There may very well be pit in him...but theres a possibility that there is not.

    Either way...I would look for other options. Rather then leave him somewhere that may discriminate against him.

  11. #11
    zxcire
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Quote Originally Posted by LuckyOne View Post
    I have worked at boarding kennels before (reputable ones!) and I would not recommend boarding my dog if you have any other options. Boarding is NOT FUN for dogs. Small space, little exercise, other dogs barking at night so they can't sleep...

    There is one boarding facility in Colorado with NO kennels. The dogs are not caged at any time. They are separated by temperament and size and stay in groups in large indoor pens at night, people on staff 24 hrs a day. So not ALL boarding facilities are horrible.

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    God/dess LuckyOne's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Quote Originally Posted by zxcire View Post
    There is one boarding facility in Colorado with NO kennels. The dogs are not caged at any time. They are separated by temperament and size and stay in groups in large indoor pens at night, people on staff 24 hrs a day. So not ALL boarding facilities are horrible.
    That sounds pretty cool.

    Cameron- Everybody is entitled to their opinion but I still think he's pit.

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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Thanks for the educated guesses!

    We are getting references for pet sitters so that's another option were looking into. Most only garuantee that they'll be in your home from 6 in the evening to 6 in the morning, that leaves a 12 hour span of time my dogs could be in their kennel. I suppose I could hire or opt for a walking service, too but they'll still be stuck in their kennels for long periods of time...

    we liked this one paticular boarding facility because it's also a daycare with an indoor/outdoor area so the overnight dogs play all day and Hank and our other dog Sophie can sleep in the same spacious kennel in the evenings. They also only allow 15 dogs per handler and there's a 24 hour doggie cam so I can check in on them. But if it doesn't work out, it is what it is.

    I'm seriously considering the DNA testing! Our little on, Sophie, is REALLY a tough one to figure out... Looks like a miniature (45lbs) Rhodesian Ridgeback sans ridge.

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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    You can tell if it had pit in it by the jaw line. If the jaw line is straight it is not a pit and more like a boxer, if it curves out on top then it probably is.

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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Oh god, it is so awful what they do to these creatures. I shouldn't have clicked on some of the links in the site above. I will be praying for them tonight, and for divine vengeance on anyone who hurts them..
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    Featured Member mina loy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    what a beautiful dog!

    i don't understand all of this discrimination toward pit bulls. pits can be very sweet!

  17. #17
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    He looks like a good dog, and I agree that he doesn't necessarily look like a pit. I can see how he might have pit heritage, but when I first clicked on his picture, I saw a boxer/Dane/dalmatian mix. In the face he looks more like a Dane than anything else, or a very large dalmatian. His body looks like a boxer's, but then I think boxers look a lot like pits.

    I don't normally associate long droopy jowls like his with a pit. That's a Dane thing. Pits have smaller, tighter jowls, at least the ones I've seen.

    But I agree that pet sitting is probably a better option than kenneling him with a place that may not want him or may keep him locked up out of fear. It doesn't matter so much what he really is; if they THINK he looks like a pit, they'll either refuse him or treat him like he's potentially vicious. Might as well just get a sitter. Don't you have a friend to take care of him?

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Mix breed... Pit bull?

    Well, I know a lot of boarding places, as well as apartments that allow dogs but ban "aggressive" breeds, really have a "loose" policy regarding pit bull mixes. Unless your state bans pit bulls completely, there are ways around it.

    Frankly, regardless of what your dog actually is, even if he has absolutely no pit in him, the average person will think he's a pit bull (many boarding places have no trouble with pit bulls...it's that other boarders, if they see the presence of what they think is a pit bull, will not allow there dogs to stay there). So if your state bans them, you're out of luck. However, if your state permits the ownership of a pit, you have some leeway with the boarding facility.

    Call the owner and make an appointment to see him for a meeting. You can tell him exactly what you posted here, that you're unsure what his breeding is exactly, but that he was labeled as a Great Dane mix. You can use this meeting to show that your dog is not aggressive.

    Make your dog behave as much as you can. If you haven't already, you may want to take a few obedience classes beforehand, just so you can make him do a few things many obedience examiners look for. For example, since he'll be evaluating your dog for discipline and non-aggression, you want to make it look like you've trained the dog to be submissive. Before you open the door, make him sit and wait, and dont let him walk through until after you've walked through. Make him lie down when meeting the owner/another dog. He may ask you to feed the dog in front of him, as many dogs will bite in their rush to eat. Make your dog sit and wait as you pour the food, and make him wait for about 30 seconds before allowing him to eat.

    These are simple tricks that are easy to train a dog (pit bulls are smart, and can usually learn this in a few days). It can make an overall goofy and hyper dog look polished and extremely trained (of course, if your dog is at all aggressive, please dont do this, as it can trick an owner into accepting a dog that is a liability...I recommend this only for dogs who really are sweet and non-aggressive, but may be discriminated against because of breed). It also indicates that you are a knowledgeable owner who took great pains with their dog's behavior, by all accounts, a dog/owner most kennels would be thrilled to have.

    I had a pure pit bull male, and similarly, the best kennel int he area did not accept his breed. I made an appointment with the owner, did the above, and the owner approved the dog on the spot. He said that the "breed ban" was because the majority of people who want pit bulls and pit mixes are the thugs, or idiots who want an aggressive dog because it's cool and scary, and either encourage aggression, or just dont train it at all. But if the dog is well behaved, he'd be happy to take it.

    It's worth a shot.

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