Hi everyone Could someone please tell me if the Index of exempt dogs is still open in the UK ? And if so, are rescue centres permitted to rehome them ? Much appreciatedd
Pitbulls are still one of four banned breeds in the UK. Certain exemptions have been made for dogs which have been subsequently proved to be carrying Pitbull blood, but had no history of aggression. To the best of my knowledge the conditions were compulsory registration and insurance, sterilisation, and the requirement to wear a muzzle in public. I believe that rescues are not allowed to re-home a banned breed. The ownership of Pitbulls and their mixes has been fraught with distress and legal battles. The solicitor Trevor Cooper specialises in Dog Law would be the best person to provide qualified advice. In recent years, one of our police forces trained a rescued Staffordshire Bull Terrier for scent work, but the dog was later proved to be carrying Pitbull breeding. Although he was talented at his job and had great agility, he was not allowed to remain with his handler and despite a protest, the dog was destroyed.
I would imagine the repercussions for a rescue centre knowingly rehoming a banned breed would be enormous.
I wondered when I read this about how sound the genetic science is regarding these things . Years ago reading about pitbulls and how the staffordshire bull terriers originated from dog fighting lines also , way back when. . As many dogs have these old stories attributed to their origins . So by that origin story if it were to be true , then pit bulls also having originated and been brought to the U.S.A from the UK / Ireland etc as fighting dogs to begin , it would theoretically then be possible to have the same genetic markers possible within both breeds . So you see where this could be troublesome when uninformed authoritarian opinions, not familiar with these things get mixed up in their ‘biased opinions’ and taken as incomplete false facts . besides , staffies are worthy of keeping around . Again not a geneticist , however if you are thinking in backward lines to family trees , thats much what genetics is .
Not sure if American staffies are banned also in the UK , they would definitely have the genetics of the pitbull in them also , since the A.K.C. And the U.K.C split the dogs lines into separate lineages , creating the am staff apparently ‘improved temperament ‘ and standard of their breed , to get away from the pitbull stigma. (hope I remembered the acronyms correctly).
You make a good point Q blue. Although there are breed characteristics that make fighting dogs hard to separate once they are fired up, it really is the owner that determines the character of the dog. However in Gt. Britain, the fact that this is a banned breed with a bad reputation is enough to attract the wrong type of owner. I think you will know the type of person I mean! Over the years we have had some really knowledgeable Pit Bull members on Breedia. People who took the breed seriously and were able to breed fit, health tested dogs with family dog temperaments. Sorry to read that youselves and NSW have even more of the wet stuff to fall this week. When will it end?
Had a look at your banned breeds in UK and then in Australia online , we have a similar list of “restricted” dogs to yours with 1 extra south american breed . a few things , nothing against pitbull owners . I even had a couple years ago when I was young . I had bad experiences with them with dog aggression personally . I think tough dog owners like to make out they are Harmless fluffy bunnies , yet its often not the case . Even staffies can be aggressive and snap , we had one come into out yard and attack my dog when she barked at it when it was outside our yard . The guy said “ Its never done this before “ and unfortunately , I have heard that before! in fact , been in his shoes before , so something to keep in mind . Unfortunately its the owners who are the ones who need to keep the dogs contained and where they cant get in trouble , and the ‘type’ that own them are often not the sensible and responsible type . If course you will have those who love the breeds and do have control . From my perspective these days seeing both sides , I would not deliberately own one . As I don’t want that attention , nor need one , plenty of good dogs I am sure out there , a shame they have to pay the price for the naughty owners and dogs . We have hunting dogs here which are big and scary , yet dogs that fight other dogs are not desireable at all . So I think a functional working breed can stay free from fighting and I love working dogs . Unfortunately the job they were bred for (fighting other dogs) is completely useless . so give them a new purpose ? (they don’t make great hunting dogs generally , they fight the pig and other dogs at the kill and their stamina and tenacity can get them killed by heat stroke and lack of common sense rushing in to be honest , though there will be exceptions you wont find many run a pure pitbull ). I will tell you there biggest flaw ! Intensity ! Intensity with their power is frightening , and exceeds most other breeds , hence their huge capacity to inflict damage. They were created and bred to not quit , what does that mean when they snap? S.h.t.f. I don’t care what the fluffy bunny types say , this is from my own experience . hence why I don’t want another one , Now saying that , I have a small amount of pitbull blood in my hunting pup , (they purposefully add different bull breeds to crosses ) yet they are bred from placid natured hunting lines . This makes all the difference , a working line with a working useful purpose that sustains stability through sensible function . end of rant ! Oh yes Carole , the floods , Prime minister speaking now , its still going on , amazing ! never in living or recorded memory he said on this scale . one in 500 year flood apparently , they love throwing these records broken type numbers around often these days . “unprecedented” as they say .
The common descriptor "pitbull" is misleading. In most uses, it does not indicate a specific breed, but a general appearance. There is an American Pit Bull Terrier. There is also the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Terrier. Then there are the other breeds that can get identified as "pitbull" in mixed breed dogs - boxer, bull terrier, bulldog (various breeds), etc. And then there are the mastiff types like cane corso, etc. Any dog can be aggressive and "snap". Any breed can have an incident while the owner says "he's never done that before". The problem lies in the owners. Unfortunately, all of these breeds (along with dobies, rotties, shepherds, akitas, chows, etc) have attracted the "macho" owner over the years - these are the owners who see their dogs as an extension of their own macho-ness (not always male, but most often so). I have known many amazing pits, staffies, etc. Best Friends Animal Society took in many of Michael Vick's dogs when he got busted. Most were rehabilitated and adopted out into homes as pets. A select few were required to live their lives at the shelter - but even those made huge improvements in their behaviors. While I would not purposely get one, it has far more to do with my preference for shepherds than with a dislike of pits, staffies, etc. This is not to argue breed bans, but just to clarify that much of what people say is unfairly biased and often not even about the actual breed. P.S. In all my years, I have been threatened by a chocolate lab (the young adult male owner tried to sic him on us kids, my boxer stood up to him) and a rottie (who was protecting his yard next door when I was trying to replace a fence slat), had another chocolate lab pee on my dog at a dog park while the owner laughed, and had a pit type knock over my dog on my front lawn (the dog did nothing else and the owner quickly got hold of her). I had a childhood friend who was severely bitten in the neck by his sister's dobie when he tried to knock on her bedroom door. I was bitten as a child twice by our "toy fox terrier" ( who was most likely a puppy mill jack russell terrier). I had two schnauzers race into the road and snap at and circle my dogs while the owner ran around waving her arms unable to control them. I had a chihuahua come through the backyard fence to attack my dog - the owner just let him run free. So in 9 incidents over my life, only one involved a pit bull type breed. And the owner was actually quick to control her dog and apologize for the incident. And I live in an area that has a high pitbull type dog population. I rescued a young pit type dog off the street a couple years ago. I brought her in with my Moose-dog and Bat-dog while I tried to find her owner and then tried to find a rescue to take her in. During this time she layed on my lap on the couch ignoring Bat-dog who was not being very nice. She went out back and happily played with Moose-dog while Bat-dog grumbled. She was NOT the "dog aggressive" problem - the non pitbull Bat-dog was the problem. Perhaps living where these breeds are not banned has given me the chance to experience the good in them in far greater opportunities than elsewhere. Since they are not banned, they get adopted out to good owners and not just the macho ones.
I think I remember you saying you were in U.S.A . Toedtoes . Recently I have seen what was described as pitbull in U.S.A and that the description had become a blanket one , for any number of different and even sometimes grotesque muscular dogs . As the description is from your country and its your countries dogs , I found that surprising to see the label mixing . Here in Australia the pitbulls that came out from U.S.A here I remember were from “game bred fighting dogs” . much of that has changed and now people breed for other things like stability and dog shows . They often look different because of this . So I am referring to that type I remember , and know there is variation, a lot now. Sometimes they had papers too . I have been bitten by a few breeds also over the years . I know this conversation brings in different opinions , and also in Australia if we say bull breeds , in pig dogs it generally means bull mastiff , bull terrier , american bulldog , pit bull etc etc . where I believe bull breed may mean something else there . The middle of the line opinion for me is neither the fluffy bunny story , nor the savage beast view . however I will say this ! I would hate to have been bitten by a game bred pitbull that a rotty , or anything else for that matter . If your talking gladiator of the dog world , then thats the one . The fluffy bunny types actually shit me more than the over the top protective of their breeds reputation types these days . The truth is right in the middle.
Yes, I am in the U.S. And yes, there is a huge discrepancy in what is labelled "pitbull". A change been taking place slowly and more rescues are using the term "bully breed" to identify these dogs. My favorite neighbor dog was a bull terrier named Sam. She was so gentle and calm.
funny , what we call in Australia a “bully’ is actually the English bull terrier. They are still often cross bred in to Australian Pig hunting dogs . they were originally one of the foundations of the Bull Arab breed .which is strong in my pups breeding on both sides. They were and are added for their holding ability and their eagerness to seize their prey .absolute knuckleheads . Often well known crossed with a cattle dog alone or a cattle dog and also a boxer , known as a BBC . For stamina and brains Years ago there were bull terriers that were more of a functional a breed , More leg and not all had the roman nose . The old type bull terriers I remember as a kid as my neighbor and a friend , also an aunty had them . another breed the dog show people had their way with , not a great runner these days . Rigid looking . Would love to see those old style dogs make a comeback . Often see english bull terriers advertised as dog aggressive.or must be the only dog or pet even . My brother had a miniature breed one , personally and I don’t want to upset anyone , they are a clown . his and a few I knew did donuts and were not the sharpest tool in the shed . Apologies , just my opinion again.
