If the owner AND the pup are approachable and reasonably well socialised, then judge the deed not the breed.

My understanding is it's very difficult for even experts to verify a true Pit Bull so based on that there's no point in us amateurs speculating.

I have to say, I agree to a certain extent with Krusewalker's assessment that it appeared you were being overly concerned based on the 'tabloid' media's hype surrounding the ridiculous DDA. I didn't interpret what he said as being out of order, just blunt.

I'm well aware of this fact, thank you and that's what I do, believe me. I know the dogs have a bad rep BECAUSE of SOME of the idiots that own them.

I am just basically trying to determine it's breed. I am not condemning the pup at all. The guy however, although approachable last night, was a druggie I'm sure, which makes me even more concerned for this puppy's welfare, though I do understand there are a lot of dogs in this situation before you say it, I'm not that naive.

He has misunderstood me and is very rude, that's what he is.

I am not at all affected by the media interpretations dog breeds, as I have already explained. I am not "overly concerned based on tabloid image". I am not that stupid.

As I said, I am simply trying determine what breed it may well be, as it is unusual for a 4 month old Staff pup, IMO having seen the dog. However, Loki's mum may well be right in that it may have been an "Irish" type Staff.

We have a growing number of the breed here, whether they are large BYB staffies or the other, no one can be sure, but the biggiest majority are seen out, like your chappie with his, allowed to socialise, are playful (if not a little boisterous) etc etc.,

I think I don't worry about those too much, but if you think back to to the ones that really are used for fighting they aren't (well alot I mean) usually walked and allowed to socialise and the biggest part of thier lives is training and baiting getting ready for fighting.

I think maybe if you see him again enlist him on board, whatever the breed SBT or Pitbull, the puppy sounds as if he would like to play and the guy doesn't sound by (what you say) that he would object either.

Mine play with one in our local park, the family say its a SBT but it's very large, however he's very friendly

Good point, Steph. He did seem as if he was 'on something' though, but he was letting the dog mix and that's got to be a good thing.

If the pup is happy to play with my two, and vice versa, then that's absolutely fine with me. I don't have a problem with that at all.

Sounds a plan, the guy who owns the one mine play with isn't your most disirable I admit, but now I know him, he;s ok and is a laugh. Enjoy your walks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks, Steph. I know what you mean, living where I do! I meet a few unsavoury characters, so to speak, but they have never personally done me harm (apart from not work etc but that's another story!), they make a fuss of the dogs and don't give me any grief, so he doesn't worry me really.

Thank you rich c, that was the point of what i wrote..

westie, i wasnt Nor did i write what i wrote just to create an argument.

Believe me, if that was my intention, i could have chosen my wording much more severely.

If you read my post carefully, you will realise i chose my words and tone in a very very considered way, I gave it some careful thought whilst composing it.

I couched my post in terms of asking questions, showing some respect, in the hope it will give you the opportunity to see their is another side to what you are saying, to give you some food for thought.
But nonetheless, the thoughts i gave you were genuine and exactly as i feel, and given without fear and favour, not just to create a stir, as you feel.

I really really hoped you would have have taken it as given, because, to be honest, if you sit back and look at what you have written with an objective approach, it can be seen to say you have met a nice friendly dog, but nonetheless you have made judgments about the owner and the dog and that they will need to be kept a special eye on in the future as they might do something bad, based upon what upon its breed type, the type of which you are not even certain.
Imagine of you had posted you met a nice friendly Rottie or Northern Innuit or German Shepherd puppy, but then said you will have to keep an eye on it in the future, as your dogs are small so wouldb eeingangered by a dog tha thappens to be big?
A lot of people on here would also have picked on the 2 points that:
1) It doesnt make any logicla sense
2) Why are you making a assessment based on the 'look' of the dog?

To be fair, if you had posted that on some of the other dog forums that campaign along the lines of judge the deed, not the breed, you would have received several pages of replies all saying the same thing, but not necessarily as carefully worded or polite as i was.

I'm sorry you have decided to take it the way you have and have opted to personalize it and just take my post as some sort of deliberate winding up of controversy just for effect, as opposed to considering the fair and reasoned questions i have asked you.

Im sorry if i was blunt, i didnt intend to be.
I was genuinely surprised to read a post in that vein on a dog board.

Krusewalker, I will no longer be replying to any of your posts.

you just did

HI Nic,

I have to say I am inclined to agree with Krusewalkers point that the way you have said things in your first post did make me think what you said was a bit breedist.

I read your post and didnt comment because what I wanted to say was "so what" you met a nice puppy, that you think is a pitbull but it was happy and seemed happy with your dogs, yet in the next vein you say you will need to keep an eye on them.

Now i dont know exactly where you are, but I know what you mean in that probably a lot of the people in your area with dogs like staffies and other bullies may have them for the wrong reasons, so you are perhaps assuming that this pup will tuurn out the same, but you didnt mention in the first post that you thought he was on drugs etc so it did come across a bit like what Kw has said.

I am not saying this to be inflammatory but its how I did initially read your post and i didnt reply because I wasnt sure what i wanted to say.....

sorry if its not what you want to hear, but I think you know the rest of the picture, I only know what you wrote on your first post and it did come across a bit like " yet another youth with a pit/staffie that will turn out wrong"

You may not have meant it that way at all but its how I read it from your first post. I understand from your explanation the rest of the details that you thought he was on something etc which would perhaps change how I read it had you said that initially.