[lhysen]

They say no American Pit Bull Terriers but what if I have an American Staffordshire Terrier/ lab/ great dane mix?

The reason I ask is because I just found this dog and after 4 days of trying to find its owner, I have concluded it was abandoned. I am trying to find a new owner for it but I am getting attached to it. I already have 2 dogs but this one really needs a good home, is only 7 months old and is so cute.

So would NZ let me import this dog or should I get rid of it?

[lockstock]

Pit bulls and pit bull types are not banned but are allegedly banned from breeding. Truth is they are everywhere- lots unlicensed and many stories of bites by these dogs. The SPCA have the powers to confiscate etc but it seems the worst owners get away with it. It is something which is really getting to me.
I can't see any reason why your dog shouldn't be alllowed in but have you considered the cost?? He sounds a big one so you'll be looking at over 2,000 pounds.

[jubjub]

I think you may have a problem getting a permit as you have no actual proof of what the dog breed is

Have a look here, it may be worth dropping them an email and asking.

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/domaniic.spe.htm

[Howie]

Yes they have plenty of pits here, but they are on the list of dogs that cannot be imported. Does it look like a pit cross? I just had to get my vet to sign a document saying my dog was not a purebred or a cross of any of the breeds that cannot be imported. Of course even if you did get the paper work done, it would really suck if MAF had a look and decided it was a pit cross.

My sister has a pit cross that she managed to bring in Ontario, where there is a complete ban on the breed. It's clear to me that she's got some pit in her, but she's such a mixture it's hard to tell and she's such a friendly dog that she had no problems at all.

[dilanium]

I think it's sad because it's really bad owners and breeders that are giving pit bulls a bad name.

Working in the veterinary industry I've never had a pit bull or pit bull mix so much as raise his lip at me, but any number of tiny toy dogs have tried to gnaw my fingers off.

[BkyMonster]

The first part is up to your vet signing off on whether it is one of the restricted breeds. After your vet signs off you have to get a notary declaration and the USDA office to sign off, but that is based on what your vet says.
Based on that I'm operating under the assumption that my dog will get through fine. :uhoh

Does MAF have a look at dogs when they arrive and decide they might be a banned breed? :( My large dog has a big blocky head like a pit, but I'm pretty sure he's a Heeler/border collie/lab mix. There has to be something to make him so big (85 lbs) and he has webbed feet, so lab sounds like a good bet.
I don't have concrete evidence of his ancestry as he was a shelter puppy.

[lockstock]

Pit bulls are bred to fight and kill end of story. There is illegal dog fighting here in New Zealand which makes the UK illegal dog fighting circuit look like a chimps tea party. Pit bull are attack dogs. That's what the breed was developed for. All breeds have been developed by humans taking the desired chatacteristics from other breeds (since all dogs descend from wolves anyway - chuhuahua to great dane). It's the most obvious example of genetic engineering in the world - and when it goes well, it's great but, like everything which involves a modicum of intelligence and understanding, in the wrong hands it can be disastrous.

As for pit crosses, our first neighbours here were a young couple about to get married. They owned two pit crosses as guard dogs but were treated like children. One launched itself at me over the gate as I was chatting to its owner. It bit me full on the forearm, broke the skin and left a bruise for two weeks. I'm trying hard not to think about what could happen when that couple starts a family. We all have a biting dog story.

Any dog in the wrong hands can do serious damage.

[dilanium]

Any dog in the wrong hands can do serious damage.

That's exactly what I mean. Pit Bulls and staffordshire terriers (which are one of the main components of the pit bull bloodlines) need a strong hand, I admit this. The dogs were bred for fighting, but are still amazing dogs in the correct hands. The problem is that most of these dogs are not in the correct hands.

Heck, in dealing with the people in my area, it seems to me that most dogs are not in the correct hands at all! People need to realize that dogs are not people, and do not respond well to being treated like people.

[Lupin]

My NZ dog was an SPCA special- a staffie crossed with a boxer. I must admit she is way more of a challenge than our greyhound cross in the UK; sassy and obnoxious and a great big doofus, also sometimes unfriendly to other dogs for no apparent reason (although usually ridiculously over-friendly). She is also a darling with kids (school kids are always coming over to pet her etc) boisterous but smashing with the kittens and a real softie. I don't think keeping dogs as guard dogs is ever sensible in a domestic situation- ours is in the house in a crate at night. Some dogs need a firmer hand than others, this I have observed.

Does your dog look pitbull-like? Perhaps a chat with a friendly vet would be a good idea. :)