To Tell or Not to Tell

[Marley]

Hello,

I have a moral dilemma that I need some advise on. I recently rescued a Boxer mix for the Metro west area of Massachusetts. She is a great dog and one I took her to the vet the informed me that the mix was Pit bull. I personally love that breed and I know many pit bulls that are great dogs. However I am finding now that I am looking for a new place to live that many people are scared of the breed. Is it wrong for me to leave out the pit-bull part when telling people the breed of my dog? I want to inform people of the breed and let them know how loving and sweet these dogs are. But I am starting to think that maybe just referring to her as a boxer mix is best for both of us if we want to find a nice place to live.

Does anybody have any advise?

[TeriG]

I think, since this was a rescue dog, just simply say you have a boxer mix. If further inquiries just advise that Marley was a rescue and that is the info the shelter gave you and leave it at that.

[DiggityDogs]

I would have no problem leaving the pit bull part out. Truthfully, regardless of what your vet or anyone says, she's a mix, and you don't REALLY know what she is, even if she looks part pit she may not necessarily be. I have a couple of mixes- i just call them mixes. I think too many people are obsessed with knowing what the mix actually is anyhow, I mean it's interesting to have an idea, but ultimately doesn't matter.

[SmoothCollieluver]

Just because your vet's office thinks there maybe some pit doesn't make it so. If you think she looks more like a boxer then a boxer she is. Mixed breeds are only determineable in the eye of the beholder.

[DoggyMom]

I would just leave the pitbull part out. If she is a Boxer mix, I would just put down Boxer or Mix and leave it as that. I agree with tht other posts, that just because the vet says it, doesn't make it true 100% of the time :) My dog, Lily is a mix...of exactly what, we have no clue. My vet says she thinks Lily is a greyhound mix, but I don't agree since I don't see greyhound in her, I see more lab..but then who knows?

[SmoothCollieluver]

I agree your pics look like lab to me.

[Marley]

Thank you for the advise.

[cec]

I agree--it's hard to know what a "mix" breed is!

[k9teacher]

I am just going to add my two cents worth here.

I think the pit bull part of the the mix should be disclosed to any potential adopter of this dog. As I am sure most of you will agree, pits are great dogs in the hands of the right owner and are NOT the right dog for everyone. Any adopter should realize from the get go that this mix has the potential to be a powerful dog and training should start from day one.

Maybe a trip to other vets or shelters to get different opinions on the mix might be a good idea. I know in a shelter I worked at in Upstate NY....if it was black it was a lab mix, brown a shepard mix, spotted a dal mix ......the were NEVER chow or pit mixes because they are difficult to adopt out. I didnt last there long. I think some of these dogs were placed with the wrong owners.

We may never know the acutal ancestry of our mix buddies but the most accurate info should be disclosed to any adoptor.

BTW - Doggie mom. I can see the Greyhound in Lily's lovely face along with some lab !

[DiggityDogs]

I think the pit bull part of the the mix should be disclosed to any potential adopter of this dog.

I don't think the dog is actually up for adoption- she's saying she rescued it but that it's her dog...

[k9teacher]

OPPS

My bad....I better brush up on my reading comprehension !!!!

[turnerlvv]

maybe if your put a picture up we could help more :) but i would just leave the pit part out

[portraitz]

My Otto is a boxer/pitbull. Mom is the boxer, dad jumped a fence.

No better dog has ever been born. :) He looks pitbull, only a little of the boxer shows through. If yours doesn't look like a pit, I wouldn't bother telling what one vet thinks he sees.

However, be sure to read up on pits and how to raise them. They need very firm, very consistent guidance, and lots of love...just like kids.