Everyone mistakes my bella for a Pit Bull.

[rainbowkriss]

When I'm walking down the street, I can't tell you how often I get asked where I got such a pretty white Pit Bull, or how well the two breeds mix. I just cant get over the fact that no one believes that she is a Boxer. It's like people are shocked when I tell them that she is pure bred and AKC registered. I guess its understandable that people mistake one "bully" breed for another. I've raised a few bully breeds and they have totally different personalities. Boxers aren't nearly aggressive as most of the pit bulls I've rescued and handled. While pit bulls are outgoing and lovable when well socialized, my boxer doesn't have a mean bone in her body. I love my bullies. Does anyone else ever have this happen to them? Is it common that they be mistaken?

 

[darwinsmom]

It is not that uncommon. Many people are just not familiar with dog breeds. It seems this mistake tends to be made more often with white boxers, as many people think boxers only come in fawn or brindle. Of course those who are familiar with either breed can readily tell them apart. I'd guess the short coat, color, and musculature leads to confusion. I would be frustrated too that people don't believe you when you inform them that Bella is a boxer. Why would someone argue over something like that? It is probably a good thing she is registered. Although many cities are moving away from breed bans (thankfully), sometimes boxers or boxer mixes get caught up in disputes with local officials, which causes lots of headaches and heartaches.

 

[RoxiesEcho]

One time when we took our Bella to Pet Supplies Plus, just after we had gotten out of the car I heard a women tell her kids to come to her because there was a pitbull going into the store. My first thought was that even if she was a pitbull, I would never take her into a store if there was any chance of an aggressive problem! Sometimes people just don't think.

 

[rrboxer]

That has happened to us as well. People will remark "oh, thats a pitbull" and I immediately respond "No, you are wrong she is a Boxer and they are totally different". I don't get it either plus her coloring is flashy fawn.

 

[srennie]

I actually think it's kind of funny when people cross the street and gasp at my 'pit bulls' (see my avatar pic). I guess they think Hurley (boston terrier) is a pit puppy.

Some cities/states have considered blanket 'bull breed' bans. Massachusetts was considering one and going down the list of the breeds that would be descriminated against of course starting with pits, am staffs....mastiffs, boxers...oh wait....boston terriers??? That's our state dog, how do we ban them? So, the scratched the whole thing (hopefully forever). Breed bans are so stupid it's hard to even put it into words. I have no idea how educated people find a rationale in concept. It's based on nothing more than mass hysteria. My favorite conversation with people who express that they are afraid of pits because they are 'mean' goes like this....

Have you been attacked or bitten by a pit bull? "no"
Do you know anyone who has? "no"
Have you ever met or known a pit bull? "no"
So you base your belief they are mean on what? "the tv/newpaper/etc."

How can SO many people have zero experience with something yet have such a strong opionion/belief system about it? Boggles the mind!

Honestly, I work with pits at our local shelter several days a week and I find they are pretty similar in character to boxers. Many of them have that super goofy side to them and they can kidney bean almost as good as a boxer. They can be pushy and stubborn and never want to be far from the human they love and trust. There are pits who love other dogs and pits who hate other dogs....just like boxers.

 

[YvetteMM]

I to have to explain my roxy isn't a pitbull

I live in public housing, and we are not suppose to have any breed of dog with aggression, or assoicates with a aggressive breed, and many people have turned me in for having her thinking she was a pitbull. I have nothing against pitbulls, i think raised right and with lots of love, they too can be your best friend. I sometimes see where they think she is a pitbull the face shape and jaw shape reminds me sometimes of a pitbull. But it does get tired of telling people and trying to gt them to believe she is a pure bred boxer.

 

[rainbowkriss]

Its funny. I have a boston terrier too! His name is bruno!

 

[rainbowkriss]

Before I got my boxer, I raised, bred, handled, and rescued pit bulls of all shapes and sizes. I'll tell you guys the story of the last pitbull I rescued.

Makovich(Mak) was dumped in a garbage can, with a bullet wound to his chest, after losing a fight. He was near death when I found him, and wouldn't let me get near him. After several hours of talking sweetly to him, I managed to "make shift" muzzle him with a bandanna, throw him over my shoulders, and carry him back to the place I was living. I promptly took him to the vet, and spent nearly $1500 to have him treated. I had him tested for anything and everything that could be wrong with him. The vet concluded that Mak was only about 11 months old, and had been pumped with steroids(by his previous owner) in hopes that he would be the "ultimate" fighting dog. The vet also warned me that in many cases like these, the dog can't be turned around. He suggested that I have Mak humanely euthanized, for safety reasons, but I saw more in that dog. I took Mak home(where I had two other dogs. Tipsy, another pit, and a mini schnauzer) and promptly went to work rehabilitating him. The first few weeks were rough, I had to keep him away from everyone, and I was the only person who could get near him. I started having serious doubts. The middle of the third week I noticed a huge change in him. I would bring him outdoors, for short periods of time, and allow him to play(closely monitored) with my smaller dog. After the third week, Mak was like a whole new dog. He was playing well with my two other dogs, the neighbors pets, even the feral cats. He stayed this way for the rest of our time together. Sadly, 6 months after his previous owner was busted and released from jail, Mak was poisoned, and did not survive. I miss him dearly. But he was a poster child for rehabilitated pitbulls everywhere, proving that with a little TLC and a lot of time, anyone can change.

 

[rainbowkriss]

Its ridiculous that the only attention that our beloved "bully" breeds get from the media is negative. Every time something comes up about them its always "person mauled by dog" or "family pet turns on owner". Hate to be blunt, but there are no bad dogs, there are bad owners. Its all in how an animal is raised. Dogs are like sponges, they feed off of our energies and emotions. A pit bull can be just as friendly and lovable as a golden retriever. They are outgoing and charismatic, and with them it's never a dull moment. Many people believe that they are aggressive by nature, but what the media does not tell you is that these animals that "attack" are highly under socialized or being handled by people who didn't do their homework before making a pit bull a member of their family. All breeds are equally dangerous when trained improperly. Pits are a touchy subject for me, I can't tell you how many arguments I've gotten into with people who are ignorant of the fact that what these animals go through isn't their fault. It's not "bred" into them, its trained into them. Thats why I blame dog bites solely on the person who was bitten. A dog doesn't just attack for no reason, unless it's seriously messed up in the head(which would be the owners fault). The real reason that pit bulls are used so commonly for fighting is because they are loyal to their owners to the point where they would die for them. They would do ANYTHING to make them happy. Thats why those people fighting dogs use pits, because the dog can be torn up beyond repair, but its going to exhaust every bit of energy that it can to please it's owner. I love pitties.

 

[srennie]

I'm right there with you rainbowkriss. When people have dug deeper into the 'family dog mauls child' headlines they find a dog that was much, MUCH less than a 'family' dog. Just because a dog is owned by a person who has a family, it does not make the dog a 'family' dog. They found these so called 'family' dogs who attack are actually chained or penned in a yard and FAR from an integrated member of the family. I'd venture to say that most people's definition of a 'family dog' is one curled up on the sofa under a blanket with their had in your lap as you watch tv or read a book....not one chained in a yard and thrown food every now and again which seems to be the media's definition.

Instead of focusing on dogs with square heads (which are the dogs that make up around 40% of dog bites) we should be focusing on the criteria that applies to 100% of serious dog bites which is dogs who are not spayed/neutered and dogs who are penned or chained.

Instead of being offended that people think our boxers are pits, we need to realize that the 'clothes' our dogs wear is not the point at all. My fear is that if pits are banned in enough places the 'bad guys' will just turn to another breed to use and abuse. That could very well turn out to be boxers and we'll find ourselves in the same boat as many pit owners are finding themselves in right now. Being forced to move or give up our babies because they look a certain way. Breed bans have absolutley nothing to do with how a dog acts, but how they look. Vicious dog laws need to address vicious dogs...not friendly dogs who happen to have a square head.