Hi everyone, I'm looking for a specific type of dog that I've never come across before. Based on my research, it's supposedly an American Pit Bull Terrier, 'black panther' type. I've attached some photos to show you what I mean.
Is that the correct name for the breed?
And where would I be able to get a dog like this?
Thanks in advance for the help..
Translated from French
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Hi everyone,
I’ve seen those photos before; I wasn’t quite sure if it was a dog or a panther, so it’s clearly a dog! :)
In my personal opinion, I think he’s gorgeous. Against the snow like that, it really makes his lovely black coat stand out. There are so many people who either don’t like or are actually frightened of black dogs.
I quite like them myself.
Let’s be honest, looks are the first thing that catch your eye, but you have to look at what’s underneath. So I agree that aesthetics aren’t everything—you’ve got to look at the temperament. As many have pointed out, he’s likely a "categorised" breed, which is such a shame. It’s quite a hassle never being able to let them off-lead when you can, or go without a muzzle. Even if he’s a total sweetheart and an absolute angel, because of his looks, plenty of people would be shouting at you to get him on a lead and muzzle him. I understand Lorna’s reaction; you don’t just "treat yourself" to something when you decide to get a dog—a dog isn’t an object.
But perhaps the OP just phrased it badly. I do it myself sometimes when talking about kids; I’ll say "it," like "at what age does it start walking?" or "it starts talking at such and such an age," and someone pointed it out to me one day. I didn’t mean to offend anyone, and I certainly wasn’t implying a child is an object... I try to be a bit more careful these days.
Hi Cimino, I’m also Belgian and based in Brussels, and I think you might be looking in the wrong place. There are certain towns where Category 1 dogs aren't allowed at all. I’m not sure which local council area you’re in, but where I live, you have to have a breed and behaviour assessment once the dog is 6 months old. If it’s considered a high-risk dog, you’ll have to use a muzzle—especially in parks and woods—and a short lead, otherwise you risk a fine or, even worse, having the dog seized. You’ll never be able to let them off-lead unless you’re in a properly secure area.
I’d definitely advise getting insurance for this type of dog. Even though people say 'kind owner equals kind dog', they still have those original instincts. Don’t assume you can just buy any dog you want in Belgium. Take a look online for 'Belgian legislation for Category 1 dogs'; it’s all there and it’s official. Good luck, Cimino – gigi397
Thanks Aggie :-) And yes, you could replace the word "dog" with any consumer product, which is why I reacted the way I did. I'm sorry, and I’m happy to apologise a hundred times over if it makes you feel better, but talking about a dog in this way IS childish. I get the impression that those who didn't like my reply felt a bit called out because "we love the way our dogs look", but that's not actually what's bothering me, girls. What bothers me is talking about them like a new hoover. Anyway, there are hundreds of threads like this one and I usually never reply to them. For once I made a remark, that's just life.
😉
And yes, you could replace the word "dog" with any consumer product, which is why I reacted the way I did. I’m sorry, and I’ll happily apologise a hundred times over if it makes you feel better, but this way of talking about a dog IS childish.
I get the feeling that those of you who didn't like my reply felt a bit singled out because "we love how our dogs look", but that isn't actually what’s bothering me, ladies. What bothers me is talking about them like a new hoover.
Anyway, there are hundreds of threads like this one and I usually never reply to them. For once I made a comment, that’s just life.
I’m completely with Lorna on this, because when I read:
"...as yes, I’d like to see if I can consider the possibility of treating myself to something I like..."
I have to say, it really gets my back up!
To start with, a dog isn’t a "thing". Using the term "something" when referring to a living creature says it all, as does "treating myself". It’s clearly just an impulse for an "item" created solely to satisfy the owner’s ego. So yes, I totally understand and support Lorna’s reaction. 😏
I agree that our responses are coming across as a bit harsh, mine included lol! But on this forum, we do have a tendency to look at the bigger picture rather than just answering the original poster's question...
I actually quite like the look of this dog myself, but... when you think about why this breed was even created—beyond just wanting a dog like that as a companion—well, it really winds me up. Not with the poster, mind you, but with those who just churn out "picture-perfect" dogs without any regard for their actual purpose or utility.
Traditionally, a dog breed was defined by its role—hunting, guarding, herding, and so on. Nowadays, it feels like people just want a "good-looking/big/tall" dog, and that's as far as it goes.
Over in the States, they've flooded the market with Pit Bull offshoots and various Mastiff mixes purely for marketing reasons, which is such a shame... especially when it means many fantastic, established breeds are being completely overlooked.
If the original poster is really set on this dog, then importing is an option, provided it complies with current UK laws. After all, plenty of Bully types and Dobermanns are imported into the country all the time, along with many other breeds!
