Staffie cross German Shepherd

Hi there, I’ve also just got a Staffie cross German Shepherd – the mum is a Staffie and the dad is a German Shepherd.

She’s all black with white patches on her paws, under her muzzle (on her chin) and on her neck.

Her ears are often pricked up, or sometimes they look just like your dog’s.

She looks like she’s going to be a big girl when she’s older; for a two-and-a-half-month-old, she’s already quite heavy.

She’s biting a lot, I think it’s because she’s teething.

Did you find you needed to take yours to training classes or anything like that?

He’s definitely got the look of the breed, for sure!

I reckon you should probably "rebrand" him as a different cross; if a police officer asks you what breed he is and you say "Staffy x German Shepherd", they’re going to fixate on the Staffy part. Even owners with KC registered Staffies sometimes get into trouble or get summoned as it is...

Plenty of people walk "Boxer-Lab" crosses without a muzzle or anything, for example.

Unfortunately, the kind of situation you're describing happens all too often, and not every animal is lucky enough to be picked up by the RSPCA... Keep us posted on how things go, and if you have any more questions, don't hesitate ;)

Don't worry about the people crossing the road; it's probably for the best. Ever since Luna's grown up, I've lost count of the number of people who cross the street, hug the walls, give us daggers, or those airheads who scream in the street because they're scared of dogs (true story).

Anyway, we've all got loads of stories like that :)

So, there are quite a few rules and bans you need to be aware of:

- Ownership is prohibited for minors, adults under guardianship (unless a judge has given permission), anyone with a criminal record or who has served a prison sentence (including suspended ones), and anyone who has been banned from owning or keeping a dog.

- You must register the dog with your local council and provide documentation proving:

- Identification via microchip or tattoo.

- An up-to-date rabies vaccination (with an annual booster).

- A certificate from the vet confirming the dog has been neutered or spayed.

- Special public liability insurance to cover the owner or handler for any damage the dog might cause to third parties.

- Buying, selling, giving away, or importing Category 1 dogs into mainland France or its overseas territories is strictly forbidden.

- These dogs are banned from public transport, public buildings, and all public places except for the street. They are also not allowed to stay in the communal areas of blocks of flats. It's also worth noting that Category 1 dogs are banned from Air France flights.

- In the street and in communal areas of flats, these dogs must be muzzled and kept on a lead by an adult.

Source: http://www.cliniqueveterinairecalvisson.com/article-veterinaire-16-3-la-loi-sur-les-chiens-dangereux

I'll also add a couple of things I noticed were missing:

The behavioural assessment with the vet and the ownership permit from the local council.

He definitely looks the type around the head :/

I’m sharing an article by a vet who carries out breed type assessments to explain how the process works.

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/banned-dogs

Not all vets are authorised to do them.

Here is a list of specialist vets who are qualified to carry out the assessment.

[List of vets authorised to perform behavioural and breed type assessments]

Here are a few photos (just to let you know, I only use his training collar for training and I’ve never hurt him with it).