Hi All, I hope this is the right place to post this. Not protection, but specifically a APBT question.
I'm considering a rescue APBT mix, mostly Pit. I've been looking into their correct conformation, not that I'd ever breed him, he's fixed anyway, but I've got some second thoughts because of the way some of his joints look. He has weak hocks, "out" at the elbows and the curve of his knees isn't well defined. He seems to extend his rear legs all the way when walking. (Due to weak hock or bad knees??) Im not going to be doing weight pulling, serious agility or anything like that but we do want a good hiking companion. These arn't really obvious, nothing that'd make you go "oh boy" but if you looking....
He is about 10 months and shows no lamness, but Im thinking about the future, arthritis, surgeries??? etc.
(I'm used to Lab probs, and my Hienz 57 mix is poorly constructed so I know what an issue it can be)Other than thoes three things he is well put together (I think)and seems to be a great dog and good match for my current pack.
I wonder if any of you have an opinion or expieriences etc. Thanks so much for any input. -Kate

do you or do you not already have the dog??

i would pass. there are healthy sound apbt's in the shelter(though not that common), unless you really want a dog with health issues.

Hi, I dont have him yet. This may help.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13439616

Hi,
I looked at the picture of the dog, and he does not look that bad to me. Although, I did not see a rear picture. I have seen dogs that walk like there knee caps are stiff, and that would worry me. I did not think his front looked bad at all, I would have to see him from the rear/side moving, to see the knees.As a rule, even a pit bull with slightly poor conformation, (because of muscle mass), will not have the problems a herder tend to have.

Maybe try a dog that is over 2yrs old that is finished growing and try to see him run and move at different speeds to watch for anything weird. Problem is they can really hide it since they have such a high pain tolerance.

the dog may look a little better when it is filled out but the dog looks like it has those overly built, out at the elbow Pits in its line- are the rear pasterns too straight? my pit has problems with a luxated patella even though his structure isn't all that bad (I'm pretty sure it was caused or accentuated by of over vaccination and neutering at too young an age).
It is hard to tell without pictures from the front and back and watching the dog move and even then you don't always know.
on one hand a dog may have issues that never bother him, or chronic problems all his life personally, I would look for a solid dog with the right temperament because there are so many to choose from but I have definitely adopted dogs I knew were going to have issues just because I liked them....

Thanks so much for all your responces. We of course, got him. Its been about a month. He has muscled up a bit, just with regular exercise and not being cooped up in a run all day. His elbows are "out" but not really badly so and everything is strengthening up and seems ok. He is wonderful BTW. Thanks for all your input.

Kate, I missed this earlier. While his conformation is not perfect, I personally don't see anything that makes me think you are going to have any more probs w/him than any other "crapshoot" rescue dog. I don't really see any Lab in him, but that's another story. He looks like an average-bred dilute brindle Pit Bull puppy to me. Pit legs are a bit different. I know I only saw one pic of him standing, but his rear legs look ok to me. Not "to die for" conformation-wise, but definitely ok for basic getting around. His fronts are a bit wide, but he may end up filling out and that will take care of itself. Chances are, they just bred him to be a bit wider-slung than APBTs are really supposed to be.

JMO.