Before you leave the island Make up adoption contracts for your dogs and include the breed on the form. But don't put pit bull or pittie mix or anything of the sort. If you bounce around for rotations like some of us, it can be hard enough to find housing that allows you and the dog for short term. Adding in a pittie makes it harder, because some insurances don't cover them. And they're illegal in some areas (like Miami!). While you may not be able to fool everyone, having a adoption contract saying your dog is something like a lab/terrier mix works. The big blocky head can come from a lab, many hounds are muscular... use your imagination. Yes, I know, we should fight breed prejudices. And yes, I know, pits are great dogs and we should have them be ambassadors. But trust me, finding housing for our large lab is practically impossible, and most people hear about a lab biting and don't believe it. It's two years, make it easy on yourself and have "proof" your dog isn't a pittie. Or start selling your pup's personality to family, in case you have a three month stretch that you can't have your dog with you. Most people cannot ID a pit bull, so if you say your dog is a Boston Terrier/lab/bulldog mix, they'll believe you. You can go back to being an ambassador for the breed once you're not moving every three months.