Mixed Breed Owners: What You See Is What You Get?

[Dlilly]

Shiloh has the body of an Australian Cattle Dog with German Shepherd markings. She can be skittish, unsure of strangers, nip at the heels of kids who run, like an ACD but then loyal and an all around great family dog like a German Shepherd. I guess she acts more like a ACD because German Shepherds practically have no special traits.

 

[Dlilly]

Delilah has both Bernese Mountain Dog and Golden Retriever features. She has Berner coloring but also golden highlights by her ears. She is probably the height of a Golden. She also has the adorableful Golden puppy face. (You only see it in person, I'm not kidding!) She looks more like a Bernese Mountain dog though because of her coloring.

Delilah is a very intelligent dog who sleeps all day and loves her back being scratched. She loves people but has a scaredy cat nature. She isn't skittish like Shiloh, she just gets scared of things like plastic bags and balloons. She can be very active, she loves going on hikes and running around in the pasture with her big sister.

I know Berners are lazy, so I guess this is right for her.

 

[running_dog]

Her coat is wrong for all her breeds, it's straight and midlength - I have never cut any of it.
She moults a little (so not Bichon) but not as much as I've been told that Pugs do. One person suggested that the Bichon genes lengthed a Foxy coat.

Could Holly's fox terrier ancestor have been the wire version? Or would that make her coat even less explicable? The wire fox terriers have a wiry outer coat but the undercoat is softer and that undercoat sounds a bit like what Holly has.

 

[running_dog]

Zac looks and behaves exactly like a working/racing whippet - he has the same ego, the same foibles, the same dislikes, the same conformation. Working/racing whippet owners can't see any difference between him and their own dogs. He's supposed to be a saluki/greyhound/whippet/border collie. The only difference between him and a purebred working whippet is that there would probably have been another zero in the price I paid for him.

Gus looks like a labrador, both our vet and also the owner of the boarding kennels we use (a judge and breeder of field trial labradors) have complimented us on our beautiful purebred labrador. He does show elements of border collie in his behaviour however - crouch, down and stalk come naturally to him, he is more sensitive than many labradors, can be possessive, not totally food obsessive, has one person he adores above all others (mum), doesn't like "his" group to split up, can resort to the classic border collie nudge/nip to the behind if he wants rid of a person. He also has lab attributes - excellent with kids, loves to retrieve, not obsessed with herding and chasing, tends to stay close when we are walking, less energy and quieter than a border collie. I'd say his behaviour is an average of the two breeds, with possibly a little less bc than lab, however his appearance is all labrador.

Therefore on face value the theory works for Zac but not for Gus. However as Zac was selectively bred to do a job that requires a particular conformation and attitude it isn't all that surprising that he looks and behaves in the same way as a dog that has traditionally filled that role. Gus was a designer dog so conversely I doubt much thought actually went into his design/breeding.

 

[Amateur]

So what breed does Goof come under.

 

[running_dog]

So what breed does Goof come under.

So nice to see you here Amateur! I don't think I've seen you around for ages, where have you been hiding ? Or has it been me not noticing you ?

 

[running_dog]

Gus was a designer dog so conversely I doubt much thought actually went into his design/breeding.

LOL I forgot to say that Gus's mom was a labrador and his dad was a border collie.
This is what he looks like now:

Oh yes I forgot to say that from the labrador side he probably got that he LOVES swimming and wallowing in mud.

 

[brody_smom]

LOL I forgot to say that Gus's mom was a labrador and his dad was a border collie.
This is what he looks like now:
View attachment 2852

Oh yes I forgot to say that from the labrador side he probably got that he LOVES swimming and wallowing in mud.

What a great face! Yes, I would definitely guess purebred Labrador, by that muzzle and the ears. He hides his Border Collie well!

 

[648117]

Could Holly's fox terrier ancestor have been the wire version? Or would that make her coat even less explicable? The wire fox terriers have a wiry outer coat but the undercoat is softer and that undercoat sounds a bit like what Holly has.

It is possible, but unlikely. There are way more Smooth Fox Terriers here, it is also possible that it isn't Fox Terrier in her ancestory but Jack Russel. Longer legged Jack Russels are pretty common here are they are pretty similar to a Smooth Fox Terrier. It would (probably) have been pet or farm bred whatever it was so Smooth Jack or Fox are probably going to be pretty interchangable.
Another clue is that the designer breed "Jack Frost" seems to be popular (Bichon X Jack Russel), they use a smooth coat Jack Russel for that cross (I've met a couple of that cross - their coats seemed curlier and faster growing than Holly's as they had to get haircuts at the groomers).
I have only met a couple of Wire Fox Terriers compared the dozens and dozens of Jack Russels/Fox Terriers that I see in my area.
Here's a photo of Holly just after she had a bath, looking a bit Bichon:


Holly is 2 1/2 years old now. She does still have a darker muzzle but it has lightened a lot as she gotten older, still has dark ears though. Her coat has also gotten a lot longer recently, she's still never had a haircut, her coat is straight and has never knotted, still doesn't moult much.

 

[648117]

Gus is lovely. Lab crosses seem to often look more lab than anything else. I know a few lab x staffi's, they are really nice, LabXBC's seem to be popular here too.

Also, our new dog, Skye is apparently a Bichon, Maltese, Shi-Tzu cross. Can't see the Shi-Tzu at all. Her coat is definitely Bichon and I think her smaller size is from the Maltese.
She is high energy, love love loves fetch. Not very smart (bit of an air head). Friendly with everyone, obsessed with the rabbit and balls (fetch). Plays with Holly well.
Here she is after her first trip to the groomers:


She looks even more like a Bichon now since her coat has grown out more and she has put on a couple hundred grams. I'll have to take a more recent photo.

 

[Ripleygirl]

We were told that Ripley is a Malamute x Boxer and you can definately see the both in her:

Boxer colouring and ears but not muzzle

Malamute tail and thickness of coat despite her being short haired

She has a hell of a lot of stubborness in her but I am told that could be from either breed.
I haven't read the book but would be very interested to. I have never owned a Malamute or Boxer before - I have only ever had BC's.

She is playful but does not like fetch.
She is not that interested in toys but has more interest than when we first rescued her.
Recall was REALLY difficult to teach (but she was 18 months old when we got her and she had never been walked or been integrated or socialised to the outside world)
She is loyal and loving.
She is dominant with dogs but brilliant and soft with children.
She is soft with cats and more friendly to them than other dogs.
She is not a barker but is very vocal... (howling when excited on the way to a walk in the car for instance)
She is a growler and talker when playing.

I don't really know which breed she is more like but would love any insight anyone else has on this...

 

[running_dog]

I have only met a couple of Wire Fox Terriers compared the dozens and dozens of Jack Russels/Fox Terriers that I see in my area.

Neither wire nor smooth fox terriers are common where I live. I think I've seen one wire and one smooth in the last year. I've always liked the idea of fox terriers much more than the Jack Russels, perhaps because people get the JRs as lap dogs and then the poor understimulated mutts get even more nippy and yappy than nature (or artificial selection) intended.

I can see the Bichon in Holly in that photo but only because you've told us it is there! I'd have guessed border terrier X lakeland terrier as there is a superficial resemblance - though as I know what she actually is I can see the tail is different, the legs are different and I think the feet are different. No matter, Holly just looks a really fun characterful dog to have around

Skye is very pretty and like you say very Bichon

 

[elissa]

I found my baby in the streets, so not sure what breed she is really... She's 8-9 months old now and I think she's Yorkie/Westie mix... Maybe some Maltese or Jack Russell in the mix too!

She's a happy, bouncy little dog who loves playing fetch and 'chase the puppy', she's a little lapdog who just wants to be near me (preferably on my lap) and to be cuddled. She's super affectionate and great with people she knows, although a little timid with those she doesn't.

She sheds so much I'm currently not sure how she has any fur left and I live in constant fear that when I step out of the door PETA will throw red paint at me convinced I'm wearing a fur coat.

She's not particularly intelligent.. Past fetching different toys that I ask for... She'll sit, but not for long and she will remain 'still' on command. She's adorable, just a bit 'away with the fairies', if you get what I mean!

Any help identifying possible breeds and any techniques for training would br greatly appreciated!

 

[Ripleygirl]

I found my baby in the streets, so not sure what breed she is really... She's 8-9 months old now and I think she's Yorkie/Westie mix... Maybe some Maltese or Jack Russell in the mix too!

She's a happy, bouncy little dog who loves playing fetch and 'chase the puppy', she's a little lapdog who just wants to be near me (preferably on my lap) and to be cuddled. She's super affectionate and great with people she knows, although a little timid with those she doesn't.

She sheds so much I'm currently not sure how she has any fur left and I live in constant fear that when I step out of the door PETA will throw red paint at me convinced I'm wearing a fur coat.

She's not particularly intelligent.. Past fetching different toys that I ask for... She'll sit, but not for long and she will remain 'still' on command. She's adorable, just a bit 'away with the fairies', if you get what I mean!

Any help identifying possible breeds and any techniques for training would br greatly appreciated!

Have you thought about a papillon/maltese mix?

 

[elissa]

Oooooh I hadn't.... but just had a look on google and look -->

 

[running_dog]

LOL I'm person who likes biggish dogs and even I want one!!!!!!

 

[Ripleygirl]

Oooooh I hadn't.... but just had a look on google and look -->

Wow, that is quite a likeness... what is the mix on this one?

 

[elissa]

It came up on the Papillon / Maltese mix search I did, but on closer inspection the actual blurb on the ste said 'maltese mix' - So jury's still out on exactly what Chewie is!

 

[running_dog]

She sheds so much I'm currently not sure how she has any fur left and I live in constant fear that when I step out of the door PETA will throw red paint at me convinced I'm wearing a fur coat.

She's not particularly intelligent.. Past fetching different toys that I ask for... She'll sit, but not for long and she will remain 'still' on command. She's adorable, just a bit 'away with the fairies', if you get what I mean!

Any help identifying possible breeds and any techniques for training would br greatly appreciated!

View attachment 2878View attachment 2879

I love your way of describing Chewie and how she sheds, my friend has a GSD/whippet and it sheds like that too, it is hard to believe how much fur can stick instantaneously.

With the training I think you just have to hang in there and keep trying different things until you find what works. She might actually be very intelligent but good at hiding it . I can't remember if you've said whether you use a clicker? When I started using one with Zac it was like I suddenly had a direct line to his brain.

 

[running_dog]

We were told that Ripley is a Malamute x Boxer and you can definately see the both in her:

I can certainly see boxer take I'll take your word for the malamute
From what I know boxers are very physical dogs that love to wrestle. Whatever the word is for "not calm" it might be used to describe boxers generally (there are exceptions). I wonder if malemutes are like huskies for being difficult to train recall to?