This started as off-topic on another thread:
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/126779.html#fp

...but it was interesting so I thought it should have a thread of its own.

I know I'm not the only one who loves to guess the parentage of cross breeds.
I saw a hooge white/cream dog a couple of days ago ,and when it and my dog had stopped yelling insults to each other across the street, I shouted over: "Akita cross what??"
"Good lord," the owner said. "You're the first person ever to have got the Akita bit! Most people think Malamute. His other half is Labrador."
OK I confess I hadn't thought of Malamute but he did seem Akita-ish to me in body and tail - head was rather odd with funny little pale yellow folded ears, high-set right on the top of his head!

MsTemeraire

Thanks for putting me out of my misery.  Explains why he's such a looker mind.  :-)

Absolute first love for me are the Pastorals.  Even now I'm old and rickety I still have 3, and know it will be the end of my big dog era when they go.

Wonder what determines the groups we have a weakness for?  It's odd how we have definite ideas of perfection, and for me, perfection comes in that particular group. 

If you tire of him mind, I'm not that old and rickety!!   :-)  :-)  :-)

> If you tire of him mind, I'm not that old and rickety!!

You'd send him back within a few hours, LOL. It's not a cross I'd recommend to anyone, he can be such a little s*d at times. But hey isn't that what some people call 'character'?? On the serious side, I know one of his littermates ended up in rescue by 6mths old. You have the usual Belgian Shepherd tendencies, but fired by the BC intensity, and a few of the BC peculiarities thrown in too, which are complicated by size.

I keep telling myself I might well have been better off with a pure-bred version of either parent ;)

But - not wanting to boast - he is very handsome, always had been striking because he has so little mask, and a load of thick 'eyeliner' around his eyes. He won a doggy-lookalike-famous-person class at a fun show, when I put a red bandana on his head attached to a few dreadlocks with beads on - Captain Jack Sparrow of course! lol

....though as he is getting older, like many Belgians he's getting darker, so I get more of the "Alsatian" comments *roll eyes*

Oh and here's a strange thing. Where you live, do you often hear people discussing what breed of dog yours is/might be, behind your back to their friends/family, in earshot? Then when you cheerfully turn round and say something nicely, they look like you've been incredibly rude to have listened in. Never happened before where I used to live, they would ask you directly, but all the time here....! makes you wonder just who is being rude, really.

What about this one ?? :) (We haven't a clue :) )

Bramble He's collie sized and carries his tail over his back :)

Daisy

> Wonder what determines the groups we have a weakness for It's odd how we have definite ideas of perfection, and for me, perfection comes in that particular group.

Without wanting to dominate this thread, I would say it comes from early experience. My family's first dog was acquired when I was 6 - a Cocker Spaniel, which I now know was from a dealer buying from puppy farms. She was born in Wales but bought in Somerset. Health issues aplenty - dodgy stomach, totally blind from PRA by the time she was 6, very fixated on my mother and not really the fun, family, outgoing companion a Cocker should be. In the late 60's it wasn't easy for an average Joe to get information - What makes me really feel sick is that 40 years on, farmed pups are bigger business than then, and still people are buying them.

We had some neighbours who owned a lovely rescue GSD, and both me & my sister fell in love with him. [She's been a GSD owner now for well over 20 years]. We used to 'dogsit' him when his parents and ours went out of an evening.

We got a new puppy when I was 16, a crossbreed with BC, Lab and likely also lurcher in the mix. Family moved to a 24/7 type business, so it was me who walked and trained her. Got a book out of the library as the idea of dog training appealed to me: book by John Holmes. When a training club started down the road from us 3 yrs later we joined - took some parental persuasion - she got promoted to Advanced straight away, where I saw GSDs and Class 3 BCs working. Always knew I would have to have that kind of dog 'one day'. Then I met my first BSD in 1987 and that was it... Though I had to wait a looong time before I could have a dog of any kind of my very own. And look what I got.... lolol.

> What about this one ??

Gorgeous dog! :)

Looks a bit Corgi-like around the head, methinks? When crossed, they can lose the short legs and get normal-sized.

As to curly tails - well that's either Spitz breeds.... or breeds that used to be docked (terriers, Dobes etc) or natural bobtails. Never needed to select for straight tails cos they were chopped orff at birth, if you get me.

Lovely colour, too. I know many people who see that colouring automatically think: GSD! but there are loads of other breeds who can throw that colour with or without a black saddle.

> , I would say it comes from early experience

You may well have the right idea there.

My father was 'country born and bred' type.  Mum a city girl.  They met when he was a matelot and she was a wren.

Mum thought animals were dirty, and wouldn't consider one in the house.  Dad's youger brother signed up to the black watch, and he was a farmhand at the time.  He had a working sheep dog, and dad voluteered to have him when his brother joined up.  I thought I had died and gone to heaven!  I don't think dad had ever done a thing without prior consultation with mum until this point.

She couldn't do anything about it, and I adored that dog.  He was eventually killed in a road accident, and I was told that he had 'gone away'  although I listened at doors, so knew it wasn't true.  I was hooked, and if mum came in my house now, she would have a seizure!  :-)

I waited all my life to be this happy!

Right, here's another one for you

Many on here who know me will know this one, but for those that don't...no cheating!

> Many on here who know me will know this one, but for those that don't...no cheating!

Drat !!! :) :)

Daisy

He's got the eyes of my Dolly, so I would stab at a Rottie/Newfie???

Handsome woofit regardless of parentage.

Tibetan Mastif x Lab?

>He's got the eyes of my Dolly, so I would stab at a Rottie/Newfie???

Close...but no cigar :-D 

>Handsome woofit regardless of parentage.

Thank you :-)  I think he's a handsome boy but I'm dreadfully biased!

>Tibetan Mastif x Lab?

Nope.  Although most people think he's part Lab (or, worryingly, full Lab) but there's no Lab in there at all.

> I waited all my life to be this happy!

Now that brings tears to my eyes :)
Having grown up with dogs, especially the inimitable Sally, I had to wait 22 years before I could have a dog of my own. Plenty of time to work out what sort, and always - always - with the idea that I would do my utmost to be the right kind of owner for what I did get :) xxx

>> Close...but no cigar  

How close? 50% or just part in the right Group?

> Right, [url=http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a132/ShaynLola/?action=view&current=IMG_0897-1.jpg" rel=nofollow]here's another one for you[/url]

There's malamute, Akita or big spitz in them there ears :)

Another pic which might give you a better clue.

>How close? 50% or just part in the right Group?

50% right ;-)  You're absolutely right on the Rottie half :-)

RottiexRidgeback

> Looks a bit Corgi-like around the head, methinks? When crossed, they can lose the short legs and get normal-sized.

>As to curly tails - well that's either Spitz breeds.... or breeds that used to be docked (terriers, Dobes etc) or natural >bobtails. Never needed to select for straight tails cos they were chopped orff at birth, if you get me.

The Corgi has been suggested before as has the Spitz - Husky and Elkhound :) His legs are a little short for his body size :) He's getting on a bit now (at least 12), but when he was younger he was very fast. He's still on the go all day - no couch-potato here (apart from the evening :) ) He has a thickish, double coat, but not as thick as a Spitz :)

We'll never know what mix he is - but he's definitely a one-off :) :)

Daisy

>There's malamute, Akita or big spitz in them there ears :-)

You're nearly there...;-)

>RottiexRidgeback

Nope :-)

RottiexBernese

>RottiexBernese

Still nope :-)

> Still nope :-)

I have no idea but Spitz was a clue perhaps.....?

> Still nope 

I think you are in for a long night ..................... :) :) :)

Daisy

>I think you are in for a long night ..................... :-) :-) :-)

Looks like it:-)

Spitz was a very big clue ;-)

rottie x akita? awwwwwww nope lol

RottiexChowchow

last try

RottiexSiberian Husky

1 last try

RottiexNorwegian Elk Hound

>rottie x akita?

No, but he is often mistaken for being a bit Akita.  Smaller spitz breed than Akita.

finish spitz?

>RottiexChowchow

And we have a winner :-)

Mother is a Chow, Daddy is a Rottie...litter was a huge accident.  Never assume that a Rottie won't be able to scale a 6ft fence!

OMG I thought a rottie cross newfie and I SHOULD know which cross :o :o :o
Going away to slap my wrisyt and do some memory training!!!!!!!!
Lea :) :) :)

I know, I know, I know .............. but I'm not allowed to say.

I did have Rott Chow and Newf in my mind just couldnt remeber the combination, just love the dog and both of yours look sooooo similar :) :) :)
Lea :) :)

> And we have a winner :-)

Well I had enough trys lol

> Mother is a Chow, Daddy is a Rottie...litter was a huge accident.  Never assume that a Rottie won't be able to scale a 6ft fence!

Apparently these boys would do anything to get to a bitch in heat.

But when we ask them to do anything they come over all deaf. lol

> And we have a winner :-)

Woo hoo... how fantabulous!
What's next? [looks worried] lol

I was going to say Newf/something Mastiffy - that was a tricky one!

And I wondered about something in the corgi line for Bramble too, interesting that it's been suggested before. Presume the other half is GSD? He's stunning!

How do I post a link? I could put the dog I groomed last week on, for anyone who wasn't in the other thread!

I am a bit suprised myself getting that one, as I don't know me poodles from my pomeranians.lol

>I did have Rott Chow and Newf in my mind just couldnt remeber the combination, just love the dog and both of yours look sooooo similar :-) :-) :-) 

Lol...you having a blonde moment, Lea?  I would suggst a senior moment but as you're younger than me, I'd be on thin ice with that one :-D :-D

The difference is obvious...you just have to remember that the one that should be black is brown.  :-D  All clear now? lol

I purposely avoided posting pics that showed his blue tongue as that would have made it too easy.

In hindsight I knew Chow, and thought Newf by your other dog and they look sooo similar!!!!!! Should have known the Chow x Rot!!!!! You could rename the Mongral as Rotch!!!!! (god help us all!!!!)
Lea :) :)

> I purposely avoided posting pics that showed his blue tongue as that would have made it too easy.

what's he been drinking blackcurrant. :)

OK I've got a few for you all, if I've guessed right about how to add a link!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31087123@N04/5144278530/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31087123@N04/5143670419/

And 2 more, which I was told were brother and sister:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31087123@N04/5144274086/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31087123@N04/5143667711/

They both had very long fur by nature, but it was completely matted so got clipped off!

> And I wondered about something in the corgi line for Bramble too, interesting that it's been suggested before. Presume the other half is GSD? He's stunning!

Was trying to say before..... be very careful of a GSD diagnosis, based on being black & tan & having a black saddle.

Many other breeds are sable with dark saddles - plenty of terriers for instance!  the GSD black saddle isn't necessarily dominant, though it can be. Does make me smile when looking thru rescue sites and they are classifying a dog as GSD-cross purely by colouring, when so many other breeds can transmit the same.

Think of my own lovely boy - in rescue they'd have him down as GSD x... when he has no GSD genes in him at all... and anyone who knows about Belgians, knows they are mental nutcases who are much more like flighty BCs than GSDs...lol :)

It was more the muzzle shape and ears that said GSD to me....

>Was trying to say before..... be very careful of a GSD diagnosis, based on being black & tan & having a black saddle.

I seem to be Shih-tzu on the brain as the first two look like Yorkie x Shih-tzu to me and the second two look like ESS x Shih-tzu (it's the tail!)

> It was more the muzzle shape and ears that said GSD to me....

no worries :) GSDs aren't classed as spitz but do have pointy noses and uppy ears - like all good dogs should have according to me.... LOL ;)

Is the first 1 about to go handgliding? ;)

> [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/31087123@N04/5143670419/" rel=nofollow]http://www.flickr.com/photos/31087123@N04/5143670419/[/url]

Shih-tzuxCairn Terrier