So, what kind of a dog do I have here?

[Eloriel]

#26 of the dogs/cats we've rescued and are re-homing (well, 3 dogs and 1 cat we kept ourselves) in the 6-1/2 years we've lived out in the country, and we haven't even been trying. Just a lot of ignernt folk get overwhelmed and dump their pets.

ANYway, she's a real sweetie -- very good natured, smart, eager to please, affectionate, etc.

I am hoping her SIZE will be apparent in these photos, but I'm not so sure. She's not your typical 3-1/2 month old dog. Her paws are enormous, fit in my palm about like the hands of a 4 year old child. She weighs 20 lbs, up from 15 just 2 weeks ago when we got her.

The young vets at my reg vet's office think she's possibly German and/or Aussie Shepherd and/or Collie and maybe St. Bernard, but something VERY big, that much is clear. Vet thinks she'll be at least an 80 lb. dog, maybe larger.

I have a whole album here (I hope this works) with a few more photos:

http://photobucket.com/albums/a196/z-k-dee/

And let's see if my first ever attempts to post images work (so hard to pick out which ones too -- trying esp. to show her size):







Woohoo, I think that works!

[Trillo]

1. I think it's really hard to tell at that age,

the coloring makes me think of a collie, perhaps border collie, but the facial shape is wrong, the nose isn't elongated enough. The long and large floppy ears may be another clue.

The size is somewhat apparant from the stockiness of the legs.

Good luck, he's cute. Probably needs a big yard to run.

[Eloriel]

2. Well, remember, she's no doubt a MIX

so having this or that feature not quite fit the overall for a particular breed doesn't necessarily invaidate it.

Border collie -- hmmmmmm. Think I'll do a little research on that one. Thanks for the input!

Edited: Okay, now look at the pup on the right, Baykom the 8 mo. Lilac puppy. Those feet and legs are almost identical to my pup's:
http://www.gis.net/~shepdog/BC_Museum/Permanent/BC_ColorLilac.html

And the hair texture is reminiscent of some of my pup's hair -- the underneath. It's kinda nappy. She's VERY "fluffy" but the hair is rather fine. And then her face and the top layer are finer.

[yellowdawgdem]

3. what great pics

and she does seem like a sweetie pie. Not knowing all that much about doggies and breeds, I'd say at first glance she looked a bit like a lab mix, or even beaglish. But when I saw the pics of the border collies, she definitely looks to have a chunk of that gene as well. Certainly her paws have those same markings. Whatever she is, I bet you will find her a good home.

[superconnected]

4. a Calico!

[IndyOp]

18. lol -

You've been spending too much time looking at the cute kitten threads?

:rofl:

[RebelOne]

5. The white paws and chest seem to be the markings

of a St. Bernard. And 80 pounds is not all that big. I have a Rottie that is 90 pounds and she doesn't look that heavy.

[SiouxJ]

10. white chest and paws can also mean collie

those are typical collie markings as well. Hmmm. IMO, definitely a bit of German Shepherd but beyond that could be a lot of things. In any case, she's VERY CUTE! OMG! What a sweetheart!

[Quakerfriend]

6. Awww. She's just gorgeous!

I'd say, definitely Shepard-St.Bernard mix.

[wildeyed]

7. Swiss mountain dog mix?

She kind of has that look about her. Pointy nose like a collie. But not a Border collie. What a cutie! Are you keeping her?

I got a shepard mix from the humane society once. They said she would be 35 lbs when she was full grown. She ended up at 70. German shepard/great dane mix is what she was. The dane wasn't obvious until she was grown.

My current dog is such a mish-mash of breeds that no one is sure what he is. If I had to bet I would say chihuahua/pit bull/dachshund. He is a funny looking little guy.

[Eloriel]

8. Keeping her? I wish.

I only have 3 of my own, and a cat.

She really wants to be a house dog -- and I think would make a good one, despite her size. The other day she somehow managed to get into the house from the garage and immediately encountered my jealous very alpha female who didn't hurt her but definitely took her down and into a submissive posture right away, no questions asked. Lotta snarling and growling went on. Yet, that didn't deter this little one. Yesterday she went into the garage and lay down right by that door, facing it, as if waiting patiently for someone to open it and let her in.

She is going to make someone a VERY sweet and devoted companion.

Edited: I just did some googling on Swiss Mtn Dog (thanks for the suggestion). That may be a possibility as part of the mix. Here's a couple pages of puppy photos:
http://www.greaterswissmountaindog.org/puppyphotos.html

Her nose is a bit more pointed than these (which are more St. Bernardish), and her hair is definitely longer and fluffier, whereas these babies have shorter, slick hair. But definitely a possibility as part of the mix, I'm thinking.

[Lorien]

13. I was going to guess Bernese Mountain dog mixed with

maybe Golden Retriever, German Shephard or...? She is indeed adorable! It's wonderful of you to have taken her in.

[Eloriel]

14. Yeah, I heard from another DUer, a vet, who I PMd

and I've just spent a while googling this breed. I absolutely do think this is one of the big parts of her.

Berner albums
http://hotdogfx.com/v-web/gallery/berner_galleries


There are some significant differences -- but she IS a mix, almost surely. Her nose is longer (less blunt), and all brown instead of that white down her forehead between her eyes; her coat is fuzzy and fluffy rather than slick and shiny, and while the top of her body hair is black, it's either mixed with med. brown and even some white or it's just the tip of the hairs that are black (or both).

But oh! Those paws, those stocky legs and body (on some of them), the white chest hair (which on our girl is soft and potentially slick/shiny), the very long ears on some of the pix I've seen, and definitely the temperament discussions too.

Yes!! I think we have a winner!! I think she's reasonably accurately described as mostly/probably Berner Mtn Dog + German Shepherd (or something similar).

The ad I just placed (hasn't hit yet) I called her a Saint Bernard / Shepherd / Collie mix. That's good enough for a start -- I can tell people who call what we've decided since then.

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate it. I'm loving this little girl more and more -- so sweet -- and am eager to find her a wonderful home where she can light up someone's life for years to come.

Oh -- I just knew in my heart she'd be good with babies and children, she's got a real gentle streak to her. You've gotta see this pix:

http://www.berner.org/

[regnaD kciN]

24. Perhaps some Gordon Setter in the mix?

:shrug:

[ernstbass]

9. Whatever she is - she's adorable

[ET Awful]

11. What a cute little girl :)

Awwwwwwww! I want one :)

[Eloriel]

15. It can be arranged....

:evilgrin:

She really is a love. Every day I love her more.

Again, thanks, everyone.

[Eurobabe]

12. Side profile looks bloodhound-ish

definitely a mix of a whole bunch of doggies!! She's cute...have fun with her.

[Goldmund]

16. YOU STOLE NELLY!!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3261461

;)

Nelly is also a mut. The best me and my housemates have been able to guess, she has a lot of Leonberger in her:

[livetohike]

17. Wow, she is beautiful

I want to pet her fur :-). What a cutie.

[katamaran]

19. I tend to lean Shepherd/Beagle

Looking at the head on shots of her face you linked to, I tend to lean towards something like Shepherd and Beagle or Hound. My three Berners were all around 30-35 lbs at that age. A Berner/Shepherd mix should be a bit bigger than that (eep!!!)

Of course, it's amazing how many people look at our three 95lb Berners and ask "are those Beagle mixes?" Beagle and WHAT?!? A Clydesdale?

Does she have the adult shiny fur coming in at the base of her tail yet? That was one of the best little milestones for our girls.

[okasha]

21. Agreed.

Shepherd and beagle. What does she sound like?

[BrklynLiberal]

23. .Beagle and Clydesdale?

good one..
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Eloriel]

26. Actually, I've said about her if she were a horse she'd be

a Clydesdale. VERY stocky build, and those feet and legs are just solid, like tree trunks or elephant legs. NO shape to them at all. Big. Very big.

[BrklynLiberal]

20. Bernese Mountain Dog/Shepherd would be my best guess.

In any case, she is ADORABLE....
Love the way she lays with her back legs splayed out...

BTW - NICE GARDEN!!!!!

[TankLV]

22. Who cares what she is - she's ADORABLE!

I would LOVE to have her - but we've already got 3 rescues plus a friend's former cat - and my partner would KILL me if I brought in any more! (he's the only thing standing between me and my obituary where they find the dead old guy with 30 dogs and cats!).

That's why I've vowed never to visit the local pounds again - last time I walked out with a lovely girl who was on her last day - she had a great last 6 months with us till she passed in her sleep.

Maybe some German Shepard mixed with Golden Retriever or Lab - longish hair and blunt face would suggest the former.

[uppityperson]

25. She is obviously a 100% purebred Cute dog, subspecies fuzzy

[Eloriel]

27. There ya go. Cute. We placed her yesterday

with a family who lost their 5-yr. old St. Bernard recently. They are nuts crazy about her, which is perfectly understandable 'cause she IS a charmer. I had to call them back last night and the guy answered and said, "she's right here chewing on my feet as we speak."

LOL. That's a lot nutsier-crazier than *I* ever got about her (or any dog) -- wouldn't let her chew on me at all. So, she's undoubtedly in hog, um, dog heaven-on-earth.

Thanks, all. I appreciated everyone's input and all the oohs and ahs.

In the meantime, it's SUCH a relief to be done with the commitment. It was quite a burden on me (translation: I'm getting too old for this shit).

[BrklynLiberal]

28. That is great news! So glad she found a home with people who are nuts

about her!!!!
Did you get her new name?

[Shredr]

29. So glad you found her a home

She's a beauty!