border collie x german shepherd. smart, medium sized, agile, friendly, trainable, protective but not ocd, hyper or aggressive. I miss that dog, she had a sense of humor.
i’m a big fan of mutts; they live longer, are generally healthier, and often smarter.
My favorite is my current Grand Old Man, HooDoo (named after the HooDoo Valley where he was born). I paid a whooping $25 for him when he was 6 wks old…he will turn 15 this November.
His breeding? Dad was a blue Queensland Heeler. Mom was 1/2 Rottie, 1/4 German Shepherd and 1/4 Pit.
So he looks like a small Rottie (he’s 95 lbs), but colored like a blue heeler. He is totally one of a kind. You might think he’d be aggressive with this breeding, but he never has been…if I had $100,000 I’d have him cloned in a second!
Pics:
I’m seeing a trend of the GSD being in a lot of these mixes…just sayin 
Eventr, can we see a pic of the Italian Greyhound JRT mix??
Mine is a Rhodie Mix and the best mutt in the world!!
I am moving and wish I could find someone to take him for a short time so he doesn’t have to be in a kennel for a month or 2 :no:
as a pup with my late son, Jamie 
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1288222363056914887DFiJqx
As a grown man
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view¤t=AmaniDec18-2.jpg
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view¤t=AmaniDec18-1.jpg
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view¤t=AmaniDec18.jpg
[QUOTE=Trakehner;5712555]
Collie x German Shep…wonderful dogs, great around horses and very sensible.[/QUOTE]
Same here, childhood dog and I have had two more since. Absolutely gorgeous too. I assume you mean the Rough-Coated “Scotch” Collie and G. Shep? I was thinking I was going to post this mix but clearly someone else has found that magical combination. All of mine got the best of both breeds. Not as heavy a coat, nor wiry like the German Shep, nor that really fluffy coat of the collie. More like a soft, silky and wavy. All mine have been black and tan.
Another mix I had that I adored was one I rescued and rehomed to a fabulously adoring home was a Basenji and Rat Terrier cross. What a brilliant dog and so handsome, he had a blue undertone to his coat. I was told when he was going to be sent to me that he was a RT, when he got to me I said no way pure RT. Then it dawned on me what he was, that characteristicly unmistakeable head that they have. Highly recommend.
[QUOTE=Whiz Kid;5712841]
I have a beagle / jack russel mix who is just the most loyal, sweet and loving dog I have ever met. She is always happy, loves new adventures and helps keep me in shape as she loves to walk. She was actually found on a horse farm and given to me because the girl who foun her couldn’t keep her. 5 years later, she is my best friend and my very best cheerer upper! I have always loved jacks and beagles and really wound up with the best of both worlds![/QUOTE]
Okay, now I have to agree with you too! Two of my absolute favorite breeds, and the beagle mellows that Whacky Jackie drive. I sometimes think my JRT boy is a ball in a pinball machine, 9 years old and still cooking with gas!
I guess I just like dogs, pretty much all dogs, some are more special than others though.
German shepard x irish woldhound
We got her from the SPCA and later found out had been returned a few times. She was very overweight and ran the entire first week we had her, soo happy! lol
She was GSD size (120-130pounds) with a fluffy possibly double coat, brindle colour. Head of the wolfhound complete with beard. One ear on sideways. Fluffy tail that curled over back.
Did come with her issues of not super liking men in particular if they got between us( ladies) and her or somewhat cornered her or stepped over in when sleeping. Never felt safer with her which was great since I was the stay at home stable manager and was by myself a lot of the time. And did take out the screen door a few times and a wood door during a thunderstorm. She wasn’t a fan of them.
Loved that dog and miss her dearly. Some day when i have a farm I will get a wolfie or wolfie x.
P.
no problem!!! my kids
[QUOTE=fivesocks;5714586]
Eventr, can we see a pic of the Italian Greyhound JRT mix??[/QUOTE]
let me know if it doesnt work. his sister is in a few of them with him.
the one picture with the cast is the most recent. he gets it off this week yahoo!!!
[QUOTE=fivesocks;5714586]
Eventr, can we see a pic of the Italian Greyhound JRT mix??[/QUOTE]
totally. what is the best way to upload pics?
Nootka-
What beautiful eyes on both of your “boys”!
Mine is a Siberian X Catahoula mix. He’s striking in appearance, very intelligent, obedient and extremely loving.
[QUOTE=ManyDogs;5714993]
Nootka-
What beautiful eyes on both of your “boys”![/QUOTE]
Aww thank you.
I got him from a no kill shelter in MO. I saw those eyes and had to have him. So, he was flown to Wash DC! He was sooooo sick from Kennel Cough and I was never told he had it
Here is his baby pic
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view¤t=Amani.jpg
I had an Australian Shepherd/Kelpie mix i adored. She was an awesome cow dog, and when she got too old to move cattle she decided protecting the bum lambs was her job. Right now we have a border collie/blue Heeler cross that we found and gave a home too. He’s got 3 legs, only one nut, tail doesn’t work, sphincter is iffy and he pees in the house, but he’s a sweetheart. I love good mutts.
I’m going to comment though that there is no data to support the idea that mutts are healthier and live longer than purebreds. Cross two dogs whose parents have genetic issues and the pups will likely have those same issues. Just crossing them doesn’t erase genetics. Hybrid vigor in dogs is a myth, mostly because crossing two species of canine doesn’t produce a hybrid. Crossing a dog to a coyote or a wolf, sure, that’s a hybrid (and should be outlawed).
For 16 years, I had a Chihuahua-Papillon mix. Best dog ever. He died in December at somewhere between 17-18 years old.
He was a lot of work. Crafty, fearless, and 100% dedicated to getting whatever he wanted. Loved to go hiking and camping. Ran a repressive household regime where no one dared to get on the wrong side of him.
I miss him; my other pets don’t miss the controlling Chihuahua stare.
We have Jack, a poodle/schnauzer mix who is the best dog I’ve ever owned–a delight, smart, sweet, kind, attentive and loves people–any people, anytime. Restaurants with patios are his favorite place, especially if they have ice cream:)
We also have Bert, a lab/wolfhound mix who, also, was a multiple return to the pound dog–he’s a hoot! Huge, goofy, a bit willful and the absolute low man on the doggie totem pole.
Daisy is our most recent addition. The pound thought she was a shepherd mix…but I seriously doubt it. She’s best described as “yellow, small-eyed, semi-hairless, uneven eared and smelly and old” by those who meet her. She’s ugly, kind and well-trained. Did I mention the allergies to all grains? Sigh…
Our Wee Dog is a mystery: Cav and ? That is the best the vet and groomer can decide on. He’s 10 pounds of insecurity with bad eyesight and breath. He bites, barks and has chronic ear infections–but he’s also sweet, loves his squeaky ball and terrorizing the cats (who are all much larger than him) and making sure my horse doesn’t step out of his stall while on Wee Dog’s watch.
My current rescue is greyhound/border collie and my last rescue who I lost to cancer last year was a greyhound/black lab - he was 109 lbs and solid muscle! The speed in both of them is/was amzaing - I love/loved watching them tear around the pasture at full speed :D. I could not have asked for better personalities in either :).
Something about greyhounds I like :yes:. Mutts are the best!!
Wow… I love all your dogs!!!
Here are my mutts… in order:
(The great and exalted and very sadly missed) Toto:
Toto was advertised as Golden Ret mix puppies. Sure enough her mom was a golden but she looked like a lab puppy. All black. I asked the owners about the parentage. They said “It’s either a Lab or a Rott. Because that neighbor has a lab, and that one has a rott”
She ended up being a Golden x Rott. The best combo I have ever seen. She had subtle rott brown markings on the chest and eyebrows, but strongly resembled an 80lb female black lab. She was loyal and lovely, a determined retriever and a champion road trip companion.
She did succumb to bone cancer as many retrievers do. And it was a sad day when she passed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xctrygirl/1496237264/in/set-72157602281997434
Scarecrow (To go along with Toto of course) He is a Golden X Lab. And he absolutely lives up to his name. He has a “funny” hind end, though is clean in all his joints on xrays. He has looked arthritic for years, but only now at 11 yrs old is he actually starting to be a little ouchy. I particularily love his devoted and peaceful nature. He will play and roughhouse, but he’s never been the drama queen. Maybe it’s just him reacting to being confused for a girl…all the time!
This is him a couple years ago when still skinny…
http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Buddy/?action=view¤t=BuddySupermodel027.jpg
This is him now:
And then we come to Taz. (Who I realized a year after I got her, I did have another “OZ” related name I could have used… “Twister!” Damnit) But she is Taz, short for the Tazmanian Devil of course. She is a true mutt. Found on side of road and breeding unknown. As the years have gone by we’re now pretty convinced she is a Corgi/Border Collie Cross or something close. She is my superstar and always garners tons of compliments. She is a high energy girl and were it not for a hind leg that was injured years ago and sometimes still tricks up, I feel confident she’d be an agility dog of epic levels.
http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/Tazzie/
~Emily
ohh how they mutliply!
I don’t own a dog personaly, but if I could I would take one of my barn dogs home!
They are (in order of arrival)
Bear - apparently he is a purebred Portugese Cattle Dog (??) but after looking at photo’s of this breed, he is a cross with a mastiff for sure!! He gets his name from the way he sits on his back end with his back legs sticking straight out like a bear! He is only 5 years old, but because he is the night watch man for the farm, he sleeps all day and acts very lazy! (the pupps bring him part of their kill, and he eats his food from the bowl while laying down!) He is super obedient, will not leave the farm for any reason, and is known to nibble your bum when he wants a scratch (scared the crap outta me when it happened the first time:eek: cause you don’t hear him coming)
Hwy - named so cause we literally found him in a box with is dead litter mates on the side of the highway, he was the only survivor.
Best we can figure is a Chow mostly with some lab and GShep for good measure.
Super obedient, never jumps or bites or anything to people, not a good guard dog he loves everyone too much!
Likes to go for hunts and wander the open plains, has taken down a couple deer even!
He is the one I would take home in a heart beat if I was allowed a dog!!!
Only about a year old now
Kitty - only name she would come to when we got her, Malimute/G shep, beautiful looking dog, still too much of a puppy but is learning fromt he older boys! Doesn’t leave property but is a bit jumpy and will tackle anything that moves too fast (including children) doesn’t bite or nothing, just tackles and licks them!
Has a nasty habit of sitting on the boy’s heads when they are laying down:confused: not sure if this is a play with me, or a I own you!!! lol
Then there are 2 house dogs, both are G shep crosses and crochety old women who don’t care fot he other dogs or people in general! We stear clear of them! lol
So over all, a great mix of mutts! Only one was actually purchased (Bear) the others just fell into our lives!
Actually I don’t think this is true. If you breed two purebred animals of the same breed, you are more likely to produce the various weaknesses that are prevelent in that breed. You are correct that a mutt is not technically a hybrid, but it IS outbreeding (big time!), which is well known to create stronger stock.
Recently I was reading an article in “Bark” magazine about a doctor doing a study on aging in dogs. He is using Rotties as his base breed (for consistency). The average life span for a Rottie is only 8.5 yrs!:eek: I’ve had dogs since I was 3 yrs old and of all those dogs, the one with the shortest lifespan lived till she was 9 (a PB Bull Terrier). My other dogs have lived up to 16 yrs. and had very few health issues. They don’t get fancy food or special vitamins – just basic vaccines and LOTS of exercise.
Example: a friend of mine has a PB Rhodesian Ridgeback. I have HooDoo, my mutt. Both are the same age (15), both are about the same size. In HooDoo’s lifetime, I’ve spent about less than $1000 total on health issues – my friend has spent close to $10K (the dog keeps coming up with various cancers).
Another good friend LOVES Schnauzers; she got 2 from a local rescue. Geeze, she was spending $$ on these dogs almost from the get-go. One lived till it was 12 and the other till it was 14…and along the way she spent a FORTUNE on them. One had all kinds of food allergies, chronic issues with kidney stones. Then another went deaf at about 9 yrs. and had several other “issues”.
Again, this is obviously not an official study, but I have loads of friends with dogs and most of them have PBs (I’m the mutt person)…and they are constantly spending $$ on their health care, while I have very few illness issues…at least until we start getting into old age or the occasional accident.
As for the dog/wolf crosses (which, as you stated, ARE true hybrids) I would have a tendency to agree with you. Then I met a friend of mine who has a GS/wolf hybrid (spayed female) and just got another puppy (at 4 wks). I’ve met the first dog and she is lovely – very well behaved and sweet.
My friend says the two important aspects are 1) getting the puppy VERY young, so it can bond with humans and 2) getting one crossed with GS or another good-minded breed – NOT a husky or malamute. Both of the latter dogs tend to be more independent/stubborn types.
However, I still don’t understand why one would want one of these animals – still don’t “get” what they bring to the table (other than the “cool” factor) that a regular dog doesn’t…
