My dog's Border collie heritage

[crysania4]

There's always a ton of debate over what Dahlia IS as far as breed mixture. I have some people who say "oh definitely BC" (including three vets who have seen her and a handful of BC people) and then a group who says "I don't see BC in her at all" (which also includes some BC people). But then there are moments when she shows that she MUST have some border collie heritage.

This morning we went down to the park and what did I discover in the soccer fields. Two groups of geese. Dahlia loves chasing the geese and ducks at the pond but she never gets to do much of it as they fly back into the pond and I don't want her going into it (it is ICKY). So she stays on leash, which doesn't give her much room for running.

But in the soccer field? She's free to go. So I released her and she sat at my side. I squatted down and pointed at the geese, saying "Dahlia...look..." She was instantly alert. I stood back up and shouted "Go get 'em!" And she was off like a shot. Straight at the geese? Nope. She ran out and around to the left in an imitation of an outrun (she probably should have arced another 5-10 feet out to really make it a good one). Alas, she wasn't able to get behind them or anything as they flew off as soon as they saw her coming. But it does make me happy to see her attempts at herding! So she has no control, but it's still fun to see.

I let her go after a second group further down and she showed a bit more control with getting closer to them, but then they flew away when she got too close again. But boy was she a happy dog!

Comments

[remix22.livejournal.com]

http://www.akc.org/breeds/flat_coated_retriever/

Maybe?

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

She might be part flat coat, though they're not terribly common in Ohio (or even here). She's a bit too short, too stocky, and has a nicely domed head (like golden retrievers and labs) so I've leaned more toward the other retrievers in the mix. She's definitely a mutt, there's no doubt about that!

[remix22.livejournal.com]

I'm not contending that she's a mutt - mutts rock! But when I see her, I see a Flat-Coat. Would also explain her hunting instinct.

But, I think this gentleman says it best:
However, because we are familiar with a few dog breeds, we have become pretty good at grouping dogs together in groups with other similar looking dogs. Is the dog about 80 lbs and black? "Lab Mix." Boxy head and muscly? "Pit bull". Long hair and snout? "Shepherd mix". Never mind that there are several breeds of "Shepherd" that don't look all that much alike -- and many of the "shepherd mixes" don't really look like any of those breeds.

We group them, because in our mind, it's easier to classify them. Besides, what does a Chesapeake Bay Retriever/Chihuahua mix look like? And what does that mean to a potential adopter? Mostly nothing. But it's a cute black dog that kind of looks like a Lab, so let's call it that.

Dahlia is a Dahli-Dog! =D

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

Haha that much is true. She's just her and she's awesome whatever she is. I used to think about getting one of those DNA tests done but I can't see putting the money out and I understand they're pretty inaccurate too.

[remix22.livejournal.com]

Yeah, on one of the message boards I'm on someone bought one and sent it off for her purebred APBT (she's seen his parents, has his pedigree, he shows, etc) and it came back that he was something like a Standard Poodle and something else mix lol

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

APBT = a poodle mix? Erm. Wow that's funny! Dahlia would probably come back like part chihuahua or something. lol

[harro-der.livejournal.com]

Haha, I always suggest flat coat too for D XD

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

A fair amount of people seem to, but I just don't see it! Especially not in her head shape, though perhaps she could have gotten that from somewhere else.

Neither of these descriptions seem to fit her al that well:

The impression of the skull and muzzle being "cast in one piece" is created by the fairly flat skull of moderate breadth

Viewed from above, the muzzle is nearly equal in length and breadth to the skull.

They have an oddly shaped head, from what I've seen...like this, almost no stop to the head.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/crysania4/3801803176/)

In some pictures I've seen I can see a bit of resemblance, but the head is very different. Sometimes I've thought BC/flat coat is a possibility. But who knows? lol