Opinions on breed identification

[HoosierMike]

I have come here before with pictures and questions regarding the breed of my dogs, and have gotten great feedback. I have yet another, actually , she's my parents dog. I found her in the same shelter that I found Maggs. I was looking at the time for a male, which I have since found, or he found us

is probably better to say. Anyway, I saw Ash and there was no way she was going to stay there if I could help it. This was last Halloween time and she fit into Mom and Dad's lifestyle just perfect.

She is about the most laid back dog I've been around in quite some time. She does have her wild

hairs and gets goofy at times, but calms right back down. She can keep up step for step with my

Border collies, just not as long. She's about 18 months old and weighs in around 50 pounds.

I know this large for a female Border collie, but I think she has some in her, despite her color, which

is the reason when I tell people that she's a border collie mix, thats when the opinions start to fly.

More people believe my pup Dave is pure BC just because he's black and white. Of all three, I think he looks the least BC. It doesn't really matter that much to me or my parents, because Ash isn't

going anywhere no matter what she is. I was just wondering if I'm stretching it and seeing too much

in her by calling her a BC mix...

 

[PSmitty]

There are blue Border Collies. There's not a great sample here, but check it out:

 

http://www.gis.net/~shepdog/BC_Museum/Perm..._ColorBlue.html

 

And more:

 

http://www.colliecorner.com/oth_a.htm

 

I don't think it's a stretch to call her a BC mix.

[BustopherJones]

This was my Missy; you may note similarities:

 

 

Missy was a cross between a Border Collie and a Belgian Sheepdog. She was also 50+ pounds (in her prime, before the cancer), and also had a very gentle and laid-back personality, along with very soft eyes.

[juliepoudrier]

While 50 pounds is large, it's certainly not unheard of. Looking at her profile view, something says to me that there's something else there in addition to border collie, but I have seen such a range of looks among all the dogs I see at sheepdog trials that I'd never say it's not possible for her to be purebred. As Paula says, the dilute black (blue) does pop up from time to time in certain lines, so her color alone wouldn't be definitive one way or the other. I think you're perfectly within the realm of possibility to call her a border collie mix.

 

J.

[Brad]

I have no problem believing it's a BC mix. You're right about color though, when I'm running my two around the park, people always ask me what my pittyX is. She's a B&W split face, and I often tell people she's a BC mix and I've never been questioned about it. And trust me, there is no way there is anything resembling BC in her. Some people actually think it's mother and son. Here's a pic, if anyone believes these two are related, your's is the purest BC around!

 

[MrRipley]

She is beautiful! Maybe she has German Shepherd in her? Or Belgian? Something about the head shape...

[HoosierMike]

This was my Missy; you may note similarities:

 

 

Missy was a cross between a Border Collie and a Belgian Sheepdog. She was also 50+ pounds (in her prime, before the cancer), and also had a very gentle and laid-back personality, along with very soft eyes.

I do see the similarties in the two. Soft eyes is definately a good description of Ash.

The springer in the background choked me up a bit too, I just had to put down mine

in January after having her nearly 14 yrs.

[Ms.DaisyDuke]

I would see a border collie when I looked at her. Daisy is apparently crossed with malamute, some of the males in her litter were tri-colour or had dilute colours and Ash actually looks similar to what I imagine some of them grew up to look like. No one for a second ever believes me when I say she's a cross, but border collies are a common sighting around here and more people realize that they are a very diverse breed!

Picture attached is Daisy.

[NorthfieldNick]

Er, give my dog back, please.

 

Nick is here, courtesy of Diane: Nick pics

 

He's about 42 Lbs, though. Blue does occur in Border Collies- it simply requires a dog get two copies of the recessive dilute gene. I think Nick was the only on in his litter of seven.

[PSmitty]

I have no problem believing it's a BC mix. You're right about color though, when I'm running my two around the park, people always ask me what my pittyX is. She's a B&W split face, and I often tell people she's a BC mix and I've never been questioned about it. And trust me, there is no way there is anything resembling BC in her. Some people actually think it's mother and son. Here's a pic, if anyone believes these two are related, your's is the purest BC around!

 

 

Brad, your pitty mix looks like a Great Dane mix! She's pretty. I think my Jack might be a BC/pit mix. Can I see another picture of her?

[Brad]

Brad, your pitty mix looks like a Great Dane mix! She's pretty. I think my Jack might be a BC/pit mix. Can I see another picture of her?

Sure, turns out I have a few pics Yes, I can see smal Great Dane shape, or even large Beagle -lol I just call her my honorary BC

 

[PSmitty]

OK, she looks more pitty in that one. Very pretty girl! You obviously have a thing for black and white dogs.

 

Sorry about the hijack! I'll stay on topic now...