"What is she MIXED with"? "she must be part lab?"

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by DCluver33

woah did you just say people think Riley is a Chihuahua mix?! seriously?!

Yup! i've actually had several people try and convince me that my almost 85 lb male is a chihuahua mix instead of a border collie mix. I mean really?
I must have missed something if he is! I mean does he look like a chihuahua mix to you?!






i mean to me, if i didnt know any better, i would say he was a PB black shepherd with just that patch of white on his chest but i do know better. Shepherd, border collie. His mom was a PB BC and dad was a PB shepherd. That much we got from his owner surrender paperwork when we adopted him!

[DCluver33]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

Yup! i've actually had several people try and convince me that my almost 85 lb male is a chihuahua mix instead of a border collie mix. I mean really?
I must have missed something if he is! I mean does he look like a chihuahua mix to you?!






i mean to me, if i didnt know any better, i would say he was a PB black shepherd with just that patch of white on his chest but i do know better. Shepherd, border collie. His mom was a PB BC and dad was a PB shepherd. That much we got from his owner surrender paperwork when we adopted him!

oh yes he defiantly looks like a Chihuahua mix

[KZoppa]

haha and Shasta looks like a poodle! Shelby is the easy one because she's that black and tan saddle back most people expect when you mention GSD. lol

[DCluver33]

Originally Posted by KZoppa

haha and Shasta looks like a poodle! Shelby is the easy one because she's that black and tan saddle back most people expect when you mention GSD. lol

haha yup!!

[vicky2200]

I guess I can see how someone who doesn't know much about shepherds may think she must be mixed, and I GUESS lab is an OK guess... But I have seen plenty of Shepherds that look like her. She is beautiful. In fact, I almost got an all black girl when I was picking out my puppy, but I decided on my Ditto. The all black one DID look like a lab, as a puppy, because she was chunky with floppy ears. But anyone who knows about shepherds should easily believe you when you tell them she is all shepherd, if they cant tell just by looking.

[Kay]

When we went to pick out our pup I had my eyes set on her sable sister. But I sat down with the pups and Sasha was the one that crawled into my lap and fell asleep. So my choice was made for me

Actually, the day we picked her up to take her home the sable was still available and I sat down to see which one would come to me this time and Sasha got up and stumbled over to me in puppy fashion with her tail wagging, so then there was no doubt that she was the one haha.

We still talk to her breeder (we're getting in competitive obedience with Sasha and she has been SO helpful) and she also has 2 solid blacks and she gets the same thing from people. She has actually said that she used to get it more when she was out with Sasha's sire (he is a sable); people would ask if he was a husky/wolf hybrid apparently

Because the black and tans are so common, people think that must be the ONLY colour a pure GSD can be. I mean, I do get the reverse too when we're out with Sasha sometimes; some people will come over and say "oh wow, is that a solid black shepherd? I haven't seen one in so long! Where is she from?" These encounters are pretty rare though...

KZoppa, you dog looks a lot like a pooch we see at the dog park! He is a Border Collie mix. I have no idea how anybody would mistake your guy for a Chihuahua cross D:

[KZoppa]

Originally Posted by Kay

When we went to pick out our pup I had my eyes set on her sable sister. But I sat down with the pups and Sasha was the one that crawled into my lap and fell asleep. So my choice was made for me

Actually, the day we picked her up to take her home the sable was still available and I sat down to see which one would come to me this time and Sasha got up and stumbled over to me in puppy fashion with her tail wagging, so then there was no doubt that she was the one haha.

We still talk to her breeder (we're getting in competitive obedience with Sasha and she has been SO helpful) and she also has 2 solid blacks and she gets the same thing from people. She has actually said that she used to get it more when she was out with Sasha's sire (he is a sable); people would ask if he was a husky/wolf hybrid apparently

Because the black and tans are so common, people think that must be the ONLY colour a pure GSD can be. I mean, I do get the reverse too when we're out with Sasha sometimes; some people will come over and say "oh wow, is that a solid black shepherd? I haven't seen one in so long! Where is she from?" These encounters are pretty rare though...

KZoppa, you dog looks a lot like a pooch we see at the dog park! He is a Border Collie mix. I have no idea how anybody would mistake your guy for a Chihuahua cross D:

haha dont you just love how they seem to pick you when you are looking at an entirely different animal? My hubby picked both our cats and they chose me as their primary. Riley was picked by me and he's hubby's dog. Shasta is mine. I think shes's the only one who followed the rules out of the whole bunch!!! lol.

We've seen a couple other dogs who look like Riley almost to a T. Their owners ALWAYS ask if he's a GSD/ BC cross. I guess its a typical thing for BC mixes to be black with that white patch on their chest. I've seen one cross that didnt look anything like either breed but mainly i see the black with the white chest patch. As far as people thinking he's a chihuahua cross, i have no problem looking at them like they're crazy and then promptly asking them if they are. There is a woman down the street from me who has a chow, dachshund mix. I have NO idea how they managed that one but her parents dogs accidentally got together when they'd seperated them (chow digs under fences easily from what i was told) and her dog came to be. Though her dog looks dachshund/chihuahua mix but her tongue is that blue/black chow tongue. Thats the ONLY reason i believe that one! some people amaze me though. chihuahua mix. HA!

I keep going back and looking at pictures of your "lab mix" and i just dont see it. The ears, the head.... nope.... she's a gorgeous solid black girl. But maybe i'm just intelligent enough to not argue with a dogs owner and i know dog breeds better than some because i've done so much research on various breeds. Probably also helps when you spend almost 3 hours sittin in very cold very wet snow convincing a very large solid black male GSD that you're not there to hurt him but help him find his way home. I guess being on the receiving end of that black shepherd head complete with bark.... i tend to notice PBs more lol.