Here's your challenge for the day and my chance to try out the "vote" button. I'm currently visiting shelters and rescue groups and came across this big guy. I'm curious what you think - at first glance - what breed(s) do you think he is? Clearly a mix, but a mix of what? He's about 65cm at the withers and 30 kgs, if that helps. There's no right answer because I don't know what breed he is either, I just want to know your perception. It would really help me with a decision I have to make on whether I should put him on my go see list or not.
Difficult to say. Bernese Mountain dog markings (and only cos you said he was a big guy). Or a Shepherd mix, but the ears are too floppy. He has a lovely athletic-looking body.
I've voted, but I do remember this lovely boy as I sent his details to you He's gorgeous Short list, short list!! xx
Oh, I suck at this game! I am going rottie mix, because of the very distinct tan eyebrows in the first picture and the relatively blocky head in the second picture (although I wouldn't have said it from the shape of the head at all in the first picture!). His tail looks massive!
Yep, that's why I included both pictures. He looks VERY different in his photos depending on the angle.
Is that actually the same dog in both pictures? Or littermates? Only asking cos of different collars and different setting. And also the one above appears to be blacker with more black (like down the front left leg). Or taken at different ages?
Nope, exactly the same dog and taken only a couple months apart, both in cloudy weather. He really, really looks like a different dog depending on the picture.
I can see what @MF is saying, though - the amount of black on both the front and back legs is very different in the two photos! He looks like he may have some brindle in there?
Mmm... you are right about the amount of black on his legs. That's weird! No brindle but his undercoat is tan/white - that's what is showing through on the second picture and not the first.
Oh he looks a lot like my Coco, German Shepherd x Lab - with the Rottie colouring. His physique & tail are very similar. Here's the nearest photo I can find for comparison
I voted "other" because he looks like a mix between a Rottweiler and a Huntaway, which is a breed unique to NZ and is a sheep dog. So obviously he's not a Huntaway, but have a Google and see what you think!
Handsome Coco - it's always great to see a photo with his full body when I'm just used to seeing his head in your avatar.
Wow - I looked up Huntaway and that is indeed the same body. And a breed I've never heard of...interesting!
My family friends who live in nz have a huntaway x labrador she's lovely Some sheep farmers use them in the UK. The are often mixed in with collies and the agility sport fans use them along with kelpies and koolies.