What are the odds of 2 mixed breed dogs of unknown background looking
*identical*? I ask because one of the techs at my vet has a small black
mix (proably has some chihuahua), a rescue. Recently, someone else came
in to board their dog, another rescue, another black chihuahua mix. The
2 look like clones. Put them side by side and you literally can't tell
them apart. I figure they have to have the same parents, maybe even
same litter, but was wondering what the likelyhood is of them not being
related.
--
Debbie the Dogged das at spamcop dot net
"Poodles are space aliens who think they've disguised
themselves as dogs." - Paghat the Ratgirl

In article ,
Debbie the Dogged wrote:
I figure they have to have the same parents, maybe even
same litter, but was wondering what the likelyhood is of them not being
related.

When I was living in Berkeley mumblety years ago, I stopped
by the city animal shelter. They had a set of runs outside
the building for their "unadoptable" dogs, and almost all of
the dogs out there were very, very similar big black mutts.
There were dozens of them.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

The federal revenue lost this year alone because of the
Bush tax cuts is $225 billion.

"Debbie the Dogged" wrote in message
...
What are the odds of 2 mixed breed dogs of unknown background looking
*identical*?

Most mixed breeds litters that I've seen have, instead, a wide variation in
puppies. They are probably more similar if it's a cross of two purebreds
but after that it always seems like a random collection of traits.

~~Judy (NOT a geneticist)

"Judy" wrote in message
...
"Debbie the Dogged" wrote in
message
...
What are the odds of 2 mixed breed dogs of unknown background looking
*identical*?

Most mixed breeds litters that I've seen have, instead, a wide variation
in
puppies. They are probably more similar if it's a cross of two purebreds
but after that it always seems like a random collection of traits.

That reminds me of Rufus and Festis. They were littermates my father's gf
picked up in a parking lot or somesuch years ago.

Festis was the picture of a mangy-mutt. He was blonde, wire-haired, bearded
and looked like a blonde version of Benji overall (coat was more wiry).

Rufus was a Lab-sized, brown & tan-point, smooth-coated boy.

People always swore we were lying when we told them they were littermates.
Maybe the people giving them away lied but they were the same age and came
home together as puppies.

--
Tara

"Suja" wrote in message
news:VA_Ye.16554$nq.8691@lakeread05...
Tee wrote:

People always swore we were lying when we told them they were
littermates. Maybe the people giving them away lied but they were the
same age and came home together as puppies.

It could just be variability within an all-mutt litter, but they could've
had different fathers.

Geez, I'd forgotten that was even possible. It very well could have been
because Festis was about the height of a Corgi and Rufus, as stated, was the
height of a Lab so it wasn't just their coats & colors but their huge height
difference that also made them like night and day.

Rufus, was a big, loving, dummy. He even had a "duhhhh" expression all the
time and the sweet dog never seemed to think about anything at all. Festis
was the leader and we often teased he was a little mafia boss. He was
always thinking, always doing, always bossy. He must've been a terrier.
Rufus had no terrier traits.

--
Tara

Tee wrote:

People always swore we were lying when we told them they were littermates.
Maybe the people giving them away lied but they were the same age and came
home together as puppies.

It could just be variability within an all-mutt litter, but they
could've had different fathers.

Suja

"Suja" wrote:
It could just be variability within an all-mutt litter, but they
could've had different fathers.

Yup. It's surprising how many people don't realize that if a bitch isn't
supervised during heat, it's perfectly possible for her to mate with and
concieve by more than one male.