Today at the park I saw the neatest little dog. The owner said the
shelter told them it was half German Shepherd, half Cocker (American)
Spaniel. The only thing cockerish was her size. She looked very
shepherdy. She was a black sable with tan points, had almost erect
ears, was about the height of a cocker but was long. She was longer in
relation to height than a shepherd. Her face looked like a shepherd.
I saw her pace a bit instead of trot, which I thought was wierd. Any
guesses as to what her other half could have been? Also, the coat was
fairly close, what some shepherd breeders call a mole coat.
Thanks.
Beth

"bethgsd" wrote in
oups.com:

Today at the park I saw the neatest little dog. The owner said the
shelter told them it was half German Shepherd, half Cocker (American)
Spaniel. The only thing cockerish was her size. She looked very
shepherdy. She was a black sable with tan points, had almost erect
ears, was about the height of a cocker but was long. She was longer in
relation to height than a shepherd. Her face looked like a shepherd.
I saw her pace a bit instead of trot, which I thought was wierd. Any
guesses as to what her other half could have been? Also, the coat was
fairly close, what some shepherd breeders call a mole coat.

No photos, so no good guesses from here.

That size hints that one parent isn't a purebred GSD, because I would
expect the offspring to be clearly larger than a Cocker. And one parent
can't be a purebred Cocker, because no other set of genes can turn those
ears "almost erect", not at least large GSD ear genes. Shelter can't have
gotten the breed even closely right.

I don't know what is your "black sable with tan points", as sables dogs
don't have points. You might be describing some kind of grizzle or wolf
patterned.

Liisa

I don't know what is your "black sable with tan points", as sables dogs

don't have points. You might be describing some kind of grizzle or wolf

patterned.


Liisa


Liisa,
I'm thinking black sable as the German Shepherd people call it. Agouti
maybe.
Beth

"bethgsd" wrote in
oups.com:

I'm thinking black sable as the German Shepherd people call it. Agouti
maybe.

Their "black sable" is a very dark wolf pattern (and not real sable).
Darkest grey GSDs are heterozygous Aa, one allele for wolf pattern and one
for recessive black. Both these patterns are missing from most dog breeds
and so if this dog really is "black sable", it might have some GSD blood
after all.

If that dog was in Finland, it would be easy to guess that it is partially
either Finnish Lapphund or Lapponian Herder. Size, ear carriage and color
would fit. These breeds, especially that former, are very common here and
both have both wolf pattern and recessive black.

Liisa

If that dog was in Finland, it would be easy to guess that it is
partially
either Finnish Lapphund or Lapponian Herder. Size, ear carriage and
color
would fit. These breeds, especially that former, are very common here
and
both have both wolf pattern and recessive black.


Liisa


Hmm, I've seen a picture of a Lappahund and never even heard of the
other! I'm thinking that my initial reaction of gsd/something mix
must be correct. I wish I had a picture of the dog. She was really
cute.

Beth

"bethgsd" wrote in
ups.com:

Hmm, I've seen a picture of a Lappahund and never even heard of the
other! I'm thinking that my initial reaction of gsd/something mix
must be correct. I wish I had a picture of the dog. She was really
cute.

All the photos on this page are Finnish Lapphunds with different shades of
wolf pattern/agouti:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/koirat/slk/riist.html

And all these links lead to Lapponian Herder photos:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/koirat/galleria.html

Liisa

Liisa Sarakontu wrote in
:

All the photos on this page are Finnish Lapphunds with different
shades of wolf pattern/agouti:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/koirat/slk/riist.html


What pretty dogs! I am a fan.

--
Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow
& Queenie the black gold retriever
& Rosalie the calico

All the photos on this page are Finnish Lapphunds with different shades
of
wolf pattern/agouti:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/koirat/slk/riist.html

And all these links lead to Lapponian Herder photos:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/sarakontu/koirat/galleria.html

Liisa,
Interesting pictures.
I saw a couple of photos today of a Norwegian Elkhound and thought how
much that looked like it might be part of the mystery girl's makeup.
And I'll tell, the I'm in awe of anyone that can learn Finnish and
English.

Beth