# So what kind of dog did I rescue? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 26, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113 "2012-11-26T00:25:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/1 "2012-11-26T00:25:17Z")
I doubt that it’s any kind of full breed, but any idea on what might be in her line? She weighs right at 40 pounds, and has a rather solid build. She showed up at a relative’s house, and I took her off his hands. [pic](http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm119/badger60/?action=view¤t=moondog.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/2 "2012-11-26T00:36:37Z")
Nice looking dog. She looks like she could be a sheepdog/terrier mix. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/3 "2012-11-26T00:41:53Z")
Border Collie x some kind of wire-haired terrier is my guess too. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/4 "2012-11-26T00:43:54Z")
It doesn’t know either, sports a question mark for a tail. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/5 "2012-11-26T01:18:39Z")
Border collie/terrier was my guess too. One of the larger stockier breeds of terrier though. Something like [this](http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=border+terrier&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=682&bih=432&tbm=isch&tbnid=TGDN1Gh7_SoV5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.infodogs.co.uk/dog-breeds/breed/border-terrier&docid=W83jrlbL6dcGfM&imgurl=http://www.infodogs.co.uk/photos/dogs/border-terrier_173.jpg&w=200&h=200&ei=B8OyULzEL5CS0QWt94G4BA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=3&sig=117905173393023128642&page=2&tbnh=142&tbnw=150&start=12&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:0,i:187&tx=65&ty=83). She looks like a lovely dog at any rate, but, may I ask, is she a bit on the hyperactive side 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/6 "2012-11-26T01:52:43Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > . . . She looks like a lovely dog at any rate, but, may I ask, is she a bit on the hyperactive side 🙂 Actually she is, but I just chalked that up to her age. Vet estimates 12-18 months. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/7 "2012-11-26T02:14:24Z")
[Portuguese Water Dog](http://www.dogster.com/dogs/613804) mix. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/8 "2012-11-26T02:20:36Z")
Some kind of doodle dog? Poodle crosses are pretty popular and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone trying to make a buck was creating their own “designer” variation. Has a Labradoodle look, but not sure about the black and white coat. Poodle x border collie maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/9 "2012-11-26T03:04:49Z")
1st choice: Border Collie x Wire terrier 2nd choice: Border Collie x Schnauzer. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/10 "2012-11-26T03:06:34Z")
I know exactly what you have. You have an American Standard Short Haired Mixed Breed Sized Medium. AKA a good, old fashioned mutt. (At least some terrier. The curly tail comes from somewhere, what did the vet think?) ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/11 "2012-11-26T03:14:40Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > [Portuguese Water Dog](http://www.dogster.com/dogs/613804) mix. PWDs are very rare though. Hard to find a purebred, let alone a mix. I would say border collie / terrier somethingorother. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/12 "2012-11-26T03:23:31Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Actually she is, but I just chalked that up to her age. Vet estimates 12-18 months. Although I linked to a Border Terrier I was thinking she had the look of my friend’s dog who is some kind of border mix. He’s certainly a bit hyper, and as for Border Collies … I think you have a dog that will be very rewarding if given plenty to do. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/13 "2012-11-26T13:08:48Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > . . . (At least some terrier. The curly tail comes from somewhere, what did the vet think?) Actually, he thought maybe bearded or border collie with some kind of terrier. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/14 "2012-11-26T13:53:08Z")
border collie X portuguese water dog X otter hound ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/15 "2012-11-26T17:33:24Z")
If that tail is genuinely curly and not just waggariffic, then you’ve got a telltale (sorry) trait. Curly tails only occur in a small handful of dog breeds. A quick google gives me: - Pug (probably not, seeing as your puppy has a proper nose) - Akita (maybe a few generations back, as they start at 75 lbs.) - Shiba Inu (like an Akita, only much smaller) - Keeshond - Basenji (African barkless dog, smaller than yours and skinny) - Chow chow (much bigger and fluffier, look for any black spots on the tongue) - Norwegian Elkhound - Siberian Husky - Alaskan Malamute - Karelian Bear Dog (very rare, probably not) - Pomeranian (very small lapdog) - Samoyed (large, very fluffy white dog) None of them are an obvious, exact match, but it’s likely you got a crossbreed. After a few generations, the curly tail trait may have been retained while nearly all the other traits were swamped out. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/16 "2012-11-26T21:52:22Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > If that tail is genuinely curly and not just waggariffic, then you’ve got a telltale (sorry) trait. Curly tails only occur in a small handful of dog breeds. A quick google gives me: > > - Pug (probably not, seeing as your puppy has a proper nose) > - Akita (maybe a few generations back, as they start at 75 lbs.) > - Shiba Inu (like an Akita, only much smaller) > - Keeshond > - Basenji (African barkless dog, smaller than yours and skinny) > - Chow chow (much bigger and fluffier, look for any black spots on the tongue) > - Norwegian Elkhound > - Siberian Husky > - Alaskan Malamute > - Karelian Bear Dog (very rare, probably not) > - Pomeranian (very small lapdog) > - Samoyed (large, very fluffy white dog) > > None of them are an obvious, exact match, but it’s likely you got a crossbreed. After a few generations, the curly tail trait may have been retained while nearly all the other traits were swamped out. I have a dog that we think is predominately German Shepard and Lab. With a spotted tongue and curly tail. So some chow in there somewhere, likely (or just a mutant). Several generations of mutt breeding and its like asking my kids “are you Irish?” (Yes, and Italian, Romanian, Scottish, English, French, German, Dutch, Czech…and then we loose track) ---
**Author:** ![FrillyNettles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ea924/32.png) [@FrillyNettles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrillyNettles)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/17 "2012-11-27T00:10:08Z")
My first thought was a husky with a terrier head…Tusky? ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/18 "2012-11-27T00:48:38Z")
Hard to tell from the picture, but is her coat soft and fluffy or harsh and wiry? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/19 "2012-11-27T00:50:25Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > Hard to tell from the picture, but is her coat soft and fluffy or harsh and wiry? If it’s soft and fluffy, that type of dog is known as a Chick Magnet. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113/20 "2012-11-27T01:50:21Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > Hard to tell from the picture, but is her coat soft and fluffy or harsh and wiry? Tends more toward wiry. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-kind-of-dog-did-i-rescue/642113.md?page=2)