Dog people: can you tell me what kind of dog this is?

[hyphenate]

I'm not sure I should adopt a dog at all--kitties might not like one, but I wanted to find out more on what kind of dog this is. I don't particularly like small dogs, but I can't have a big one, and my favorites--Lab, Golden and Border Collie--require more exercise and outdoors than I can manage.

Saw this guy and think he's adorable, but since I don't know what kind he is, I can't check to see what requirements he has. I could never afford a purebred, but if I can find a good mix on a shelter dog, I'll be more interested. I just have to make sure I can manage one.

[ret5hd]

1. It's the good lookin' kind.

[hyphenate]

24. lol! eom

[Sanity Claws]

2. Bernese Mountain Dog

is my guess

It will be a big dog.

Here's a link to the Wikipedia entry on the breed, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernese_Mountain_Dog

There is a picture of a puppy about half way down. It looks a lot like the photo you posted.

[nadine_mn]

5. I agree...looks just like the ones I have seen

cute!!

[jorno67]

7. you are correct

A close friend had one - great dogs! Fun loving and very playful!

[RebelOne]

11. Looks like it to me also. If so, that dog is going to be a big adult dog. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

3. Looks like there's a lot of Australian shepherd in that pup

[Arkansas Granny]

4. Looks like what my dad used to call a Heinz 57 to me.

IMO, mixed breed dogs are some of the best. They are my favorite, by far, and their looks are often unique.

[hlthe2b]

6. Tri-Color Aussie (mix, likely).....

PUP in question:




Tri-Color Australian Shepherd puppy

While they have the same tri-color coat as Bernese Mountain Dogs, I think you can see the difference:
Bernese Mountain Dog puppy

[bluedigger]

15. I agree.

Petfinder.com is where I found my dog.

[Major Nikon]

23. It could also be a tri-color Border Collie if it has a longer tail.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

25. Pup looks like ours

Ours is a black - Tri Aussie...pure bred.

[woodsprite]

8. Have you checked out Petfinder?

That's where we found our first dog (Silver - from a shepherd rescue) and our current one (Noelle - from the Humane society). Silver was a shepherd/husky mix and Noelle is a purebred german shepherd. Silver required very little training since she was 7yo and had come from a good home, where we started from scratch with Noelle at 5 months. Noelle does go to 'doggie daycare' on Fridays, so she gets more socialization with other dogs than just walking around our neighborhood. My husband and I say it's the best $25 we spend all week ($20 for daycare and $5 for a bully stick which she gets after dinner).

We just lost our cat 2 weeks ago. We haven't seen him in the neighborhood or woods at all, so we're thinking someone picked him up or a fox got him. Noelle is really missing her buddy, and becoming somewhat ornery when she wants attention, so we're thinking about going through Petfinder's again to find her a companion -- something around the 25-35lb mark rather than 80lbs.

I love the tri-color coat that the pup in the picture has. It's adorable! BUT, he does look like he be a large dog when full grown. Maybe you would like to try a 'foster w/ adoption option' since you're not sure how you or the kitties will take to a dog. A lot of places are doing that now, and dogs (especially adult dogs) have all sorts of energy levels - regardless of breed, so you might find exactly what you want.

Best of luck in your search.

[HopeHoops]

9. Cute pup, but you're probably looking at AT LEAST 40 lbs of adult there.

He'll grow into those paws.

[MiniMe]

16. If he is a Bernese Mountain Dog (which I agree with others that he certainly looks like 1)

You are talking over 100lbs of dog when grown.

[HopeHoops]

19. Yeah, but it could be an Aussie. They're smaller than border collies.

Although Aussies do tend to get rather "barrel" shaped.

[TheCruces]

39. Border Collies can be anywhere from about 25-70lbs

Most less than 50lbs. At least the working bred ones. I'm not talking about those overly fluffy things that the AKC refers to as Border Collies.

[HopeHoops]

41. Females also tend to be a wee bit smaller. Ours topped out at 77 at one point.

We hadn't gotten much snow but a lot of cold nasty rain that year. She's a snow dog. Most of her activity is racing around like an idiot after a ball, but with SNOW, there are an ENDLESS supply of balls!!! She's good for four hours or more of constant activity in a foot or so of snow and that's what keeps her trim. That year wasn't good for exercise (she's a bit of a wimp about rain). The following year she was down under 70 and the vet said it was at least a healthy weight. She's freakin' huge for a border collie, but then again, so was her father and her mother wasn't exactly small.

In sharp contrast, our sheltie was the runt and she's never weighed more than 22. They make a good pair, but the sheltie can sprint like nothing I've ever seen. With distance, the border collie will overtake her, but at short range there's no contest. She just sits down and lets the sheltie get the ball. They actually play with balls in the hallway, passing them back and forth. That's cute!

On edit: The sheltie often sleeps on our bed and when she does she transforms into Marmaduke.

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Pit Bull.

[RebelOne]

12. I don't think so. n/t

[Gold Metal Flake]

14. Just a little bit?

Around the eyes?

[csziggy]

28. No, it's the teeth - Pit bulls have teeth and so does that pup!

[Gold Metal Flake]

30. It looks like it wants to KILL!

Kill the Wubba, that is.

"Human, pick up the Wubba. Pick it up! Pick it UUUUUUP! The WUBBA!! DO IT!"

[one_voice]

13. I would bet anything it has....

Bernese mountain dog in it. My favorite dog, I've always wanted one. They're supposed to be wonderful dogs. They get big though.



Full grown...



Beautiful, beautiful dogs!

[Paper Roses]

17. Positive this is a Bernese Mountain dog. My daughter has two.

One is full grown, the other is a puppy about the size of your picture. Both are funny, lovable cute. They are purebreds, this one looks just like the puppy. Beautiful markings.

They will grow into large dogs. Don't seem to eat more than 2 cups of Good food per day. Love chew treats and milk bones.
Easily trained. Don't seem to want to chew on the chair legs. Altogether good dogs.
All this information comes from my family.

Now, from me:

I just sat for them for 5 days. I will say this. They take up a lot of room in my 'downsized for winter' house. Three bodies in 3 rooms was a little much. Summer would have been easier because I could open some rooms up. They do like to go for walks and run around in the fenced back yard.
If you have the space, the make great pets. Love them and they will love you back just as much.
Is this one a shelter dog? If she is, she'll be gone in no-time.

[XemaSab]

18. Could be an English shepherd

English shepherds are in the same group as border collies and Australian shepherds.

[Myrina]

20. I can't see the pic but ...

.... I had a 'mystery dog' as a foster a couple years ago that was listed as a 'Cattle Dog' and turned out to be little known breed called a CATAHOULA LEOPARD DOG. They're the 'state dog' of Louisiana and were developed for swamp-hunting (possums, raccoons etc).

Their background is boxer, greyhound and Aussie shepherd so they can have the boxer brindle coat, blue eyes (one or both) and be tall and look like they have a bit of Pit in the face -- every one looks a bit different because of the various strains in their genetics but they're total lovebugs, not an ounce of mean in 'em anywhere.


Here's a pic of one: [IMG][/IMG]


Again I can't see your image so it could be totally unrelated, but ... maybe not?

[csziggy]

29. I LOVE Catahoulas! Our last dog was a Catahoula mix

He was dark grey with black spots and bits of brown and white. Absolutely invisible in dim light. Smartest dog I ever met.

I found him on the side of a highway, living off road kill. Brought him home and he was a faithful dog for over sixteen years.

He was probably part lab - his head and ears were more lab shape then a full Catahoula.

[Rob H.]

31. Wow, that dog is a real looker

Love the blue eyes, too. Also, puppy!



Edit: now with added squee!

[Myrina]

32. <3 awww ...

Such a serious expression for such a little puppy!!

[xchrom]

21. that's an aussie -- and a really pretty one.

i spend too much time at the dog park.

but whether bernese or aussie -- both make great family dogs -- friendly, smart and just all around pleasant company.

an aussie might want to herd the cats -- so that could be interesting.

[Paper Roses]

22. Can there be any doubt?

Check out this site:

http://puppydogweb.com/gallery/bernesemountaindogs/bernesemountaindog_002.htm

4 pages of wonderful BMD's. Check page 3, bottom right.

[stevenleser]

26. I want to give that dog a big hug! nt

[JanMichael]

27. Don't get one: That's a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Yes, they are neat dogs, but yuppies, and 40,000 dollar a year millionaires in this country have adopted them as one of the new Neat-O, Gotta have it in the back of the (it's not really an SUV!) Subaru Outback....and therefore, they are overpriced, and now being bred into the same shit other big dogs in this country are privvy too: Hip displasia, etc.

Go to the pound and get a big mutt...just as pretty, initial cost nothing near a breeder... and you have a gorgeous, loving companion.

Win win. Skip getting attached to breeds....it's useless in stupid capitalism dream land.

[nolabear]

33. Oh, bite me. I had one for ten years and she was an absolute joy.

Look, I'm all in favor of adopting mutts. I've had a number of them over the years. But the fact is purebreds exist and will exist, and wise choices made from reputable, responsible breeders are hardly the road to hell. Mutts aren't always wonderful companions and to claim that there are no chances taken there is as irresponsible as making that claim about any dog.

I also take offense at the "yuppie" snark. It's bigotry, plain and simple. I never was one but I suppose now I'm an "Ouppie" and I'm damned proud of having made a success of my life, having the option of buying a Subaru (which I don't own) and doing my damnedest to do, and pay, my share.

Bernese Mountain Dogs, "Berners" to their friends, are big, warm-hearted dogs bred for cart pulling and herding, though that Border Collie herding instinct isn't so evident. They are ahiry as hell but tend to blow their coat once or twice a year rather than shedding it all at once. They have a sweet sheepishness about them and a tendency to love their families, sometimes to the extent that they mourn when separated.

My "Dyna" was a therapy dog, along with her Golden Retirever best buddy. We selected carefully so as to minimize the dysplacia issue and we were lucky.

Do what you will, support what you will, but get off the high horse. Oh, and horses...nothing but rescue mustangs, right?

[LibertyLover]

34. Well said Nolabear!

Excellent post.

[nolabear]

35. My last nerve is stretched a bit thin these days.

[JanMichael]

42. I could care less what your mood is; and owning one that was born over a decade ago

doesn't change the fact that every website on that breed mentions health problems that are "beginning to be seen." Popularity in the US has historically ruined many good breeds, and put dogs out there that have hip dysplasia, cancer, eye problems, arthritis etc that are known to be passed down genetically. Yes, there ARE some good breeders....and they are few and far between.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/bernese.html

There's just one website that mentions the beginning of the over breeding problem.

I don't appreciate your bad mood personal attack, either frankly...and your advice based upon one past experience is misleading.

[Happyhippychick]

36. I have an Aussie and that looks just like her. Bernese's have same color coats.

Both breeds are NOT for someone who isn't sure of getting a dog. Bernese are huge, Aussies are very, very high energy.

[blueknight]

37. my son

has a bernese and a greater swiss mountain dog, referred to as a " swissy" . this pup looks as though he could be a mix of either

[deucemagnet]

38. I've seen one of those full-grown.

It was roughly the size of a small bear.

[TheCruces]

40. Looks like a Bernese Mountain Dog to me

Personally, I don't see any Aussie or Border Collie...at all.

And if you can't handle a Lab, Golden or Border Collie (which is more dog than a Golden and Lab combined), then you can't handle a Bernese Mountain Dog.