Russell is... Something, That's For Sure.
A lot of people like to tell me WHAT Russell is. Tennessee labeled him a Pitbull-Pointer cross and the Massachusetts rescue said he was Border Collie-Labrador (he, he). since then he's been called a Great Dane, an English Springer Spaniel, a Boxer, a Doberman, a Rottie cross, a Greyhound, a Whippet cross, a Boston Terrier, an Australian Shepherd.. the list goes on.
What I DO know about Russell is that he's very reactive. I've had him for a year, he eats like a pig, and he never seems to pack on the pounds. He points, he stalks, he's fast as hell, and he's a menace to small animals. He's taken out a rabbit (poor bun), he thinks treeing anything is AWESOME, and he's tried to take on Turkey twice. The first time one-on-one and the second time he was pretty sure he could take on the whole flock. He's certainly not short on courage when it comes to the natural world, it's just people that scare the crap out of him.
his puppy picture
There's a part of me that would like to know what breeds he has in him... but what do you guys think? I don't really think it'll matter what he "is". It's not going to change his personality or how I feel about him. How accurate ARE those DNA tests anyway?
What I DO know about Russell is that he's very reactive. I've had him for a year, he eats like a pig, and he never seems to pack on the pounds. He points, he stalks, he's fast as hell, and he's a menace to small animals. He's taken out a rabbit (poor bun), he thinks treeing anything is AWESOME, and he's tried to take on Turkey twice. The first time one-on-one and the second time he was pretty sure he could take on the whole flock. He's certainly not short on courage when it comes to the natural world, it's just people that scare the crap out of him.
his puppy picture
There's a part of me that would like to know what breeds he has in him... but what do you guys think? I don't really think it'll matter what he "is". It's not going to change his personality or how I feel about him. How accurate ARE those DNA tests anyway?
Comments
Yeah, I was expecting it to be something like that.
He has a lot of really "generic dog" traits, so that's probably why everything thinks he's something different - yet he's certainly distinctive all on his own (I'm not sure who would crop a mongrel's tail though...). I really don't mind what he is, though. Thanks all for taking a stab at it though!
@baanton (both my boys love the camera and they stop what they're doing to stare at me while I have it out)
Rose by any other name....
Russell, dressed to impress.
I feel I often take Russell for granted. He's absolutely my "easy" dog as far as personality goes. He's bomb-proof with other dogs and overall a wonderful, dedicated companion. He's just so much quieter than London and some much less of a hassle than London or my fosters. He's an all-around social, amazing dog.
I look back sometimes and realize that I was NEVER interested in him as a foster dog. I thought he was ugly and I hated his personality and I just generally thought he was an unpleasant dog to be around (he mounted, he peed on everything, he peed on himself, he'd scream if another dog looked remotely upset). I adopted Russell during a time I was PRETTY SURE my next dog was going to be an Akita... and I'm so glad our relationship changed and I ended up with him.
dem eyes
With our border collie foster
impressive drool going on
I don't think I updated everyone (I try not to bore you with my life story), but Russell stayed with my brother when I moved out of my grandmother's house. We (my boyfriend and I) had been taking care of her, but over the years, my mother and my brother ended up moving in, so we decided it was time to go.
Because of Russell's health issues and difficulties with coping with stress... not to mention my brother's love for him, we allowed my brother to keep Russell to see how he'd do away from us.
He, of course, loves my brother and they're pretty much attached at the hip. He's an amazing fried for Miles (bro) and they're pretty much made for each other. They're both extremely outdoorsy (even moreso than myself) and he takes Russell with him every time he goes camping or hiking or just on a day trip to Vermont (he used to live up there and kept in touch with his good friends).
Anyway, back to the beginning of my story... Miles not only has Russell, but he's learned how to clone him, too (I will use this joke until it is dead in a gutter, I swear it).
I know it's not NK, but it was a pair of cute hunting dogs doing cute things, so I figured I'd share.
I was reading your above posts....apparently you were gonna get a Kishu and at one point, and Akita. Looks like you ended up with neither
Before I got Russell, I was absolutely certain my next dog would be an American Akita! I got London because of a Malamute I had when I was a kid... and one of my other favorites as a kid was our Akita! I was looking into Akita rescues and breeders in my area at the time I adopted Russell.
It'll probably be a long way off at this point before I have an Akita... but I'm still waiting on that Kishu! Some day... some day. If I don't get one from Gen, I'll want to import one.
I miss Russell all the time, even though he's only seven miles away... but I know he's happier with my brother than he could be in the third floor of an active apartment building, freaking out over the doors closing or dogs barking downstairs.