Russell is... Something, That's For Sure.

edited April 2011 in Other Breeds
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

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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

  • hahaha, that's great.

    Yeah, I was expecting it to be something like that.
  • definitely has some APBT in him, but other than that it could be a few things, maybe BC or lab? looks good though, I'm a fan
  • Hmm...the white around the nose and point heading up between the eyes reminds me of our friend's Greater Swiss Mountain Dog...but they are generally much heavier built.
  • Whatever he is, he's cute :) I love dogs that look like that.
  • Russell is adorable, and could be one or all of those things other people have said! What a lucky find for you, and likewise for Russell --- looks like he is the proverbial "lucky dog"! (And he sits nicely for pictures, unlike my busy dog!) Thanks for sharing, and wish I were better at spying the telltale signs of certain breeds. There are lots of people on this forum, though, that will have ideas that are likely close to the mark,
  • Hehehe, thanks guys!
    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)
  • edited April 2011
    So many people get hung up on what the mix is and read SO much into it. Breed of course is a variable when learning abut a dog, but push comes to shove they are dogs. If an ACO encountered Russell they would probably list him as a pit mix. That said I saw a pomeranian listed as a Shar Pei once too. If you were listing him on your home owners insurance I would classify him as a hound spaniel mix. On mine, Ruby is a Viszla/Boston Terrier, Hilo is a Lab/Husky mix....
    Rose by any other name....
  • Wow. I sure am glad the laws about "dangerous" dogs are reasonable where I live. I read the whole dog bylaw over and there's not a word about breed at all. Your dog is considered dangerous if it's attacked a person or another dog, and then you go through a hearing with city council to determine if your dog is considered dangerous (or if they have to be pts, if it's a really bad attack). You can requesta re-trial, too. Then, if they're considered dangerous, you need a special dangerous dog license and there are more rules and so on.
  • @JessicaRabbit Yeah, I'm going to have to mention that I got another dog at some point... and I didn't know what to list him as. I've just been writing "mix" on practically everything since I've gotten him. (Is it sad I can see viszla/BT cross working for Ruby?) Thanks for the insight!
  • my vet picked the mix. She is viszla color and only 35lbs so a Boston Terrier papa actually would make sense. What I think would be funny is if I one day found out that that was what she actually is! I mean who knows? She is from the pound, anything is possible.
  • Pitbull/Pointer looks accurate to me. Looks a lot like our Darcy, who is a cocker spaniel/pit.
  • Please post pictures of a cocker/pit mix. That has got to be fascinating.
  • ^^ I would like to see that as well. :)
  • She looks like a brindle Mountain Cur. I'll take a photo, though.
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    Russell, dressed to impress.
  • I realized I haven't shared any pictures of my resident critter-killer, so I wanted to take some time and throw some up. Sorry for all the non-NK madness! Someday I'll be forcing Kishu pictures down your throats and you'll be sick of me. :)

    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.

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    dem eyes

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    With our border collie foster

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    impressive drool going on

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  • Ooh he is suh a happy boy!
  • I stopped by my brother's house to see Russell today.

    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 wondering what happened to russell, so i am glad he has an awesome home!
    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 ;)
  • @jellyfish - right? What's with that!?

    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.
  • I feel ya on the apartmdnt building issue. Toki, even at 3 months, had issues with all the noises. He eventually settled down but it took a really long time. Im happy for russell!! :)
  • Thanks for updating us on Russell, he is such a ball of energy! Sometimes, the hardest thing is the best thing!
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