Ringo, the Foster Dog
So... a new foster came to me today. He was originally going to be fostered through the place I work, but I think I'm going to bring him home to foster him since he's a pretty sensitive boy and I think the daycamp environment day in and day out might be too much for him.
He is obviously not an Akita, but he does have fuzzy cheeks and a curly tail.
I'll post more pictures once I get a chance to get him outside. My phone is poop indoors.
He is obviously not an Akita, but he does have fuzzy cheeks and a curly tail.
I'll post more pictures once I get a chance to get him outside. My phone is poop indoors.
Comments
His most distinctive feature to me has been his walk - he walks with his head low and his tail curled and resting on top of his back. He's very light on his feet. Ringo also has rear dew claws, which I feel I see most often in herding or guardian breeds. He's about 85 pounds, energetic and very wary of strangers, but not much of a barker. His favorite play move, so far, has been neck-holds and this "pounce" that takes him entirely into the air.
I'm only worried about portraying his breed as accurately as possible to potential adopters because he is a pretty high energy dog (he's tired both London AND Russell out at this point) and his wariness of strangers in addition to his mouthiness. I want to set him up for success from square one (his online profile, in most cases). I feel he has a similar look to some of these smaller/lighter Anatolians I've been seeing. I suppose I could see a Heeler or a Border Collie sort of dog mixed with Anatolian producing something like Ringo.
(long post is long)
I dunno. I'm not seeing Akita. There are so many other non-spitz breeds with a sickle tail, (right? like, i googled "dog breeds with sickle tail" and a hound breed popped up.) (and really, sickle tail is a default in the akita. it should be cute and curly!
After doing a little poking around, I think Border Collie (pos. mix) x Anatolian Shepherd might be appropriate for his label if he has to be given one. Ticked/mottled border collies from working lines seem to have a similar look as he does and Anatolian Shepherds are sometimes wary or suspicious of strangers, are fairly big (he's 85 pounds at a little over a year) and have the brindle gene.
mottled/ticked, purebred border collies
This is a female Kangal, but his body shape, tail set and head shape are very similar to this dog. His tail doesn't curl as tightly as this, but rests on his back in a very similar way and still curls around in a wheel shape.
I really appreciate everyone's insight and opinions - what do you think?
Border Collie (short coat with ticking). White Shepherd (fur/size) ? Hound (Markings, ears, and head shape)
Looks more like a herding/hound/cur mix to me, possibly heeler or Aussie, with a Catahoula or similar type of large cur, or a hound of some sort.
Then again, I'm not very good at making breed mix guesses.
He's kind of blockheaded and stubborn, but simultaneously soft and velcro. It's the strangest combination of character. And boy--his bark. His bark could scare a person out of his skin. He's got this really LOUD, deep, aggressive bark. I've only heard it once when he was in the yard and he got into a quick scrap with another dog, but he told the other dog RIGHT off. The whole yard was quiet after that, it was crazy--especially since the only other noises I've heard out of him are whines like "uggghhh, I want to doooo somethinnnnggg".
I keep reminding myself I don't want or need another large breed dog. It's really, really hard sometimes.
Definitely not seeing Akita in there. He looks far too lithe. I could see a bit of Catahoula though...
And that is one prominent rear dewclaw!