Identify my dog's breed
February 18, 2012 9:32 PM   Subscribe

What breed/mix of breeds is my dog?

I took him in (as a stray) a few weeks ago. He's small (16lb), est. 1-2 years old, and everyone seems to have a different opinion about what breed(s) he is. Obligatory pictures: Besides being ridiculously cute, what is he?
posted by knave to Pets & Animals (34 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
What you've got there is an Excellent dog.
posted by spasm at 9:35 PM on February 18, 2012 [25 favorites]


He is definitely an (entirely cute) mixed breed, and probably many more than two breeds. That much said, I am going to go with spaniel (maybe Brittany or Cocker) plus several other breeds that would be difficult to guess.
posted by Glinn at 9:38 PM on February 18, 2012 [1 favorite]


Looks like a daschund and a spaniel to me. A little chihuahua maybe too.

Basically that is one damn cute dog.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:43 PM on February 18, 2012


Super cute dog. Something floofy and something small. If I were to limit myself to 2 breeds, I'd say spaniel of some sort + chihuahua.
posted by drlith at 9:47 PM on February 18, 2012


He looks a lot like a spaniel mix. The ears look like they might be jack russell, and the combination would give you about the right size dog, but that's just a wild guess. Definitely spaniel, though.

You should do one of those genetic tests if you've got $60 to spare.
posted by zug at 9:49 PM on February 18, 2012


I was thinking long-haired dachshund, cocker spaniel, jack russell, golden retriever. Pretty awesome.
posted by supercres at 9:54 PM on February 18, 2012


I believe the mixed breed is called ADORABLE. Or is it MRCUTIEFACE?

Also, found as a stray a FEW WEEKS AGO? He seems like such a great doggie! You were truly lucky to find this guy when you did.

*plans kidnapping*
posted by two lights above the sea at 10:03 PM on February 18, 2012 [4 favorites]


I think Cocker spaniel and maybe Lhasa apso?

But mostly I wanted to mention, don't waste your money on the DNA tests. They are not accurate or scientifically valid.
posted by ErikaB at 10:04 PM on February 18, 2012 [2 favorites]


Cavalier king charles spaniel + golden retriever?
posted by hellomina at 10:06 PM on February 18, 2012 [8 favorites]


Agree with hellomina- Cavelier king charles with a larger breed with longer snout
posted by biograd08 at 10:14 PM on February 18, 2012


maybe some beagle in there?
posted by biograd08 at 10:15 PM on February 18, 2012


Yeah, I see spaniel and his nose looks dachshund-y in the first picture.

And man, I am not usually a small-dog appreciator, but that is one adorable and beautiful dog you have there.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:22 PM on February 18, 2012




Too small for a Golden, too fine a coat for a Jack Russell, too short-backed for a Dachshund, too sharp a nose for a big Spaniel, doesn't have the pointed nose and dome head of a wawa...

The first thing I thought was Sheltie, and the next was Cavalier King Charles, which is a toy Spaniel breed, but your cutie resembles neither one of them as purebreds. However, see this little Cavalier-Sheltie cross.


I'm not much for toy dogs, but that little bugger is doggone CUTE!
posted by BlueHorse at 10:35 PM on February 18, 2012 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Also, found as a stray a FEW WEEKS AGO? He seems like such a great doggie! You were truly lucky to find this guy when you did.

Yep! He was wandering around a parking lot scavenging for food. Matted clumps of hair behind his ears, terrified of people and other dogs, no known obedience commands and not exactly house trained. He's making tons of progress with gentle guidance from me, and I definitely feel lucky to have found him. He's intelligent and eager to please (especially for treats). (He's also negative for all the usual tests at the vet, and up to date on his vaccines now.)

Behaviorally he does like to chase balls and retrieve them, so the gun dog breeds make sense.
posted by knave at 10:45 PM on February 18, 2012 [1 favorite]


My guess is mostly spaniel/retriever, with some chihuahua or similar to account for the size -- I don't see much terrier there. Cute little guy!
posted by trip and a half at 11:05 PM on February 18, 2012


WANT! He is too freaking cute!

He definitely looks like a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with Dachshund feet.

And he rides in your basket? I love him!
posted by Sal and Richard at 11:13 PM on February 18, 2012


BTW, what's this young fella's name?
posted by Sal and Richard at 11:15 PM on February 18, 2012


Response by poster: His name is Max. Thanks for the answers so far... it's starting to look like a consensus. :)
posted by knave at 11:18 PM on February 18, 2012


Matted hair says spaniel to me. We were forever cutting mats off ours.
posted by fshgrl at 1:00 AM on February 19, 2012


Golden Retriever + Beagle
posted by bolognius maximus at 6:29 AM on February 19, 2012


Has your vet scanned for a microchip, just to make sure he's not someone's lost dog?
posted by melissasaurus at 6:59 AM on February 19, 2012


Looks like a purebred North American Browndog.
posted by blazingunicorn at 7:53 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]


SO CUTE. I'm inclined to agree with the people who said spaniel and golden retriever. You could definitely come out with a dog that size even if one parent is much bigger.
posted by brilliantine at 8:35 AM on February 19, 2012


Could be some Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in there too!
posted by thinkpiece at 8:51 AM on February 19, 2012 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Has your vet scanned for a microchip, just to make sure he's not someone's lost dog?

Yes, no tags or microchip found. The SPCA also said no one is looking for him that they're aware of.
posted by knave at 11:02 AM on February 19, 2012


He looks like a mini golden retriever to me. I was thinking the same thing as bolognius, golden and beagle.
posted by Vaike at 11:12 AM on February 19, 2012


A good friend of mine has two dogs that look similar to your little guy. They are both rescues so their breed is unknown but we have a lot of fun guessing. One has webbing between her toes so for her they lean toward the toller that thinkpiece linked to. The other is a little smaller and just slightly stockier and could be a spaniel/beagle mix of some kind. In both cases they are extremely sweet, wonderful dogs. Sounds like you found a winner!
posted by tinamonster at 11:17 AM on February 19, 2012


His hair, length and growth patterns look very similar to my mums Cocker/King Charles Spaniel cross, though the ears are less curly, so definitely some spaniel in there, though he looks super smiley and with her jowls and all she always looks so woe begotten, between the smile and the face shape I would hazard a guess there is some golden retriever in there somewhere.

Super cute dog, you are both so lucky to have found each other.
posted by wwax at 11:32 AM on February 19, 2012


Just showed my husband your dogs picture and he called him a "Cocktail Spaniel" as he is a mixture.
posted by wwax at 11:43 AM on February 19, 2012 [3 favorites]


Super cute, that's what!

I thought longhaired dachshund/spaniel mix.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:59 PM on February 19, 2012


Another vote for half-cavalier king charles spaniel.
posted by Ziggy500 at 8:40 AM on February 20, 2012


I see Golden Retriever (coat type and color, tail, face to some extent) and Beagle (size, build, those ears!, white stripe down the nose). Whatever Max is, I think we can all agree he's very adorable :)
posted by geeky at 10:39 AM on February 20, 2012


I'll go with Heinz-57 mutt. Let me explain -- we just adopted a dog from the pound recently, and she looks remarkable similar to your dog, except she's white. We have a friend who has essentially the same dog as you do. We've both done the mixed-breed DNA tests and gotten back completely non-sensical results. In our case, our little 23lb white version of your dog came back as part German Shepherd (!), White Swiss Shepherd, Pekingese, Bichon Frise, Lancashire Heeler, and Keeshond. In other words, they might as well have said "we have no idea!"

We solicited guesses from 3 vets, and a bunch of friends/relatives, and their guesses for our dog were: "some sort of spaniel" "corgi" "american eskimo (white)"

I'll throw in Papillon for yours, because... why not? :)

Cute little dude, whatever he is!
posted by theplatypus at 9:28 AM on February 22, 2012 [1 favorite]


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