Help us identify our dog.
July 26, 2008 8:54 PM Subscribe
What kind of breed is our dog? We are confident that he is of Japanese origin based on his face and coloration, and we want to be the best parents we can be.
Elway is about 50 lbs, quiet as a church-mouse and looks very much like a Shiba Inu, but larger and without the upturned tail. Shibas are generally no more than 40 lbs at the very largest. Elway, contrary to the common temperament of Shibas, is quite friendly (even excitable) around humans and other dogs. He is high-energy, a bit destructive and loves to dig. We have heard that Shibas are supposed to be good guard dogs, but ours would likely annoy an intruder to death with neediness rather than scare him.
The wife thinks that he is part German Shepard due to the coloration on his back, but I'm not so sure. The doggie DNA tests are out of our price range and we would rather not invest in a book merely to identify him (if possible). Help?
Elway is about 50 lbs, quiet as a church-mouse and looks very much like a Shiba Inu, but larger and without the upturned tail. Shibas are generally no more than 40 lbs at the very largest. Elway, contrary to the common temperament of Shibas, is quite friendly (even excitable) around humans and other dogs. He is high-energy, a bit destructive and loves to dig. We have heard that Shibas are supposed to be good guard dogs, but ours would likely annoy an intruder to death with neediness rather than scare him.
The wife thinks that he is part German Shepard due to the coloration on his back, but I'm not so sure. The doggie DNA tests are out of our price range and we would rather not invest in a book merely to identify him (if possible). Help?
Response by poster: He definitely looked like a German Shepard as a puppy, but he's kind of grown out of it, with the exception of his coloration. And I should probably add that he's been at 50 lbs for a couple of months now so we don't expect him to get any bigger.
posted by jeffrygardner at 9:35 PM on July 26, 2008
posted by jeffrygardner at 9:35 PM on July 26, 2008
I can definitely see Shiba Inu in there, but he also kind of looks like a shepherd or maybe even cattle dog? The face has a cattle dog/blue heeler look to it IMO. At any rate, your dog is as cute as a bug's ear. Great name, too.
posted by agathafrye at 9:40 PM on July 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by agathafrye at 9:40 PM on July 26, 2008 [1 favorite]
Tee first thing I thought of was a Basenji. Some of the pics are very similar to Elway and some are not. I made a post on MetaFilter a year or so about this breed. They like to howl/sing along with music.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:08 PM on July 26, 2008
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:08 PM on July 26, 2008
Best answer: hmmm...maybe he has some Jindo in him. Jindos are a Korean breed. I've heard some (mostly older Koreans) say that Japanese dogs like Shiba Inus and Akita are descendents of Jindos (per Japanese occupation of Korea). I've never researched enough to verify that claim, but Jindos and Shibas do have simliar features.
Jindo pictures
More Jindo pictures, with links to Jindo clubs
Jindo page
and of course, Jindo wiki
posted by yeoja at 11:15 PM on July 26, 2008 [2 favorites]
Jindo pictures
More Jindo pictures, with links to Jindo clubs
Jindo page
and of course, Jindo wiki
posted by yeoja at 11:15 PM on July 26, 2008 [2 favorites]
A google search for dog dna test brought up several companies that will analyze a cheek swab and give you an analysis.
posted by longsleeves at 1:45 AM on July 27, 2008
posted by longsleeves at 1:45 AM on July 27, 2008
I came in to say Jindo :)
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:51 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:51 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
and i came in to say really cute dog! sorry. i don't have any idea what breed he might be, but he isadorable!
posted by msconduct at 7:43 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by msconduct at 7:43 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Appearance-wise, he looks VERY Jindo, but I'm not sure where he gets his temperament from! Yeoja gets best answer if for the resources alone! Thanks, hivemind!
posted by jeffrygardner at 7:45 AM on July 27, 2008
posted by jeffrygardner at 7:45 AM on July 27, 2008
Best answer: From The Mutt Book, here are suggestions based on what I see in your dog:
Ears - high set, prick style - suggested breed: Australian Cattle Dog, Shiba Inu
Head shape - hmm, could be fox-like, blocky, or wedge-shaped. Fox-like breeds include shiba inu. Blocky breeds include Staffies, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rotties. (All of those have different ears though). Wedge-shaped include Aussie shepherd (again, different ears)
Body shape - This pic suggests deep chest, although it's hard to tell. Deep chested dogs include pointers, Dobes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Could also be massive/blocky, which is Staffies, bulldogs, bullmastiffs, shar-peis. (Or, based on my own experience, just a big bubba-dog.)
Coat - more bristly suggests shiba inu, more wiry suggests a terrier. Also a style the book calls "stand-off" suggests Norweigan Elkhound, Keeshond, Pomeranian or Shiba Inu. If it's really thick, think shepherd, retriever or husky.
Coat Pattern - I see a slight saddle pattern, which is terrier or German shepherd.
Tail - I see the sabre style of the German shepherd.
Paws - Hmm, not really enough evidence here either way. They kinda look like the "webbed" style of a retriever, or the "snowshoe" style of a malamute, elkhound or husky.
In summary, I think you've got a shiba inu mixed with a retriever or shepherd. Or maybe...a bronco? :-)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:32 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ears - high set, prick style - suggested breed: Australian Cattle Dog, Shiba Inu
Head shape - hmm, could be fox-like, blocky, or wedge-shaped. Fox-like breeds include shiba inu. Blocky breeds include Staffies, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rotties. (All of those have different ears though). Wedge-shaped include Aussie shepherd (again, different ears)
Body shape - This pic suggests deep chest, although it's hard to tell. Deep chested dogs include pointers, Dobes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Could also be massive/blocky, which is Staffies, bulldogs, bullmastiffs, shar-peis. (Or, based on my own experience, just a big bubba-dog.)
Coat - more bristly suggests shiba inu, more wiry suggests a terrier. Also a style the book calls "stand-off" suggests Norweigan Elkhound, Keeshond, Pomeranian or Shiba Inu. If it's really thick, think shepherd, retriever or husky.
Coat Pattern - I see a slight saddle pattern, which is terrier or German shepherd.
Tail - I see the sabre style of the German shepherd.
Paws - Hmm, not really enough evidence here either way. They kinda look like the "webbed" style of a retriever, or the "snowshoe" style of a malamute, elkhound or husky.
In summary, I think you've got a shiba inu mixed with a retriever or shepherd. Or maybe...a bronco? :-)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:32 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
I was about to say Jindo too but I see that I am way late.
posted by cazoo at 9:39 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by cazoo at 9:39 AM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
Hmm, he looks to me like a german shepherd/ yellow lab mix. Not very exotic, I'm afraid, but adorable nonetheless!
posted by platinum at 1:19 PM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by platinum at 1:19 PM on July 27, 2008 [1 favorite]
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