Any guesses on what she is?

[CCH]

A new dog has made its way into our household. She is reportedly five months old and of a fairly lanky build, a bit of wave to her reddish hair and a ratlike tail (short hair that doesn't match the rest of her). The shelter said she is a spaniel mix. Someone else changed the card on her kennel to say Afghan and our vet thinks she's part shepherd. Just curious as to where you'd place your money. She's a cutie and gets along with our dog which is an important, nigh life saving quality.

http://cch.smugmug.com/photos/718455558_oeq6Q-M.jpg

[flamingo 7]

American Brown Dog, definately. Gene Hill wrote about em. Looks like a keeper.

[David in OR]

Handsome Dog.

[CCH]

So far, she's a good one. I was thinking of trying to make her into a half-azzed grouse hunting dog for a half-azzed grouse hunter. Our Shar-pei/Australian Shepherd mix just isn't into retrieving and we're talking about blue grouse. :D

[Sawtooth]

So, is Odie pissed? ;)

[CCH]

Actually, he's been great for the most part although they don't seem to be able to get in sync on when they want to play. Did just have a little incident but probably my fault as I was laying on the floor playing with Ody and Bella came by to join in. That didn't go well but no ears were ripped so all is good.

[RD]

If there's afghan in there, jack rabbits and cats me be the larder of the day! :-)

[CCH]

Yeah, when I read up on them, they were described as "cat-like" as in aloof and independent rather than liking cats. Considering my feelings towards cats (they only belong in barns), that was not a selling point. Not that she'd go after cats, but that she'd act like one. She doesn't seem to be aloof but she is pretty mellow and laid back, particularly for a puppy. She likes to fetch... once. The retrieve is a bit problematic. She's probably like all of our dogs since my GWP -- a family pet. I told my wife that the next dog -- probably at least ten years from now, is going to be that big dog that I've wanted since I was a kid. Put together, our two dogs still aren't very large.

Spaniel has good odds as part if she truly is the littermate of the other puppy we saw although they have very different looks. That one definitely showed it more. Perhaps different dads, same mom. That's not terribly unusual. The shelter these dogs come from takes them from other shelters around the country and have almost no history on the dogs. They think this one is from a puppy mill. With all the dogs out there needing homes, why on earth would you be breeding mutts?

[Scoutin' Wyo]

Rocky Mountain Grouse Hound.

My buddy has one just like her, except he is all black, has a stocky build, shorter snout, wider head, weighs 80 pounds, is wired for sound, has one ear cocked and one flops,,,, but other than that he is just like her. :D

[CCH]

Sounds like he could be her father. :D

[bigfoot]

Sure looks like there is some Shepherd in there, at least in the face. She looks like a great addition to the family!

[Ralph]

I see some shepherd, maybe a bit of collie and some afgan in that face. Nice dog, and if that lineage is near correct smart, too.

[moho]

From that photo, I too could see some Afghan, particularly if the tail is sparse and curled. Then perhaps some Shepherd or even Golden. Whatever, she is a cutie.

Years ago, a family friend had an Afghan that was a bit of a problem because he could outrun and catch deer. Great dogs if raised like real dogs and not always all that "aloof". Sometimes pretty silly and playful but with their own sense of self.

[CCH]

Tail is sparse with just a slight curl to it. Not up and over the back like our Shar Pei mix. Pretty much straight but curving back a bit about 2/3 of the way down. Not really worried one way or another, just curious. She's certainly not the first dog we've had of undetermined origins.

[AbnMedOps]

I bet if you Google around a bit you can find a laboratory willing to take your money for a DNA analysis of your pup..

[CCH]

I have so many places willing to take my money... Finding out what the pedigree of our new mutt is would find an extremely low ranking on the priority list. :D

[snakey2]

She is a grand example of an American Mixed-up Dog. You should be proud. They are rare and be sure to get her registered!!!! Sorry they don't do well at dog shows. Best perhaps, is they make wonderful companions. Enjoy her, as I am sure she will you.

[CCH]

As I am a fine example of a mixed up American, we will probably get along just fine. ;)

[stabbing cat]

I would say she is parts golden retriever and Afghan hound, but the great thing about dogs like that is they can have mixed up parents too, so it gets very hard to guess, especially when there are uncommon breeds involved.
She is pretty and unique! Dogs like that are so neat and special because you can never get another one like her. I love checking out the Humane Society website just to look at all the odd mixes.

[CCH]

Well, she has proven entertaining. My son had to cut out and put together a pyramid type thing from his math book the other night. Apparently Bella found it irresistible and I had to write his teacher a note informing her that the dog had indeed eaten his homework. I included what was left as evidence. She won't want the rest once it's available.

Not to be outdone, another child's cat did the same thing on that project and what was left was turned in, teethmarks and all.