Guess Tessa's Mix-Awaiting DNA test results

[Catia]

northernmastiff--I've seen that pic of Ruffa the newfie mix-Isn't she beautiful? I actually tried to get in contact with the owner out of curiosity.

-Personally, now, since I've been here & leaned some stuff from TM owners, I doubt that pooch is newf--looks all TM to me.
Colors & markings on face are wrong for Newf, & spot on for TM.

Though an all black TM is almost identical looking to a Newf on 1st glance.

I tried to get more info on that pooch, I believe that pooch owner is not in the USA, possibly New Zealand & may've moved to another country, I think it was somewhere in Asia if I recall.
Also, I think the pooch was also a rescue from what I've read & newfie mix was their best guess.
I never received a response, & I couldn't find anything new as far as contact info.
I'd love to know what this pooch looks like now, how big, & what types of behaviors she has-cuz she's a gorgeous specimen!!!

Also want to note--for the record: Tessa has no herding behaviors what so ever--NONE-

 

[northernmastiff]

What would the herding behavior be from? I don't know a lot about TM's but I was pretty sure that they don't have it. Newfs do not either. They are not a herding breed. I have found some breed crosses that don't make sense when you look at them. My Staffie/Lab cross actually looked like a Pointer. We know he wasn't as we saw both parents. I am interested in seeing what your pup has in the dna though. I bet it will be something we haven't even suggested. LOL.

 

[allsierra123]

I see sharpei.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

 

[Catia]

Well, I've been playing with it in my mind for almost 3 months-I keep googling pics of mixes i think she could be

I've even gone the hound route-Because aside from mastiffs well what other pooches have the floppy jowls? They're bigger than a rottie who has some jowl, but less than a bloodhound.

I've thought black & tan coon hound/retriever mix, blood hound mix---they've got jowls & heavy bones, & crappy recall & are stubborn too lol.
but then what about all the fluff she had.

Though Tessa's recall is better outside than inside...Most times--so far, I've had no issues with her recall outside, though I do not push it yet.

**By far the most DIFFICULT comand to teach Tessa is "Get Up!"***--it's a total FAIL unless I have a treat, but is ever so slightly improving.
Tessa loves to lounge. And she has a horrible habit of keeping herself at the ground & doing belly up if she doesn't want to do something, like go outside for a pee break, or just to move her to another room in general.

The fact that Tessa has no herding type of behaviors is noted because shepherds & rotties herd. Not saying she isn't part of a herding breed, just that her behavior doesn't in any way reflect shepherds/rotties that I've known & experienced, & she's not in that league as a people pleaser either, she just doesn't respond that way.

 

[Catia]

I could totally see Gordon Setter (pics below) but ears are wrong-but Tessa's coat *is getting longer & wavy* the tail is lookig the same too--look at the pic of the damp gordon setter...and Tessa's wet pic--haven't read up on their temperament/behavior.

Also, there is a pure bred black & tan retriever, most are gun dogs or service dogs-that pup pic below looks just like her pup pic on the beach...

 

[Lukasdad]

I would say rottie Gordon setter def a cuttie as long as she had her forever home now... I have drive myself slightly mad not knowing the exact breed of mastiff on my pups mothers side and all his siblings were different ... If the test you got done show conclusivly the breeds I might try that just for my own curiosity whatever we both have lovely dogs

 

[Catia]

Here is a link to the list of breeds for the Wisdom Panels (Mars Vet).
Breeds Detected | Wisdom Panel


Here is a link to pics dogs test results-you can look by breed/date/location etc--I keep looking for one similar to Tessa LOL Have not found one.
Photo Gallery - Photo Uploader | Wisdom Panel


I just got *confirmation* from USPS that my test kit was delivered today to Lincoln, Nebraska--no confirmation from Mars yet-but finally, it's there.
Priority mail is pointless if it takes a full week IMHO, but hey, shipping was included in the price of the kit.

 

[kbuchanan66]

If not TM Rott my only other guess would be Rott crossed with maybe Pyrenees or kuvacze(sp) even though she does not have that type of coat and is not white.

 

[ruthcatrin]

The problem with Setter again, is where did that bone structure come from? There'd have to be something else in the mix.

 

[DDBsR4Me]

I'm thinking Pyr/Rott or Pyr/Setter with maybe some Rott mix

 

[cayeesmom]

I will say a Newfie mix also due to her size, here are some pics of my boy as a "pup" middle pic is Arki [on the left] and his brother that I fostered for a while, he was under weight due to not being feed. Arki was very calm as a pup compare to Luke!

 

[Catia]

The Gordon Setters do have heavier bones-they are the largest/thickest of the setters--not like a newf or TM but they do get to the 80-100lb range.

Tessa's coat & tail fur is getting longer & getting waves & has an incredible sheen to it. But as far as color--the gordon setters have dark tan to mahogany mask--Tessa has that silvery/fawn/rust thing going on with her mask, & lol, I only see that with the TM's & only some TMs.

***Whatever type of pooches she's comprised of--she's got good nerves & has *low reactivity* & is the most patient pooch I have ever experienced, she is also low energy, but she's getting more stamina & more energy as the weeks go by***

Last night she was exposed to fireworks for the 1st time, & also was in a large crowd (not on purpose-didn't know they were scheduled after a Pirate game)--
Aside from being *slightly* more alert to her surroundings, mainly the perimeter that surrouded me, she maintained her composure, wasn't spooked, was being approached & receptive of the people & was just her normal even Tessa self.

Tessa's temperament has been professionally assessed, by 2 different trainers, she's low reactive through & through--

for several weeks I thought something was wrong with her, because she didn't react to things like most puppies do--
It's really hard to get her wound up. The cat can do it, and a few kids have managed on a few occaisions--

But Tessa--even all wound-up is more like what most of you experience as normal puppy behavior *without* your pooch being wound up!
She will settle pretty much immediately, so has super fast recovery.

So when considering some mixes, some things just don't fit, at least 1 of the mixes needs to be a low reactive/low energy breed, because that's what she is to the core of her being. She's kind of 'unshakable', & she's very 'stoic'.

At 5 1/2 months, I'm still trying to find her thresholds. It has taken a professional assessing her to show me a couple of Tessa's reactions--it's so very subtle-a few short breaths, & then she recovers, & it's so easily missed.

I have only seen her spooked twice--once on a walk when she was about 13 wks, we were on the trails alone & a huge black lab came barreling towards us off leash-out of nowhere & she let out a yelp/shreik before he got close enough to sniff, stopped him in his tracks. She was able to recover immediately.
Second time, lol, was a human that spooked her, 2 weeks ago.
We were walking past a house, a mother just lost it on her kid, in the same instant we were walking by.
She started screaming "Stop It!!! Stop It!!! That's It!! I've Had enough of you!!!" in a voice that stopped EVERY KID (and me) in hearing distance.
It was that pissed off mom voice that you thank god wasn't directed at you.
Tessa, of course stopped in her tracks, & looked totally confused for a sec, then realized it wasn't directed at her.
We skulked away unscathed, & the neighborhood kids got out of there too (albeit looking pretty guilty).

 

[cayeesmom]

I'm getting really curious to what the wisdom panel will come up with.

 

[alwcm4]

I don't know what she is, but she's adorable. I'm curious to see what her body type ends up like once she's full grown.

 

[taraann81]

She is adorable! I dont think she will nessisarily be huge though, she looks like ahe has alot of bone but some rotties are quite thick. My brother has a lab, his breeders females average 18-23 lbs at 12 weeks...and labs are in my opinion very average sized dogs. That isnt taking into account her personality, just size....regardless of what she ends up being....she is gorgeous, and sounds like you lucked out with a steady temperment!

 

[m0rg4n]

I was thinking newfie/rot. Bute in the wet pcis I see lab in her eyes. I'm curious to see what the results say!

Labradors were bred out of the same stock as Newfoundlands, (used to be called Lesser Newfoundlands) so there's frequently a resemblance.

 

[Boris the Blade]

northernmastiff--I've seen that pic of Ruffa the newfie mix-Isn't she beautiful? I actually tried to get in contact with the owner out of curiosity.

-Personally, now, since I've been here & leaned some stuff from TM owners, I doubt that pooch is newf--looks all TM to me.
Colors & markings on face are wrong for Newf, & spot on for TM.

Though an all black TM is almost identical looking to a Newf on 1st glance.

I tried to get more info on that pooch, I believe that pooch owner is not in the USA, possibly New Zealand & may've moved to another country, I think it was somewhere in Asia if I recall.
Also, I think the pooch was also a rescue from what I've read & newfie mix was their best guess.
I never received a response, & I couldn't find anything new as far as contact info.
I'd love to know what this pooch looks like now, how big, & what types of behaviors she has-cuz she's a gorgeous specimen!!!

I wouldn't put so much stock in color...I'm sure all breeds have recessive genes especially in mixes.
Her temperment seems similar to any lrg guardian breed, and it could just be she's an odd ball! I've had a boxer that was the most calmest, laid back dog including puppy months and he was a purebred boxer! It was just him, he was just different. Yes there are temperment standards but doesn't mean every single dog of that breed will have some or all of the same traits. There are the odd ones in all breeds and with her being a mix then its a higher chance of her just being different!
Are TMs rare in your area?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Yes and no on color. Black and tan is ressecive yes, but its highly unlikely that she comes from a parent of a breed that NEVER produces b&t. Like EMs occasionally produce fluffs, recessive genes crop up eventually. They may not be discussed often, and the pups are often gotten rid of, but they do appear.

The pup was surrendered to a shelter in VA, there are at least two TM breeders in the state, plus an unknown number of privately owned dogs. Also the county in question is fairly rural and contains at least two farms who use LGDs, including Pyrs and Kangals.

 

[Boris the Blade]

Oh of course! I was talking more about the paricular shade of B&T the OP says Tessa is. For example look at silver labs, blue or fawn dobermans. Both colors not acceptable and recessive but still being bred because people want the $ they can get for advertising 'rare' colors.
It seems like the OP is really hoping that Tessa is a TM and I just want her to keep an open mind as she has had a hard time bonding. If Tessa isn't a TM X will it affect her relationship with the pup?
I know she says that either way doesn't matter but with the past posts I just hope she doesn't have a hard time again.
Sorry I don't mean to be negative or anything! I hope no one takes me the wrong way because I am in no way saying OP is this way but I have seen sooo many people in real life completely change their attitude towards their dogs after realizing they didn't have the breed they were told.

 

[LizB]

I know what you mean, Boris. We have a Great Dane that is somewhat smaller than the average dane (28", 130#) that we have always wondered about. We got him from a great dane rescue group and the vet thought he was just poorly bred, but pure. He is solid black, but in very strong sunlight you can almost see a hint of brown shimmering in his coat.

I was SURE it would come back Doberman or pit mixed in with the dane, since his head is a bit "pointier" than a true dane, and would have wagered money on it. It came back with only two breeds: Dane was predominant and the only other breed was Rottweiler. We were shocked, and it didn't really affect how we felt about our dog, since we'd had him for 5 years before we tested, but it really changed our perception of him. This genetic testing of dogs is so interesting, and I'm sure I'll do it again for any dog I rescue or adopt if there is any question.

I'm on pins and needles about Tessa!

I'm in VA and I had no idea there were TM breeders here, but I know the Pyrs are very popular, and are also extremely aloof, even as pups. My neighbor has a Pyr/Akbash cross that was like that from the moment they brought her home at 8 weeks. They thought something was wrong with her that she was so calm and uninterested in playing and romping as a pup but I think it was her breed mix.