Guess Tessa's Mix-Awaiting DNA test results

[LizB]

Okay, I may switch my idea: how about Newfoundland Dog and Gordon Setter? I know, the odds are slim, but I so see Newf in her (my friend's Newf had the same coat feathering on his back, and it was thick and fluffy in areas.) Plus her love of water screams Newf/Lab (but I don't see Lab in her.)

This was exactly what I was going to say - this really seems like Newfie behavior, and many Newfs resemble TMs depending on how fluffy they are. The shiny, cowlicky coat, however, is more like a setter for sure. She's awesome no matter what she is!

 

[dsmith91163]

This is my mix breed dog who loves loves water cant get him out of water...just a test to see what you guys think he is... cuz I know what his dad 100% pure breed .. not sure of the mom but did see her want to see what you guys can guess what he is and one little hit he is not part lab for sure...he is full grown 80lbs 22 inch tall

 

[Smokeycat]

Setter could also be the reason for liking water. Just like labs, setters were bred as gun dogs. From what research I've done into the Irish Setter it is bred into them to love water. I know I can't keep Jiggers out of it be it a lake, river or puddle.

 

[STEVSH]

The picture of the back of your dog with the curly black hair looks exactly like my friend's Bernese Mtn Dog's back. Just throwing that out there Not that I think he is a berner, but it just immediately reminded me of Milo.

 

[raechiemay]

I want to say Duchess began barking with her big girl bark like around 5-6 months. It really got deep once she got closer to 12 months. Not a TM, but her being a mastiff might help you out with gauging when her big girl bark might start coming out.

 

[kbuchanan66]

Barron at 14 months still puppy barks when playing/excited once in a while. But in Guard mode its all Big Boy Barking.

 

[cayeesmom]

The pic of her coat looks just like my Newfie's did at that age, he went from a fluff ball to "shortish" to his adult coat. Don't know about TM but the Newfies coat is "water proof", he could jump in the lake, come out soaking wet but if you checked close to the skin it was dry.

 

[Penelope's Mom]

Newfie, TM, Lab.

My guess...not that it's worth much.

 

[Catia]

LOL back to the drawing board--part Newfie!!!!
Newfie mix was the original guess. For 3 weeks, I got completely snubbed by every single newf breeder I tried to contact, & a few newfie owners too.
Apparently they're not fond of 'mongrels'.
LOL-it's like they think it's contagious or that the rescue pooch is promoting mixed breed sex parties that will forever alter the breed...
>>>From what I have read--Newfs are the WORST at not getting up--and this is Tessa's biggest 'behavioral' problem.

Now on the newf aspect, newfs aren't pointed, or atleast don't outwardly express it-maybe they can be pointed genetically, but it's concealed???-I'll have to read some more.

Tessa needs 2 copies of the pointed gene, 1 from each parent, in order to express the points she has. So if she is part newf, it couldn't be more than say 1/4, unless both parents were 1/2 bred newfs carrying a pointed gene.

That being said, doesn't mean a whole lot--I saw a black & tan pure bred dane online today, so recessive weirdness can totally happen.

 

[LizB]

Weirdness and danes just go together, lol.....

I see what you mean about the points, and I don't think Newfies have that, but maybe it is in there somewhere from way back and only expresses when they are crossed out.

That is one thing I love about this site - mixed breeds are welcomed, and I'm not used to that. I've been on BM forums and Dane forums and it is pretty clear that it needs to be pure for you to be welcomed, though anyone with a BM mix ought to get support from BM owners, since the dog is likely to exhibit those behaviors and issues.

 

[ruthcatrin]

To be fair a number of TM folks were pretty upset at the idea of a TM mix when I asked if anyone had any experience with one (to find out about temperment to compare to Tessa). On the one hand I agree with them that the % of chance of a parent being a TM are REALLY small, and that her LOOKS could be the result of an number of crosses. But none of them could come up with an explanation for her temperment and a couple got a bit pissy about it. I rolled my eyes and left them to argue lol.

I don't really care if a dog's a mix or not. Its fun guessing breeds if the owner wants to, and if I can help with questions or problems I will. My only care is if the pup came from a BYB or what, as that can mean things health wise (never mind my BYB issues), and in the case of a rescue then its a moot point anyway!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Speaking of the weird things you can get when you start crossing breeds....did you know its not unusual for a Golden cross to produce brindle? Depending on the other parent the result can look like a brindle golden, kinda cool!

 

[Smokeycat]

That is one thing I love about this site - mixed breeds are welcomed[/B], and I'm not used to that. I've been on BM forums and Dane forums and it is pretty clear that it needs to be pure for you to be welcomed, though anyone with a BM mix ought to get support from BM owners, since the dog is likely to exhibit those behaviors and issues.

I still haven't found a group that will accept Jiggers. The Irish Setter people are way worse than the Golden Retriever people.

 

[Catia]

I do certainly appreciate the fact that Tessa's not snubbed here
It's nice to have a place to ask questions & share experiences.

It's important to me to figure out her behaviors & how to work with them, mutt or not, so she can be a happpy & healthy girl, & a large part of that is through communicating with other owners who have similar dogs. They can't all be pure breds...
the world is not a cookies cutter place, & a mutt has no less love in their heart than a pure bred poochie.

Now if Tessa comes back some shepherd mix or common mix, I'm gonna be totally stumped on her oddball behavior.

She is getting more responsive with some things, & is engaging me more, which is nice, she is sweet, but I don't think she's ever gonna be a snuggler, though I think that's more because she seems to run hot, even when it's cool, she's looking for a cooler place!

 

[MissJ]

I have been loving following this thread and can't wait to see what Tessa is! Beautiful dog by the way and I know you are only trying to get a better understanding of her.
I'm guessing from the last pictures there's some doberman in there. They can be big dogs, our last one Floyd was very big weighing in at 140 pounds and slim. They are highly intelligent, always on the alert and very aware of your movements and their surroundings.
The extra size and water loving elements and independent nature could well be TB and or Newfy, sorry I couldn't help but join in.

 

[Penny1960]

So now I feel like I can't stop checking this signed . I really want to know? How soon tell you find out? Crazy I know lol can't help it.

 

[cayeesmom]

Catia, don't remember everything from when my Newf was a pup, but remember he would not play/chew anything but empty plastic bottles. would not touch anything els, not even a fresh bone, raw hide, kong toy, nothing, not even our shoes, thought that was weird but was happy! He would follow me from room to room but was never as "clingy/snuggler" as Luke is. Never tried to get in my bed or on the couch to hot for him, preferred the floor. The only thing that would get him going was any kind of water and food.
Trying to figure out a mixed puppys breed through traits is hard I think, they all have their own personality, [even pure breeds do not follow the "standard traits" many times. There are newfies who don't like water!] and they go through so many stages until they are mentally mature. My Newf was a result of mistake inbreeding [mother and son], all females in the litter had deformity's that could not be fixed with surgery and where put down. I had to keep in mind that Arki could be mentally unstable due to that, Luke is a possible Fila mix! I did not and are not doing any different raising either dog then I would raising a pure Golden, except paying more attention to body language, with Luke I will adjust if I see any signs of temperamet, until then he is raised and trained as any pup. JMO
Can not wait until Tessas result comes in!

 

[allsierra123]

Not much you can adjust with a fila temperament. Other than keep them away from people. But that very reason is good to know what type of mix you have. If you end up with a fila mix that is on the hard tempered spectrum. No amount of correction is going to make that go away. They will constantly bite when given the chance. I have a mix and she is very hard. Has bitten someone and continues to try and do so. Lol I would imagine that the Tm is the same way to a certain extent. But a newf is the polar opposite. Always good to know what your dealing with.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

 

[Catia]

allsierra--exactly! There are times when you can raise dogs the same & times where you must know because it can put other people & animals at risk. Some breeds are hard wired for certain things & no amount of training or socialization will fix or change it. None. Some things can be effectively managed--****Only if***you are aware of what you are dealing with.

So while guessing Tessa's mix is fun, there's a very real reality & concern about it.

When I thought Tessa was part newf & was trying to get info from the newfie people, I had not a care in the world. I let her run loose with the kids at the park, & I worried about other people's dogs bullying her & my outlook was completely different, I saw days of playing loose leash in parks & frolicking about on beaches & just lazing the days away like a newf does & didn't worry about having a service come in to do her lunchtime walks while I am at work.

Did some reading on TM's & boy did that change my perspective.
Knew nothing about TMs, heard of them but thought they were like EM's.
Now that I've read a bunch, the reality is different.
I still take her out, just as much, actually more, but I feel differently & feel I really need to pay a different type of attention for signs of aggression & dominance.
I'm socializing her more because I am obligated.
I am trying now to prevent &/ or manage future issues. It is not as much fun, because I feel like my time might be limited.

Day dreams of off leash in parks chasing butterflies & frolicking about on beaches with other pooches & kids & people isn't part of the long term equation if she's TM. I'm trying to enjoy that time now while I can, because if she is part TM, she's gonna do what TM's do--guard.
TM's they're just not good off leash dogs, they are guardians & that's what they do, down to the core of their being, it's there. It's not an 'if" it's a *when*. I worry about when the time might come if she won't let her walker into the house, & how to deal with house guests, friends or EMS.

So while an all black newf looks so similar to an all black TM, their temperament & instinctual behaviors are worlds apart when it comes to guarding, & I have a responsibility to the people around me to know how I should handle my pooch.

I could have one of each & train them exactly the same, but the instinctual reactions will be different, because they were selectively bred to do different things.

 

[cayeesmom]

Not much you can adjust with a fila temperament. Other than keep them away from people. But that very reason is good to know what type of mix you have. If you end up with a fila mix that is on the hard tempered spectrum. No amount of correction is going to make that go away. They will constantly bite when given the chance. I have a mix and she is very hard. Has bitten someone and continues to try and do so. Lol I would imagine that the Tm is the same way to a certain extent. But a newf is the polar opposite. Always good to know what your dealing with.

Oh yes I agree with you! Of course if you can find out what your dog is mixed with it is the best. Luke is 1/2 EM and most likely 1/2 Fila but so far at 7 month he still is a social butterfly who loves everyone he meets, human or canine, out in public, at work or at home. And if he should start to show any Fila tempramente I can of course not adjust that, but I can adjust by taking precautions. But until he shows any signs why should I treat him like a dog "with a temp" and maybe send him signals that there is something to "worry about"/protect, he is 1/2 EM and maybe he will never have a Fila temp. Trust me I freaked out when I got him and found out about his mix, wanted to rehome him. But decided to keep him and stop analyzing/stress over everything he did. Still very aware of what can show as he gets older but until then....
And my Newf almost took the arm off one of the vet teach at work ,so...