Your Mutt's Family Tree
Stray and shelter dogs can be the most loyal and loving of companions, but sometimes their genealogy is a real head-scratcher. Knowing what breeds are present in your dog is useful not only from a health standpoint, but also to understand your friend's temperament, exercise needs, and most effective training methods. There are many ways to assess the genetic makeup of a mutt; below are some key identifiers, along with breed suggestions for various traits.
Size and Body Type
One of the easiest ways to narrow down a dog's breed is through size. Is your dog tiny enough to ride around in your purse? Too big to fit in your car? Narrowing down what size bracket your dog's parents were in can go a long way toward identifying them. Typically, though not always, female pups tend toward the size of the mother, while males tend toward the father. In general, a mixed breed dog will fall somewhere in between its parents' weights. If your dog weighs 100 lbs, there are only a few breeds big enough to give him such substance.
Of course, some dogs are right in the middle of the road. A fifty pound dog could be a mix of nearly anything. Luckily for you, there are plenty of other ways to analyze his breeding. Another method is through body shape. Is your dog lean and leggy, or short and chunky? An athletic dog of moderate
weight (40-100 lbs) points to a hunting, working, or herding mix. Common breeds by body type include:
Stocky Build:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Bloodhounds
- Rottweilers
- Australian Cattle Dogs
- American Pit Bull terriers
- Most Toy breeds
Lean Build:
- German Shorthaired Pointers
- Fox Hounds
- Doberman Pinschers
- Border Collies
- Whippets
- Greyhounds
Ears
Are your dogs ear pricked or floppy? If they stand erect, there's a good chance your dog contains some German Shepherd Dog, Husky, Australian Cattle Dog, or maybe even Chihuahua. Floppy ears are harder to peg down, unless they are long like a hound's. However, there are many different 'sets' to dog ears, and it is something to keep in mind as you examine possible genetic contributors to your mutt.
Fur
Another indication of your dog's ancestry is his fur. First, look at the length and type of coat your dog has. Does your dog's coat come in two layers- a soft, fluffy layer underneath longer, coarser hairs? This is called a double coat. If your dog has only one layer, he is single-coated. Some examples of single-coated and double-coated breeds:
Double-Coated:
- Most working breeds
- Most herding breeds
- Many sporting breeds
Single-Coated:
- Poodles
- American Pit Bull Terriers
- Boxers
- Many Terriers
Also consider the length and substance of the coat. Short and smooth, or long and wiry? Some combination of the two? A wire coat is unique and a sign of terrier blood. Soft-coated breeds can be a bit harder to pin down.
Long-Coated Breeds:
- Siberian Huskies and Malamutes
- Golden Retrievers
- Setters
- Many Toy breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, and Papillons
- Herding Breeds such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds
Short-Coated Breeds:
- American Pit Bull Terriers
- Boxers
- Pugs
- Chihuahuas
- Labrador Retrievers
- Most Hounds
- Australian Cattle Dogs
- Rottweiler