What kind of breed(s) is my dog? ID this breed/mix

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what kind of breed people thought my dog, Jasper, looks like. I have my own strong suspicions, and I recently sent in a DNA test to have his dna analysed, but the results that came back seem so absurd that I'm starting to think there was a mistake in the system. I'm curious to know what people with keen eyes and a knowledge of dog breeds would label him as.

Without trying to skew peoples' opinions, here's a little background: he was found in rural Ohio with two other dogs (presumably Australian Shepherds), was adopted in Canada through a shelter specialising in herding dogs, and has always been mistaken for a Border Collie (including by BC owners).

He's not neurotic, but if a day goes by where I don't play frisbee with him/go for a hike/let him romp in the fields and chase down squirrels for a couple of hours he starts getting a little crazy, and has accompanied on hikes of several days, spanning long distances. He's extremely responsive to commands (he knows - by heart - around 70 to date), is reserved and quiet, never leaves my side, is very sensitive to harsh words (even a foul look from me will break his heart), but is also really tough (he once chased down a wild stallion, has gone hiking with me into the woods for days without stopping, and will climb a tree or swim in a fast-moving river if given the chance). He's also the most intelligent dog I have ever met (which includes a lot of dogs, since I work at a dog store specialising in nutrition and grooming).

He weighs 40 lbs (~18kg), is only black and white, and has no tail (I don't know if he was born like that, or if it was not properly docked at birth.. but there really is no tail!).

Based on his personality and these pictures, what could he be?

I might post his breed analysis later to see if people actually agree with it, but for the time being I just want to hear YOUR opinion, not biased from other results.

At first glance I'd also be inclined to guess Collie or Collie cross too, particularly since you mention how bright he is.

I have heard about a few people getting DNA testing and how far off the mark they have been so I would take the results with a pinch of salt tbh.

Whatever he is, he sure looks stunning - love the first and last photo

id say, going on head shape id day mainly border collie with a splattering of sighthound somewhere?

Again obviously agree with the border collie, I'm seeing some sort of terrier in the bottom picture. Who knows, could have all sorts of breeds in there

With the breed analysis remember that instead of counting one breed that lots of different breeds went into making a single breed so it might through out all sorts in there

your dog is absolutely stunning!
I grew up with border collies and those photos could easily have been one of our dogs...and the last picture is pretty much a monochrome version of Bentley (JRT) looking up at me!
He is super handsome

Stumpy tailed cattle dog X Australian shepherd

Thanks for the replies, everyone

I really just wanted to get a sense of what kind of dog he *looks* like. My best guess would be Australian Shepherd with a hint of Border Collie (he's very sensitive and has a high herding drive - enough to chase down squirrels and stand over them until they budge).

The DNA tests revealed he was predominantly (20-36%) Rottweiler and Shetland Sheepdog... which seemed almost impossible to me. The other breeds which make up about 10-20% of his DNA were Belgian Tervuren, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and German Shepherd Dog.

Does this seem absurd? Could he actually be this kind of mix and I'm just missing it entirely? People that know Jasper have laughed at me when I've told them this, saying that my DNA tests must have been a scam. I'm starting to wonder.....

It is perfectly possible that there are these breeds in your gorgeous dog's makeup. When you shuffle up the genes all sorts of things can happen.

I would rejoice in his genetic diversity and leave it at that if I were you! He's a very handsome boy indeed.

He's gorgeous! He has a lovely expression.

That does not surprise me

I think someone did one for a Presa once and Poodle was reported as one of the breeds in the make up

The good thing about these DNA tests though, is that if you have a breed that might get flagged up under the DDA (Dangerous Dogs Act) having a DNA test done beforehand could help show the dog is merely a 'mix'. Not sure whether it would hold in court though, but I imagine the DNA Testing companies would rigorously defend the accuracy of their product

He is very handsome. He looks very much like a Border Collie x Fox Terrier I know. So my guess would be a BC x terrier type.......I can't see any Aussie.

He's the best thing that ever happened to me, whatever and wherever he came from

I decided to do this test for fun, since everyone mistakes him for a Border Collie... but now I'm warming up to the idea of Jasper being the most absurd combination of things. I'm still skeptical about his supposed breeds, but whatever he is I'm happy he's the way he is

I would look at it this way, if he is indeed such a mix - at least the chances of a narrow gene pool are lessoned, which should (hopefully!) mean a healthier specimen

I hope you post more photos soon btw - I really enjoyed those!

The GSD part may have come from the Australian Shepherd as the Tiger one of the Alt Deutscher herding breeds that went into the make-up the the GSD is the founder of the Australian Shepherd

True! Forgot about those German Tigers...

Since my dog was also found in a very rural area with lots of farmland, I'm guessing his genealogy is far removed from those of many of the standardised breeds today.

Any ideas about the Rhodesian?

I understand that collies and shepherds are among the various breeds that were bred with the hottentot semi-wild dogs for the development of the RR breed, as well as dalmatians, mastiffs, greyhounds and great danes among the others. Don't know if it might then stand to reason then that whatever marker's they use for this breed might appear in dogs from the pool that made them? Bit of a head scratcher for sure!

I don't know anymore. Their "breed markers" sound a little off to me, despite several attempts by a phone representative to persuade me otherwise.

I'll just call Jasper a mutt and leave it at that

The way you describe him fits the Aussie personality perfectly. I would wonder if he was a so called 'miniature Aussie' - whilst they claim that no other breeds went into their makeup it is strongly thought that some were crossed with Shelties to get the smaller size.

He is at the lowest end of the size range for an Aussie, and at the upper end for a 'miniature Aussie'.

His head is narrower than an Aussie, but the colouring is perfectly acceptable (black bi) and he could very easily be a natural bob tail.

So my guess is an Aussie x, possibly a 'miniature Aussie' that has been crossed with a Sheltie.

He is a picture of a lovely black bi Aussie to show you that the colour does exist in the breed. This guy does have more white on his front but it is covered up by the rosette

http://www.lookquestaussies.com/sitebuilder/images/porterrnribbons-600x450.jpg

(I do not own the picture so I have linked to it )