On second thought...
...I think Rosie's DNA test is right.
Check out these three puppies I found on the Web--they're Lab/harrier mix.
It's uncanny. They look exactly like Rosie! So now I have to read up on harriers. The only thing I know about harriers is that they look a lot like beagles, only bigger. Wikipedia says: "The harrier is cheerful, sweet-tempered, tolerant of people, and excellent with children. This pack dog is good with other dogs. ... It prefers life in a pack with people or dogs or both."
This sounds like Rosie, all right. I think her DNA test is right on the money. I still have my doubts about Riley's, though this afternoon when we were walking around the lake someone stopped and petted Riley and said, "Is this a Border? I see Border in him."
13 comments:
Laurie, I think you just didn't see the Border in Riley because Boscoe was SO Border Collie! It's there, just not as much...
that might be true. this person stroked riley's nose and said he had the classic border white stripe... he's starting to look more border to me but it might be the power of suggestion.
There's a farmer up the road who has a big pack of Harriers for hunting (unfortunately, still allowed here). At least I think that's what they are, they look like it. Whenever a hunt is on, there are harriers all over. Initially, I was a bit wary of them (a big pack of them can be a bit intimidating) but it turns out they are very sweet and so good natured. If Rosie is part Harrier, then you've found yourself a very sweet dog, I bet. But then, you knew that already anyway.
There's a farmer up the road who has a big pack of Harriers for hunting (unfortunately, still allowed here). At least I think that's what they are, they look like it. Whenever a hunt is on, there are harriers all over. Initially, I was a bit wary of them (a big pack of them can be a bit intimidating) but it turns out they are very sweet and so good natured. If Rosie is part Harrier, then you've found yourself a very sweet dog, I bet. But then, you knew that already anyway.
Riley's long floppy ears probably led you astray. I could see the border collie in him, too. How cool that you found puppies that are the same mix, for confirmation!
I am still a bit skeptical of Daisy's test. No mention of cattle dog when she clearly has a heeler's coat. I was sure there would be some kind of hound dog in her as well. They have her as a corgi/border collie mix (with tons of mixes in the mix) but she definitely doesn't have the legendary border collie intelligence (unless she's learned to hide it really well!).
Yes, being a Border owner, I saw the Border in Riley. I don't believe you wasted your money.
There's genetics, and then there's upbringing, as you know. And then, there's that imponderable: canine individuality, which makes for all the fun.
I'm glad the DNA tests were confirmed. Those three puppies do look just like Rosie. As for Riley, I always thought he looked an awful lot like Boscoe. I had a hard time telling them apart.
thank you for your kind words -- your puppy is just darling.
Sue at Naperville Now.
Wait! DNA testing? I'd like to find out about my DNA...
I always thought Riley was a Border Collie mix. I was surprised to read in a recent post that you didn't think so. So surprised that I said to Buddha, "That's a Border Collie mix. She's as blind as a hoot owl," and he was kind enough to thump his tail in agreement and not bring up bats.
Ari, the vet would agree with you. We told him about the DNA tests on Thursday, and while he wasn't sure about rosie and harrier (he sees the lab lab lab), he readily agreed that riley was border and said he'd always thought so.
so yes, i'm blind!
he also said, you know, riley's a pretty good dog. poor guy, living his life in boscoe's shadow. and that's kind of true, too. boscoe was such a spectacular dog that riley kind of suffered by comparison. but he's really coming into his own now.
I had a series of German Shepherds in the days before the Buddha Man. I compared every later one to the first one. It was as if his characteristics and personality got written down in my mind as GERMAN SHEPHERD and I never deleted that file. It took me a while to realize that GDSs are bold, wimpy, good with kids, not good with kids, star of obedience school, obedience school dropout, can eat rocks, sensitive digestive system, etc. Every dog is different, even if the breed is the same. Just like kids from the same family are different, even though the bloodlines are the same.
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