I try to post once a day but yesterday’s interview at a doggie day care and meetup with puppies totally wiped me up. Playing catch up here since I am a little late :P
When Mr P and I met Donna for the first time, she looked like any other mongrel in the shelter. They were mostly brown, black or black and tan like Donna.
The look of a local mongrel. Donna is small for one.
She shook paws and took treats.
When we came out, Mr P’s comment was something to the effect of, “She’s not a looker, but guess she’s smart and trainable.”
I didn’t disagree. They all looked the same to me. :P
Commercially traded dogs are bred in pursuit of standards of appearance, so called breed standards, established by particular kennel clubs right? These are the dogs that are bred for their beauty – the Pomeranians, the King Charles Cavaliers, the Papillons, etc. They speak volumes as to what humans favour when they describe an animal as cute, adorable and desirable.
The local short hair mongrel does not have that look.
But then, it is also not as much a product of human engineering to achieve standardised mutant versions of the animal called a dog. Crazy from RunAMuckRanch once called dogs like Donna the perfection hound. But that is not exactly it either, she was after all the product of a union between dogs restricted to a yard in a shelter. The choice of partners is limited to that range :P Still, at least she wasn’t a product of artificial insemination. Some breeds of dogs, notably the bulldog, are bred that way and may cease to exist if humans do not persist in such artificial means of reproduction.
So what the short hair local mongrel has to offer in terms of beauty is thus: the natural appearance of health and vitality suitable to our local climate.
A long nose that they are meant to have so they don’t have the respiratory issues that bulldogs and pugs have. The slim bodies that give them the agility and speed to run around, explore and survive. The natural willingness to be agreeable around humans, stemming from their ancestors when wolves and humans first connected. But yes, these are all very subtle attributes. They do not scream cute at you, and they do not get replicated in cartoons… not like Tom Pug or Henry Bulldog. And they do not scream beauty at you like the golden hair of the golden retriever does.
Donna has a common look.
But perhaps if you live with any dog long enough, you will start to see the character peeking through the coat and the dog to look more the individual he/she is rather than that generic look he/she was bred with.
I love her clear eyes and the patience she has with my many shenanigans with the camera. :P
How did you end up with the dog you have? How did you pick him/her?
Note: Of course this is a very biased post written off the top of my mind with no reference to any factual document, do feel free to google and verify.
Kuruk
Donna, I think you are beauwoooowooooootiful!
weliveinaflat
Thank you, Ku of course looks grand and Donna will probably look like a scruffy black rat beside you :P
scarlybobs
I think Donna is gorgeous :)
weliveinaflat
Thank you, you know I am a huge fan of Zoey… *don’t let Kasper hear :P*
Sally
Each photo gives me a new way to see Donna’s “beauty.”
weliveinaflat
Thank you, it was quite a challenge to find a good angle with this, the surroundings were dark and dull and did not help :P
Roxy the Traveling Dog
I think she’s perfect in every way.
weliveinaflat
You are totally awesome and fabulous yourself Roxy!!
kuujinbo
Donna really *is* patient with the camera. :) Wouldn’t even try some of the shots you get with her on Hanzo…
weliveinaflat
XD this particular set was done when she was feeling sleepy and not very active in the morning :P…. I think she also got used to the cooperate and get yummy treats routine after these last few months :P
Donna played very well with a Hanzo-lookalike at the dog park yesterday…she got so excited she started humping him >.<… Luckily the shiba inu didn't seem to mind. Strange though, I always thought shiba inus are bigger based on Hanzo's photos… but the one she played with was significantly smaller than Donna.
kuujinbo
Oh no, Shiba’s aren’t big – that’s one of the reasons we chose the breed. He fluctuates between 13-14kg. We’ve seen smaller ones, probably between 10/11kg, and ones that are probably 17/18kg. Funny how even within a certain breed there are variations.
How big is Donna? I assumed she was on the smaller side because of what you’ve written about living in an apartment. But then again, it’s obvious you give her a lot of outdoor time. :)
weliveinaflat
She is slightly over 15kg at the moment. About 80cm in length and 48cm in height. The one I saw was maybe 2/3 of her size.
Sounds like Hanzo may be nearer Donna’s size based on weight. :) Maybe the one she was playing with is the smaller version… or a puppy.
Pat(ricia)
I think Donna is beautiful … just as she is. Mixed breed and “mongrels” perhaps *may not* offer prize-winning beauty, but I think temperament and character are more important than having “fashionista” design appeal. Certainly there are breeds I find more attractive and pleasing – not only for their coat types, but also for stature and composure – for me, a dog’s “mature” stance counts for a lot. And the coat – I prefer longer haired coats to short or clipped. Why? Simply because I love the feel of running my fingers through the luxuriant fur. But these factors aren’t necessarily the complete determining factors when we choose a dog.
Niekah, or current dog, who happens to dislike being photographed, is a Shepherd Husky Mix. We don’t know the lineage or breed of the particular parent. Was the father Husky or Shepherd? Don’t know. Same applies to the mother. All we can be sure of is that she had at least one sister – almost a twin, and that there may have been other related siblings, who also seemed to be almost identical in looks, from an earlier litter or perhaps another female.
We adopted Niekah from a No-Kill shelter a few hours away, after rather exhaustive online and person-to-person-to dog searching. We also considered a pure-bred Shepherd from a reputable and qualified, registered breeder. In the end, I felt drawn to Niekah, only having seen her info sheet online. I felt like we would be doing the right thing in helping to save a life. And so we did.
Our first dog was a Shepherd Husky and although there are distinctly similar characteristics apparent in this breed, the two couldn’t be more different. Of course our first dog was a male …. and Niekah, now our third (and sole dog resident) is female. There are similarities in personality to be sure, but the one consistent and perhaps *true* thing that can be said of ANY dog breed, whether a mutt, mix or pure bred – no two are ever alike. Even within the same litter – there will always be differences. And that’s entirely natural and normal. Breed temperaments are just guidelines. They shouldn’t be considered as the ultimate rule.
Here’s a link to an image of Niekah – well as much as she would allow for photographs (she is just over a year here) – http://lemonlimefollies.com/2013/06/29/377/ and this is an image of Niekah a few months before her birthday after Salem arrived – http://lemonlimefollies.com/2013/05/25/welcome-to-our-world/
in case you’re wondering what she looks like :)
weliveinaflat
Honestly speaking, my mongrel/dog experience pertains only to Donna… so I can’t credibly be a judge on temperament or character of mongrels in general. Hence a very shallow piece on appearance and the build of the animal.
It’s very interesting for me how one could say they have their own personalities and character and yet they also tend to do the same things… run after things, chew things, greet you enthusiastically at the door. I guess, it really boils down to those who have contact with multiple dogs like yourself, to see the differences that come with the similarities.
Thank you for sharing about Niekah :) I’m glad she was lucky to have found you.
Pat(ricia)
Thank you. It was nice to be able to share.
I think that you’ll find and discover along your journey with Donna, as you get to know different people and dog breeds, that there will always be a universal “common thread” that links the entire species, regardless of purity or mix. But with time and observation, and as people share their stories with you, you will begin to see the quirks and peculiarities and personalities emerge. Dogs and humans are rather similar :)
weliveinaflat
I do hope so!! Really! :)
Linda Trunell
I think beautiful is the dog who greets you when you come home :)
weliveinaflat
100% agree
Kyla
You’re also spared many health issues that come from inbreeding.
I got picked because They believe that there is a terrier personality and not all humans can deal with it. They wanted a terrier who really needed a home, regardless of gender or age. I was the first one that fit. It was a great fit.
weliveinaflat
I hope she is spared the health issues. I keep hearing about this terrier personality, exactly what is it? :)
Kyla
We were bred to work independently of humans, protecting the food supply from small rodents and the like. We’d even go to their burrows and dig them out (hence the name terriers). We’re independent and feisty. I’m not a cuddler but I follow my humans from room to room and would fight to the death to protect them. We often flunk training class and always have an opinion on everything.
weliveinaflat
I see, independent, strong minded and feisty. We need to get you a rapier :P Thank you for taking the time to explain to me :)
Sonel
I think Donna is just adorable and breed doesn’t matter to me. Most of them have a personality that you can immediately see and sense and that is what I go for and Donna have all of that. To me she is the ‘Princess’ there where you live Mrs. P. You are the Queen of course. ;)
Great shots and thanks for sharing hon. *big hugs* to you and Donna. xxx
weliveinaflat
LOL poor Mr P must be the servant…
Sonel
Whahahahahahah! Noooooo, he is the King of course silly. hahahahah
weliveinaflat
:P
Sonel
Thanks for that Mrs. P. You made me laugh out loud and I am still giggling. You are so sweet. :D
1st World Dog
Same saying… ‘It’s what on the inside that counts’ and from your stories of Donna she sounds like the most gorgeous dog… And love her contrast Black and Tan markings.
weliveinaflat
Agree, after a while one starts to look at the face for the expression and that’s when the appearance/breed or lack thereof fades into the background and is no longer important. I hope I can start to look at other dogs for what they are beyond what breed they are. :)
thatjenk
Well I think Donna is cute. The term used around here for the strays that have a very similar appearance, or are some variation of shepherd/rottweiler/lab/husky mix are “rez dogs”, as many come from or near the First Nations reservations where there are stray dog populations in abundance (there are spay and neuter programs that go out to help remedy this as much as funding allows). While they all have a similar appearance, they’re also all a lot different in many ways due to diverse genes.
Thought it’s funny about dogs looking the same. Moses’ breeders were telling us about the big breed club events where you’d just see a lot of Newfs running around together having a great time after the events were over, and my immediate thought was “what if I couldn’t tell Moses apart from another Newf – would that make me the worst owner ever?” So then I resolved to work on a good an unique recall, so at least if I called “Moses, hustle in” only one dog would (probably) come and it would be the right one!
Though, worrying has been for nothing, because we’ve still never been to one of those events.
weliveinaflat
XD Moses looks distinctly different from Alma in the size and the face… but yes I suppose in a whole crowd of newfies D:… Since you made the effort to teach him his recall, go to one!! :D
It’s quite interesting about the rez dogs… I’m always wondering what sort of genes went into Donna.. and whether the dog’s here have as diverse genes as you described. I suspect probably less. Have a great day :)
Dawn
Donna is definitely a beauty. I see what you mean, though, about how people see some dogs as ordinary. Us humans do this with each other too. We tend to see most people as ordinary. If we are smart enough to look past the exterior and get to know people, then that is when their true beauty shines through.
In regards to your question about how I picked my dogs… I picked both Maya & Pierson out for their breed and breed mixes. When I picked Maya, I was looking for a laid back and easy-going breed. When I picked Pierson, I was looking for a highly intelligent breed. Pierson often gets more compliments on how beautiful he is. But my Maya is pretty too.
weliveinaflat
I guess people tend to hide themselves and it is much easier to see beauty in dogs because they are so eager to please.
And while you picked dogs for their specific breeds and breed mixes because of their known temperaments, I wonder if there is an added layer of difficulty for you because you also choose to take in dogs that needed to be rehomed or was a stray. In any case both Maya and Pierson are beautiful with their own different personalities and it is due to your good work with them :)
2browndawgs
I think Donna is cute. That is better than beautiful in my book. :)
Chessies are not “beautiful” or flashy which is why they rarely make to Best of Breed in the show ring. They are working dogs meant to do a job. That is why we choose our breed. We wanted a particular working ethic and a particular temperament. Our dogs have very good natural hunting ability and that is produced by generations of line breeding. You might be interested to know that both Thunder and Storm are products of artificial insemination. Thunder’s daddy lived in Colorado so his sperm was sent from there. Storm’s dad had been dead about 10 years when she was born. Her breeder had frozen sperm. She is a superior upland dog. I hope someday in the future when we are looking for another dog her breeder still has some of her daddy around. :) Even Thunder has been collected and is stored away should someone want to breed to him in the future. When you have good genetics, you want to preserve it.
weliveinaflat
I am interested to know that Thunder and Storm are products of artificial insemination. I would never have known :D Storm, Thunder and Freighter are beautiful in their own way, their eyes are very striking to me. And honestly speaking when it comes to living with a dog I do prefer the wash and wear kind. :P You get a good time looking at them play without worrying about their long hair getting matted or that it’s going to take hours to clean them up again XD If it sounded like I disapproved at all, it was more targeted at breeds that appear to be being bred to extinction, hence my reference to bulldogs. Of course, being a dog idiot, I do admit my view point is very narrow. D:
I get what you mean about wanting to preserve good genetics in working dogs. It sounds to me that with frozen sperm being sent here and there, breeders have to be very conscientious about documentation and sharing of information, in order to ensure the good genes are preserved so that they continue to breed dogs with the health and vitality to carry out their job and develop good hunting skills. That sounds more reasonable than dog breeds bred for looks that come with a list of ailments caused precisely by the genes that give them that particular look. D: One starts wondering about humanity at that point.
It is always good to get your comments, I feel like I learn something new every time, so thank you so much for taking the time to write because I am very aware that thoughtful comments take time and time is tight for everyone.
Have a great week! :)
Lindsay
The dog I had before Ace was a golden retriever. So while I knew I wanted to adopt a dog from a shelter or from an individual, I was looking for a long-haired, lighter-colored dog that resembled her. Luckily I had the sense to favor the dog’s personality and energy over looks. I ended up adopting Ace, a short-haired, black dog, who is perfect for me. After I had him for about six months, I began to see beauty in what I had previously viewed as ordinary. Today, black dogs, especially mixed breeds, are my favorites.
weliveinaflat
I was riffling though the blog of the shelter that Donna came from when I found a post that said that because the dogs are kept in semi open outdoor yards, they are exposed to the wind and rain and hence are prone to thunder phobia. I wonder if it is true that dogs kept in such environments have a greater tendency for thunder phobia, versus dogs kept in indoor environments. I wish the constant exposure would desensitise them to the thunder and make it commonplace and not worthy of notice for them instead :P
For us, it didn’t really matter what the dog look like since we never had one before and didn’t have a fix preference… you could say we were colour blind to dog breed in that respect. It made sense to adopt and after spending time with her, like you we start to see beauty if what we also thought was very common looking before. It doesn’t really matter, what colour or breed at this point. Although, while we don’t regret adopting Donna, if we were to consider getting a second dog, I would prefer one that has not exhibited any sign of thunder phobia… just to be a little kinder to myself :P