Dog Community

unknown dog breed

Posted : 7/25/2007 7:53:42 AM

I posted this in the wrong place, I think, before. I'm a neophyte computer user, but I got a reply from Ixas_girl and I couldn't figure out how to reply to her so I'll just post it again. I live in central Kentucky and for the last few months I have been seeing on occasion 3 black dogs that I think are purebred but I can't figure out what breed they are. They are identical, 2 females and a male, solid black with *** ears and bobbed tails (don't know if they are docked or natural). The male is somewhat larger than the females and they all have white chests, are short haired and mediun size (40-60 pounds). I know most dog breeds on sight and these look like a type of cattle dog but I am stumped. I don't think they are a mix breed because they look so much alike, plus the short tail. I don't have any photos to share, I see them only rarely and never know when they will show up. The male acted friendly and was going to come right to me until he heard my own dogs barking from inside my house, then he just moved on. The 2 females hardly gave me a second look. Any ideas? I have heard through the neighborhood (rural) grapevine that the owner's Mother has said to someone who contacted her about them that they belong to her kids who don't take care of them and to just shoot them (!) if they're bothering you. Nice. If I could catch them I would place them in a breed rescue if I knew what breed they were. Any help would be appreciated.

Liesje

Posted : 7/25/2007 8:48:56 AM

Kelpies are cattle dogs with prick ears, short hair, and are medium in size. They come in just about any color or pattern. They do have tails though.

spiritdogs

Posted : 7/25/2007 10:57:52 AM

Do they look like any of these?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Kelpie#Show_Kelpies

brookcove

Posted : 7/25/2007 2:33:12 PM

Sounds like Border Collies or BC/heeler mixes. Considering where you are I'd think it extremely likely. Cattle farmers often take the tails off even breeds that are supposed to have tails, or they get confused about what breed they have and dock because their "heeler" pups should have cropped tails. Seriously, the guy next to me thinks his red Border Collie is an Aussie, even though he's got a tail and is smooth coated (the dog, not the guy).

I've got a mostly black Border Collie - actually I've had several for some reason. Here's one little guy I used to own who has prick ears and a smooth coat, too.\

And one with mostly erect ears and mostly black, but not a smooth coat:

And here's an all-black prick eared dog:

Workingdoglover

Posted : 7/25/2007 8:41:44 PM

What about a "Stumpy," as they're called...?

Of course, they're not really supposed to be solid black, but other than that they fit the description...

[linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com/stumpytailcattledog.htm]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/stumpytailcattledog.htm[/link]

Amber Murphy

Posted : 7/26/2007 6:47:19 AM

ORIGINAL: Workingdoglover

What about a "Stumpy," as they're called...?

Of course, they're not really supposed to be solid black, but other than that they fit the description...

[linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com/stumpytailcattledog.htm]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/stumpytailcattledog.htm[/link]

Umm, that's actually an Australian Cattle dog/Blue Heeler with a docked tail. I don't know why some have the docked tail and some don't(I've seen both), but I suspect it's due to who the breeder of the pups is and what they think is right. That picture is 100% an Australian Cattle Dog, not a stumpy cattle dog. Seeing as where you got that info, I definately wouldn't believe that site. Here's a link to the AKC Aussie cattle dog: [linkhttp://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_cattle_dog/index.cfm]http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_cattle_dog/index.cfm[/link]

Shiva

mrv

Posted : 7/26/2007 6:49:23 AM

Stumpies are an actual breed. One of the distinguishing characteristics, no brown on a stumpy. The tails are very much like manx cats I believe.

Workingdoglover

Posted : 7/26/2007 9:30:05 AM

We have some around here and they're actually born without tails, not docked.

Here's a little about how they came to be and the difference between them and ACDs...
[linkhttp://www.australiancattledogs.net/index_stumpy.asp]http://www.australiancattledogs.net/index_stumpy.asp[/link]