Guess the parents

[ShrekDawg]

Found these puppies on Petfinder. They say they are Australian Shepherd mixes but I'm not so sure... who do you think daddy (or mommy) was!?

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38835654

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38835615

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38832333

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38812169

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38810892

https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/38810730

Keep in mind that because they are on Petfinder and I've never actually met them or done a DNA test or anything, I do not actually know the correct answer. Just thought this might be a fun little game!

So give me your best guesses!!

 

[dainerra]

I'd say that, while the first definitely looks Aussie, it's most likely that either one or both parents were mixes.
Of course, it's also very possible that there were several dads involved so.....

The second appears to have some GSD. The 3rd looks more mastiff. Fourth definitely some aussie in there again. Five and Six I don't know - likely aussie or similar from the blue eyes and definitely the same dad

Final vote is Aussie (aussie-mix) mother and mixed breed father (fathers?)

 

[Abriana]

They look a little like Australian Cattle dogs, but i would say an Aussie mix too. Maybe Aussie and Australian Cattle dog?

 

[ShrekDawg]

All good guesses! Thanks guys. I thought the second looked GSD too or maybe husky? I hadn't thought of mastiff or multiple dads though but it makes sense. I mean, look how huge Wolf (first puppy) is, those thick legs. Def gonna be a big boy and gotta be more than Aussie.

Maybe dad is shepherd and/or mastiff mix, mom Aussie? Is merle dominant? Maybe dad is part aussie too?

If it was multiple dads wouldn't the litter be bigger or no? It is interesting for sure!

 

[dainerra]

nah, you can't go by puppy size to determine adult size. And I've met more than a few Aussies with big thick legs. Especially working bred dogs.

Cattle dogs would also explain pup #2. I didn't think of that one. Merle is usually dominant but that would assume that 1 of the parents was a purebred and merle. It's more likely that one or both was a mix.

No, litter size is determined only by the number of eggs released during ovulation and how many successfully formed into pups that then survived whelp and the first week of life (until found and taken to the shelter). Technically speaking, each pup could have a different father.

But, another option is: mom is breed A and B mix. Dad is breed C and D mix. One pup could be a mix of A and C. Breed B and D. Breed A and A. And then various characteristics could from from any combo. Ears from A. Muzzle shape from B. Color from C and size from D.
Genetics give you a mix of all the genes involved.

That's why those DNA tests, while fairly accurate if the ancestors were purebred close in the pedigree, are highly inaccurate the more mixed breed generations there are behind the dog being tested.

 

[dainerra]

to explain what I meant for merele being dominant. I breed GSDs. Sable is the dominant color. Followed by black/tan. And black is recessive.

My boy is sable, carries for black (sable father, black mother). So if bred to a female who is black/tan but carries for black, pups could be sable, black/tan, or black - depending on what gene they inherit from each parent. If bred to a black female, all pups would be either black or sable.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hey, sorry I never replied! Thanks for all the info!

Dog genetics is so interesting haha

 

[dainerra]

if you want to get "interesting" GSD coat color genetics also includes masking genes. White isn't actually a "color" in GSDs in the sense that the other colors are - it's more like a coat of paint that covers the "true" color of the dog. So, genetically the dog is sable, black/tan, whatever but the color is masked by the recessive masking genes.

Then you have pattern - size of saddle, if the dog is a blanket back, etc.
Then a gene that covers the mask.
Then separate genes for intensity - will the tan be a pale almost cream or, at the other extreme, a deep mahogany red? Genetically, all of those are black/tan. But the genes for intensity will determine how strong the color is.
Then you have genes that dilute the color - turn black into blue and/or tan into liver.

It's years of study in and of itself. let alone all of the other genetics you need to know about structure, temperament, trainability, etc etc

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think I've actually heard the white thing before and maybe a tiny bit of the others before. I used to play this dog sim game embarrassingly hahaha and the one I played was actually pretty accurate and based on real genetics and yeah. Plus I used to want a German shepherd and looked into lines once but that wasn't really color genetics haha