Hi Everyone,

I bought an 8 weeks old pup from the Animal Aid Shelter in Bairnsdale back in Feb. I had no idea what breed he was and assumed he was a bg of all sorts. A couple of months later a friend told me he looked like a Koolie. (a breed id never heard of) But i did some research and sure enough i believe he is a koolie x. He is one of the smartest dogs i have ever known, he pics up things so quickly. I love him to bits. Some pics of KOBY when i first got him - below

to the forum,Lots of friendly people to chat to here,and we love pix

Thanks for your reply,
Here is another photo, this was taken in the car after puppy school. I think he would have been about 4-5 months old.



I will get some current photos this weekend.

Can anyone confirm if he does have koolie in him??? and if and what might else he be x with

Welcome to the forum! He looks like a lovely little boy and I look forward to hearing more about him.

You might be sorry you asked about this ;-) Both his merle pattern and his dilute brown, called lilac (it's hard to be sure from photos but he looks lilac - Weimeraner colour - to me rather than blue) could certainly have been inherited from a Koolie parent, although I think we can't be too precise or sure about it. The merle is inherited as a 'dominant' gene, and so he only needs to have had one parent who was patterned like that to inherit it. Obviously there are other breeds that also have that gene - Great Danes, Border, Rough and Smooth Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds spring to mind. Dachshunds too, but Dachs crosses have shortish legs.

I think Rough and Smooth Collies and Great Dane are unlikely (and I can't judge from the photos very well whether he is going to be a large dog - his bones do look pretty chunky in the older photo) if I'm right about him being lilac because they do not have the chocolate red gene. If he had one of them for a parent he'd be blue instead (which is what you get when a genetically black dog is also a dilute).

The dilute gene that has modified Koby's genetically chocolate or red coat to lilac is harder to account for. It would have to occur in both parents for him to inherit it (although they may not have been coloured like him - look at the photos Royalla has just put up of her new litter - neither parent is a dilute, but they have produced dilute pups, so must carry the gene). The Great Dane, Border Collie and Koolie are the only breeds I can think of that can be either diluted in this way or merle (and like I said, I don't think it would be Dane).

So I think (assuming he is a first cross - that both his parents were purebred, although of different breeds, and there's not guarantee of that, of course) that these are possibilities - that one parent was a merled Koolie or Border Collie and the other a Greyhound, Kelpie, Weimeraner or Dobermann, (although I wonder whether he's big enough to be crossed with some of those). If you think he is big enough, his tan points make me think Dobe (that gene does occur in Weim, but rarely, because they don't like it and try to breed it out). The short coated strains of Border Collie are more likely to carry just basic black coat genetics, and he looks to me like a dog who carries no long coat genes, so that makes me think that he's not likely to have any BC in him.

I'm no expert on Dobes (Tj?) but his ears look pretty typically Dobe to me.

If you can confirm for me that he is actually lilac rather than blue and how big you think he's likely to be it might clarify things a bit.

Hope you enjoy the forum Kobstar and feel welcome to join in on the conversations...they ramble a bit sometimes but generally the new direction is just as relevant as the old. Your little guy is gorgeous and you can see he ooses personality. It would be interesting to see more current day photos of him just to get more of an idea as it is difficult with puppies to really get a feel for the contributing breeds. Koolies are a diverse lot physically but generally the most common denominator with koolies is there temperament and personality - you might read other threads that relate to some of the quirks of koolies where some of us have discovered that some of the things we thought were our own dogs little "thing" they are infact relatively common across the country.
You will shortly have another option, a DNA laboratory we have been working with are developing a DNA test for dog breeds, although they haven't finalised the koolie gene as yet they do have other relevant breeds available. The koolie is being done as a research and development breed (which means free to those who submit their dna) so we are at the mercy of available funds and time for it to be done, but hopefully in the next few months you will have a scientific, difinative answer to your question. Let me say though that if you find he isn't koolie...you are still most welcome as a member of the forum!!

When i first got him, i thought he would turn out to be a medium to large dog, due to the size of his paws.

He is now about 10 months old and is still small. He is smaller than a friends kelpie of the same age.
Also when he was young he had orange highlights around his face only. Now he has a lot more orange on him.

We had the choice of him and his sister, he was the runt and she was the boofa. Her hair was long she was a dark brown (almost burgandy) colour with blond highlights.

We choose him because of his nature and i think we made the right choice.

I will try and get some up to date photo's this afternoon.

Thanks for your warm welcome its very much apreciated.

He has turned out to be quite a thin dog with a long body and a very long tail. If that helps

to the Forum!!

What a cutey you've got there! Koby would be roughly the same age as my Paxy - she is just over 10 months now and a beautiful young lady she is - well at the moment she's asleep so it's quiet!

It's always hard to tell what breed a pup is, especially if it's a cross. A more recent pic would certainly give us a better idea of what he might have in him, but it's still guesswork. He does seem to have large paws in the pic!! But most important it doesn't really matter what his breed is, its his temperament that counts more than anything .

Ok now we need some more puppy pics - we need our fix!!

Im visiting my old man and so will get some more photos of koby when i get home. At the moment his bad habits are pulling washing of the line and digging, but i think that is boredome more than anything. We buy him toys but within a week the toys are in little bits. One thing that koby has done ever since we have had him is he is very loyal. I can take him down the park and let him off the lead and he will stick around.

Here are some more photos of when he was a pup.

a big welcome from me, sorry i am a bit slow but you get that from me lol i have just been a bit busy of late with the workshop and new puppy's being born, working my dogs and trying to find a new fridge mine so rudely died just after i did the shopping, sorry i do prattle on at times. your young man is a little stunner i love his colour, and don't try to go by his ears to work out his breeding because Spencer has ears the same as your boy but his sister has up ears, and those pair are 3/4 koolie & 1/4 kelpie but with a normal short coat, now Fitz had a very short coat that was like mink to touch without any guard hairs when he was younger but he is 6mths old now and his guard hairs have come through (Bugger lol)the best way to tell would be with a DNA test. i can't wait to see what he looks like now, i bet he has grown into his feet lol my Ruby and Drumma have big hoofers too!

Here are some photos i took yesterday. And no i didn't photoshop them and yes that is how he smiles.LOL

I'm wondering whether he could have got the dilute gene from the Staffordshire, although I doubt he's a first cross Stafford. But I'm just guessing now. He's certainly a handsome dog, whatever mix he is.

Love his smile!! He's a good looking dog!

He hooks his top lip into his teeth/fang that stick out. Its very cute.
And that is how he smiles.

What a crack up..that smile is priceless.
He does look a bit dane like...although the brindle is a bit staffy...buu mastiff x?
Gorgeous boy anyway!
Beth

What a beautiful boy you have there. Sorry it has taken a while for me to welcome you but I have been adventuring. I love his smile very Elvis. Can you try a side profile of his face at all? I love the mystery mixes they always turn out to be good solid dogs. He has the same sweet face as my kelpie x, Izzy, so I think there is Kelpie in there somewhere. What are some of his personality traits? Welcome again and join in the many and varied discussions that happen here.

OK people i am lost here, for the life of me i can not see and brindle on Koby. i remember brindle being darker stripes on a lighter coat like my dads greyhounds had and like those ugly staffy's have and i can't see any brindle bit's on koby i can only see merleing, i think i have worked out what he is crossed with but i just at this minute i can't remember what the breed is called his head, ears and body shape is just about right for it they come in 2 colours i think red like chestnut red and a di-lute red, god don't you just hate it when you can see it in your mind but the name just won't pop up for you Bugger! lol

I'm itching to know what breed you're thinking of.

i will see if i can get a side profile of his head when his smiling, its hard because he doesnt smile like that all the time - it was just lucky.

I will try and track down his sister as i think she lives in a town near by. She was a lot darker and it was a red/brown colour.

She must not have got the d gene from both parents then. Which tells us that either one or both of their parents were not the same colour as Koby (although they both must have carried it in order for him to be coloured as he is).

Went to Dereel on the weekend with my dad as he was picking up a puppie from his mate who just had a litter. He was going to do the unspeakable with the pups that didnt find homes - so my girlfriend and i couldnt help ourselves and took one aswell. Her name is MIA and her mum is a kelpie and her dad is a kelpie x rotti. I will get some pics tonight.
We got her as a mate for koby

interesting mix you will have to let us know how she turns out as she grows up, hopefully she has taken more after the kelpie, sorry rotties are not my fav dogs to big and clumsy looking for me.

I originally said no to another dog as i only wanted one but my girlfriend kept on and on and on about it and i eventually gave in. I hope i dont regret the decision. Koby has taken well to her and is excited, although he is a bit rouch with her at this stage.

Here is a pic of her on my phone camera

What a cutie. Looks a bit cattle dog too?

I dont think there is much rotti in her. The father looked like an oversized kelpie. Im glad koby will have a mate to play with - i just hope our backyard isnt to small.

Certainly looks to be a bit of cattle in the background, really cute anyway whatever the breed!!

Koby absolutley loves mia, Im very glad we got her. They sleep together (he is the one that tries to cuddle up to her), They eat together and he is being less destructive. Plus now he is using more energy so they both come inside for a cuddle of a night time.

Will get some more pics of mia as she gets older.

Yes please! Glad it's working out well.
Was thinking about the possible rottie in her background. It's pretty common for young dogs whose pedigree isn't known to be thought rottie crosses only because they're black and tan. When they could be many other breed combos.

Sorry I am a bit late but WELCOME. You will have a ball on this forum and the people are so nice. Both those pups are adorable. The second looks to have a bit of Heeler in him. Always hard to say though. Pups are so cute. We are expecting our litter anyday soon. Not sure how many she will have but hopefully not too many really. Nice small litter would be good and some girls would be good as everyone wants girls. Not boys. Well welcome anyways.
Have a Ball with all of us braggin about our babies and showin off photos.

Don't worry about your backyard being too small as long as you keep their brains engaged and the exercise quota up. I have a koolie and a kelpie x and they do fine in suburbia. I do obedience training and agility and take them for walks and to the beach/river quite often. They are great mates and keep each other occupied. If they start barking, nip it in the bud basically. And if you have any problems just pop into the forum and ask for advice you will receive plenty.

Thanks guys,

Yes i am very happy we got Mia, her and Koby are having a ball together. She isnt afraid of him even when he starts to play rough with her. Its funny watching them run round the back yard fighting for a piece of rope.

Mia is growing up very quickly , i think she will be a fair bit bigger than koby, so im trying to bulk him up a little bit.

I will try and get some more pics this weekend and post them up.

Good to hear they're getting on together! Pics will be lovely!!!

Some updated pictures taken on my phone this morning.

Cheers

They've grown up haven't they!! Koby has a lovely face and Mia is gorgeous! Bet they keep you on your toes too!

They have grown up very quick, Koby is nearly 2 and Mia would be nearly 1. Koby is very protective of her against other dogs, but in saying that at home she is the brute.
Mia loves Fetch, all she wants to do is chase something and she doesnt seem to care what it is your throwing. She is still very hyperactive.
Koby has mellowed a lot since we got Mia, he just loves getting cuddles, i think she uses up all is energy running around the yard.

I am in love with Mia's eyes. Koby has a that sweet face. They are beautiful dogs and pleased to hear that they get on so well. But that is also credit to the owner. It is great when you get the dynamics right in a pack.

Its been a while since iv been on here. Dogs are going great, they have a ball together. Very happy we ended up getting a second dog. Iv also come accross some pictures i had lying around

Koby as a pup with my cousins dog


Koby as a pup


Koby with mia as a pup


Koby smiling


Koby & Mia

Hi Kobstar,

It's great to go back over these older post and see the transition of dogs as they grow. Looks like you have a great pairing there.

It does look like you have two dogs that have great dynamics with each other. My two are the same. Both dogs are beautiful too. Isn't it great when things work out and I think we get so much out of them, dogs teach us a lot.

Hi guys been a while since i visited. Koby is probably about 3.5 and mia about 2.5 years old. They are two peas in a pod, they do everything together.

We have recently moved about 350km from where we were living, my dad was looking after the dogs while we organised jobs and a house. In that time Koby seemed to loose a bit of weight, I just assumed this was due to a bit of stress with us not there and maybe my dad wasnt feeding him as much as we had done.

Got them to the new house about 2 weeks ago, they seemed to settle in well. I bought a new kennel as the old one was built in under the verandah at the old house. They weren't keen on the new kennel initially but have now taken to it.
Sunday morning I woke to find a whole under the fence and 2 missing dogs, after 4 hours of walking the streets we found them playing with 3 other loose dogs. Took them home and they slept for the rest of the day.

Iv noticed the last couple of days that koby has got thinner - bonier. Last night while fussing them up I noticed a golf ball sized lump on the side of his neck just under the jaw line. He is also staying in the kennel pretty much most of the day and will only come out for a couple of minutes if you call him.
He seems to be eating as per normal and hasnt lost his appetite. Needless to say i am worried sick for my little man. I have got him booked in for the Vets tonight - so we will have to wait and see what it turns out to be.

You can also tell Mia knows something isnt right with him as she is not her playfull/boystress self, all she wants to do is cuddle up to Koby.

It is always such a worry when they just go 'off colour' and I know we are all hoping he will be OK. Just don't beat yourself up about it. They can't tell you what is wrong and if we rushed off to the vets every time they did something unexpected they would be there every second day and what sort of a life is that for a dog or its owner?

Good luck! Best thing is to let the proffesionals deal with it. We had a scare with one of ours a few months ago with a lump on the throat, we were very nervous and really feared the worst. But the vet said something that shows up quickly is rarely the nasty stuff, but infections. We never worked out what caused it but it wasn't in the throat but in the area between the throat and the outside. It eventually went away after a triple course of antibiotics. Hope it's as simple as that.

Turned out to be an infected sylivery gland. This vet has never come accross this before so he was suprised. He has sent a tissue sample off for testing to see what has caused it.


My little man after his operation.

Wishing Koby a speedy recovery and hope your vet can work out the cause to prevent this recurring. Feeling very relieved for you, Koby and Mia.

He looks as though he's getting the very best of attention.