Akita Mix?

[cwarner]

Hi,  about 4 months ago we adopted what we were told is an Akita/Bullmastiff mix.  There is obviously Akita, but i'm not so sure about the mastiff.  Here are a few pictures and what do you guys think his mix could be?  He turns 1 this month so i'm guessing he'll start to fill out soon.

[Pyr Heaven]

I agree...his jowls, neck, and shape of his snout would all make me think mastiff. His tail and fur would make me think akita. Although I do see some shepherd in their with that coloring. I'm also not all that good a guessing mix breed but....if it was me, that's my guess!

[Nicole]

Well, of course I see German Shepherd, too. I think that there's definitely some GSD in there based on his ears and coat. Both color and texture. (As much as you can tell texture from a photo..hahaha!)

But, his mask and schnozz do look kinda bigger, like perhaps a mastiff. But, I've also seen some kind of jowly labs, and there could even be some bloodhound there.

Mixes are just too mysterious. Something that seems for SURE a trait of one dog, could really be a trait of another breed that looks a particular way in relation to the traits of all the others! hahaha! He's adorable, and if I absolutely HAD to say, I would say Akita and GSD for sure, and probably either some bloodhound or maybe bullmastiff.

[People Whisperer]

I only really see Shepherd and Akita. i don't really see any Mastiff. He is GORGEOUS!

Me too 

[schelmischekitty]

i've seen pure akita's with similar coloring, and masks are common of akitas.  axle has big jowls, and a huge neck, too, and he's pure...  there's definately a mix in there somewhere though i don't know what it would be.  axle didn't start filling out until about 18 months, but it wasn't a big change until after he was 2.

[cwarner]

So i'm in the pet store tonight, and one of the staff people who come to find out trains dogs on the side came up to Kodiak thinking he was a Shar pei/sheppard mix ...  i myself came home and looked up a picture of a Shar pei, (which i have never seen one before)  and it got me to thinking, their posture is very much like an akita's and kodiak's,  the forward leaning body when standing, and the curly tail,  and the first picture i found had almost the exact same coloring as Kodiak, with that lighter strip of fur right behind the shoulders ... hmmm

[schelmischekitty]

depending on the coloring of the akita, some of them have that streak behind the shoulders, too.  here's a picture of axle's whole body to help you out some   he's pure akita.

[MirandaS]

I'm not entirely sure how precise this is but I was reading on msnbc.msn.com that there is a new DNA test for figuring out what your mixed breed actually is.

Go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21156493/

One thing we all know for sure is he is super cute!

[Bubbalove]

I read this same thing in the Chicago Tribune about 3 weeks ago.  Genetic testing to pinpoint the breed of your mix dog! 

[Ivy]

I came across a picture of your cute dog, and was astrounded at how much he looks like my dog Kozmo.  Kozmo's almost 10 years old, so his snout has more white in it than it used to, but he has your dog's build, shoulder markings, and coloring.  I think you're right about the Akita in him.  My vet mentioned that he thought Kozmo might also be part Sharpei because he was so wrinkley as a puppy.  We've also been told he might have some German Shepard in him as well.

[NewfFan]

I see Akita and Shepherd, too, although I'm not at all good at guessing mixes. I also wanted to say that he is beautiful!

[Tonda]

I totally see the bullmastiff. The colour, the neck, the way he sits, the legs: all mastiff. He screams it to me. The head and tail are very akita. I don't see shari pei at all (and I see A LOT of shari pei mixes in my local dog park).

[KiraNGunnersmom]

I see the Akita in there, but the coat looks shorter than Kira's and she is a fb akita and she isnt a wooley either but like someone else said it's hard to really tell coat texture in the picture.
Whatever he is, he is a handsome boy!