GSD Mix??? - Page 9

WAAAAY back at the beginning, my first guess was Shiloh Shepherd. However, he has features that are very wolf, like certain skull shapes (no indentation between his eyes, for example), that scent gland on the back of the tail (NOT just the hair spot), the foot and leg shape, the jagged hair (hard to describe, but he looks like he's been trimmed with pinking shears)...I don't know about wolves refusing to look people in the eye. Someone sent me a link of wolf/people interaction and they WERE looking each other in the eye. Not what I had thought either, but maybe that is about first meeting? Greylin wasn't doing it back then, it's just in the last couple days. Hope he's not challenging me!

You should see the weird way he walks. When they walk they walk on their toe tips, although when they stand their feet are fully flat, no cat-paw thing like dogs. So they kind of go up on their toes to walk and then throw their feet forward. The result is that his whithers go up and down like 2" with each step, a rocking horse motion. Reminds me of the cowboy waltz in a way.

I haven't EVER seen a dog walk like that. Anybody?

Wow, look here! This is an EXACT photo of Greylin's eyes! lots of black eyeliner, and the membrane inside is coal black like this. Same color iris. This photo really surprised me when it opened.

www.flickr.com/photos/danihernanz/3661175714/ 

VomMarischal, kinda funny if you ask me, they did find someone who was able to handle him and locate a forever home for him, so from their point of view it was a success. Now that they have your number they will call you for their next "problem child".

Those yellow eyes give it away
Always,
Cee

You're right, too--they got me, right? Hey there's a sucker born every minute!

Eyes that would give a GSD breeder nightmares! Plus smallish, slanting ears. By the way, he is in a size large fursaver already.

What you said about him walking on his toes, is what  I quoted above from a website about wolves.  If he does  that, than I'd say he's definitely part wolf.  I'm glad he's an easy going sort, I don't blame you  for being a little nervous I would be too. :)

RS, I thought that meant stayed on tiptoe all the time, when it's really only for part of the stride. When he is standing still, the toes are all harefooted. Then he like pinches them as each foot takes off.

He's getting more and more comfortable around here, and more and more demanding, too! GIMMEE PETS AND HUGS NOW! FEED ME NOW! LET ME IN! He likes the routines, it's pretty funny. Loves the dog door. He also likes that the young man next door to me takes him jogging!

 I've worked with wolves (I used to work for a vet that dealt with wildlife) and your boy is certainly a lovely hybrid.  For me what says hybrid is his head size, ears, fur, frame, and legs and toes (particularly the toes and the way he stands).  If you could post video of him trotting or running I bet he also "lopes" his back held level and his legs moving more loosely from the shoulder than you see in GSDs (or dogs generally).  I wouldn't put too much stock in just the eye colour.  I have an adopted black male who I'm pretty sure is working line and pure GSD (though I can't know for certain of course), and he came to me with those same bright yellow eyes.  As he calmed down (he was obviously neglected and has behavioral issues with over-arousal) his eyes have gotten a little darker, more ambery than yellow, but they're still enough like Grelin's that I think it's just breeding outside the standard because his light eyes are striking with the dark coat.  Not all grey wolves have yellow eyes either -- sometimes they are blue or green.  (If you're curious about my dog he's pictured in my avatar.)

Hey good idea on the running video. I'll try to get some while the kid next door is running him (27 year old dad who is in LOVE with Greylin and constantly wants to take him on walks and runs--and Greylin is now really good on the leash). You are right, he moves nothing like a GSD. Looks like a whole 'nother species when he walks and trots.

Did all the wolves you worked with eventually become so easy to get along with? Is it mythology that they eventually turn on people? I have lost all sense of caution when I interact with him. I'm no different with him now than I am with my GSDs. I'm a lot more cautious with Chows and Malamutes than with Greylin. Well, I suppose those get easier to work with too, when you're around them a lot. If wolf hybrids do.

Jackal your dog has a lovely face, yellow eyes and all. Have to admit they'd have shocked me a couple weeks ago, but now they seem...normal.