Honestly, what breed do you think this dog is?

[Giselle]

There's a reason behind this, but I first want to know what you all think first.

What breed do you think this dog is?

[shais_mom]

my uneducuated and probably way off guess is a Belgian something - maybe malinois?

[cali]

looks like a GSD mix to me...the skull is really broad though and reminds me almost of some sort of mastiff...

[Taz_Zoee]

GSD is what I thought from the first picture. But then looking at the body, it is certainly a mix. But I would venture to guess GSD is part of that mix.
The last pic almost had me thinking Akita, but probably not.

[critter crazy]

Reminds me of an GSD/Akita mix I had once!

[angelbow20]

It looks like a German shepard mix...

[sumbirdy]

I see chow, german shepard, and something else...can't quite put a name to it.

[BC_MoM]

Hmm.. I at first was going to say German Shepherd. But then his body looks very Malinois to me. But his head... it looks a bit wonky for a Malinois!

[crow_noir]

I'd agree... Belgium Malinois. (It was my very first thought.) (More accurately... "The smooth Belgium Shepherd that looks like a standard GSD." ...where on i proceeded to Dog Breed Info. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/belgianmalinois.htm )

If we were going for mixes i'd guess GSD/Boxer

[SaveThePoundDogs]

I'm almost 100% sure he's a Belgain Malinois x German Shepherd.

[wolfsoul]

He could be a mal mix, and I wouldn't even say it's impossible for him to be a purebred. It is hard to tell with working lines, they can vary so much. There are breeders out there that do breed for heads like that, because most people do believe it gives them a much better bite. Not incredibly uncommon to have a mal with such a short coat, but more common to have a thicker short double coat.

Here are some working mals that are quite similar.



To me he has more GSD qualities. His shoulders are placed high, like a GSD. His pasterns and feet give me the impression of a GSD. His front legs are structurally placed in a better spot, and I find GSDs to achieve this more than Belgians do. His knees look like they turn out which is more of a Belgian thing (and a very bad thing too). He also has long legs which is definatly not a GSD thing, it's more Belgian.

Impossible to tell -- I would rely on his temperament and behaviours at this point lol. If he's a malinois he'll probably always be in motion, trotting this way and that. He'll probably have a strong tendency to carry things in his mouth at most times. He'd probably have stronger prey drive than most dogs. He might use his front feet alot, especially in play. He won't whine often but he could have a very loud and sharp bark (that will hurt your ears). He could be very reactive, and would always be watching and knowing everything that is going on around him -- very alert.
GSDs, especially in kennel situations, I find to be very very noisy. Lots of whining, lots of sniveling. They feel very sorry for themselves LOL. I've never found this in a Belgian -- they are generally very quiet dogs that bark on occasion, and it almost ruptures your eardrums every time.

If you give me his information I will post on Belg-L and contact the AMBC rescue coordinator. If they won't take him (usually they are good about it, I know they've taken in GSDs on occasion), I have a friend in California who is the BSCA rescue coordinator, and he has a big heart -- he may be able to help out.

[LydiaO]

I'm thinking a Malinois, too...?

[GSDluver4lyfe]

My first guess would have been GSD/Mal.

[Suki Wingy]

Well, he actually looks a lot like a friend's dog who I met at dog training classes. I asked if she was a Mal mix and she said it was an AKC GSD bitch who was blowing coat. (and obviously not bred for conformation)

[Mobizo]

I honestly think that it's a Belgian Malinois, but I could be wrong.