Save A Dog Organisation.

[BJean]

just looked on SADS' website

and if I was looking for a puppy, I'd want more reliabilty when it came to breed identification - and yes I get it that they're a rescue and do their best

but I really don't think a family with your dog owning history (I'm thinking of your middle daughter who had a chunk of her middle lip bitten) should play 'pick the breed' (and therefore characteristics etc) when choosing a suitable puppy for their family.

as an example, (for their medium to large sized dogs, and I know you're looking at puppies)

http://www.saveadog.org.au/dogs/dogs_medlarge.asp

Leo is not a Maremma x

and

Ella is not a Lab x.

No lab in Ella.

Ella is an Anatolian x maremma.

And, you know this how?

Di

intuition.

look at leo's foreleg, slight turn of stifle, coat, body shape, ears, muzzle -

sorry to be a smart arse, but Leo is a CAO

and yes I have spoken to SADS.

And ella, take away her colour and paint her white.

ella is the poster girl for a very common product when maremma is crossed with anatolian.

(ASD x maremma always results in black or brindle puppies, they are a lot more common than people realise - only that their colour gives no hint that they be from white/fawn parentage).

Edited January 11, 2010 by lilli

[ElleAus]

Having spent some time with Ella I can vouch for her behaviour not being at all Lab like!

As to the OP, I am sorry your previous rescue's were not succesful. You now know there are no guarantee's but armed with more knowledge I hope you find the right dog for your family.