So, what breed is Jake anyway?

[Jersey Devil]

About 4-5 months ago we adopted a dog from a family who were not allowed to have pets in their rented home. Jake is 2 years old, weighs 35 pounds.

He came with 'papers' stating that he was purchased for $400 from a Florida pet store and that he is 1/2 Jack Russell Terrier and 1/2 Pug, but after taking one look at him I thought, "No way!" He is much bigger than a Jack or a pug and, except for a curly tail, looks almost exactly like a Wheaten Terrier. My vet agrees with me and also says he sees absolutely no Jack Russell in him.

I've done a lot of research online and except for getting a doggy DNA test (which I really don't want to pay for), the best I can come up with is that he is either a Wheaten without papers or a Wheaten mixed with "something" else. All the literature on Wheatens describes him as a perfect match for Wheaten behavior: wild, jumping, licking greetings for absolute strangers (the "Wheaten Greetin'"), a circular spin when he's happy or excited, mad dashes around the house and yard, always wanting to play, friendly with every single human he meets and every other dog (who doesn't snarl at him), doesn't bark much at all, hates rain and being wet.

Whatever he is I am very happy with him and was wondering if any on this board have an opinion. I am so curious that I might at some time get a DNA test, but frankly it is an expense that I don't need right now and would appreciate any input from other posters.

[Why Syzygy]

1. Do you know this site >

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/softcoatedwheatenterrier.htm

[Jersey Devil]

2. Thanks

Very informative website.

[Louisiana1976]

3. Whatever Jake is, he's cute! I love shaggy dogs.

[njlib]

4. What a cutie!

He's what I call a "Benji dog"!! He's adorable...congratulations!

[david13]

5. I hate to sound like I'm not answering your question, but I don't think

it should matter. He is just real good looking. And anybody should be very proud to have him as their companion.
Benji dog. That is what I would say. Benji type.
dc

[Why Syzygy]

6. That's very appropriate for a foster dog!

Higgins
Main article: Higgins (dog)

The real name of the dog who first played Benji was Higgins. He was trained by Frank Inn, who found him in an animal shelter in Burbank, California. He was a small dog with dark golden-brown fluffy hair, black ears, a black muzzle, and big brown eyes. Inn wrote that he believed Higgins to have been a cross between a miniature poodle, a miniature schnauzer, and a cocker spaniel.

Before playing Benji, Higgins had a recurring role in the popular TV show Petticoat Junction in the mid 1960s, as did Edgar Buchanan, who also starred in the first Benji movie. Higgins and Edgar Buchanan also guest-starred together as partners on the television series Green Acres. Higgins made his first movie, Mooch Goes to Hollywood, in 1971. He then retired, but came out of retirement to play Benji. He was 15 years old when he made the first Benji film in 1974 and he did all his own stunts. He retired again not long afterward, and his daughter replaced him in later movies.

Benji #2

From 1977 to 1989, the part of Benji was played by a daughter of Higgins. Before she was chosen to be the second Benji trainer Frank Inn referred to her as Benjean, but once chosen to carry on the mantle of canine superstar, her name immediately became Benji and she was called nothing else. Benji #2 looked quite a bit like her father, being of a similar size and golden-brown colour, with those iconic big brown eyes, but her hair was softer and fluffier than his and she had a distinctive irregular patch of white fur around her nose on her muzzle. For her first movie, which she began at a young eleven months old, her ears were dyed black on the tips to make her look more like the original Benji, but as she grew older, her ears darkened and the dye was no longer necessary.

Benji #2 starred in three Benji feature films: For the Love of Benji (1977), Oh Heavenly Dog (1980), and Benji the Hunted (1987). She also starred in four prime time television specials for ABC, Benji's Very Own Christmas Story; a television documentary about how dog actors are trained and what they can do, Benji at Work (1980); a short film showing her performing an unusual underwater stunt, Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland (1981); and "The Phenomenon of Benji" which had the highest ratings of the week in its initial airing. Benji #2 also starred in a Saturday Morning science fiction television series for CBS Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince.

Benji #3

The most recent Benji movie, Benji: Off the Leash!, was released in 2004. The dog portraying Benji in this movie is a female who was adopted from a shelter in Gulfport, Mississippi, by Benji creator Joe Camp after a three-month national search. She lives with Camp and his wife Kathleen, as does Benji's co-star Shaggy who played the role of Lizard Tongue in the film. <2><3> Also see podcast "Benji Movie Memories" for clips from all three dogs playing Benji at www.Benji.com.

Benji #3 was found in 2001 during Joe Camp's nationwide search for a new Benji. The original Benji was rescued from a shelter and caused over a million dog adoptions because of the original Benji movie according to the American Humane Association. So Joe Camp wanted to recreate that mission. Benji #3 was a stray from the back streets of Pass Christian on Mississippi's Gulf Coast, she was picked up by Harrison County Animal Control, brought to the Humane Society of South Mississippi in Gulfport on September 29, 2001, and adopted by the Camps on November 15. A second Benji-type dog, adopted from a Chicago shelter, played Benji's side-kick Lizard Tongue. A third Benji-type dog, found in a Los Angeles shelter, became an "understudy" and then went to live with the film's co-producer, Margaret Loesch.<4>.

Benji #3's next film will be with wild mustangs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benji

[david13]

7. Higgins the Benji dog would be a great name. dc

I thought Benji was gray, tho. But I didn't see the films.
dc

[Jersey Devil]

8. yeah, definitely, this guy is a hoot

I love this dog, not matter what he is.

[XemaSab]

9. We had a DNA test done and I'm not sure it was very accurate

:shrug:

[mopinko]

10. he looks exactly like my daughter's dog, except he is a little bigger.

including the behaviors you mention. zeke is an adorable little boy that everyone loves.
i tell people he is a patterdale terrier, or a lakeland terrier. both sort of mean- some kind of varmint chasing little dog, still the same after a couple centuries of farmers making puppies to chase varmints.
i know there are real standards out there about what those terriers are supposed to be, but mostly people don't know that. if they seem smarter than that, i just say that he is a wire haired terrier mutt.
my daughter insists that curly tail is a schnauzer thing. schnauzer- terrier- same thing.
but, as others say, suck it up. a good mutt is harder to find than most people think.

[ehrnst]

11. Might be some Glen of Imaal Terrier in there

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_of_Imaal_Terrier

[BrklynLiberal]

12. It is called ADORABLE!!!

[elana i am]

13. i see border terrier

with fur that's grown out. maybe something else, but i see lots of border terrier.