This has been most entertaining, but you haven’t answered the really burning question – who is going to put their hand up and admit that the slipper in little Alfie’s mouth is theirs!

oooh but more puppy pictures please – he is georgeous

Alfie is now 6 years old and although we have his paperwork he is very different to your standard CKCS, he is slightly bigger than the average – a bit taller and longer and loves going out and about be it in the fields (typical spaniel there) or into town to make new friends.

He has a doggy friend who is Bernese Mountain dog and it is so funny seeing them together as he looks like her a little bit but smaller!!

We will be putting some more pictures of him on here but more recent photos, I think there is one that may be a puppy picture tho.

CK

The little tuft at the front where Winston’s ears meet his head is a giveaway that he’s a Cavvie. Aslo note the hair on his head and back. It shows a slightly more coarse hair that does not lie straight, which is a sure sign of wavy hair to come. Also, Winston’s eyes are ever so slightly more rounded.

Now, let’s compare that with the slipper thief and the linked picture (thanks for that too, Katie). As you probably know, there are some slight and subtle differences in puppies. Those are things that breeders of show dogs, or those raising puppies while closely adhering to breed standards, assist in determining whether puppies will be adopted out as show or working stock, while others are adopted out as family dogs. Some breeders require that those who will not be shown in the ring or agility trials, or for hunting stock, be altered (neutered/spayed), usually via means of contract. Many follow up on those contracts, which will state that if certain rules are not followed, they have legal right to take the dog back.

Sorry for the long explanation. It was meant primarily to remind us that not all puppies look exactly alike. There are many other pictures of Swissies available on the internet that do look very much like our little slipper thief. There will be slight differences between some of them, but still they all have more similarities with each other than with other breeds.

I also asked a breeder of GSMDs to look at the picture of Slipper Thief. They said it was very likely a Swissie, but to also compare with pictures of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies. I did. I’m a bit more familiar with Bernies and though the differences between Swissies and Bernies are much fewer than with CKCSs, there are subtle differences, including slight subtleties in snouts and hair. Bernies do have slightly more coarse hair, which grows a little longer as they mature, but does not curl like that of the Cav.

I can say with 95% surety that our little slipper thief is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Knowing that there are going to be slight differences in puppies that can make them look almost exactly like another breed is why I’m leaving the 5% uncertainty. Bernies and Swissies do appear to share similar bloodlines.

This is what a Swissie would look like at that age: Link… the structure of the muzzle and body is different and the distribution of markings is different.

The muzzle of the puppy is going to be shorter than an adult. The one pictured in the LOL is more rounded than a Cavvie pup. Even at that age, a Cavvie pup will have some upturn of the nose.

The colouring is spot of for a tricolour Cavvie:

http://www.puppydogweb.com/breeders/pic_images/cavalierkingcharlesspaniel_wright5.jpg

The “eyebrows,” colouring, even general expression are spot on. Also notable is the slight bluish glint in the eyes when they are that young, which disappears around the time they are fully weaned.