Littlest Hobo lookalike - Page 1

I have a friend who is a big Littlest Hobo fan and would like a GSD that looks like Hobo with that reverse mask.
Any breeders having a pup or young dog with that Hobo look?

It's very hard to find dogs like those used in the Littlest Hobo movies anymore. Only pet or working bloodline German Shepherds have the maskless GSDs like Hobo. Your friend should look at Sarrloos Wolfdogs, as they are nearly identical to the dogs in the Littlest Hobo. The Sarrloos Wolfdog was made from German Shepherd x wolf crosses and today has very little wolf blood, but looks like a wolf still. Kinda funny really, as the first German Shepherds came from breeding herding dogs crossed with wolves which is where they got their sable coloring from.

Hi Lunastar,
Thanks for the information regarding the Sarrlos Wolfdog.The Utonagan/Northern Inuit/Tamaskam dogs have also been suggested.
My understanding is that Mr. Eisenmann claimed the Hobo dogs were purebred, although I have heard that some Shiloh Shepherds have London in their pedigrees.
Realizing that recessives are forever, maybe a Hobo lookalike would turn up along the line in a litter.
If that were to happen I would appreciate a contact for that breeder. I found a photo of a reverse mask dog on the
Internet, three GSDs lying down in a dog run, a white one, a black & tan and the reverse mask in the middle.
The reverse mask dog in that photo is the look my friend would like.

Unfortunately I have no source for that photo.

Have you done a forum search there are several topics on the Hobo type dogs.

Thank you

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJybw43_rmdOG7gurdIgm0EVXDBuJwAjPOxLpgTxiiHtxnTzsV_g

Duplicating the Littlest Hobo look is not something you'll find with most GSD breeders. There are some out there that occasionally produce maskless or reverse masked puppies, like myself...but I think the exact Littlest Hobo coloration may be something that you'll need to seek a breeder that has produced that specific coloration from a specific breeding in the past and get on a waiting list for a pup from THAT breeding. I've produced maskless and reverse mask puppies myself, none that look exactly like the Littlest Hobo though...yet. I've compiled information on my website from what I've researched if you'd like to take a look:

 

http://www.pioneergermanshepherds.com/masklessgermanshepherds_reversemaskedgermanshepherds.html

 

I have also noticed that the reverse mask markings do not always last into adulthood. Depending on the pup, that means that while they may have a reverse mask as a puppy, but when they grow up...it will dissapear and a dog would most likely be totally maskless, and possibly lack a mantle as well.

 

Here is an example pup from one of my breedings, he's not a reverse mask but is a maskless sable - he takes after his grandfather. Maskless is a recessive gene, both parents have to carry.

For some reason the link I posted isn't working properly, here it is...hopefully it works now.

 

http://www.pioneergermanshepherds.com/masklessgermanshepherds_reversemaskedgermanshepherds.html

 

Thanks Gennie, your web-site has a lot of interesting information.

Not so uncommon if one seeks breeders who collect the recessive gene traits that exist in the GSD gene pool. My son knows a pup recently acquired by a family that fits this description. Cute as all get out and ears that are a hoot! I need permission to post a pix her, but really. I could not break their heart that their incredibly cute pup with the lively spark in its eye was .... just soooo wrong for what is wanted in a To the standard, GSD.

I've seen a lot of those in Rescues. Maybe check some of them around the country.