We adopted a puppy from the animal control last week (may not have been a great idea) and although they said it was a beagle mix, this puppy is growing like mad, she has the coloring of a shepard, but the rest is kind of a guess. Our vet said she was beagle and something, big help. Is there any way to determine a little better what this "mix" is? The idea was to get a medium size dog and I am concerned as she went from 9 pounds when we picked her up to 11.3 in 4 days. Her feet are not large but not little either, any ideas on how her mix can be determined? Also, we started the crate training immediately and she is adjusting but even after we take her outside she will eliminate occasionally in the house, so I have started to keep her leash on her so she stays within my perimeter when out of her crate, is that okay? Also, She goes for 15 to 30 minute walks twice a day, early in the morning and when I get home from work yet she still urinates in the crate when left alone, I have closed the gap so she only has enough room to turn and lay yet she still does it and lays in it, any suggestions? And lastly, she HATES wet grass (dew, rain etc) and will pull and tug and cry to get out of it, she will not urinate but will defecate on the SIDEWALK, will she eventually get over this or is there something I should do. I have been late for work every day since getting her because I want to make sure she gets her walk and morning excercise and am trying to prevent the wetting the crate. Not working. Any advice?

Do you have any bedding in the crate? If so take it out, and let them sleep on the bare plastic crate.

This is normal puppy stuff. Take a deep breath and maybe read the old posts on raising a puppy.

As far as determining the breeds in it's background, I think you're S.O.L. Different breeds and dogs grow at different rates, so that won't tell you too much until it's done growing. It is possible for a dogs DNA to be looked at and, with relative accuracy, analyzed for the breeds in the background. I havn't heard if this is commercially available, but if it is I am sure it would be ridiculously expensive.

Depending on a few factors...such as the age of the dog (young dogs eliminate more often than adults),how long it's crated (the duration of you work shift may be too long), how long it was in the shelter (where it was accustomed to soiling in the cage)...not to mention that there are two reasons to take the dog outside, and you have to make the distinction very clear-exercise or elimination...the routine you've established may be setting the dog up for failure.

Some friends of mine did the exact same thing as you did. Their 'Beagle' puppy from the pound grew up to be a St. Bernard dog. Start training, lol!