The lookalike pairs
These are the confusions that matter, because in most states each pair carries different size limits, seasons or daily bags. Every one is settled by a single check that takes seconds.
Tricolour drop-eared mixed dogs are labelled beagle routinely. The ear length and white tail tip are the checks.
Usually a docked or naturally bobbed tail, heavier coat, and a squarer build. Border Collies have a full low tail.
Small erect-eared mixed dogs get labelled Chihuahua routinely, and chihuahua mixes are among the commonest shelter dogs in the southwest.
Erect ears, a fox-like head and a much stockier body.
Drop ears, a curled tail over the back, and a rounder head.
Malinois are square in outline rather than rectangular, lighter-boned, fawn with a black mask, and shorter-coated.
Black-and-tan mixed dogs with erect ears are labelled German Shepherd routinely.
Goldens have a longer feathered coat and a feathered tail. A Labrador's coat is short throughout and the tail has no fringe.
'Pit bull' is applied to a wide range of unrelated dogs on appearance alone, and the label is wrong more often than not. It has legal consequences in some places, which is why guessing it matters.
Black or yellow medium-large short-coated dogs are labelled Labrador constantly. A Labrador has a thick otter tail and a dense water-resistant double coat.
Black-and-tan mixes are labelled Rottweiler on colour alone. The pattern of the markings and the heavy build are the checks.
Much larger and heavier, with a plumed tail waving over the back and brown eyes — blue eyes disqualify a Malamute.
Husky-type mixes are extremely common. Without the build and tail carriage, it is a guess.