Padfoot's Breed

[annoni-no.livejournal.com]

Rowling never specified what breed of dog Sirius' Animagus form was, and 'a bear-like black dog' doesn't do much to narrow the field of possibilities. However, if we assume that the transformation closely reflects the wizard's personality, and perhaps reinforces it, I think I might have identified our mystery breed.

Meet the Russian Newfoundland, also called the Moscow Water Dog:

http://www.easypetmd.com/doginfo/moscow-water-dog

The result of a breeding experiment crossing Newfoundlands, East European Shepherds, and Caucasian Shepherds to create an all-purpose work and rescue dog by the Soviet Army during the 1950's, the Russian Newfoundland is now extinct.

What was this breed like while extant?

"This new breed proved to be an excellent swimmer, as well as a vigilant, trainable and intelligent shoreline sentry dog, and well able to withstand arctic temperatures and freezing water."

Strong swimming skills and high tolerance of freezing water - escaped from Azkaban by swimming the North Sea.

Intelligent - his teachers acknowledged him as bright, however much trouble he caused. The Marauders' Map is nothing to laugh at either.

Vigilant – before he was addled by Dementors he was certainly more attentive than James during their assault on Snape.

Trainable – this is the crux, isn't it? We don't know much about the dynamics between Sirius and James, but Peter was able to play him like a harp, and even Remus could control him when he bothered to exert himself. So, it seems that he was eminently manageable by those who knew him well and who he considered 'pack.'

And the Moscow Water Dog was infamous for being very selective about who they would acknowledge as pack, and how hostile they were toward strangers.

How hostile?

"...when set loose to rescue a panicked and drowning sailor, it was the breed's nature to swim straight to them and attack them in the water. A terrifying experience for the victim, who if they did not drown fighting off the dog would then likely try and drown the dog in order to defend themselves from the onslaught of gnashing teeth."

I'm sure those Muggle policemen in the prequel could sympathize deeply. As could Snape, and Kreacher, and....

In summation:

"As it would turn out, the Russian Water Dog was too much working dog and not enough rescue dog, the breed was aggressive and took very poorly to strangers, regardless of whether they were drowning or on land."

Yes, I believe that fits Sirius rather well.

Comments

[annoni-no.livejournal.com]

It makes sense if we assume that Dumbledore has been working to dumb down Hogwarts' education in general. Ignoring the excuses compelling reasons for his hires, consider the quality of the teachers Albus has introduced to and maintained at Hogwarts:

Divination: Sybill Trelawny
Background at time of hire: No teaching experience, potential alcoholic,one True Prophecy to her name
Ability: Incompetent

Care of Magical Creatures: Rubeus Hagrid
Background: No teaching experience, no O.W.L.s, long-time assistant gamekeeper/primary gamekeeper. The year before his appointment he sent two second year students directly into a nest of Acromantulae. The year before that he accepted and then attempted to raise an illegal dragon egg, and then compounded his crime by allowing first year students to cover up his mess for him. As a student he attempted to raise an Acromantula in the school.
**Students repeatedly injured during lessons due to inadequate safety precautions, Dumbledore took no action.
Ability: Incompetent

Potions: Severus Snape
Background: 21, no teaching experience (possibly a student tutor), committed quadruple agent against a murderous psychopath, qualified wizard with N.E.W.T.s and clear aptitude for his subject. His oldest prospective students may well have witnessed him be publicly stripped and humiliated, as well as being aware of his general boyhood reputation as a loser and outcast..
Ability: Competent

DADA: Quirinus Quirell
Background: Young, one year teaching experience (Muggle Studies), was known to have been co-opted by Voldemort during his Grand Tour to gain DADA experience. (Voldemort had every interest in impairing students' Defense education, and would be primarily focused on the Stone anyway - which put all students at risk of being caught in a crossfire between Voldie/Quirell and the rest of the staff.)
Ability: Incompetent

DADA: Gilderoy Lockhart
Background: Known by Dumbledore to be a glory hound and a fraud who had assaulted other witches and wizards, raped their minds, then stole credit for their deeds (nor did Dumbledore ever report this last to anyone in law enforcement).
Ability: Incompetent

DADA: Remus Lupin
Background: Prior teaching experience, incompetent prefect, (former?) friend of escaped convicted mass-murderer Sirius Black.
**Later unhelpful in the investigation regarding Black's whereabouts and ability to enter the castle. Dumbledore refused to remove him or even put him under close surveillance despite circumstantial evidence he was helping his old friend. (Problematic because if he sought out Lupin specifically for help in cornering Black, he could have consulted him away from the school - he was absent often enough anyway. Moody would have been a safer choice if it was Harry's welfare he was primarily concerned about. Maybe he was hoping Black would kill Harry - Horcrux had to go sometime.) After he nearly killed three students and a fellow teacher by neglecting his Wolfsbane Potion, it was Snape who ensured he was removed from the school, not Dumbledore.
Ability: Competent at teaching subject matter

DADA: Alastor Moody
Background: Retired Auror, former teacher in Auror training program, known for being excessively paranoid and responding violently to provocation.
Ability; Crouch successfully masquerading as him seems to have been considered competent.

DADA: Severus Snape
Background: Highly successful potions professor, quadruple agent, etc...
Ability: Competent