Do you have a lovable mutt but aren’t sure what kind of canine he or she is?
You’re not the only one!
Many who have adopted mixed breed dogs from shelters wonder about the background of their four-legged friend.
Why Dog Breed Identification is Important
There are many reasons why it’s good to know your dog’s genetic background and genealogy, including:
- Understanding Behavior. Much of a dog’s personality traits and little quirks can be explained (at least in part) by their doggy genealogy. Whether your dog likes to bark, dig, or herd, many behaviors can be better understood with dog breed identifier tests.
- Weight Prediction. Dog breed identity testing can help predict the adult expected size and weight of your puppy. This allows you to plan ahead and better understand what your dog will need for the future, as well as what a healthy size will be.
- Prevent Inbreeding. For purebred dogs, dog breed identifier tests can help prevent inbreeding and ensure genetic diversity.
- Health. Dog breed identifier tests can help you better understand your dog’s genetic composition, as well as what health risks your dog may be at risk for due to his genetic makeup. Some breeds are much more prone to certain diseases and sicknesses than others. Knowing your dog’s breeds can help you become proactive in preventing possible health threats and ensure you dog stays healthy.
- For Fun: Lastly, understanding your dog’s genetic identity can be tons of fun! Of course you love your mutt regardless, but it’s still interesting and amusing to discover your canine’s great grandparents and understand his or her family tree!
How to Identify a Mixed Breed Dog
The truth is, appearance is not reliable for identifying a dog’s breed.
Many owners will attempt to decipher their dog’s breed identify through visual cues – whether cocked ears, fluffy tails, or snout shape. But ultimately, visual identifiers cannot be trusted.
Even vets who have years of experience cannot properly identify a dog based on physical traits alone. In fact, studies have shown that visual identification of breeds in dogs is only accurate about 25% of the time!
Just as a small child can look more like his grandparents than parents, dogs can inheret visual attributes of breeds that don’t necessarily correlate with their closest relatives.
Let me explain why…
You see, when it comes to your dog’s physical appearance, there’s much more happening under the hood than you may think.
The problem with visual identification is that some breeds have physical characteristics that exist largely as recessive traits. For example, Yorkshire Terriers have many recessive traits. So even if a mixed breed dog has mostly Yorkshire Terrier DNA, he may end up looking like a completely different breed, even if the other breed makes up only a small part of the dog’s DNA compared to a Yorkshire Terrier.
Other breeds have traits that are more dominant. Irish Wolfhounds have dominant traits, so your dog could end up resembling an Irish Wolfhound, even if he has only a small amount of Irish Wolfhound DNA.
Ultimately, what a dog “looks” like is not an accurate description of a dog’s genetic makeup. A dog’s real breed identity can only be discovered through testing or well-organized paperwork.
The Best Method For Dog Breed Identification: Dog DNA Tests
When it comes to truly understanding your dog’s genetic background, your best option is a dog DNA test.
Thankfully, dog breed identifier tests don’t cost a fortune and are easy to do in your own home!
Buy a kit from a reputable dog DNA test lab like Wisdom Panel 2.5, and they’ll help you with everything you need to do.
1. Purchase Dog DNA Identification Kit. Purchase a dog breed identification test kit (such as Wisdom Panel Premium or Embark).
2. Get Dog DNA Sample (Totally Painless). Once you’ve placed an order, you’ll receive a test kit in the mail. You’ll need to get a small DNA sample from your dog to send to the lab. This is really quite easy – just use the simple cheek swab kit included in the package (the kit provides step by step instructions).
3. Return DNA Sample to Lab. Seal up the cheek swab DNA sample and send it back to the lab.
4. Receive Dog Genealogy Report. Within a few weeks, you’ll get a full report on your dog’s DNA and genealogy!
We hope this article has helped you better understand dog breed identification and how you can find out the genetic makeup of your mixed breed dog!