My life is dedicated to helping dogs while remaining compassionate to the wide variety of dog owners.
Yesterday we had a fun contest to guess the breed results of Ace’s mixed-breed dog DNA test.
Just to be fair, I didn’t check the results until last night.
We had some very good guesses!
Most people guessed Labrador. After all, Ace looks like a Lab and he retrieves any object (literally).
Other popular guesses included great Dane, pointer and hounds in general.
Some guessed pitbull, boxer, Weimaraner, Dalmatian, mastiff and Catahoula. All good guesses!
My guess was:
50 percent Labrador, 25 percent great Dane, 12.5 percent black and tan coonhound and 12.5 percent German shorthaired pointer.
We were all wrong!
What were the dog DNA test results?
According to the Wisdom Panel Insights mixed-breed dog DNA test, Ace is:
50 percent Labrador and 50 percent “mixed breed.”
According to the results, both of Ace’s parents were mixed breeds. Two of his grandparents (and four great-grandparents) were purebred Labs. The others were “mixed breeds.”
The report said that one or more of the following breeds “could have contributed” to Ace’s mixed-breed ancestry, in this order:
German shepherd dog
Irish red and white setter
dachshund
basenji
white Swiss shepherd
So there you have it.
Do dog DNA tests really work?
My first reaction to the results was “What a scam!” followed by some good laughs.
On the other hand, I don’t know much about dog DNA, but I do know it’s very complicated.
For example, only six or seven of a dog’s genes (out of thousands) will determine his physical characteristics such as the length of his muzzle or the size of his head, according to an article from Stanford School of Medicine.
We humans tend to focus strictly on appearance when predicting dog breeds, and even my post from yesterday did just that. We simplify it too much.
As for Ace’s history, I know he was born near the small, farming town of Ada, Minn. His previous owner said he was from an “unplanned” litter from two mixed-breed farm dogs. It would make sense that Ace’s grandparents and great grandparents were also farm dogs – some mixed breeds and some purebred Labs.
German shepherds are popular dogs around here, especially on farms. Ace could very well have some shepherd in his ancestry. And as for the setter? Well, hunting is very important to this area along with hunting dogs. Perhaps at some point someone’s setter had some fun with a mixed-breed farm dog!
The dachshund doesn’t surprise me as Ace is very much a hound. And the basenji? That breed is known for its “yodeling” and Ace can sure do that!
What do you think?
I’m curious what the rest of you think of Ace’s test results. Regardless of the accuracy, it was a lot of fun!
So what do I call him now?
A Lab/shepherd/setter/dachshund/basenji mix?
I think I’ll stick with Lab mix, as we’ve assumed all along.
Ace of Spades – 100 percent mutt.
And who was the lucky winner?
Well, pretty much everyone guessed Lab or hound.
Three people guessed two of the exact breeds – Lab and German shepherd. And one person guessed Lab and Irish setter, which I’m going to count as close enough to the Irish red and white setter.
So we had a four-way tie. I selected the name through Random.org and the winner is …
Leah K.!
Congratulations, Leah! You win a $25 e-gift certificate to PetSmart!
Have you ever done a DNA test on your dog? What did you think of the results?
Note: We did not receive a free mixed-breed DNA test from any company for any reason. However, Ace did receive the test as a Christmas gift. Thank you, Tawna! Also, PetSmart did not donate the gift certificate.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, that’s a lot of breeds! I was thinking about getting a test for my mutt Madison, but now I’m not so sure, I feel like I’d be more confused about what breed she is after the test! Regardless of breed Ace is adorable and loyal and loveable (as is Madison), and that’s all that really matters, right!?
Yes, it doesn’t matter what they are. They are good dogs no matter what!
I’ve had DNA testing done on all three of my dogs (one contest ends today), and I was skeptical of the results on two of the three, but as you say, it’s not all about appearance but other traits, too, so what the heck! And as for our boy we thought was a basset hound mix, if I start telling people he’s an American Eskimo mix, they’ll look at me funny, so I’ve decided to just say he’s a beagle mix (he’s mostly American Eskimo, but there’s beagle in there too). So, yeah, just keep calling Ace a Lab mix!
Yes, who knows! The results are fun regardless! The results you received are interesting!
I did a DNA test on my dog and it was a lot of fun. She has the coloring of a German Shepherd but her face and ears don’t look like a shepherd at all. The results came back that two of her great grandparents were GS and one great grandparent was an English Cocker Spaniel. The rest were all mixed breeds which were made up of Chow Chow, Borzoi, Welch Terrier, Dachshund, and Shetland Sheepdog. I see a lot of the traits and we did it for fun so we loved seeing the results.
Interesting!
So who would guess that my dog is 50% lab? I know ’cause the mom was a purebred hunting lab and the dad was a sneaky little house dog. Dog genetics are a wonder. P.S love your website, you have a gift!
Seriously, no Great Dane? That face sure does resemble a Great Dane. Very surprising results. I don’t think the test is that reliable, other than their obvious results of Labrador.
Ah…the beauty of a mutt! I hate to think of what that poor dachshund had to do to get in the mix:/ My dogs came back with a lot of mixed breed as well. I was most interested to see if their personality traits matched the breeds listed. You’re right, a lot of people don’t know that physical characteristics are such a small part of the genes which is why most pit bulls are really mutts!
Yep, call him a lab mix! Pretty funny. I’m happy to say I know what my two girls are – Allie is 100% AKC registered champion bloodline bloodhound and Nami is 100% East L.A. pitty thing!
Awww! Love them both!
What fun! I was going to get a DNA test for my mixed-breed dog, but I’ve decided not to. I live in a place that has breed-specific laws, so I’ve decided I’m better off not knowing. He doesn’t look like an aggressive breed, and I know that interpretation of these laws is more art than science — but still. I feel more comfortable not knowing given the existence of that stupid law.
Yes, I can understand that. Apparently Ace shouldn’t be allowed in my townhome because he is a German shepherd mix, and that breed is not allowed here. Of course, the landlord is not going to enforce it because he looks like a Lab.
And I’m sure you didn’t mean to say aggressive breed, because there is no such thing
I didn’t realize that anywhere outlawed German shepherds! How odd (and stupid, just like all BSLs!). Glad Ace looks more like a Lab!
It’s not enforced, but it’s still a dumb rule.
You’re right, of course… When I typed that I was thinking of the language in the law where I live. It says something stupid like Pit Bulls and other aggressive breeds. I hate these laws.
Yes, that’s how it is worded for the rental property I live in as well.
Dang! That face looks so Dane!
I know!
Very interesting! I’ve wanted to get Zoe’s DNA run, wondering where she got her little ears from.
Here’s an article that’s interesting about Dog DNA:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/build-a-dog/ratliff-text
Thanks for the article! If you ever have Zoe’s DNA tested, you will have to let me know the results!
I had a test done on my mixed breed dog and the results were a lot of complicated terms only significant to a scientist. I was scammed for sure because there was never any mention of a breed in the results.
Yes, I would say so!
From what I understand, if the dog has mixed parentage for several generations back, you’re just going to get the results “mixed breed crossed with mixed breed.” There are genetic markers for different breeds, but with enough mixing, things get muddled. Genetic science (and science in general) is ever-evolving, and we will know more in a few years than we know now.
Very cool! I want to get Linus a DNA test. I’m pretty sure he has some Australian Shepherd in him, but besides that it’s a crap shoot. Maybe some Husky because of his curly tail, Lab, Chow Chow? I’m sure he’d probably end up with a half dozen breeds in his lineage.
By the way, Ace does look an awful lot like a Great Dane in that second picture.
I think he looks like a dane, too. People used to think he was a great dane puppy before he started getting gray hair on his face.
As an anthropologist I have only a working knowledge of DNA in humans, but enough to know that it’s a weird thing. Some traits are true Mendelian dominant/recessive – that is, you can be a carrier but not have it appear in your phenotype (physical appearance). Other genes are more complex and are carried on multiple loci.
I remember reading that the “small dog gene” can be accounted for by a single mutation (DNA recombination happens all the time, so mutations are not exactly rare. You probably carry a few mutations in your own genotype). That explains how breeds such as the Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu can be among the 10 most ancient (closest to the wolf genetically) and still be little dogs. Although try telling my Lhasa he’s not a wolf. Just try. I dare you.
Very interesting!
Was really intrigued to see what would come out of the test results – my first bets was a lab/Great Dane mix. It is interesting to see what you get!
We recently got a rescue from a Spanish-based UK charity who rescues mainly sight-hounds and on his description page he was described as a podenco orito/kelpie cross! I think he is more kelpie, and would love to take a DNA test to see – my partner is a bit skeptical and doesn’t care about breeds he justs wants a mongrel or as we also say a “Heinz 57″ !!
If you do a DNA test, you will have to let me know the results!
I just did a DNA test on my newly adopted dog Stanley, this past December. The shelter said he was a chihuahua mix. He looks like a little German Shepard. I have a pure chihuahua and they do look similar.
Well.. The results were 100% chihuahua! Whether it’s true or not, it was fun and we love him no matter what breed he is.
That is interesting!
He’s so adorable, regardless of what he is.
Thank you!
Of course!
Hmmm…his flash (white is rather big , actually, compared to purebred labs and breed standard for same and that.. I wonder if that’s the Irish setter’s contribution.
Still, adorable. D’aww…
Give him a pat for me?
Could be! Thanks
* Flash = white on chest