Determine Your Dog's Ancestry with a DNA Test
Happy Dog DNA
Happy Dog DNA is easy to use. All you have to do is get a swab from your dog's mouth (from the inside of the dog's cheek), allow the swab to dry, and mail it in the enclosed envelope. Happy Dog DNA cost $59.95 and there are no shipping charges. Once received the results should be ready in about two weeks. The lab will compare your dog's swab results with the lab's database samples from purebred dogs. According to Happy Dog DNA, no test is 100% accurate but they're pretty confident that your mongrel's ancestry will be discovered. "We believe that 92% of the mixed breed population is covered by the validated breeds."
So what happens if your dog's lineage is comprised of more than six breeds?
"Often when a customer receives results that show their dog is made up of six or more breeds, we explain to them that when there are that many breeds at such low levels, the dominant characteristics of the detected breeds are often not evident."
So the bottom line is, if your vet tells you that your dog is half Labrador Retriever and half Akita, he might not be correct. If you truly want to get a better understanding of the different breeds your dog's DNA comes from, have a lab perform a DNA test. Or if you're perfectly happy not knowing your dog's ancestry, that's OK too. Either way, you'll still love him.
*To read more of Bobbi Leder's work on Associated Content, click here.
Published by Bobbi Leder
Bobbi Leder is the author of the picture book, THE SECRET POLICE DOG. Leder has been published with a variety of print and web-based magazines, websites, anthologies, and newspapers. View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentInteresting article. Thanks.
Nice info
This is really neat.
Wow - didn't know this could be done. I guess the DNA test works for anyone!
Well, it might be interesting to see if the "mutt" you adopted might be a purebreed or not. :)
A new pet store we visited was offering this service with a sign that said "Find out who's your puppy's daddy." LOL
I learned about DNA testing for dogs through your well composed piece.TX
This is NEAT! I have a dog that had been abandoned, and we've always been unsure of his breed. Some say he is a Border Collix mix while other say he is a Springer Spaniel mix. All I know is that he is one great dog! ;-)