Use the Canine Heritage Breed Test to Discover What Breeds Your Dog Is

Have you ever looked into the face of your dog and wondered just what kind of a mutt your best friend is? Sure the vet told you he's part Beagle, part Dalmatian. But sometimes he acts like a Chihuahua and you begin to wonder.

Well, now you can find out if your hunch is right. MetaMorphix, Inc. recently launched the first commercial DNA-based diagnostic test that will determine once and for all your dog's heritage. Dubbed the Canine Heritage™ Breed Test, this simple kit is the first of its kind. For a mere $65.00 (plus shipping and handling), you can order your own swab kit. Simply complete a non-invasive swab of the inside of your dog's mouth and return the sample in the postage-paid mailer to MetaMorphix for analysis. Within 4 to 6 weeks, you will receive a certificate in the mail, outlining the different breeds that compose your furry friend.

If you're curious enough about your dog's heritage, then the Canine Heritage™ Breed Test could be a lot of fun. You may learn some surprising things about your dog. A breed you wouldn't have suspected may show up in his bloodlines. The DNA test searches for 38 different dog breeds, which apparently are the most commonly seen breeds in the US. Visit their website (www.metamorphix.com) for a complete list of breeds for which they can they test. In my opinion, the list seems a bit restrictive. It appears that many of the "popular" breeds are not included on the list. If you suspect that your dog is a mix of breeds that do not appear on the list, then the Canine Heritage™ Breed Test may not be worthwhile to you. For example, my husband and I own a mixed breed that we believe is part Border Collie and part Keeshond, however, Keeshond is not one of the tested breeds.

The Canine Heritage™ Breed Test should not be confused with a paternity test. It cannot tell you who your prize-winning pure-bred Rottweiler had a lusty affair with, even though you suspect it was with that cute but overly zealous Dachshund from a few blocks over. That Dachshund may not be pure-bred, and a DNA test performed on the resulting puppies could reveal that they are actually a mix of Rottweiler, Greyhound, Dachshund and Poodle. The Canine DNA Parentage Test, also offered by MetaMorphix, can actually verify parentage and is geared more towards verifying the accuracy of breeding records in pedigreed dogs.

One good reason to use the Canine Heritage™ Breed Test on your mixed-breed dog is to reveal the possibility of certain health problems that tend to crop up in certain breeds. Even if your dog does not look anything like a German Shepherd but the test reveals German Shepherd, you can be on the lookout for German Shepherd related ailments in your dog. Even if you choose to simply use the test to satisfy your curiosity, it might make you feel even closer to your dog than you already do.