Unfortunately the test results are often not specific enough to answer heritage questions or provide health guidance.

The science behind the tests needs more work.

How it Works
Mars Veterinary has started marketing Wisdom Panel, a test to determine breed mix through local vets.  It involves having the vet taking a blood sample and sending it to the testing lab, which then compared the DNA in your dog against a database of the DNA of 130 “purebred” breeds.  Costs can vary from vet to vet but run in the $150-$175 range.

Metamorphix is another company that has been offering DNA based testing for some time.  They have 38 breeds in their canine heritage database and offer a cheaper and less invasive mouth swab sampling technique that you can do at home.  Sampling kits are ordered from their website and you return mail them to the lab in envelopes they provide.  The cost is about $80.

Although the size of the database varies, the process at both companies are similar.  Their software compares your dog against 100-300 genetic markers and reports it’s findings in three categories.

1. Traces – which may be great grandparent and beyond, and are very small amounts with little influence on behavior and appearance.
2. Secondary – this breed has a strong showing in the DNA mix and is more influential but still makes up less than the majority of the dog’s DNA.
3. Primary – this is the breed that represents the majority of the dog’s DNA makeup.  Having a “primary breed” is rare in a mixed breed dog unless they have at least one purebred parent.  In ten reports we examined covering eight dogs, non had a primary listing.

The point here is that you probably aren’t going to get something as definitive as you would like.  You may well get a listing of traces of 8 different dogs that look and act very little like the one at your feet.  And while not satisfying from a curiosity standpoint it is not helpful creating a breed specific health care plan for your dog – a benefit that both companies tout.

And worse yet…

Test results for the same dog can be markedly different between the two companies!

We were surprised and confused by the very different answers by the two companies for the SAME dogs.

Company Response
Key executives and scientists from both companies reviewed the tests, concluded that the samples were good, that their testing process was good, and both stood by their results.  They have seen these differences before and discussed how it isnot as cut and dry as we might imagine for a couple of reasons:

• First, there is no such thing as a “pure” dog. The AKC recognized purebreds are actually man made mixes created by controlled crossbreeding to enhance certain characteristics.  So even the DNA of an American Kennel Club purebred is a mix that may vary within limits.
• Secondly the database samples are not perfect.  They are based on good sampling techniques that will improve over time with more samples.
• The software for both companies reports the breeds that have the highest statistical probability of matching the DNA from your dog, not definitive matches.

Both believe that their answers are as good as the science can offer right now.  Wisdom Panel believes their larger database yields better probabilities.  Heritage is expanding their database this spring to include approximately that same number of breeds.  But the truth remains; the tests are someone’s estimation of the probabilities – not the definitive facts that guarantee an understanding of your dog’s behavior or health profile.  The results can be answers that are as different as Daschund and Dane.

Our Recommendation
Don’t test.  Save your money.  Wait until next year and give the industry time to debug itself.  We will try again and report the results.  In the meantime, enjoy your mutts for what you know them to be – good friends and good dogs!

You can save money by reading a good dog book and making your own guesses about your pooch’s heritage, and you may be just as accurate!

For some reason they just don’t sell one of the breed German Shepherd/Husky/Springer Spaniel mix.    Don’t worry though, I put a link at the bottom of the post for the Mommy’s who are lucky enough to snag this purse.

The purse is a bit pricey at $79.98, but I can’t imagine a doggy Mom alive that wouldn’t absolutely love it.  The purse is full of detail, even the zipper has a breed specific charm on it.

The purse is available for dog Moms of the following breeds: Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Dachshund, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier, Black Lab, Yellow Lab, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Pomeranian, Poodle, Pug, Rottweiler, Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Sheltie, Shih-tzu, Springer Spaniel, Westie, Yorkshire Terrier.

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Enjoy the CanineGames.com free screensaver.  This screensaver has over 70 gorgeous dog and puppy photos to decorate your desktop, and best of all it’s 100% FREE!

The CanineGames.com screensaver has tons of high quality dog photos.  Terriers, Spaniesl, Wolfhounds, Beagles, Mix Breeds, Huskys, Dachshunds, Dalmations and more!  Big Dogs, Small dogs, and yes puppies too!

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Now at age 13, Lucas moves a bit slower from arthritis (after having a TPLO done on both knees), but you can still see the excitement in each of his steps and with every Easter egg he finds.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hi, my name is Lucas.  I’m a 12 year old German Shepherd, Husky, Springer Spaniel mix breed.  My mom is always dressing me up in embarrassing stuff.  But I guess I’ll keep her since she keeps me in treats and does lots of fun stuff with me. 

She takes me all over the place.  I even went to the movies to see Blair Witch Project, I didn’t think it was scary, but I did like the popcorn smells.  Plus the sticky floor was really tasty!  So next time you’re at the movies, leave something tasty on the floor for me. 

I’ve got loads of stories to tell, so be sure to keep a look out for my “Lucas Fun Facts” on the bottom of every page.

Aggressive behavior occurs when a dog is asserting their dominance.  Be it over food, a kong, or even a person. 

Curbing bad behavior is attained by setting clear boundaries for your dog.  They want to know their place in your family pack.  It is important to communicate clearly with your canine.  If you sometimes let your dog on the couch and sometimes you don’t, then you are sending a very mixed signal to your dog.  This will cause great frustration for your pet.  Set the boundaries and keep to them.  Your dog will be glad to know where they stand.

Common behavior problems dog owners have vary from home to home.  Feeding time is where many problems occur.  Feed your dog after your family has eaten.  The pack leader always eats first, by feeding your dog before you and your family is a clear way to tell your dog he’s the boss.  Most dogs will begin to get increasingly pushy at dinner time be it by over assertive begging or barking.

Some owners complain of their dogs mounting them.  This is your dogs way of letting you know they own you.  They are alpha (the leader of the pack) and you are omega (the low ranking member of the pack).  Mounting should never be encouraged – it may look funny to see your small dog hump a guest, but you are sending your dog the absolute wrong message.  When this action occurs you should react right away in a language your dog will understand.  Try pinning your dog.  This entails lying your dog on it’s back with it’s chest facing upwards. Hold your dog down by it’s upper chest/neck area (this is how dogs show domination – it’s how every dogs mother has put them back in line).  While gently but firmly holding your dog down they will most likely yelp and carrying on.  Do not fall for this.  It’s their way of throwing a temper tantrum.  No one likes to be dethroned and they will tell you so.  Hold them in this position until they calm down and avert their eyes from you.  Once you achieve this you will have established dominance and will be recognized as the new alpha.  If you let go during the tantrum you have just lost and will remain omega.

Communicate with your dog in a way they will understand.  Never hit your dog, this tells your dog absolutely nothing other than to fear you. 

Hitting your dog is never the right thing to do.  If you find yourself calling and chasing your dog around the yard or neighborhood for hours and finally catch them do not hit them.  If you do you are simply telling them that by coming to you they are sure to get hit.  I wouldn’t come to you either, would you?  Instead try the reel method.  Go outside with your dog on a leash (I like the flexi retractable leads for this) let your dog walk out to the end of the leash then call them.  Do not repeat your command.  Simply start reeling them in like a big fish.  Once reeled in give them great praise (even if they pulled and fought the whole way).  After praising them let them go back out to the end of the lead and call them again.  Repeat this every time you and your pet go for a walk.  Soon they will be coming right when you call them.  Much nicer than screaming and chasing them around.

Treat your pet with kindness. If want a happy and well adjusted member of the family be good to your dog and he/she will be good to you.

Spend time with your furry friend.  Enjoy your time together, go hiking or take a class – be active with your dog.  There are classes for anything you could think of.  There are obedience classes (both beginner and advanced),  agility classes, clicker training, flyball, dancing, and even doga (yoga with your dog). If you have an interest in any activity, you can bet there is a class out there for you and your companion.