Dog DNA Test

lkellen · 12-05-2012, 10:33 AM

Has anyone given their dog a DNA test? What would be the best to buy? I found a "Wisdom Panel DNA Test" at Petsmart, but wanted some opinions?!

My girl is supposedly mixed with Malamute-but I don't see it..

TimberGSD2 · 12-05-2012, 10:53 AM

We had a free DNA test sent to our clinic. We decided to use it on the vets pit bull. She came back as being a basset hound. I don't have much faith in them.

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 12-05-2012, 10:59 AM

Long but good info!
Dog breed genetic tests put to the test - VIN

Also, why it makes this less than believable: http://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/li...ds/dna-results/

This post on a shelter medicine website where they showed pictures of dogs, the DNA results, and the shelter staff guesses as to breed, but they presented it as if the DNA results were definitive. But that doesn't seem like it is so.

A friend who is a scientist explained to me why they are not fully accurate but I didn't completely follow it!

msvette2u · 12-05-2012, 11:12 AM

An adopter of ours had their dog tested and he came back part Saluki.
Um...yeah, because there's Saluki's running everywhere out here in the country.
I'd save my $$ if it was me, too.

Freestep · 12-05-2012, 11:23 AM

I recently had a woman bring me what looked like a Labradoodle. She'd had the DNA test done and it came back Poodle, GSD, Irish Wolfhound, Golden Retriever, and some kind of Terrier.

She was convinced the test was accurate and even told me how the dog's physical and behavioral traits could be traced to each breed. "That's the Terrier in him", she'd say when I remarked about the coarse wiry hairs in his coat, and "that's the Retriever in him" when I talked about the soft cottony hairs in his coat.

Here's the dog... his matting was so extensive that I had to peel it off little by little with the clippers, and it came off in one big piece. The owner was clueless about that, too.

Marnie · 12-05-2012, 11:58 AM

The good news is that DNA has traced 70% of all European men back to stone age hunters. The bad news would be that all dogs could be traced back to a few common ancestors. Problem is, these canine DNA reports link dogs to certain modern breeds instead of the ancestors of these breeds.

These tests may be so good that they pick up obscure dogs that were in the ancestry while men still lived in caves or they may be just flat out wrong. My sister has littermate Weimaraners, very typy dogs with flawless AKC pedigrees and AKC registrations. Their DNA came back reporting these dogs were a mix of breeds including 5% Fila Brasileiro and 10% Scottish deerhound, and 15% Entlebucher dog. What are the odds that there would be any of these rare breeds and what are the odds that the ancestry would be different in littermates. If the DNA reports were worded a little differently, I would not object so much. They could say your dog has 15% the same ancestry as the Entlebucher dog breed. I could believe these dogs had a common ancestor but not that my sister’s weimaraners had sires, grandsires or great grandsires out crossed with these breeds.

lkellen · 12-11-2012, 01:57 PM

Thanks, I decided I'll save my money- I love her regardless!

Anitsisqua · 12-11-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msvette2u

An adopter of ours had their dog tested and he came back part Saluki.
Um...yeah, because there's Saluki's running everywhere out here in the country.
I'd save my $$ if it was me, too.

In defense of the test, the fact that Salukis are such an old, breed could lead to residual traces of their genetic structure in more modern breeds.

FlyAway · 12-11-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkellen

Thanks, I decided I'll save my money- I love her regardless!

Yeah, only do it if you have money to spare and for entertainment purposes only. I had a dog come back with both St. Bernard and Shih Tzu! (among others)

SueDoNimm · 12-12-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanKBBMMMAAN

Also, why it makes this less than believable: http://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/li...ds/dna-results/

This post on a shelter medicine website where they showed pictures of dogs, the DNA results, and the shelter staff guesses as to breed, but they presented it as if the DNA results were definitive. But that doesn't seem like it is so.

A friend who is a scientist explained to me why they are not fully accurate but I didn't completely follow it!

Some of those are results are so ridiculous! Particularly dogs 93 and 119. I've considered testing my little Chihuahua/terrier mix dog (I'd probably do it if was like $10) but judging from that her results would probably come back as Bulldog, Tibetan Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound, and American Staffordshire Terrier.

It looks like if the dog is a mix of any more than two purebreds the results are completely off.

12-05-2012, 10:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
lkellen Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 291	Dog DNA Test Has anyone given their dog a DNA test? What would be the best to buy? I found a "Wisdom Panel DNA Test" at Petsmart, but wanted some opinions?! My girl is supposedly mixed with Malamute-but I don't see it.. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by lkellen; 12-05-2012 at 10:34 AM. Reason: adding a picture

12-05-2012, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
TimberGSD2 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,040	We had a free DNA test sent to our clinic. We decided to use it on the vets pit bull. She came back as being a basset hound. I don't have much faith in them. __________________ Christina Kya - GSD 7/15/00 Phinneas - Min Pin 2/4/08 Milla - Orithia Z Diehlomov 2/10/12 TJ - GSD 2/27/99-8/7/11

12-05-2012, 10:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 22,839	Long but good info! Dog breed genetic tests put to the test - VIN Also, why it makes this less than believable: http://sheltermedicine.vetmed.ufl.edu/li...ds/dna-results/ This post on a shelter medicine website where they showed pictures of dogs, the DNA results, and the shelter staff guesses as to breed, but they presented it as if the DNA results were definitive. But that doesn't seem like it is so. A friend who is a scientist explained to me why they are not fully accurate but I didn't completely follow it! __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org Help a rescue: wish some big dogs a Happy Howliday! www.bigdogsbighearts.blogspot.com Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. Albert Schweitzer

12-11-2012, 01:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
lkellen Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 291	Thanks, I decided I'll save my money- I love her regardless! __________________ Remington "Remy"(3/4/12) - My little "pistol" came into my life April 17th, and I haven't been happier since! -“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”

12-05-2012, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
msvette2u Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 11,005	An adopter of ours had their dog tested and he came back part Saluki. Um...yeah, because there's Saluki's running everywhere out here in the country. I'd save my $$ if it was me, too.

12-05-2012, 11:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Freestep Crowned Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,201	I recently had a woman bring me what looked like a Labradoodle. She'd had the DNA test done and it came back Poodle, GSD, Irish Wolfhound, Golden Retriever, and some kind of Terrier. She was convinced the test was accurate and even told me how the dog's physical and behavioral traits could be traced to each breed. "That's the Terrier in him", she'd say when I remarked about the coarse wiry hairs in his coat, and "that's the Retriever in him" when I talked about the soft cottony hairs in his coat. Here's the dog... his matting was so extensive that I had to peel it off little by little with the clippers, and it came off in one big piece. The owner was clueless about that, too.

12-05-2012, 11:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Marnie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 466	The good news is that DNA has traced 70% of all European men back to stone age hunters. The bad news would be that all dogs could be traced back to a few common ancestors. Problem is, these canine DNA reports link dogs to certain modern breeds instead of the ancestors of these breeds. These tests may be so good that they pick up obscure dogs that were in the ancestry while men still lived in caves or they may be just flat out wrong. My sister has littermate Weimaraners, very typy dogs with flawless AKC pedigrees and AKC registrations. Their DNA came back reporting these dogs were a mix of breeds including 5% Fila Brasileiro and 10% Scottish deerhound, and 15% Entlebucher dog. What are the odds that there would be any of these rare breeds and what are the odds that the ancestry would be different in littermates. If the DNA reports were worded a little differently, I would not object so much. They could say your dog has 15% the same ancestry as the Entlebucher dog breed. I could believe these dogs had a common ancestor but not that my sister’s weimaraners had sires, grandsires or great grandsires out crossed with these breeds.

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