Why Is It Important To Know A Mixed
An estimated half of all dogs are mixed-breed, and each of these breeds is characterized by unique behavioral traits. When or trying to solve behavior problems, knowing what breed characteristics influence your best friend’s behavior can help you and your trainer leverage those characteristics to produce a more pleasant household environment.
Additionally, when taking your dog to the vet, informing the doctor of your dogs breed makeup will help them tailor the correct diet, and preventive medicine regimen. All of this leads to a more informed owner and a healthier and happier dog.
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What Is A Akitainu Or Japanese Akita
The Akitainu were famous and beloved in Japan and elsewhere even before the story of the worlds most loyal dog was told.
The breed was originally developed for hunting big game in Japan, such as deer, wild boars, and even bears.
As such, itâs not surprising to hear that the dogs of this breed are large, with strong muscles, thick bones, fiercely protective instincts, and an alert demeanor.
The Akitainu got their name, Akita, from the prefecture in Honshu of the same name where they were first bred.
Akitainu have always enjoyed a valued position in Japanese society, and they were initially only allowed to be owned by samurai.
During the Tokugawa era when the samurai were at the height of their power, the Akita were even considered to be the companion of the samurai, thereby marking them as the samurai among dogs.
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What Looks Can We Expect When Cross Breeding Dogs
Though you might be able to make an educated guess, the way a crossbreed dog will actually look is a gamble. The problem when you cross two totally different breeds together, no matter what fancy name you give them, is that they do not breed true to type. You will get a wide range of looks, coat types, attitudes and personalities. Taking on one of these puppies is often a voyage of discovery and an unpredictable one at that.
Why Dog Breed Identification Is Important
There are many reasons why its good to know your dogs genetic background and genealogy, including:
- Understanding Behavior. Much of a dogs personality traits and little quirks can be explained by their doggy genealogy. Whether your dog likes to bark, dig, or herd, many behaviors can be better understood with dog breed identifier tests.
- Weight Prediction. Dog breed identity testing can help predict the adult expected size and weight of your puppy. This allows you to plan ahead and better understand what your dog will need for the future, as well as what a healthy size will be.
- Prevent Inbreeding. For purebred dogs, dog breed identifier tests can help prevent inbreeding and ensure genetic diversity.
- Health. Dog breed identifier tests can help you better understand your dogs genetic composition, as well as what health risks your dog may be at risk for due to his genetic makeup. Some breeds are much more prone to certain diseases and sicknesses than others. Knowing your dogs breeds can help you become proactive in preventing possible health threats and ensure you dog stays healthy.
- For Fun: Lastly, understanding your dogs genetic identity can be tons of fun! Of course you love your mutt regardless, but its still interesting and amusing to discover your canines great grandparents and understand his or her family tree!
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What Is A Dog By Any Other Name: How To Identify Dogs Breed Just Got Easier
Thanks to technology, its easier than ever to figure out what breed is my dog? Dog DNA tests take all of the guesswork out. You can find out what different breeds make your pet unique, down to percentage.
If you enjoy guessing, you can take quizzes, tests, or use an app that will match your dogs photograph to similar breeds. If you get a Dog DNA test or a close match on the photo app, share on Twitter. Your Twitter share may help someone who has a similar mixed breed to your dog, you may even find one of your dogs relatives!
Some breeds were bred to perform a task. For example, dog breeders designed the Sporting dog to help hunters, some in the water and some on land. To create the ultimate Sporting dog, Hounds used their sense of smell to track animal trails and their speed to chase prey.
Working dogs were used to guard the home, watch over children, and use their strength to rescue people or pull carts and sleds. Terriers would rid houses and barns of rodents. Toy and nonsporting groups were companions.
Hence, dogs will still have their natural breed instincts, and if theyre not being met, can lead to behavioral issues. Some dog breeds are more prone to different injuries and diseases, which is important to know.
Figuring out what breed of dog you have, can help make you and your dog happier. If you dont have a dog yet, do research on different breeds to find one that matches your personality and lifestyle.
How To Take The Dna Ancestry Test On Your Dog
DNA Ancestry Test for Animals is a new and innovative way to find out the breed of your dog. This test will tell you what breeds are in your dogs DNA, which can help you identify your dogs personality traits and behavior patterns.
A canine breed kit is an easy way how to find out your dog breed you have. It contains everything needed to take a DNA test from the animal, including detailed instructions on how to use it.
They are available in different sizes and provide everything needed for the test, including a swab and return mailer.
The kit also contains information on how DNA testing can help determine if your dog has a genetic predisposition to a certain disease.
In the last decade, pet owners have been able to use DNA testing to determine if their dog has a genetic predisposition to a certain disease. This has allowed owners to take preventative measures before it becomes too late.
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Best For Purebreds: Embark Dna Test For Purebred Dogs
Embark’s DNA Test for Purebred Dogs combines the reliability and thoroughness of Embark’s genetic testing with data specific to purebred dogs. Since Embark checks more 220,000 different genetic markers, covering about 8 percent of your dog’s total genome, they can offer more detailed data than other services, which is particularly important if you’re trying to learn about your purebred dog’s genetic lineage.
As with Embark’s Breed & Health Kit, the Purebred Dogs test analyzes more than 210 genetic health risks and more than 35 physical traits. However, the test for Purebred dogs also offers genetic diversity information, more specifically your dog’s genetic coefficient of inbreeding, or COI. Embark’s Purebred Dog test can pinpoint where your dog’s COI falls in relation to both your dog’s breed and all other dog breeds. While inbreeding purebred dogs can maintain or emphasize characteristic traits of the breed, too little genetic diversity can have negative effects, particularly when it comes to fertility .
Price at time of publish:$159
Genetic Or Dna Testing
The best way to determine the genetic makeup of your mixed-breed dog is with the use of genetic testing. These tests examine your dog’s DNA, looking for the presence of specific DNA sequences that are associated with certain breeds.
All domesticated dogs have nearly the same genetic material. A Great Danes DNA is nearly identical to a Yorkshire Terriers DNA. However, there are small genetic differences that have been identified and associated with specific breeds. These differences form the basis for genetic testing.
Companies that perform canine DNA testing have tested thousands of samples, from dogs of known breeds. This testing has allowed them to accurately identify small genetic sequences that are associated with specific breeds. When your dogs DNA is analyzed, similarities to these identified, breed-specific DNA sequences can be used to identify your dogs breed.
While there are many different genetic testing providers, Wisdom Panel and Embark are two of the most popular options.
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How To Tell What Breed My Dog Is
There were hundreds of breeds of dogs before we added the increasing number of designer breeds to that list.
Unless you work with dogs on a regular basis, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what breed is staring up at you. Thankfully, when we look closely there are some key things that give it away:
Find Which Group Your Pup Belongs To
Your dogs behavioral and physical traits have made it easier for the AKC to group breeds into specific categories. Each category theorizes what your dog should be best at doing and also some of its main physical features.
Each group has been categorized by their ancestry as well. So, new mixes are constantly being recognized and added to the index at the AKC. This means you have a greater chance of finding your puppys breed by honing in on a specific group.
There are seven different categories as follows:
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Behavioral Characteristics Can Be Helpful
Like physical characteristics, behavioral characteristics can sometimes provide a clue about a dogs breed. If you have ever heard a Beagle or Basset Hound yodel, you could probably recognize that sound anywhere!
A mixed-breed dog that makes similar sounds may also contain one of those breeds, because dogs that demonstrate breed-specific behaviors may be more likely to belong to that breed.
Dogs that have been bred for protection, such as Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers, tend to be cautious around strangers and may be protective of their families.
Dogs that have been bred for herding, such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds, may be seen herding small children and other pets in the home.
Retrievers love a good game of fetch, while other hunting breeds tend to chase anything that moves.
Examining your dogs behavior can provide additional clues about your dogs breed. However, its important to keep in mind that behavior is not an accurate predictor of breed. Behavioral clues may give you hints, but should not be regarded as a source of definitive answers.
How We Recognise New Dna Tests
Were happy to consider a breed club’s request to add a new DNA test to our list of recommended tests or tests available and would normally need a formal request from the relevant breed health co-ordinator, or a majority request from the breed clubs. In most cases, the test would need to be run by a laboratory already recognised by us. All DNA tests must be able to record a definitive result for an individual dog, and must be based on robust science. We continue to work alongside breed clubs, breed health co-ordinators and canine health professionals in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs.
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One Morphology Gotcha To Keep In Mind:
A single gene causes short legs, and 40+ breeds carry it. For example, the Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, and Yorkshire Terrier often carry the trait. But most people dont consider such breeds when they think short legs.
Besides the above, be sure to write down any unique features, as well as distinct personality traits and behaviors. Does your dog love water? Do they try to herd people and other animals? These are great clues!
Once you have your list, its time for some investigative work. Start searching online for dogs that match your pup. Once youve identified a few potential candidates, browse our breed library for dog facts and photos to learn more about them.
Guessing by looks alone can be fun, but its not foolproof. After all, some genetic traits are recessive, so your pup may not show visible signs of every ancestor.
The Best Way To Figure Out Your Dogs Breed
To demonstrate the differences between these four approaches, lets use Koda, the pup pictured above, as an example.
Like most dog owners, Kodas parents first used visual and behavioral cues to guess his breed background. They predicted he was a mix of:
- Labrador Retriever
- German Shepherd
Next Kodas parents took the Whats my dog? quiz, which returned the following breed results:
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
As you can see, things are already getting a bit inconsistent! But waitit gets better. The Dog Scanner app predicted Koda was a mix of:
- Perro de Presa Mallorquin
- German Shepherd
Eager for a more definitive answer, Kodas parents finally used a Wisdom Panel Premium dog DNA test. And after evaluating his genetic profile, the test revealed Koda was part:
- Norwegian Buhund
As you can see, each of the visual identification methods guessed some breeds correctly. But they several missed others or even wrongly predicted a few.
However, the dog DNA test provided the most complete, most accurate picture of Kodas breed backgroundallowing his parents to understand him better. Suddenly, it was clear where Kodas protective tendencies came from . And his dense coat was no longer a mystery .
As added benefits, Kodas DNA test ruled out life-threatening genetic health conditions and gave his parents ideas for activities and training techniques hed enjoy.
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What Is The Historical Story Of Hachiko
In 1924 in Tokyo, Japan, a university professor, HidesaburÅ Ueno, would often take the train from Shibuya Station to Tokyo Imperial University while accompanied by his dog HachikÅ.
When he came back at the end of the workday, he was always greeted by HachikÅ, who would leave the house on his own during the day and wait patiently for his owner prior to the trains return at the station.
This goes to prove how intelligent the Japanese Akita is: HachikÅ got the station, train platform, and time right every single day.
But one day, Ueno didnât return â he had died while giving a lecture at the university.
Obviously, there was no way for HachikÅ to know his best friend would never return home, and he dutifully went to the train station to await Uenoâs return.
HachikÅ became known as the most loyal dog because every single day, he waited at Shibuya station for his owner to return, waiting in his customary spot at the time the train that would have brought his owner home arrived.
Incredibly, HachikÅ continued this ritual until he himself died, not far from the very spot he would wait for his owner, almost 10 years later in 1939.
Prior to HachikÅâs death, one of Uenoâs students, Hirokichi Saito, who was familiar with the Akitainu breed, had noticed the dog at Shibuya station.
One day, he followed the dog to someone who told him of the relationship between HachikÅ and Ueno.
Predicting Based On Physical Characteristics
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Three Things To Keep In Mind When You Get Your Results
1. Your dogs test results arent their destiny
Dog DNA testing can help satisfy our curiosities. Is there a purebred in my mutts past? Does my furry giant possess terrier genes? Is my petite pup hiding German Shepherd genetic markers?
While the possibilities are exciting, its important to remember that your dogs breed isnt their destiny. Whatever your dogs makeup, be sure to remember that breed isnt everything after you get those breed results. Dog breeds that have been stigmatized in the past, such as the Pitbull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers, might alarm pet parents if they show up in a pets breed breakdown. However, plenty of evidence shows that these breeds make great pets with proper socialization, just as much as a Lab or a Chihuahua.
In sum, knowing your dogs breed can help you learn more about your beloved canine, but it wont always explain everything like why they stare at you all the time
2. Dog DNA tests can give clues to your dogs ideal lifestyle
Knowing your dogs breed doesnt just satisfy a pet parents curiosity, but it also provides useful information. As VCA Hospitals note, knowing the breed mix can help an owner develop a more accurate diet, wellness, and preventative care plan for their pet.
Different breeds lend themselves to different lifestyles. For instance, a Labrador Retriever, bred to help fishermen, lives to visit the local swimming hole. Beagles display their hunting instincts with intense food motivation.