The question of should you test your dog’s DNA is sure to come up with nearly every puppy. I partnered with Wisdom Panel® Canine DNA Test to show you that it’s easier than you think to learn valuable information about your dog!
We rescued our puppy from the local SPCA when he was 2.5 months old. At the time, his info card labeled him as a German Shepherd. There was only one other puppy left from his litter, and he was completely golden and about twice the size of our little Louie!
You never would have guessed they were brothers, and it made us even more interested to find out his background. A few days after we adopted him, we took him to the vet that partnered with the rescue. The vet was stumped as to his genetic background, but really didn’t think he was a German Shepherd.
So began our journey over the last 16 months! We’ve since been to our local vet, a dog trainer, and groomer, pet store, dog events in town and had other vets and vet techs brought in to meet him.
No one- and I seriously mean NO ONE- can figure out what type of dog he is! We’ve heard everything from Lab, Pitt, Boxer, German Shepherd, Terrier and more. Until I partnered with , I didn’t realize that even professionals who try to guess the breed of a dog are often correct only 25% of the time!!
So when asked if I wanted to partner with them on a DNA test for dogs, I jumped at the chance! Aside from my curiosity, there are some really valid reasons why it’s important to know the genetic makeup of your beloved pup.
Why You Should Test Your Dog’s DNA:
It’s a very simple test that is easy to perform at home with no extra help! Just a couple swipes of a cotton swab on the inside of your dog’s cheek and you’re set!
We followed the easy, step-by-step directions on the inside of the Wisdom Panel test kit, sent our swabs back in in the pre-paid box and had our results back in just under 2 weeks!
Knowing your dog’s mix of breeds can alert you to any future medical issues. You’ll know if you have a breed, for example, that frequently has hip issues or is prone to fatty liver deposits. This is important information to provide your vet with as early as possible, so they can provide the proper care for your family puppy. Being proactive is never a bad thing!
It will also help you prepare for life with your dog by knowing his or her expected full-grown weight and height.
In addition to knowing the physical characteristics to be on the look-out for, knowing the exact genealogy will also help you know what breed characteristics to be aware of. Is your dog a breed that loves to run away? Chase flying animals (we have one of those puppies!)? Is your dog suitable to apartment living or owners who work full-time? Is your dog typically good with children? Other animals?
Wisdom Panel has the largest breed database on the market and covers 250 different breeds and varieties and uses 1,800 markers for breed and disease detection! Their proprietary algorithm makes more than 18,000,000 calculations before coming up with the final family tree for your dog!
Our Louie came back mostly American Staffordshire Terrier and Australian Shepherd! Two that we never even considered that seriously!
Knowing these things about your dog, will also be helpful when it comes time to train him! Save yourself the frustration and expense of trying to train your dog using any random technique. Know your dog’s background and it can tell you what type of training and reward method would work best with him.
Your Wisdom Panel results will go into great detail about the breeds your dog tested positive for. It’s amazing how much you can learn about your specific pup just by reading these results! It was like a light bulb moment with things clicking into place!
With the , you will also receive a Certificate of Authentication that specifically outlines your dog’s family tree. There are stories coming out of apartment buildings, dog parks and more that are now requiring documentation of your dog’s breed since certain breeds are, unfortunately, not always allowed. Regardless of whether or not you think this might come into play for you, it’s always a good idea to have documentation on your dog that is verified.
While the scientific algorithms and screenings used by the Wisdom Panel are highly involved, the process for the pet owner is incredibly simple! There is no blood sample needed and no need to even leave your home. A simple swab on the inside of your pet’s cheek is all it takes. We had both of our swabs in a matter of just minutes!
Such a small task for something that could bring your pet immeasurable benefits as you provide for it’s future health needs!
Do you know the specific breeds present in your pet? Be sure to to find out how you could receive this information in just a few short weeks!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mars Veterinary. All opinions are 100% mine and the above images are the exact results I received back from my dog’s testing!
Amy Anderson
Wednesday 19th of October 2016
That is super cool! I need to test my Yoshi - I think she's a scottie dog and something else but I'm not really sure! I"ll try this!!
Emily
Wednesday 19th of October 2016
This is so cool! I had no idea that a service like this existed for dogs. We have a Bichon mix; she is mostly Bichon (in appearance, behavior, etc) but I'd love to know more about her DNA.
Heather
Saturday 15th of October 2016
This is simply amazing! What a great service, he's adorable!
Mary Beth
Wednesday 12th of October 2016
This is such a great and interesting idea. I don't have any pets right now (sadly) but when we get another dog I will definitely consider this.