Are you looking into DNA testing for your dog? You may have a mixed breed dog and wondering what dogs contribute to this mix. All DNA tests can tell you what breeds make up your dog’s mix, but they can also tell you much more information about your dog.
These are some common things that you can learn from a Dog DNA testing
- The breed of your dog
- Confirm Genetic Lines
- Likelihood of Developing certain diseases
- Food and Environmental Allergy Issues
- Hidden Traits your Dog may have
- Personality and Behavioral Traits
- Age of Your Dog
You may be wondering why you want to know all this information about your dog. Keep reading, and we will explain how knowing all this information can benefit you and help your dog live a long and healthy life.
What Is DNA?
DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. DNA is found in every person. This is the code that makes each person different. These strands of DNA contain genes that are passed on to their offsprings. Since they get one set of genes from their mother and one set from their father, making them unique, even dogs from the same litter will have different DNAs.
These tests examine this DNA and match it with a database of thousands of other dogs to determine what breed your dog may be. Also, they use these tests to see if genetic markers are present, indicating that your dog is predisposed to many different diseases.
7 things that you can learn from your Dog DNA test
Once you get the genetic test back from your dog, there are many possible things that you could learn. These are a few of the popular reasons that people have their dog’s DNA tested and what you may learn from your test results. Every DNA test is a little different in what they include, so the test that you use may not tell you all this information, but many do include a lot of useful information on your dog.
The breed of your dog
If your dog is a mixed-breed dog, a DNA test can tell you what breeds of dogs contribute to the mix of your dog. This is great to know so you can:
- Look out for potential diseases that are common to the breeds,
- Know how to feed your dog. Some breeds of dogs tend to gain weight very fast. Knowing what breed of dog that you have will help you determine if your dog’s diet needs to be strictly monitored.
- Know how big a puppy may be. Some people will DNA test a dog so that they can learn the breeds of dogs to help determine how big a dog maybe. This is popular in shelters who are trying to adopt mixed-breed puppies.
Confirm the Genetic Lines
If your dog is a purebred dog, these tests can be used to confirm the genetic line. If your dog’s parents and grandparents have been DNA tested, you can use your dog’s testing to find out who their parents and grandparents are.
This can also help confirm that your dog is related to a popular dog who may have won a championship. This information is helpful if you plan on breeding your dog. If you are not breeding your dog, it is still fun to boast about your dog’s famous family member.
These DNA tests can even help identify your dog. Each dog has its own unique set of DNA. This can be used if your dog ever gets lost, and you need proof showing that this is your dog.
Tell you the Likelihood of Developing Certain Diseases
Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to a certain disease. If you know what breed of dog that your dog is, you know what disease they are likely to develop.
Certain DNA tests also have a health component and can give you an overview of possible disease traits that your dog may have. Some test has over 200 different traits and disease that they will test your dog for.
All of this information can give you an idea of future health issues in your dog. You even can monitor your dog for the development of any signs associated with these issues. The earlier you detect and start treatment for an issue, the better the outcome for your pet.
Food or Environmental Allergies
Some DNA tests will also screen your pet for food and environmental allergies. Knowing what allergens your pet has will help your dog live a much happier life. Certain foods can cause your dog to be very itchy and have gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. Knowing what food to steer away from can help keep your dog from developing allergy issues. You may also consider testing your dog for allergy using dedicated hair or saliva tests at home.
Some dogs can be allergic to certain plant pollens. If your dog is allergic to a certain plant or grass, knowing this information can help you not plant these plants in your back yard where your dog will also be playing every day.
Hidden Traits that Your Dog Has
Some dogs carry a trait for a certain hair color or another desirable trait. Other traits that some DNA tests can show are body traits like erect ears, height, and weight. If you are going to breed your dog, this will be helpful information.
These DNA tests can help detect if your dog is a carrier for a certain health issue. Certain herding dog breeds are sensitive to ivermectin. If your dog carries one of these gene mutations, learning about this can save you money and prevent life-threatening issues.
Bedlington Terriers are known for copper toxicosis. This is where their liver does not properly remove copper from their body leading to lead toxicity and sometimes even death.
Knowing all the facts about your dog will help you prevent many health issues or emergency vet trips.
Personality and Behavioral Traits
Certain dogs have a certain personality and behavioral traits. These are all linked back to their DNA. Genetic testing can help determine if your dog is going to be outgoing and love an adventure or if your dog is going to only like a few people and love to snuggle on the couch.
Even just knowing the breed make up of your dog can help with personality traits. Some breeds are very energetic, while others are very lazy.
The Age of Your Dog
While this is very new to many DNA tests, a certain DNA test can tell you your dog’s age. This is very helpful in shelter dogs. Small dogs, after they are a few years old, look the same until they start getting grey hair. This may not occur until the dog is 10 or even older.
Knowing the age of a dog is very popular in shelter situations where the age of a dog can help them get adopted much quicker. Most people want to adopt a younger dog who will spend many years with them were some older dogs will have health issues and may not live as long.
Why Would You Want to Tests your Dog’s DNA
Knowing what breed your dog is will help you know what diseases to look out for. If your dog’s breed is known for a particular disease, yearly or bi-yearly monitoring for this issue will allow you to catch this disease earlier.
It will also let you know of any health risk that your dog may have or allergies that your dog may have. Knowing all this information about your dog can help your dog live a long and happy life.
Having your dog DNA test will also let you tell people what breed your mixed breed dogs truly is. Any time that you are at the dog park, and someone asks you what breed of dog you have, you will be able to tell them that based on the DNA testing what breed of dog that you have.
DNA testing may even lead you to own other breeds of dogs that you may never think that you would have owned. Many people may want to get another dog just like the one that they have. If your dog is a mixed breed dog, knowing what breeds of dogs your dog is will help determine what breed makes up the parts of their personality that you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Doggie DNA test Costs?
A DNA test can cost anywhere from $60 to $170+. Usually, the more expensive the test is, the more information that you will learn. Some test companies have a veterinarian on staff that will discuss the test results with you and discuss any potential health issues that you should look out for in your dog.
Is a Dog DNA test accurate?
Most dog DNA tests are fairly accurate. Some state that they are 95 to 97% accurate. While not all tests are created equal, some test has a large database that they use to determine the breed of your dog, personality traits, and potential health issues. As far as all the DNA tests that I have seen, they are accurate on the mix of dogs that I would have guessed.
How is a DNA test done?
A DNA test is a very easy process. You can do this at your house without the need to go to a vet. Most dog DNA test kits come with a swab to swab the inside of your dog’s cheek. Your dog may not want to sit still for this, so you may need a friend or family member to help you hold your dog still.
After you have swabbed the inside of your dog’s cheek, you then put the swab back into the container that they send with the kit and mail this back to the company. Usually, after a few weeks of processing, they will send you an email with your dog’s DNA test Results
Final Thoughts on DNA Test for Your Dog
There are many things that you can learn from your dog’s DNA test. These seven things are great pieces of information about your dog. They can be very beneficial and fun facts to know about your dog. This information can also help you keep your dog healthy and happy for many years.
If you have had your dog DNA tested, let us know your thoughts on the tests and all the fun information that you have learned in the comments below.