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When it came to adopting my sweet Molly, it didn’t matter to me what breed she was. All I knew was that she was lost and homeless. Actually, truth be known, she looked quite pitiful. She was scrawny, covered in fleas and ticks, her eyes were red-rimmed and I wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. I had no idea what breed of dog she was and it really didn’t matter. We have come a long way since that day and she is now a beautiful dog. Over the years I have learned her personality and traits. While it may seem odd that now she is 6 years old to want to know for sure what breed she is, we wanted to know just for the sake of knowing. That’s where DNA My Dog comes into the picture!
About DNA My Dog
DNA My Dog has been helping dogs learn their unique genetic backgrounds for almost 10 years. All DNA matches from the unique cheek cells of your dog are analyzed through their database and recorded. You get a perfect snapshot of every breed your dog has in his or her heritage. They love all dogs and their roots are in rescue so they have a soft spot for rescues!
Why use DNA My Dog?
While we wanted to know Molly’s heritage just for the sake of knowing, there are so many wonderful reasons DNA My Dog can help. From working with rescues and shelter, I know it can sometimes be a guessing game for the dogs waiting to be adopted.
Rescues sometimes give their best guess on what breed a dog is simply by looks. However, you can never go by looks of a dog. Sure! You may get close if most of the features match up. Regardless, you can never be accurate and it is a crap shoot! Knowing more information about the dogs in shelters help improve their chances of adoption!
Knowing their breeds can help determine certain traits the dog may have. However, it is important to note that all dogs are different. Just because they have a certain breed in their bloodline does not mean you can 100% be certain they will show those traits. Traits are traits, but sometimes their upbringing and training kicks in also!
How the DNA My Dog Kit Works
The DNA My Dog test kit comes with 2 swabs and simple instructions. It also includes an envelope to place the swabs in and a return envelope.
At first, Molly wasn’t too sure she wanted to know her heritage! Between the vet and us, we had already dubbed her as a Heeler/Pit mix as a puppy and she had been happy with that all her life! It took a little explaining that it wouldn’t change my feelings about her one bit! We knew she was a sweet lovable girl and nothing was going to change that!
After explaining, she decided maybe it was a good idea to know where she came from. Maybe she was supposed to be chasing rabbits or cattle, pointing at birds, or just being a lap dog? She was ready to know! And again, we we had to explain that just because you have the DNA of a certain breed you may not exhibit all the traits but then again they might. For example: Imagine having a dog that herds the other animals and kids but you thought they were supposed to be a laid-back lap dog? Hum! Is it some deep inherited trait? All dogs are different and the DNA My Dog is just a guideline. However, it may explain behaviors that are odd for what breed you “think” your dog is.
The test is EASY and PAINLESS and it takes under a minute. Simply swab between the gum line and cheek of your dog. Place each swab in the sample in the provided sample envelope and allow to dry for approximately 30 minutes. Then, seal and place in the return envelope and mail.
The DNA My Dog Results are in!
Oh boy! Turns out Molly has no Heeler in at all! Her results show that she is Border Collie and American Staffordshire Terrier! Go figure! I think she likes her naps too much to herd anything, but at least she now knows what she is supposed to do 🙂 On the other hand, all those kisses she lavishes on people could come from the Staffie mix!
Once they get your DNA results, they divide them up based on DNA matching tests and provide you with every level of every breed found in your dog. Your results are returned with a custom certificate stating their unique DNA composition. It is a one of a kind certificate that is suitable for framing.
What Do The Levels Mean?
My thoughts
I was certainly a little surprised with the Border Collie side of the results. I had not stopped to think that there are short-haired Border Collies! But, now that I know and thanks to good old Google – pictures of short-haired Border Collies – yep! I can certainly see a resemblance. Molly is her own self with a friendly outgoing attitude. For whatever the results, Molly loves everyone! She is more likely to lick you to death than bite!
However, the DNA My Dog shows that just because you think your dog, or those in shelters, “look” like one dog – they can be totally something different. The same goes for attitudes and traits. Just because a breed has certain traits does not mean it is written in stone. Give them lots of love, a little training, and any breed can be a PAWSOME best friend!
For me, this was a fun experiment! Molly is a wonderful lovable pup that truly loves EVERYONE! Seriously, she will lick a total stranger to death – that is all you have to fear from her! She does like to chase small critters but exhibits no herding instincts AND her favorite pastime is napping – so go figure.
Get In Tune With Your Dog with DNA My Dog!
DNA My Dog is a fabulous resource for shelters, rescues, and people like me that “just want to know for the heck of it.” By knowing their ancestry, shelters, rescues, and YOU can be one step ahead. It can help get a general idea of traits and exercise requirements. But, again, all dogs are different! The point is, maybe you are trying to make your dog one thing, but they have traits that are demanding something different. Knowing WHAT those traits are will help you become more in tune with your pup by understanding their natural desires.
Do you have a mixed breed dog that you would love to know what breeds are in them? DNA My Dog can help! It can help you understand your dog’s makeup and traits to help you better understand them! It is great for shelters to know the breed so that potential adopters can judge the traits and exercise needs of potential pets. Visit DNA My Dog today to get your kit and get started on a better understanding of your dog!