Meet Colby. Colby was adopted by my friend Renee at about seven months of age. She came up from the south, parentage unknown. Renee was curious, and so sent off a DNA sample to the folks at Wisdom Panel® to see what they had to say about her heritage.
Here’s what came back:
The hound heritage was not a surprise. As a matter of fact, when Renee first showed me the dog’s photo on a website, I said to my friend who has always had herding breeds, “She has an adorable face, but you do know she’s probably got a lot of hound in her, right?” The “Treeing Walker Coonhound” ancestor sent Renee to this link that illustrates why the word “Treeing” is in the dog’s name. After viewing the video, Renee wrote:
Yesterday on our walk, Colby launched herself at a tree that has a notch about 6 inches above my eye level. Her front paws hit within inches of that notch. I have no doubt that, if she’d gotten to the notch in the tree she would have kept going. So, this is the kind of behavior one loses sleep over. . .
Thus, a lot of hound in her background made sense. Less obvious, however, was the contribution of Siberian Husky, American Staff and Chow Chow. As I noted in a 2013 article about DNA technology to determine canine ancestry, genetic matches below 25% are a bit dodgy, but the Wisdom Panel® results stated confidently that one of Colby’s grandparents was a Siberian Husky. You’ll note too that there’s quite a bit of “mixed breed” in there. Hold that thought.
Fast forward a few weeks, and lo and behold I get an email from a new canine ancestry company called Embark. Would I be interested in looking into their product? Sure, and I had just the perfect way to do it. Renee jumped on board instantly, and we sent off another sample of Colby’s saliva to see how the results of the two companies would compare.
Here are some the Embark results:
There’s that Siberian Husky again! Interesting. But wait… what else? 30% Labrador and 16% GSD? Now that’s a switch. Looking at photos of Colby, this result seems reasonable too if you think about it. We all know (thank you Scott and Fuller) that first, second, third and fourth (etc) generation dogs can look very much like their parents, or very little like them. And certainly Colby’s face, size and ears could indeed be the result of a lot of GSD and Labrador genetics. But what do we do with the fact that we have two companies, both with some serious scientific cred behind their names, coming up with significantly different backgrounds for one dog?
I put that question to Dr. Adam Boyko, who is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Sciences at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He’s the man behind a lot of the work featured in the well-known National Geographic article on canine genetics, and the founder of Embark, so I started by asking him about the different results about Colby’s heritage.
Boyko suggested that the primary reason the companies got different results derives from the different methods they use. Embark states it uses a much larger number of markers than Wisdom Panel® (over 200,000 markers compared to about 1,800 in Wisdom’s) and looks at chains of markers (like a “bar code,” he said) instead of individual markers. However, it’s not just about the markers. I also spoke at length with Dr. Angela Hughes from Wisdom’s parent company, Mars Veterinary, and she explained that they view the analysis as based upon three things: 1) The number of samples used in the analysis, 2) the number of markers identified and 3) the algorithm used to churn out what it all means. Wisdom Panel® looks at fewer markers, but it has a larger data base (12,000 individual breed samples versus Embark’s 6,000), and a much larger sample of breeds sampled over all, or about 250 breeds/types or varieties in total (for example, “show” Border collies versus working ones).
What are we dog owners to make of this? How do we interpret the results of these two company’s analysis of Colby’s ancestors? Besides the fact that both companies agreed on Siberian Husky, which is certainly compelling information, could it be that the mixed breeds in the Embark results are from a hound heritage, and the mixed breeds in the Wisdom Panel® are from Labs and GSDs? Possibly. I asked Dr. Hughes if that was reasonable, and she said indeed it could be true. Looking more deeply into Colby’s “mixed breed” genetics, she found evidence of “herding breed” heritage, which certainly could explain the GSD results of Embark. And what about the strong heritage of Treeing Walker Coonhound that the Wisdom analysis found? Why didn’t that show up in the Embark results? It could be, perhaps, that those genes live in their “mixed breed” category. However, it is notable that if you check on their website under “breed list,” the Embark site doesn’t list Treeing Walker Coonhound on its list, (or any kind of coonhound), which might explain why it doesn’t show up.
What I would say is that if you really, really want to know the ancestry of your dog, and you can afford it, send in samples to both companies. When both companies come back that Colby has Siberian Husky in her, it’s hard to dismiss. (And I love that none of us would ever guess that from looking at her picture. Well, maybe you did?) I have to say that Colby’s tree-climbing behavior is highly suggestive of the Treeing Walker ancestry, and I do like that the Wisdom Panel® has a larger number samples in its data base. Dr. Hughes told me that Wisdom tested 200 mixed breed dogs of known ancestry, and found that their results were 92% accurate. I should mention I failed to ask Dr. Boyko the same question… maybe we can get him to chime in on the comment section?
I can tell you that the scientists in both companies were generous with their time (I’ve only written a fraction of all we talked about), lovely to talk to and clearly believe strongly in their products. Embark is more expensive than Wisdom Panel® ($199 compared to $84.99). Both companies also provide an analysis looking for markers of genetically-mediated diseases (whose markers, by the way, are more discrete and easier to pinpoint than that oh-so-squishy “breed” category). Embark includes it in their analysis, Wisdom Panel® charges extra for it, which is in part why the general analysis is less expensive.
Here’s my bottom line: I do think there is value in looking into a mixed breed dog’s ancestry–not just from our own sense of curiosity, but also in the universal sense of gathering genetic information about a range of dogs all over the world. Who knows where that information will take us? However, this is still a young and growing science, and it’s important for us to understand what we can, and can’t, surmise from the results. I’d strongly advise anyone who gets results that seem surprising at best, impossible at worst, to contact the company. There’s a lot going on behind the somewhat simplistic information that is sent out, and if you’re interested in your dog’s ancestry, you’ll probably be interested in some of the details behind it.
What about you? Have you sent in DNA samples to any company? If you haven’t, are you curious? If you have, what about the results? We asked Colby what she thought of all this. So far, our Siberian Husky/Hound/GSD/Labrador/Chow Chow/Staffie/mixed breed adolescent is not talking.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Fall is glorious… glorious weather, glorious color and glorious skies in the morning.
I almost deleted this photo of Polly leaping up onto the wall, but the contrast between the crisp colors of the Zinnias and the fuzzy, ghost-like blur of Polly brought me back. Now it’s one of my favorite photographs of the season.
Jan says
I’ve been tempted to send in for my purebred dog’s DNA analysis just to see what these companies would say. This breed is one that has been around for a few thousand years. I wonder if the DNA for a newer breed that was derived from other breeds would pick up the ancestor breeds…I’m not talking about “doodles”, but something fairly new like the Australian Shepherd.
Ursula says
I have been wondering the same thing. I have an Australian cattle dog mix. She has red legs, chest and face, but a mainly black saddle with some white speckles across it. The black back could be a throwback to one of the breeds used to make the cattle dog; a kelpie. I always wondered if dalmation or terrier would come up also. What about dingo?
Lara Elizabeth says
I have used the DNA tests twice with results that seemed quite accurate based on my own guesses and the dogs’ behavioral and physical traits. The first was an older company that I believe was bought by Wisdom Panel. My black spitz-y looking dog came back as primarily Chow and GSD which was what I’d always suspected. I don’t recall there being many other mixed suggestions so it seemed like a pretty confident result. More recently, my little red and white rescued spitfire came back as primarily Border Collie and Jack/Parson Russell via her Wisdom Panel results, along with several other kinds of terrier and even a very-low-confidence level Pug in the mixed results. The JRT is spot-on – high prey drive, extremely intelligent, loves to jump and dig and has boundless energy. She has some herding traits as well. My current second dog is a street dog from the Bahamas known as a Potcake, and I’ve been very tempted to do the DNA testing for her even though I suspect it will be a muddy miasma resulting from generations of mixes. I have a hard time even plucking out one single breed that she resembles – true of so many street dogs, she is a medium-sized yellow & white short-coated dog. Interestingly, she jumped into a tree after a squirrel recently so I’ve taken to calling her a Treeing Bahamian Hound!
I’m always fascinated by others’ experiences with these genetic tests and am excited that there is a new one on the market!
Margaret McLaughlin says
So far I haven’t been curious enough to spend the money–or I’m just a tightwad–but I have also wondered if my Flat-Coat’s profile would show her common ancestor with the Labrador (the Lesser St. John’s Dog) & the Gordon Setter used to create the breed, & show her as a Lab/Setter mix?
I do often find myself explaining to people that no, she’s not a black Irish Setter.
Has anyone submitted a sample for one of the 19thc breeds whose origins are known?
What results?
Jan Hankinz says
We have an “Irish Wolfhound” mix from the shelter and I would love to know if there is really any Wolfhound in there. He needs an uncanny resemblance to Oscar the Grouch on Resale Street (hence his name is Oscar). He is a big fluffy 100 pound+ goofball.
Diane clingerman says
We got a dna test from our bet using blood sample from our mixed breed Candy. Looks like same format of output as wisdom. Came back German Shepherd, chow, tree walking coonhound, and Doberman! The latter was the big surprise. Like your dog, she jumps at trees to get that squirrel. She’s only 50 pounds with a fluffy undercarriage and tail so we guess that’s the chow.
PipsCompanion says
We just sent in an Embark test for our schnauzer. He has an underdeveloped/damages kidney issue of unspecified origin (genetic? Infection? Ingestion?) that I was curious about. If it can ID the source of the damage it may help us treat him and will be the first step when we get our next puppy. The test takes 8 weeks and we should learn the results in November.
Lane Fisher says
Years ago I kept having a strange reaction to a small, mixed-breed dog rescued in the South. Each time I went over to Sophie in my group class, something in her face triggered a recognition in me that was visceral and not at all conscious. “Sophie, what are you?” I asked again and again.
She was clearly beagle and something–perhaps 25 pounds but blacker and slightly broader in the torso than any beagle I’ve met. When the owners had DNA testing done, we learned what had been tugging on my conscious mind each time I greeted Sophie: I’ve forgotten the other “ingredients,” but the surprise was rottweiler. My visceral response to her gaze was rooted in the communion between my own rottie and me. Once the breed was named, I could see it right there in this little girl’s cheekbones, eyes, and chest, but until then my thinking was stuck in the realm of “small dog.”
Celine says
There’s a huge project going on (based in Cambridge, MA) called Darwin’s Dogs!! They’re looking to gather DNA samples from all breeds/mixes of domestic dogs as well as owner-answered surveys on that dog’s behavior. It’s totally free to join! The surveys are online and once you finish all the surveys, they send you the DNA sample kit for free. You do the DNA test, mail it back, and eventually they’ll get back to you with info. Plus the research will shed some light on how genetics play a role in psychiatric and neural diseases in dogs and people! Super cool science!!
Website: https://darwinsdogs.org/
Jane Keyes says
Our six month, 26 pound female was described at the shelter as a shepherd mix. She had the ears, maybe, but nothing else seemed indicative of a GSD.
When we got her results from Wisdom Panel last year it indicated, 1/4 Catahoula Leopard Dog, 1/4 Staffordshire Bull Terrier, 1/8 Boxer, 1/8 Rhodesian Ridgeback, and 1/4 Mixed Breed – Toy Group. We see the Catahoula, she has mixed eye color and some of the temperament. She also uses her front paws like a cat (also pounces) so maybe that’s the Boxer.
One thing Wisdom Panel didn’t get correct is her adult weight. They predicted 47-73 lbs and she’s topped out at a trim 30. Must be that toy in the mix!
Reina Scuderi says
I filled out the questioner from the Darwingdogs back in May of this year. I, with others in Lola’s school still have not received anything from them.
Karen A says
I got Wisdom Panel done for my dog about 6 years ago. She came back 13%-25% Chow Chow, Shetland Sheepdog and Old English Sheepdog. I questioned the results, they asked for a photo and said they would explain why the results made sense, but ultimately just refunded my money.
For the record, her mom was about 15 lbs. and looked like a Pug/Terrier/possibly Beagle mix. She was brindle. And, by my dog’s looks and behavior, I believe her father was a Australian Cattle Dog mix, so that does explain the herding background. She was rescued in Virginia and is 34 lbs., medium-length hair, double-coated brindle with prick ears.
Alexis says
We were curious about our rescue dog so did the test from DNA My Dog. The results came back level one Yorkie Terrier. The company was really receptive to my questions regarding the absence of other levels and went back to the lab to request any “background noise” that’s not reported when less then 1%. Turns out he’s 100% Yorkie. A surprise since he’s 19lbs and the point of the test was to find out the other perceived half was. The company explained it’s a mixed breed test it’s not a purebred test. He has 100% Yorkie genes anc at a minimum both his parents were half purebred. He simply only inheredited the Yorkie genes. Now when people stop us and say that’s the biggest Yorkie I’ve ever seen we can say yes he is! Love him to pieces regardless of what he is or isn’t. The irony is we always joked mentally he’s 100% Yorkie he displays all traits fully ( except size!)
Christy says
I’ve used Wisdom Panel on 4 dogs and each time it reflected either what we knew about the breed mix, or what we had suspected. We knew our Dalmatian mix had a Dalmatian mother, and that she had come from a backyard breeder where some other breeding dog had broken out of its kennel and gotten to our dog’s mom. And sure enough, Wisdom Panel came back 50% Dalmatian and 50% Springer Spaniel. Our big stout Chow Chow mix came back as Chow Chow and Rottie. Our Cattle Dog mix with Aussie speckles and herding tendencies came back Cattle dog and Aussie. With the last 2 dogs Wisdom Panel did have bits of other breeds or unknown breeds. It would be interesting to also do Ensign with our current dog to see if it matches the percentages that WP gives.
Jill says
My mixed breed dog is a fluffy brindle. He clearly looks chow, but solid pink tongue. Typical chow traits excellent guard dog, aloof. Also has high prey drive. I needed to know where his gorgeous multicolor brindle coat came from. About 5 years ago I used Wisdom Panel and sent in the cheek swab. He came back to be half chow and half catahoula leopard dog. It was spot on. Explained his coloring and his hunting instincts. They couldn’t possibly know what he looked like, and yet still people tell me the DNA tests are just a scam. Thanks for the info on the darwinsdogs!
lily flanagan says
I used the Wisdom panel to analyze my mixed breed. The 2 prominent breeds that came through are Malinois (which I don’t see at all) but also Finnish Spitz. I had never even heard of the breed Finnish Spitz and my first thought was “yeah..there are so many stray Finnish Spitz running around loose” but other than her fur not being quite as fluffy, she looks and behaves like a Finnish Spitz!
Krista says
I had a curious result from the DNA analysis of my rescue dog. He was a street dog, a lean 75 lbs., black with white socks and white neck and chest, spotted throughout the white areas, and prick ears. His test results came back as single breed GSD. I contacted the company to query the result. We re-tested with new samples and the results were the same. I was offered a refund but declined and just got the certificate with my dog’s picture, saying he is single breed. The company said that they usually have the opposite ‘complaint’ – people think they have pure bred dogs but they turn out with a mix.
Elisabeth W. says
I did the Wisdom Pro test for my mutt who had been tagged as an Italian Greyhound/ mountain feist mix at the shelter.
I like to joke that 60 % of the results are junk and 40 % are eye opening as in “I can’t believe we never thought about that”.
My iggy mix is supposedly 25% Canaan dog, 25% MinPin, one great grandparent is a bulldog, the rest is mixed with vizsla, wirehaired pointing griffon, Skype terrier, Sealyham terrier, dachshund in the mix.
Mind you she is 18 pounds, short coated and brindle.
I personally think they underestimated the Miniature Pinscher which was not on our radar but makes total sense. I can see a small amount of dachshund but the rest seems extremely unlikely.
Desiree says
I did the Wisdom panel test about 3 years ago on my 50lb black fluff ball found as a stray in Georgia. The rescue had labeled him as a border collie chow mix. Wisdom panel results showed he had 30% Korean Jindo and 30% miniature poodle with the rest being Portuguese water dog, English setter, and a smattering of other things. A year later I asked them to go back and verify because my landlord banned chow mixes – at no cost Wisdom Panel did and confirmed their results from before. The Jindo always confuses me since it’s not a typical breed in the US even!
orfan says
An acquaintance of mine had her two litter mate Mastiff mixes (the mom gave birth at the shelter) tested. One came back 1/2 Mastiff, 1/4 German Shepherd, 1/4 Brittany; the other came back 1/2 Mastiff, 1/4 German Shepherd, 1/4 Havanese. She claims she can see the Brittany in one and the Havanese in the other (100+ lb Mastiff mix). (I seem to recall that she may have tried two different companies to compare, but I could be wrong.)
I’d believe they’re both 1/2 Mastiff, 1/2 German Shepherd cross or mix. Because the odds of a GSD/Brittany AND a GSD/Havanese (which, good luck in the first place) stumbling across the same Mastiff strike me as slim.
When I got my puppy, my vet basically said, I know enough of what he is, and that I could blow 80 dollars on a DNA test, or a bag of food. I still haven’t had him tested, but get asked a lot about him. I’ve also heard tests that use blood may be more accurate, but I’m not sure which those are or if it’s true. I’ve heard the same as you wrote about which populations the companies look at vs. the number of individuals they compare, etc.
Lynn says
I adopted a small fluffy white dog with a beautiful disposition and terrible anxiety coexisting together in the most matted and allergy prone body. I was told Maltese mix. But he weighs in at 16 pounds so I was sure he had some Bichon or other in there.
Sent in Wisdom Panel and it came back pure Maltese both sides back all the way. BUT the test showed he is UK lineage which is closer to the Polish Lowland Sheepdog and much larger than the American Maltese. I am very glad I had the test done. Now I can explain to people that he is not a Maltesaurus just a different line of that breed.
Mary Beth Stevens says
I did the Mars test on Suzie, our little Tennessee rescue dog, but didn’t get much detail back. She truly IS a mutt, only showing two cocker spaniel great grandparents on one side and a Boston bull terrier great grandparent on the other side, neither of which resonated with me in terms of her looks or temperament. What DID resonate was the part of the report that talked about breed categories. In her case showing “Toy” (aha! Those Chihuahua ears!) and “Sight Hound.”. (Another aha! She runs like the wind.) One year later (simply dying of curiosity,) I researched the whereabouts of her 7 puppies and located five of them. There, lo and behold, are those cocker spaniel genes! Plus a lot of other stuff, too. We had a little meet and greet and it was completely fascinating. I created a photo collage of her and the pups and no one can believe that they all came from her! Wish I could figure out a way to include it with this posting!
Chris Redenbach says
I have a true story though I have heard more than one version of this depending upon who you listen to, but the bare facts are accurate. The new owner of a pure bred working line pup in another country sent in for DNA analysis of the pup because it looked somewhat different than the show bred versions of the same breed…I don’t know to which company. These working line dogs commonly have significant differences in physical appearance as well as temperament to the current show dogs in the breed. The color pattern on this dog happened to be a more rare color but commonly seen in the breed and there were type differences as well. The DNA company sent back that the dog had a grandparent of another breed which just happened to be another working breed originating from the same small geographical area and very easily from the same ancestral gene pool. The person who owned this dog caused an international scandal for the breeder, a person of high reputation for decades, and really hurt the person’s name and his hobby even though the supposed other breed was not in the generation for which this breeder had any ownership of the culprit dog. Meanwhile the pup in question had wonderful working aptitude and temperament but was given away to a third party for a pet. The registering body of that country was involved by the disgruntled buyer who truly believed he had been cheated. So the registering body did DNA testing of pups and parents so far as available and determined that the immediate parents were who the breeder said they were but the first generation offspring of the questionable dog (who was famous in the breed and photos were available) was long dead and couldn’t be tested. So the registering body limited the registration so it was only good to participate in events but which made it impossible for pups of that breeding to be bred and registered because they no longer had the obligatory 3 generation official pedigree. The whole thing created great friction and long term enemies. Each party was totally sincere in their belief they were honestly representing the truth. Yet the breeds in question would legitimately be expected to share a common gene poll in at least the first half of the 20th century. I am very suspicious of the ability of these companies to be accurate. This may be just a curiosity for owners of mixed breeds but can be a dangerous thing when it comes to pure bred dogs and I just don’t think there is sufficient accuracy.
Cathy says
About 7 years ago, I did a DNA test for my then newly rescued dog, who was listed by the shelter as an Aussie or Border Collie mix. It was not a Wisdom Panel test, but an another brand with the cheek swab. It came back as primary breed Rhodesian Ridgeback, Secondary breed Husky, and trace of Chihuahua. Wow, how lucky…I must have the only white, fluffy, blue-eyed herding Ridgeback in the universe! The Husky was plausible, but did not explain her herding behaviors. They did a redo, and it came out the same. Well, I got a good laugh.
A couple years ago, I decided to try Wisdom Panel on her. Their report came back with one parent as a husky mix, the other as a border collie, sheltie, and unknown mix. There you go, that made much more sense! And, to this day, I would agree with that mix of husky and border collie/sheltie. It might be fun to see what Embark comes back with on her.
I just did a Wisdom Panel on my most recent dog, a foster failure. She is clearly an Australian Shepherd mix, so I wanted to know about the MDR1 status. She came back as one parent 1/2 Aussie, 1/2 Chow mix and the other parent 1/2 Aussie, 1/2 Chihuahua mix. That’s all well and good – that makes my dog 1/2 Aussie in total and that definitely fits her high-energy, ball-driven, motion-reactive, smartie pants behavior. But, the question in our head is that she was surrendered with what we think is her momma – and that dog does not really fit the image or behavior of being the parent that is half Chow mix or the other parent who is 1/2 Chihuahua mix. I will have to convince the momma dog’s foster to do a Wisdom Panel to see which one her dog is supposed to be!
Jeannette says
Dog genetics have fascinated me for a long time, and as someone who’s lived in Alaska for nearly 40 years, the Alaskan Husky breed heritage has always been a primary interest. As one of the most pedigreed mutts out there, it was still a surprise to find out that Alaskan Huskies have a distinct DNA profile.
Here’s a good article about the Alaskan Husky DNA, with the study at the bottom of the article: https://www.genome.gov/27540617/2010-news-features-the-alaskan-sled-dog–a-genetic-breed-apart/
One of the really cool things about all the canine DNA collection and study that’s happening, is that a lot of the information is being applied to human disease studies. So, once again, our relationships with dogs are helping the wellbeing of humans.
Susan Fishbein says
I just received the Wisdom Panel results for my shelter adoptee. Apparently, he’s a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier. Who knew?
From talking with some geneticist friends, any perceived inaccuracies in older results from Wisdom Panel (or, I guess, other DNA tests) are not due to the sample test, but rather attributable to the database against which the results are compared. With time, the Wisdom Panel database has grown and become more robust and, therefore, more accurate. My friends suggested that people with older results should ask Mars Veterinary to update their report against the newer, more accurate database.
I have read studies and especially the chapter in genetics in Bronwen Dickey’s book, Pitbull, that visual identification is extremely unreliable in determining breed, especially in mixed breed dogs. Certain identifying traits in breeds, such as the prick ears of the German shepherd, degrade quickly unless that trait is specifically selected in breeding. That’s why so many dogs in shelters are mis-identified, and so many dogs are labeled as “pitbulls” when there is absolutely no American Pitbull Terrier in their genetics.
Vicki Brust says
I have a dog that came from a puppy mill in PA…..they called her a Cock-a-Chon. Had her dna done and the results came back as mostly Poodle, a touch of Dachshund and a spit of Cocker.
She looks like a Poodle but she’s not square like one.
Luanne Infanti says
I had blood drawn for DNA testing on my rescued “anatolian shepard mix” when he showed no signs of the behaviors that I expected. The wisdom panel results were 50% saint bernard, 25% newfoundland, and 25% toy fox terrier. I like to tell people that when Maximus gets stupid about something, it’s the toy breed running around in that big saint bernard brain!
Gabby says
I used the wisedom panel for my 15# terrier from a hoarding situation. She certainly acts like a terrier, and looks a bit schnauzer like around the face when her hair grows out. The only results were 1/8, at the level of great grandparents. 5/8 unknown, with 1/8 each of toy fox terrier, shih tzu, and Pekingese. The one trait all these breeds have in common is shrill alarm barking which she certainly exemplifies!! I wonder a lot about the level of inbreeding at the hoarders’. She has a leg deformity. My other dog is from the exact same hoarder and looks a bit like a rough coated Jack Russell and has some kind of neurological that puts her so off balance she can’t stand up.
Annette says
We adopted a very athletic and intelligent 2 year old mixed breed, clearly of working dog origins. We were told she was maybe a Border Collie/Whippet cross. Apart from speed and a great interest in rabbits there was nothing Whippet like about her temperament at all. We had her tested via an Australian company – BITSA (we live in New Zealand) . The results made perfect sense, 25% Australian Cattle Dog, 25 % Dalmatian. A bit of lab, staffy and just about everything else you can imagine . That explains the high energy, the herding instinct, the bossiness, the red coat, sharp mind and athletic physique! Also the odd remark that our dog looks like a Dingo. I wondered about the Dalmatian genes being part of the cattle dog make up but apparently the addition of Dalmatian and Kelpie to the cattle dog breed us a myth. Certainly Dingo did not shown up in the test. The other two breeds that BITSA doesn’t have markers for is the Huntaway as this is a NZ breed only and the American Pitbull as the breed is banned in Australia so they cannot import the genetic material they need to test for the breed. So we are completely in the dark as to whether she has ancestors of either of these breeds.
All in all it has been a very enlightening and worthwhile exercise which explained almost everything about my dog – looks, behaviour and personality!
Mary says
Thank you for the review of these two products. I have done the Wisdom Panel on my two pooches. Brandy, our 40 lb rescue, came back as half Akita half boxer. Her color is very much boxer, but fur, size and other physical features do not match either breed standards. However, her behavior is very much like what a purebred Akita would exhibit. I encourage others to read about how that genetic testing isn’t just about look but our dog’s non physical characteristics. You touched on it in your article about the treeing walker behavior. Genetics is a fascinating subject. I look forward to more of your articles!
Marj says
@Ursula There is no kelpie or Dalmatian in the Australian Cattle Dog. That was a guess by Kaleski since disproved.
Red cattle dogs have a varying amount of black hairs in their coats, and a black saddle is a common mis colour.
Gina C says
I used the Wisdom panel for my adopted “Chi mix” and the results seemed to hit the nail on the head. One side full chihuahua, the other side a mix of doxie, min pin and manchester terrier. He has the personality and behavior traits of all of those dogs. Sweet, lovey chi guy, independent terrier and crazy good hunter and killer of mice. I think the result is very accurate for him, my little Chi-doxie-min-man!
JHLN says
We’ve done it on our adopted Hong Kong dog and the results were both accurate and surprising. Most HK dogs have chow chow and shar pei in them and ours was no exception but it also turned out that she has shiba inu, GSD and Korean jindo as well, according to wisdom panel. We had to look that last one up and were surprised to see that she is a spitting image of a jindo. We’ve since had people ask us if she’s a full blooded one so who knew? We can definitely see traits from the other breeds she’s supposedly meant to be, both physical and personality wise so we’re pretty happy!
Maren says
I have a 20 lb wiry terrier mix who I assumed to be part Scottie or Cairn for most of her life. Finally got Wisdom Panel this year and it showed first-gen cross of Am Staff and mini schnauzer! Am Staff does seem to come up often in results for mystery mutts (could also be APBT, which Wisdom Panel doesn’t test for specifically), but after all she was a stray from here in Louisiana, and given the number of unwanted bully breeds constantly filling the shelters I think it’s quite possible.
We’re also signed up with Darwin’s Dogs but haven’t gotten a test kit from them yet. They had a larger response than expected, but they are still sending out kits as research funding permits. For anyone who signed up there, go to their site and make sure your mailing address is verified–that’s a step that I missed initially.
Lesley Bowen says
I have used the Mars Wisdom Panel twice. Once on a mixed breed blue merle male with striking blues eyes who I “thought” could possibly be an Australian K/Coolie as that is what he resembled phenotypically. He tested 25% Australian Shepherd, 25% Boxer, 12.5% Samoyed, and the rest was “mixed breed” that included Italian Greyhound, Smooth Fox Terrier, Tibetian Mastiff (!) and some small breed I can’t recall. What I found interesting is that the IG and Fox Terrier are in rat terrier ancestry so with the dog being from east TN, it would not have surprised me if that actually was what actually rat terrier.
The other dog was my beloved Zip who was indeed a rat terrier, but a large rat terrier who measured 17.5 inches at the withers when he stood on his tip toes to look bigger. His result? Half Jack Russell and half Rat Terrier!!! Having transitioned from Jack Russells to Rat Terriers, I thought that result preposterous. Zip could jump the moon and was superb in agility and possessed zero hunting instinct.
Still, I ordered a third DNA kit so I can test what I think is a Dorkie, but for all I know Mars will come back with the result Schnoodle!
Sandi Haessler says
I’d certainly question some of the reports posted here on the basis of feasibility of a successful breeding between a small/toy dog and a large/giant breed. Also, traits that require diligent breeding practices to retain, i.e., the desirable square outline of the poodle are often overlooked by puppy mills and backyard breeders. In practice as a vet tech, an obedience instructor and as a groomer, I’ve seen many purebreds that lacked breed type and characteristics. I would not discount a finding on the basis of a trait that has to be consistantly selected for by good breeders.
LisaW says
What I find bemusing is how the word rescue is slowly becoming a breed. “What kind of a dog is he?” “He’s a rescue.” Often, it’s all we know about the dog.
The fascination with “breed” and “breed standards or traits” to my mind is linked with the dark side of human nature. And while I’m not necessarily linking past atrocities to Wisdom Panel or Embark, those both seem like harmless fun with creative products, I do feel it’s important to check our history and our intent when we are discussing lineage and pure breeds.
Becky Garbarino says
The rescue group I work with had a litter of puppies born in a foster home. After the puppies were adopted and unbeknownst to each other, two of the adopters submitted samples to Wisdom Panel for analysis. I’ve heard that puppies from the same litter can have different fathers, but these puppies evidently also had different mothers. None of the breeds from the 2 different samples were the same! Sure makes you scratch your head……
Tressie Dutchyn says
When I adopted my dog she was listed as a St. Bernard mix. She had numerous issues including reactive to people she didn’t know especially men. I wanted to see what her mix was because she clearly had strong guarding instincts. I did the Wisdom Panel and it came back as a pure St. Bernard albeit not a known North American strain. I thought this had to be a mstake so did a second test – same results. I questioned them and the Mars vet explained that there were two original lines of Saint Bernards, one were the rescuers, the other were the guard dogs. Given her unusual genetic background she likely came from the guarding line. I did some research and found that indeed in many European countries Saint Bernards are used as guard dogs. It explains much about her behaviour and tendencies to guard.
I also did a Wisdom panel on a recent rescue dog, who has epilepsy. Physically he looks more hound-like than anything. But the tail never fit. It looks like someone plucked it off a GSD and stuck it on his hind end, He is brindle, medium length hair, with an undercoat but a beautiful reddish gold tint to his fur. Well results came back as 50% golden retriever on one side (rest unknown) and 50% labrador retriever, 25% GSD and 25% boxer on the other side. All fits with his gentle personality. Still he does have that hound howl and does ‘talk’. That unknown mix must have some smattering of hound and husky.
Grace K says
A dogblog I follow did the Embark test for her two village dogs from Malawi and India. Here is the post about it: http://streetdogmillionaires.tumblr.com/post/147267014565/chalo-priya-and-embark
Kim diloreto says
Did wisdom panel on our dog Casey jones. She came back half boxer-chow-Rottweiler. Half mix. I would bet money she is mostly jack Russell based on markings and personality. We tell people she is a Choxweiller.
Ellen Davis says
I used the Wisdom Pannel for my Rescued “Border Collie” and was amazed by the results. On one side it said it was all Chihuahua and the other side was mostly Great Pyrenees with a tiny bit of boxer mixed in.
I trial my dogs in a wide variety of sports and NO ONE who sees this dog can remotely believe these results. He fits the breed standard for a border Collie and if you look at an Australian Red BC you’ll see my pup except that he is a smooth variety.
Your article was quite interesting. Thank you for doing this research.
Mary K. says
I adopted a 2 year old miniature schnauzer mix from the animal shelter I volunteer at. I did Wisdom DNA panel as I was pretty sure that he was a purebred miniature schnauzer and I wanted to know for sure, so I knew what to expect. I have always had Labrador Retrievers and knew nothing about miniature schnauzers. I wanted to do some research on his breed, if that was in fact what he was. The test confirmed that he was a purebred miniature schnauzer. His personality traits are so much like the breed standards. He does have a few little “quirks” that we’re working on, but he is truly a joy! I absolutely adore this little guy!
Nancy Hutter says
Adopted a dog out of a shelter and told he was a terrier mix. I’ve had Irish Terriers for years and my mentors in the dog world bred Welsh Terriers and Border Terriers. I’ve also been lucky in having the opportunity to take and teach obedience and so meet many dogs of many breeds and mixes. I knew this wasn’t a terrier. Results came back as 1/2 Miniature Poodle and 1/2 Japanese Chin. It fits physically and emotionally. He doesn’t shed but needs to be clipped, has a plume of sorts on his tail. Coat has a little wave. His face is similar to a chin’s without being extreme. It is easy to imagine that cross creating his face. His primary goal in life is to be held and petted and he learns quickly. Except to not chase the cat.
Sally says
My mostly black rescue boy was billed as a 2 year old Labrador mix. He weighed 64 pounds when I got him. But within the first week I knew he was no Labrador. No interest in retrieving, no interest in swimming, a fierce watchdog, powerful and willful, very intense and sensitive… And in addition to that, I was convivinced he was still a puppy because of his need to chew and his puppyish clumsiness. One trainer told me he thought the dog was half catahoula because of his profoundly webbed feet, his question mark tail, and his Merle salt and pepper chest and feet, and the intensity of is personality.
Cutting to the chase, I eventually did the Wisdom panel on him and Lo and behold, he is half Cane Corso. The other half is rather mutty, but includes a substantial dollop of Keeshond, of all things plus boxer. Not a drop of any kind of retriever. This information was hugely helpful to me. I was not really very familiar with Cane Corso, and in fact had never owned a mastiff before. But I studied up and changed my style in dealing with him. He grew several inches and is now full grown — 25 inches at the withers and 85 very buff pounds of glossy black handsomeness.. I have taught him to pull a wagon, and this summer added driving. So my granddaughter drives him (with reins and a driving collar) from an aluminum sulky. He is a working dog and he loves it. Always acts proud, happy and responsible when in harness. He is also my companion for long off leash rambles through the fields, forests and riverbanks and absolutely the best dog ever. I will say that initially he was a wild man. I have devoted a great deal of time to his training, and it has been a very worthwhile investment. Wisdom panel set me straight on understanding my mastiff!
Jenny H says
I had a client with a little dog she’d acquired from the RSPCA as a Jack Russel X Mini-Foxie.
I’d swear he was a Basenji X Whippet — he looked exactly like a Basenji but with a whippet coat. And he behaved just as you would expect such a mix to behave.
I had one on my mixed breeds pups (my Pedigreed German Shepherd X with her boy-friend a Lab X Samoyed) absolutely identified by the vet as a Kelpie. The woman who bought the pup from me, came back and TOLD me that I had the breed all wrong when I sold the pup to her 🙁
There is a lovely dog here — tall leggy short coat Black and White. Looks for all the world like what you would expect a Great Dane X Border Collie to look like. But his mother is known to be a Bernese Mountain Dog. His DNA test did pick that up, but his ”other half” was identified by DNA analysis as Cardigan Corgi/Kerry Blue Terrier ??? Both fairly thin o the ground around here. I cannot help thinking that there must be quite a lot of similarity in the DNA of Cardigans and Border Collies. Maybe there is some similarities in the DNA of Lakeland Terriers and border Collies too? After it is only recently that BC were registered as pure breed.
Joyce says
Chiming in .. Rescued a dog from shelter said to be Border collie X. Okay .. I have a little blue heeler (ACD) and expected energy levels would be fairly compatible. Home for a few weeks, Mesa ( ~BC) acts lethargic, low key and only lifts his head holding on to tug toy while Missy(ACD) runs back and forth in high gear. Several days of this and I’m concerned. I truly would stand over Mesa to check if he was breathing when I approached. Took him to vet for thorough check up and blood work – all normal.. No hidden disease! But I tell you even on our walks he’d flop under a bush and just stare into the distance – no stamina in my opinion. DNA test was next thought .. Per Wisdom he’s Great Pyrenese, Rotweiler and Sheltie. He’s a fabulous calm guard dog who is the most low key dog I’ve ever had! Wonderful companion to Missy -,she keeps his heart pumping with heel nipping and dropping toys on his head! I’m so glad I did the DNA otherwise I was thinking he was on his way out ! Is it accurate -it’s a more acceptable explanation for his behavior than the guess of the shelter. Being black & white does not always mean border collie I’d say! Sorry for my long comment!!
Leslie Morris says
Wisdom Panel tested my mixed breed dog as well as one of her offspring (submitted independently by her puppy’s adopter). There was no overlap between the results of the two dogs. I wrote to the company to ask for an explanation. Never received one. On the basis of that experience, I can’t endorse the product.
Kat says
I think so much of these results also depend on the quality of the sample. My guess is sometimes the consumer doesn’t swab correctly or it gets contaminated, and they blame the company, but who knows! I certainly had fantastic results from Wisdom Panel about 6-7 years ago.
My young female mix from a rescue was very clearly a Siberian Husky in some sense as she had a husky style mask. (Many individuals to this day assume she’s a husky.) Her brother, who came in with her as an unwanted litter, looked nothing like her other than coloring – floppy ears vs standing ears, short fur vs longer fur, straight tail vs curly tail, etc. There was debate even of if it was a two father litter.
After much musing, my friend bought me the Wisdom Panel as a gift. I sent in the swab and when her results came back it all finally made sense.
Her results were very clear:
50% Boxer
25% Lhasa Apso
25% Siberian Husky
Her brother’s physical traits echoed the boxer, her markings and physical traits echoed the husky, and for their size, the lhasa apso sortof fit in too. Had the test not said husky, I would’ve called BS. But it not only said husky, but the boxer made complete sense in some of her personality quirks (using her paws a lot, her very friendly demeanor, and lack of chewing/destructive tendencies). After adopting a husky last year, it’s becoming very apparently to me that she is indeed very little husky!! ? Unfortunately she’s also having boxer hip issues, but it was something I was aware of and could look for. At 7, I had to retire her from agility due to osteoarthritis of the hips, but was able to diagnose the issue relatively easily and start treatment.
Beth says
My dog came from a reservation in northwestern Minnesota, advertised as a BC/GSD mix. With a heavy black double coat, tan points and white butt, and a curled fluffy tail and folded ears, I could see a lab looking at me time and again. Our vet saw something of a northern breed with a shorter snout. Wisdom panel said he was part Labrador retriever & Alaskan Malamute/GSD mix. This explained his keen intellect, driven focus with super high energy. Not to mention the short snout. It also explains why he REALLY wants to go into the water (Lab), but won’t go deep enough to swim (my heavy Malamute coat will cause me to drown if I do!). It also explained his stubborn streak, his love for scent training, agility and scrambling over rubble like its nothing!
Lucy says
I had my mixed breed dog’s DNA tested with wisdom panel. They confirmed what I knew about his mother (a golden retriever) but surprised me with the results of his father’s probable breed mix. I questioned the results and was asked for a photo for phenotyping. I got a very detailed email explaining how things worked genetically and how the phenotype (what a dog looks like) can relate back to an earlier ancestor. They were very helpful and nice.
Knowing his probable mix hasn’t really changed or helped how I handle him, I still work with his own unique personality!
Carol Suggs says
I am a member of the Norwich Terrier Club of America’s Registry Integrity Committee. Since 2005 I have worked to remove non purebred Norwich from the AKC Registry. When the Mar’s Wisdom Panel first became available we began using it to test the dogs that came into our hands mostly Cairns and Cairn Norwich crosses who were AKC registered as Norwich Terriers. We also tested our own Norwich and Norfolk and Cairn Terriers that belonged to friends. We tested Norwich imports and European members of our Club tested their dogs for us. We tested close to 100 dogs and in every case we knew the dogs we were testing and in every case we got the result we expected. I can’t speak to other breeds, but in Norwich, Norfolk, and Cairns the Wisdom Panel is extremely accurate. Dr. Angela Hughes is a delight and was most helpful.
Jackied says
I am very sceptical about these tests. So many of them seem to come back with quite unlikely mixtures both the relative rareness of breeds and in the size disparity between different dogs.
It is so easy to believe the stories we are told and apply them to our dog. If my little working bred springer was tested and came back as 1/4 cocker I wouldn’t be surprised in the least and it might well be true.
But if she was tested and came back as 1/4 beagle, say, I could come up with behaviours of hers that are beagle-like. Or 1/4 JRT and I could cite her interest in rat holes.
MinnesotaMary says
I think the real value in identifying the ancestry of a dog is to understand the dog’s instinctive behavior. Jumping up on trees is certainly a behavior not common to all breeds (however my beloved huskies did their fair share of that in their younger days).
If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you’d be wise to not get a dog that requires a lot of exercise year round until the day it passes away. If you have small children, perhaps a very large, excitable dog is not a good risk.
Meeting the dogs needs should be as important as meeting your own needs. I rescue huskies and there is no shortage of dogs needing rescue. The story is nearly the same almost every time. “We watched a movie and the kids begged for a husky. We bought one from a breeder and kept it in a crate/on a tie out but now it isn’t nice and/or it’s destroying the house and/or it bit another dog. The breeder won’t take it back and we don’t know what to do with it”.
If you can’t give a dog what it needs (and breed is highly determinate of the dog’s needs) then the dog cannot give you what you want!
Bruce says
Red Dog is 55-pounds, with very short hair and zero undercoat. Basically she looks and acts like a ridge-less Ridgeback’s little sister. Wisdom Panel showed a complicated mix of breeds, including AmStaff (plausible), Doberman (plausible), Boxer or “African dog” (very plausible), and – wait for it – Great Pyrenees (um, really?). It seems highly unlikely that a huge, hairy white dog with a dense undercoat contributed much to naked-bellied Red Dog’s genetics.
Red Dog is also a pretty good tree climber, especially while squirrels are busily preparing for winter.
We have not had Sandy tested, but I am curious about her background. She was described as a Samoyed, and reportedly produced white puppies, but she weighs only 35 pounds with biscuit-colored fur, fairly short legs, and a partly-blue tongue.
It would be fun, but pricey, to compare and contrast both dogs with Wisdom Panel and Embark.
Jonathan Linneman says
Very nice article! Just wanted to mention that I’ve set up a website (canisimaginis.com) with the hope of organizing a central spot where dog owners who’ve had their mixed-breed kids tested can submit results and photos. The hope is to eventually have a decent database of pictures that will give us a better idea of what specific crosses actually look like (rather than the guesses we’ve used for so long).
The site has grown very slowly, but I’m hopeful that when my grad studies finish at the end of this year, I’ll be able to devote more time to promoting it. If anyone would like to check it out and submit your dog(s) (again, it’s canisimaginis.com), I’d be very grateful (and can usually get the new entries up within about a week)!
Diane says
The same problems exist in genetic testing of humans as you found in dogs. Small sample size is the main problem, in humans.
Chris says
If anyone suspects they have a Carolina Dog, however, note that there is no DNA test for this breed yet. Those who have had the test done came up with results that showed a variety of other types of dogs in their dog’s heritage. You can check out the Carolina Dog Society’s website for more information on this UKC breed: http://www.thecarolinadogsociety.com/index.html.
Jody Cursio says
I had the Wsidom Pamel test done on my then new rescue adopted 9 month old pup back in Nov 2013.
The results were not what I expected based on her appearance. She is supposedly a Australian Cattle dog mix on one side and a White Swiss Shoners Mix on the other. So her appearance could be dominated by the high mix percentage, since neither parent was a purebred. At the time of the test, the company stated they were using 300 genetic markers.
Juli looks more like a chocolate lab, Sher-pei or terrier mix. And has personality more of shepherd and Sher-pei. No prey or herding drive, will retrieve has webbed feet,blinds the water, but reserved with strangers, scent oriented, not good eye-sight. Truly a mixed bag!
Kat says
Several years back a friend had a dog that physically looked like an Australian Shepherd suit on a Corgi–Corgi head and long back with the size of an Aussie and Aussie coat. She did a DNA test and it came back Boxer, Shar Pei, Chow, and Lab. Nothing in the results matched the dog she had so she questioned them, sent in another sample and photo and lo and behold the results came back Aussie, Corgi, and Boxer. It made me rather suspicious of the whole process.
I occasionally wonder about the breeds or breed that my two might be but lack of faith in the results and cost have kept me from sending in any samples. Ranger most closely resembles a supersized English Shepherd, Finna’s paperwork says GSD/Corgi but physically she most closely resembles a cattle dog; her personality is a good match for either version so she simply is who she is and we do our best with that.
Wendy Wright says
I used the Wisdom Panel on my 50lb, long/lean/high energy/extra-responsive mix, who has medium length soft black fur with brindling on the tan points. The results came back for a Aussie / Golden Retriever mix. I was satisfied with the results, feeling that they match my dog’s appearance and personality.
Diane Becker says
I used the Wisdom Panel on my Beagle Jack Russell. She has the coloring of a beagle and ears that want to flop, but are a little short. Her snout is more pointed like a JRT, along with their non stop energy. She constantly expresses her beagle love and faithfulness. Best dog ever. Looks and personality sure does match these two breeds.
LK says
I think sometimes people focus too much on the testing on not the dog in front of them. They get a result back of a certain mixture and then look for certain qualities in said dog.
Honestly, I don’t put a lot of stock in the genetic testing and I worked in gene therapy. I have seen with companies such bizarre results that I personally would rather not waste my money. Maybe it’s damage to the sample, or cross contamination or not enough samples of a breed submitted for the companies databanks to give a reliable result for that breed.
My friend has 3 mixes from differently locations in the state. One was a 50 lb border collie and likely Aussie or kelpie cross, as we do have them in our area and the dog was from the local shelter. Solid black, stiff triangle ears with white on chest and feet, short coat, tail that hung with a curl at the end like a BC. Some herding, but strong chase drive, nipping at heels, great frisbee dog.
Her test came back whippet, GSD, Jack Russell and poodle.
2nd dog was adopted off of craigslist and was something large, GSD mixed with something.
Came back as whippet, GSD, Great Pyr and mix. Whippets are extremely rare around here. You might see a few IGs over a few years.
3rd dog. Adopted from rescue in middle of state. Weighs 15 lbs and is a terrier mix of some kind, with a wire coat.
Test came back whippet, poodle, lab, and mix.
There is just no way all 3 dogs had whippet in them. I don’t know what company she used, but it clearly was not accurate.
The real trap is when owners have different expectations of the dog based on the results. You might want to try to explain a behavior based on results, but in reality, you train the dog in front of you.
We humans want explanations of “oh he acts like this because his grandpa was a chow” but that does not change the issue in front of you. I hear it in my obedience classes often enough. The breed is used as the reason for the behavior. Yes, there are breed characteristics. But if you work with what you have in front of you, instead of “northern breeds can’t be motivated” you will get more accomplished with the dog.
I have what I think is a cocker/basset mix. High drive when he was young. I didn’t mind as I love working dogs who love to learn and want to work. I don’t really care what he is. I often tell people he’s cocker and chupacabra and they just nod their head and his field style basset body with a cocker head glued on 😉
Renee says
Colby’s person here. Isn’t she awfully cute, whatever the breed combo? I decided to have the Wisdom Panel test partly out of curiosity, and partly as a lark. I had a little contest for my dog loving friends – guess one breed, win a little prize; guess two breeds, win a better prize. We had great fun with it. There were several coonhound guesses, but no one zeroed in on Treeing Walker Coonhound. And, certainly, no one guessed Siberian Husky! Many of us expected to see some kind of sight hound – greyhound, whippet – because of her build and running style (she runs like the wind). I joked that I was sure she was part Saluki. I see it as a privilege to be able to order up an expensive DNA test partly for fun, and I was really excited when Trisha offered the opportunity to do the Embark test as well.
My first, gut reaction to the results from Wisdom Panel was “Oh my goodness, what have I done?” I had a momentary vision of spending the next 12+ years being dragged down the sidewalk (husky) by a dog with her nose to the ground (hound) that would be antisocial (chow-chow). Talk about breed stereotypes – no offense intended to lovers of those breeds. I do think that there is a risk that these tests may cause us to look at our dogs differently. But, I also love that Colby’s DNA is now part of the pool of data being used by these companies and that she may in some small way contribute to a body of knowledge about dogs and their ancestry. And, one thing the tests have done is open my mind and heart to a number of breeds that I’d really never given much thought, herding dog fan that I am.
The reality is that Colby is Colby. She’s wicked smart. She’s incredibly social – loves all dogs and all humans. She can’t wag her tail without wagging her entire body. She’s polite and calm in the house. And she learned very quickly that forward motion on walks is only possible with a slack leash and that there will be plenty of opportunities for sniffing along the way when she is polite. And, as the days go by, I’m beginning to gain confidence that she will develop a reasonably reliable recall. As was stated by LK above, you work with the dog in front of you, not the breed.
I like that both companies test for genetic diseases – Wisdom Panel does include the test for the MDR1 gene mutation in their basic test. For many herding dogs, this is lifesaving information. I do wish both companies would include more information in their materials about what it really means to see a result of 12.5% Lab or 13% Chow-Chow.
Many thanks to Trisha for inviting Colby and me along on this adventure.
Trisha says
So many good points here, here some of my own additional thoughts: First, regarding the companies themselves: I wish the companies would describe their results as probability statements. I understand that they desire to give people what they want, but a science this new is surely best described as a series of probability statements, not “Your dog is…”, but “We are 98% confident that your dog has a significant # of Husky genes in her, and a 50% confidence level that a percentage of her genes match those found in a X. Or Y.”
I very much like that they encourage people to call if they have questions or concerns; I’d suggest that they add information on the site itself about surprising results. As I mentioned, I found everyone at both Wisdom and Embark to be generous with their time, and relatively straightforward with their answers. But I can’t say what everyone’s experience would be, all I can do is report my own conversations. I think it’s good to bear in mind that these companies have several goals—one is to advance our understanding of the genetics of domestic dogs. Yay on that, I say. Another is to provide important information about potential medical concerns—another laudable goal. The third is to monetize scientific discoveries, and I’m not going to go after them for that. There’s nothing wrong with being in business and wanting to make a living from doing something you love. But it does mean that we need to be aware that these companies were formed to help dogs, move science forward and to make money. All of those motivations can be compatible, but it’s good to remember that they are all there.
On another note, regarding breed identification itself: I agree whole heartedly that there are plusses and minuses in learning what breeds might have gone into the dog you are looking at as you read this. Yes, it can be good to know that there’s a lot of say, Husky, in your dog, and so working on recalls and polite behavior around cats might be more important than if the results come back Border Collie/Golden. However, I do worry about people using breed to excuse behavior. If I had $5 for every time someone said “Well, she’s a herding dog so of course she wants to herd the kids and nip their heels,” I’d be retired. Nipping the heels of children is simply rude and potentially dangerous behavior, I don’t care who the dog’s parent’s were. That’s simply not relevant to me. As someone once said on this blog years ago (whose name I’ve forgotten and lost, so sorry!), “See the dog, not the story.”
That said, I am curious by nature, so I do find it amusing to look into a mixed-breed dog’s ancestry. We just need to take the information for what it is, and not let it color our expectations too much. Genotype is one thing, but phenotype is another altogether, and when we’re dealing with behavior, we’re need to look at what is happening in real time, not our stories and explanations behind it.
Christy Paxton says
I once did a workshop for a Husky rescue, and I was addressing leash/walking issues. One handler said, “They’re Huskies, so of course they pull.” My reply: “Not in my class, they don’t.” And they didn’t. Dogs are easy, people are hard…
My own darling girl is a breed puzzle, with tiny triangle ears that work like satellite dishes, a partial double coat and black splotches on her tongue. Everyone said definitely shar-pei, but I didn’t see it. A Wisdom panel gave me these results: traces of Akita, and traces of Chihuahua. That’s it! Though I can see both of those, I have finally concluded after 12 years that she is mainly pitbull-type and possibly a pinch of Min Pin (she gives me the Min Pin Grin sometimes!). It’s a ton of fun to guess!
HFR says
Just curious. Why does Husky and especially Chow show up so often? Is it because they are older breeds so have had longer time to “infiltrate”. It’s certainly not because of their prevalence since I don’t think Chows are very common. Or maybe their DNA is easier to “read”?
I tested my Heinz 57 dog in the very early days of these tests and it came back with a couple breeds that made no sense, but something like 75% was “in the mix”, meaning they couldn’t determine what the breeds were. I did it again years later when they had more breeds in their data base and it came back with one more breed added but the rest still undetermined. With the dogs that are 20-25 generations of mixed-breed parentage, it’s kind of hard to imagine that any of those breeds really influence anything at that point. But, as anyone who has owned a mixed breed knows, it’s the BIG question and it’s fun to try and figure it out.
Bruce says
@Trisha: Agree about the benefit of probabilistic statements in breed testing results.
I also agree wholeheartedly about using breed information to provide training insights rather than to excuse behavior. I see a similar phenomenon with owners of rescued dogs. If the owner immediately mentions that their dog is a rescue, I have learned to expect an under-trained dog.
Anyway, we had a purebred black Lab that had zero – and I mean absolutely “Why did you throw away that perfectly good tennis ball” zero retrieving instinct. In my experience, individual temperament trumps breed characteristics.
@HFR: You asked why Huskies and Chows show up so often in breed profiles. I can certainly speculate that Huskies tendency to roam leads to increased breeding opportunities. I suspect this is also why there are so many Beagle mixes. I do love Siberian Huskies, but here are a few representative quotes from the web:
“Huskies also put the “H” in Houdini . . .” (DogTime)
“THIS BREED SHOULD NEVER BE LET OFF LEASH!!!” (SiberRescue – caps theirs)
“Curiosity combined with a love of running and exploring is a Siberian’s besetting sin.” (VetStreet)
Mason Small says
I have three mutts, and no interest in genetic testing for any of them — even if it were one hundred percent accurate, and free! I like not knowing, and speculating, and story-telling, and thinking about their similarities and differences without tying the patterns to the idea of breed.
Nicola says
I did the wisdom panel on my mutt out of curiosity (professionally I am interested in diagnostic and prognostic testing). I wouldn’t bother again as really it was a case of ‘ so what?’ I would rather just get to know the dog in front of me as opposed to use a test which may possibly bias my opinion of behaviour.
What about BSL? Somebody has a great pet that doesn’t ‘look’ like a Pit Bull but gets a test result to indicate Pitt Bull ancestry. Now what?
Genetic testing and genomics can be useful for disease screening if there are available interventions. Genome medicine is certainly the next big thing in human medicine but it really is just a probabilistic science in it’s infancy.
Are the SNPs detected tests using whole exome sequencing (just the DNA that encodes for genes) in Embark or is it across the entire genome?
If I was going to use a genetic screening test again, it would be for understanding about the risk probability of disease as opposed to identifying any ‘breed characteristics’.
Mireille says
Colby is adorable ??
i would not have guessed Siberian husky immediately. Although he does look like Some Alaskan Huskies and thee are a cross between sibes and fi pointers etc.
And there are sibes sibes wint black and tan colouring, and if you look at Shadow’s pics in this page (pure sibe) I think I see a likeness in facial expression ?? http://huskyheren.blogspot.fr/search?q=Sokkenmonster
beej says
Esther was a pregnant rescue from the south who was dropped off at the shelter. A friend at work is the founding director of a group who specializes in rescuing pregnant dogs since they are the first to be euthanized in an overcrowded shelter. After we adopted her the behaviors and appearance did not match the guess of breeds from the rescue, which was Lab mix. She is medium sized, relatively lean build, liver colored with orange-ish points thin pointy nose and the most beautiful sherry colored eyes. Wisdom Panel identified her as the result of a night of love between a Golden Doodle and a Rottweiler mutt with smatterings of hound in the back end of the genetics. Attitude-wise she is all poodle. She is an incredibly smart dog and a joy to train.
Katharina says
Your dog looks like a (New Zealand) Huntaway! The DNA companies probably didn’t have that in their breed lists as it isn’t recognised by any kennel club except the New Zealand one and that only since 2014. Google it, ours is either a Huntaway or a Kelpie crossed with a Welsh sheepdog. I’m thinking about a DNA test but if they haven’t got the breed in the system it’ll be a waste of money obvs…