This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Do you have a mixed breed dog, and you want to know which breeds make up your dog’s genetic background?
Maybe you were told that you have a purebred dog, but you’re not 100% sure yourself.
The best (and most accurate) way to find the breed of your dog is to use a dog DNA testing kit.
Here’s how it works…
At-Home Dog DNA Test
The Canine Heritage Breed Test was the first at-home DNA-Based test to genetically determine the breed composition of your mix-breed dog.
This dog DNA test is simple, convenient, and completely non-invasive to your dog.
No vet is required. No blood, hair, or tissue needs to be extracted from your dog. Instead, you simply swab the inside of your dog’s mouth using the large swab that’s included in the kit.
Also, no special handling is required for this dog DNA testing kit either! You simply send off the swab via U.S. mail, and the results are returned to you via U.S. mail a 4 to 6 weeks later.
Developed by MetaMorphix, Inc, a world leader in DNA based marker systems, the non-invasive Canine Heritage Breed Test includes a cheek swab that is rubbed along the inside of a dog’s cheek to collect cells. The swab is then mailed to MMI’s lab for DNA analysis. In 4 to 6 weeks, the pet owner will receive the results on a certificate suitable for framing. Source
Reasons To Use A Dog DNA Test
The benefits of a dog DNA testing kit are numerous. It helps you:
- Understand your pet’s behavior and personality.
- Answer questions like “What dog food should I buy? How much exercise does my dog need? How should I train my dog?
- Identify potential health risks.
- Relay the proper information to your vet, in the event that your dog gets sick or starts acting oddly.
Here’s one family that used the Canine Heritage Breed Test to determine the breed of their dog. They were actually quite surprised to learn that their dog wasn’t the breed they initially thought:
The Canine Heritage Breed Test identifies over 100 popular breeds including: Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo Dog, American Water Spaniel, Australian Shepherd, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Basset Hound, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Bernese Mountain Dog, Black and Tan Coonhound, Bloodhound, Blue Tick Coonhound, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Borzoi, Boston Terrier, Bouviers des Flandre, Boxer, Brittany, Brussels Griffon, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Cairn Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Dachshund, Dalmatian, Doberman Pinscher, English Cocker Spaniel, English Coonhound, English Setter, English Toy Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Flat-Coated Retriever, French Bulldog, German Shepherd Dog, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Great Pyrenees, Greyhound, Irish Setter, Irish Terrier, Italian Greyhound, Keeshonden, Kerry Blue Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Newfoundland, Norwich Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Papillon, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Plott Coonhound, Pointer, Pomeranian, Poodle, Pug, Puli, and Red Bone.
Have you tried a dog DNA testing kit before? If so, let us know what you thought of the results…
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn’t think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I’ve always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I’ve been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what’s ‘normal’ and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I’m not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I’ve written over 600 articles for dog owners on this site! Many of them have upwards of 200K shares.
