Anyone ever done the dog DNA test?

[YankNCock]

We got a puppy from the dogs' home about four weeks ago, and the only thing we know about him is that his mother was possibly a staffie cross (came in as a stray and was pregnant).

DH has seen a thing where you take a swab from your dog's cheek and they will give you a DNA profile, checking for matches to 60+ of the most popular breeds.

I am quite curious, and everyone loves to speculate about him. I can't really see the staffie yet, he has something of a Jack Russell and border collie look sometimes.

I know it is probably a stupid thing to spend money on, but I just think it would be so interesting and am trying to justify it by saying 'it could help with understanding him better' if we new what breed(s) we were dealing with (but I admit I'm sort of bullshitting myself!).

Has anyone ever done this? Would you recommend it? Would you recommend it if I first put up pictures of him and everyone got to have a guess before the big reveal?

Oooh, go for the pictures!

I have to say you could well be wasting your money. Put it this way...

German Shepherds are protective, bold and discerning, one person dogs, right? Slightly more fussy over their food than other breeds, yes?

And Labradors are soppy dogs who who eat anything? Great family pets, superb with children but so friendly as to be pretty useless at guarding, that's what they say isn't it?

Wanna meet my dogs?

My 3yo purebred German Shepherd is HUGE! He's also the biggest wuss out there. He lurves everybody, is anyone's for a biscuit... because he will eat anything. He has been attacked by a Bassett Hound in the past, didn't bite back just rolled over till I pulled the Bassett off his neck and then ran and hid behind me!

But my Lab cross, who looks 90% pure Lab? Wanna try it? Lay a finger on me and you'll want your fingers back. He doesn't want your child in his face, he won't be their friend but will come and sit with me, glued to my side.

And don't bother offering him a biscuit, he really isn't interested and is very picky about what he eats.

My other GSD doesnt fit the average Shep mould either. :o

So, no matter what the breed mix, there is no guarantee that your pup will conform to a breed type. I'd say that this is true of a good 70 or 80% of the dogs I handle in rescue too. Generally a dog is far more likely to become a product of his environment - YOU will influence your pup's personality far more than his breed mix.

Honestly, if you have money to spare, donate it to a no-kill rescue so they can save more like your pup. Rescue is struggling at the best of times but the run-up to Christmas is the worst for us. Only last week did I post on here of 6 perfectly healthy dogs which were killed in a Wakefield hellhole dog pound for want of homes - and that was just one pound, on one day. A donation to no-kill rescue could have enabled them to take and save some of those dogs.

So, I'll go for the picture please, just so I can say "Ahhhh! Awwww!" mind. Remember, I have a Lab cross goodness knows here and for years before that lived with a Staffie cross I don't have a clue!

Dont waste your money - spend it on good dog training ! or donate as Vallhala said .

if its come to you as a pup then you have a clean sheet to work with.

In the meantime post a picture so we can all have guess !

Out of interest how much are these DNA companies ripping you off charging.

I suppose you are right

Okay, pictures posted, g'wan and have a guess! DH found this and now thinks he is a Welsh sheepdog (particularly resembles the one on the right).

Thanks for the reminder about training, have just emailed the guy about reserving a place in puppy class for January start.

DNA test is £60, so that is probably better spent on the training class. I was being a bit daft to even consider it I suppose, since we're not in brilliant financial shape as it is. We do have pet insurance for him and all the initial outlay was covered by DH's bonus this year (thus the puppy's middle name is 'Bonus')

just to clarify (pedant alert), DH does not think he himself is a Welsh sheepdog.

My guess is English Bull Terrier crossed... erm... Collie, perhaps?

Whatever he is, he is really scrummy and I want him!

Interesting!

His ears are getting bigger and folding over a bit again, as they did when we got him a month ago. For a while they went really pointy. His chest has broadened a bit and his front paws have definitely got bigger. And I think he's gotten taller.

Know what you mean about breeds not meaning much. My dad recently lost his labrador retriever who most definitely did not care about retrieving and seemed confused by the whole business.

awww he is gorgeous. my childhood JRT was called patch!!

not sure about english bull terrier but agree with collie bit. sorry not much use to you but i still wouldn't go for the DNA. he could be a mix of so many breeds and it really wouldn't change who he is, just to have a label on him. in fact it might mean you make assumptions about how he should be and as Val says, dogs don't know their stereotype, the just be themselves.

He is lovely ! Yes bit of collie , although DH says Husky