What Can We Learn From A Canine DNA Test?

The idea of a DNA test for our dogs is all the craze right now.  I think it’s fun to think that we can identify the breed(s) that have come together to create our very special best friend.  But once we have the information, what do we do with it?

The commercials for human ancestry testing are all over the place and I see them increasing around the holidays.  Part of what they tell you that is possible to learn from the testing is that you can better understand what health factors you may be facing given your ancestry.  It’s fun to think of finding long lost relatives, too.  You may have some quirk or health issue and wonder where it came from.  But, by learning who your ancestors are you may be able to pin that down.

The American Kennel Club has breed standards and detailed descriptions of each breed identified to date.  It’s fun to read the different characteristics and to see how best to train some of these different personalities.  For example, you wouldn’t train a Yorkshire Terrier the same way you would train a Giant Schnauzer.  They are very different and their approach to learning is very different.

So, if you were to get a solid DNA analysis of your dog, which will provide you with the breeds that make up your dog, you will have a much better idea of how to approach training with your dog.  Here’s a great example in the photos below.  This is Ruby.  What would you guess are the top three breeds in her DNA?

Below is Ruby’s DNA analysis. This DNA analysis helps us make an informed decision on how to train with her.

How did you do? Did you guess correctly or were you way off?

I hope you have found this helpful and may consider getting a DNA report on your dog. This will help you better understand your dog and serve to guide you better in your training efforts.