Interested in Knowing Your Dog’s DNA? Learn How to Find Out More Here!

It’s take-your-dog-to-work day, and you and your dog are both hyped for the day. Now, imagine your dog wreaking havoc at your workplace because you have been training it wrong. How can you train a dog incorrectly, you may ask? Well, a dog’s training is directly linked to its breed, and all dogs cannot be trained the same way. So, if you’ve been training your dog thinking it’s a Boxer mix, but it’s more like a Labradoodle, all your training may go to waste. Thankfully, you can skip the guesswork by getting a dog DNA kit to find out your mutt’s genetic makeup and train them accordingly.

Here’s everything you need to know about canine DNA tests.

What Is a Dog DNA Test?

Just like a human DNA test, a dog DNA test is designed to reveal a pup’s breed composition, genetic markers and genetic traits. This type of test is beneficial if you’re unsure about your dog’s breed. By getting your dog tested, you can determine its family tree and identify different traits associated with its breed.

You can also learn about potential common health risks in a particular breed. For instance, Dobermans are prone to bleeding disorders, while Boxers tend to get cancer. Similarly, some dog breeds are predisposed to arthritis while others tend to have a lot of physical energy, so be prepared for random zoomies throughout the house in the middle of the night.

Knowing such details from the start can help you plan your pup’s diet and other activities accordingly.

How Do Dog DNA Tests Work?

Simply put, a DNA test takes your dog’s DNA to look for markers and compare them with a confirmed pedigree dog DNA database. The companies that offer these tests use an algorithm to analyze the number and type of your dog’s genetic markers. As a result of this analysis and comparison, you can determine your dog’s breed makeup.

The critical difference between human and dog DNA tests to analyze ancestry is that there are no genetically distinct human races compared to the artificially created dog breeds.

Steps of Dog DNA Testing

If you have an at-home dog DNA testing kit, you can efficiently perform the test by following these steps:

• Swab the inside of your pup’s mouth for about 20 seconds to collect a sample of their saliva and cheek cells
• Send the sample back to the company in the box it came in
• Get the results back in due time

The time it takes to get the results depends on your chosen company, however, it typically takes about two to six weeks to get the results. The company will also email you the results or send them by post, depending on their policies.

Are Dog DNA Tests Accurate?

Several dog DNA tests are on the market, and their accuracy can vary. Some tests may be more accurate than others, depending on the company and the technology used.

Most dog DNA tests can identify a mixed-breed dog with accuracy rates ranging from 70% to 99%, depending on the company. There is always a chance that the test results are not 100% accurate.

A few things can affect the accuracy of dog DNA tests, including the quality of the sample and the database size. The accuracy of the test may also be affected by how many generations back your dog’s ancestors were mixed.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your mutt’s genetic makeup can help you train them better. It also helps you maintain a balanced diet for them depending on their body requirements. You can also catch potential health risks in time. All in all, it is a fun experiment that delivers useful information about your dog.