DNA Testing Your Dog
As pup parents, we’re asked questions about our four-legged children all the time. Questions about our dog’s age or breed seem to be asked most frequently. However, many pet owners, especially those who rescued their furry friends, are clueless as how to answer these questions!
Doggy DNA testing is a relatively new option and has only been around for seven years. The painless process takes between two and four weeks. Simply use a cotton swab to wipe the inside of your pup’s mouth and mail it off to be tested!
Other than answering the obvious question of your pet’s heritage, there are several benefits of knowing about your dog’s genetic makeup:
- Traits common with many breeds can be apparent in your dog’s behavior. The ability to identify your dogs breed can help you answer to questions about your dog’s behavior that may have otherwise left you scratching your head.
- As pet parents, it is our duty to make sure their health is well looked after. Knowing our dog’s heritage can help us make more informed decisions for their special needs. Certain breeds require strict exercise and diet control to avoid potential health problems. Knowledge and prevention is essential to helping our dogs live longer, healthier lives.
- Certain breeds are predisposed toward certain behaviors such as pointing, herding, attacking, guarding, overeating, or personality traits. Knowing the genetic behavior of your dog can assist in ways that you live, train, and work with your dog. So if you are going to find out your dog’s heritage, the logical next step is to research and understand the breeds discovered in the findings.
Have you or a friend doggy DNA tested your pooch? If so, was it worth finding out and would you recommend it to other dog owners? Are there any reasons you wouldn’t want to know?
Can you guess which breeds showed up in the DNA test results for this owner? For her story (including results on the test) check out her blog.
