Hank is a unique fellow; longer than he is tall, he sports a thick piebald tan-and-white fur and an impressive snout. When standing still, his front paws point to the sides like a ballerina in first position. His parentage is unknown, as Hank was found as a stray. He eventually made his way to his permanent home with BringFido Office Manager, Samantha.
Ever since Hank joined the BringFido family, we’ve wondered what mix of breeds it took to create his 60+ lbs of fluffy perfection. Popular guesses have included Basset Hound, Labrador, Golden Retriever and Corgi. Samantha and her husband decided to find out once and for all with the Wisdom Panel Premium dog DNA kit. When the kit arrived, Samantha gently swabbed inside Hank’s mouth and carefully packed up the sample to mail.
How Doggy DNA Works
Canine DNA collection companies like Wisdom Panel compare your pet’s genome with verified genetic samples in a reference database to identify similar patterns. The more extensive the database, the more potential matches – which leads to more accurate results. Although submitting Hank’s sample was primarily to satisfy curiosity about his breed ancestry, learning useful information about his long-term health was also an incentive. Doggy DNA tests can reveal genetic predispositions for certain medical conditions. And while a genetic predisposition is not a diagnosis, it can be useful for pet owners and their veterinarians when making health and wellness choices for their beloved pups.
Like Hank, 67% of pets who used Wisdom Panel were rescued or adopted from a shelter. For these pups, DNA testing may give folks the opportunity to connect with their pup’s littermates, parents, distant cousins, and other relatives. At the end of the day, genetic testing will allow you to understand more about your dog than ever before.
So … What Kind of Dog Is Hank?
Just a few weeks after submitting his sample, Hank’s ancestry profile results arrived. His surprising breed breakdown is as follows:
- 29% Chow Chow
- 20% American Pit Bull Terrier
- 13% Golden Retriever
- 9% Labrador Retriever
- 8% Cocker Spaniel
- 6% Akita
- 5% Chinese Shar-Pei
- 4% German Shepherd Dog
- 4% Chihuahua
- 2% Australian Cattle Dog
Wisdom Panel also connected Samantha with 23 of Hank’s relatives: 19 distantly related, 4 extended members, and 0 close relatives (as of yet).
As for Hank’s short stature, the test identified the cause as one insertion of an FGF4 gene on chromosome 18. Also known as “the Short Legs variant,” this phenotype is associated with chondrodysplasia or canine dwarfism. Dogs like Hank with just one copy of the Short Legs variant typically have some characteristic shortening of their legs, whereas pups with two copies may have limited mobility.
While knowing Hank’s surprising DNA history certainly adds to the overall picture of his life story, at the end of the day, this happy pup is still just fervently himself. He loves long boat rides in his lifejacket but isn’t a big fan of the water. He likes to lay in a full sploot on the cool floor and receive generous scratches on his floppy ears at the BringFido office. He is eager to please, a great travel companion, and one very good boy.