As a certified mutt lover (I have two myself!) and volunteer at my local shelter, I love to think of myself as a pro at identifying potential breeds that make up a dog. I’ve seen many mutts in my days, and, at this point, I find it pretty easy to just look at a dog and study it’s temperament for a few minutes and have a good idea of what breed it could be. For instance, when my local shelter had my 25 lb. rescue pup listed as a Labrador Retriever mix, I was pretty sure this wasn’t true. (Plot twist: he’s a Chihuahua mix.) So, when my coworker adopted a sweet dog her neighbor found on a country road, I knew two things. For starters, I needed to meet him as soon as possible. And second, I wanted to know what he was a mix of.
Hank, looking handsome as ever, not a care in the world about what breeds he’s made up of. Charlyne Mattox for Country Living
Upon first meeting Hank, I felt pretty confident that he was a beagle/lab mix, which was also what his parents were thinking. He has a light yellow, almost cream-colored fur with a distinctly beagle-shaped body, floppy, cute ears and all. And at 40 lbs, he’s right in between the average weight of the two dogs. But, just to be sure, his parents decided to do an Embark DNA test to find out exactly what makes up Hank.
Turns out, we were all horribly wrong. While Hank is 7.4% beagle, he has absolutely no Labrador Retriever in him. The breed that makes up the largest portion of his DNA was the biggest surprise: English Springer Spaniel. How is this cream, solid-colored dog part spaniel? But, after reading more about the breed, we realized just how much Hank’s personality matches to that of an English Springer Spaniel. He’s incredibly loyal, highly-trainable, loves to be around his people, and generally enjoys the company of other dogs, too. Checks out.
You can’t imagine our surprise when we found out that Hank is mainly English Spring Spaniel! Charlyne Mattox for Country Living
Embark gets so detailed, in fact, that we were able to see that one of Hank’s grandparents was a purebred English Springer Spaniel. From there, it looks like he’s just one big mutt on top of mutt on top of more mutt, which might explain why his coat is unexpectedly solid and thick.
Breed groups and a family tree are truly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the results Embark gives pet parents. Hank’s full write-up was 41 pages long, detailing how different genetic combinations resulted in certain phenotypes that affect the way he looks and a full genetic panel for how likely he is to develop certain health issues. Turns out, Hank has a couple of health conditions that caused notable results. One could potentially cause unreliable blood tests for liver problems (but this can easily be fixed). Fortunately, the other would have already presented itself and it appears Hank is in the clear.
A snapshot of Hank’s family tree, tracing back to his great-great-grandparents. Charlyne Mattox for Country Living
I’d used a different DNA test on my own mutts a few years back and got fairly basic information about what breed groups they’re made up of, but I was truly blown away by how in-depth Hank’s results were. Embark doesn’t just give you results, they provide owners with all the information on how their scientists figured out those results, as well as potential implications those results could have later on in life.
If you’ve wanted to gain a little insight on your furry family member’s mysterious origins, now is the perfect time! Embark is running a summer sale now through July 21st where you can get up to $162 off their kits. Choose from their basic Dog DNA Test, designed to identify breed groups, trace ancestry, and connect with family members, or their more advanced Breed + Health Test (what we used for Hank) that builds on that data to test for over 270 genetic health risks and allergy risk scores. There are even options for purebred dogs, tests to identify your dog’s age, and even a test for their gut health. And don’t miss the bundles if you have more than one dog!
Dog DNA Test
Breed + Health Dog DNA Test
Gut Health Test
Dog Age Test
You Might Also Like