Have you ever wondered about your dog’s heritage or what is the predominant breed of your mutt? Well its now possible to examine your pet’s DNA and identify exactly what makes them who they are.
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The smarter you are about your dog’s past, the smarter you can be about its future. Dogs are like people in that they inherit physical and character traits from breeds in their family tree.
They also pass along genetic disorders from generation to generation. For example, if your dog is prominently golden retriever they run the risk of developing hip dysplasia.
Knowing your breed profile helps both you and your vet observe for signs of these genetic disorders and come up with an early intervention plan.
Your mixed-breed dog is a mixed bag of genetic traits so knowing their ancestry helps you understand their behaviour, exercise and dietary requirements.
A good example of this is a super active mixed breed dog that looks nothing like a border collie however their DNA test shows a strong strain of border collie in their ancestry.
This dog will require lots of stimulation and plenty of room to run. It may also explain why your pet has a tendency to round up the children and other pets.
When looking to purchase a dog DNA testing can be very helpful. Using our previous example, a dog with a border collie ancestry would not be the perfect pet for someone who wanted a quiet dog, that required minimal exercise for a small back garden.
With just a simple blood sample, a DNA test can provide you and your vet with a wealth of information which helps unlock the mystery of your dog’s past and better plan for their future.