Personally, I would find this test useless. To begin with, only 38 breeds are identifiable of the many hundred possible (including currently unrecognized breeds). Secondly, this test has to assume that the contributors to the mix are of "pure" stock and not mixed breeds themselves. Mother Nature has done an admirable job of generally producing a hardier, healthier blend of qualities and traits in mixed breeds. I don't think individuals would need to work more closely with their vets to identify potentially breed-specific problems in mixed breeds as fewer of them would surface in the more dynamic mix than would in purebreds. And finally, in support of mutts - it's just more fun to speculate exactly what the parentage is of most mutts. The majority of the dog-loving public may recognize certain features and qualities but, in this era of designer dogs, bringing together disparate breeds to produce a blend to meet a fickle buyer's interests (i.e., 'Puggles' - Pugs and Beagles)is just an excuse to justify commercialism. I think it's much more fun to give clever names to the end result of chance (rather than intentional) mixes. Currently I have a Bossie (Border Collie/Aussie), a Jackapoo (JRT/Poodle) and a Pomahuahua (Long-Haired Chihuahua/Pomeranian). Or better yet, make up clever names to keep the inquiring public guessing about your dog's heritage and make them believe you too have a rare designer dog. I was once the proud guardian of a Norwegian Schuterhunde! There's no such breed, but I had many, many individuals ask me where they could acquire a dog just like my "rare" beauty!

It is definitely more fun to create new names. Our mix, Sam, has been a Strudelpudel, Latvian Weasel Hound,
Hound da doninhas, and Chien de chasse de belette. And, as in the previous message, people have asked where they get one just like Sam.

Just think for a minute about all the puppy mill puppies we have seen that don't look anything like the breed standard. A simple swab of the cheek and we can find for certain what we always knew. That ain't no purebred puppy! Puppy paternity tests - who'd a thuncked it?

Donna, I appreciate your spirited tributes to mutts in this and other posts. I think the test sounds kind of fun, but I wonder if people will get upset when they discover that their beloved, well-behaved dog has a bit of a breed they didn't expect -- pit bull or rottweiler, for instance. I hope this doesn't hurt more than it helps. I think I have a Golden Cuskie (golden retriever, collie, husky)and a German Gaussie (german shepherd, australian shepherd, golden retriever). A friend with a retreiver mix tells people he has a Casco Bay Retriever ... and says most people seem to believe him! Here's to all the Heinz 57s out there -- mutts are the best.

Actually, this test will be extremely useful for some. Especially for those who are trying to cross the Canadian border with a dog that looks like, but isn't, any relation to the American Pit Bull Terrier. Being able to prove that my Boxer/Lab cross has no Pit blood will allow me to keep her when I move to Toronto next year.

the only problem that I have is, my dog is so unusual looking, that not even the vet can figure out what he is. This test would be very helpful to know even close to what my beloved little Okie is. The lady I got him from said he was a Jack Russell but I think she was lying, he is all blonde and looks like a 12lb minature white shephard at 6 months old. Everyone asks me what kind of dog he is, and I cant really say, because he does not look like a Jack Russell....can anyone help me!!!

jackie - could be a Spitz

Glen - since the American Pit Bull Terrier isn't one of the breeds tested for, you can't guarantee your dog doesn't have any in there, and as such would have to give up your dog before moving to Toronto... the ban includes 'Pit Bull-type dogs' but doesn't specify if they actually have to have any Pit Bull. The rescue I work with had Hound/Lab crosses that had to leave the province because they were brindle and resembled Pit Bulls. My two dogs both had to leave that province (I don't live in Ontario), one is a pure-bred Pit Bull, the other is a lab cross.

I am seriously considering DNA testing for a puppy that my neighbor's dog just found,and brought home to me. Nobody has come forward to claim him, and the shelter has reports of puppies being dumped in my area, so we think that he is the lone survivor of that litter. Mostly I would like to know what I now have. This thing is cute, but I would like to have some idea as to how large he is going to get. I am looking to train him as a therapy dog and our local certification board requires that we know something about the dog's heritage.... I do know this... I have had him 4 days and already he obeys better than both my pure-breed, AKC registered Shih-tzus that are 9 and 4.