Knowing that my dog is a husky mix, I found on Amazon there are different DNA tests you can buy and they tell you what breeds your dog is made of. Has anyone had any experience with these tests? Did you get the results you expected or something you just found incorrect? I was just curious and thought I would ask for other people's experiences before I bought it myself.

It depends on the company's data bank. If the one has every single breeds data, they possibly can track down even better. If I don't remember incorrectly, I have read in somewhere dogs were started with a fewer breeds comparing now. Therefore, that might be possible to found some ancient thread even in those some "new" pure breeds.

The kit I was considering states they have over 200 breeds in their data base and compare 321 markers in your dog's DNA.

I was mostly just wanting this test based out of pure curiosity, but I didn't want to waste my money on a product that didn't give accurate results as it claims.

The result I assumed would be something like 50% X, 25% Y, 10% Z, 5% A, 2.5%B etc. Like human, most of us are mix across with different ethic groups in some degree. Most of us would carry some genes from almost every part in the world. Please don't get it confuse with accuracy. Just most of us / dogs doesn't only carry a single ethic group/breed in genes nowadays.

Casey, Fwiw, on another forum I was on they discussed DNA testing. Most are still not accurate. UCDavis, I believe is the best so far in DNA testing for dogs. Please do a little more research before you spend a lot of money. The girl got her results that said 25% doberman, this dog looked like a black german shepherd, the test never even listed shepherd for her dog.
Renee

Since we just rescued nyx, we get some many different opinions about what she is mixed with. Our vet told us one day if we ever feel like it they can run the test. We decided its not important so we held off since we are both tight on money, but we thought one day we will do it cause it would be fun to find out. Her mom told us she would pay for it cause she really wants to know lol haha! So we might get it done next time we go in for her set of shots.

That's interesting Eric. To help Casey, is your vet through the University system in Ohio? The person that I was speaking about on my previous post did not go through UCDavis, she went through the company that the OP mentioned. I really feel it's a money making scheme, I could be wrong. If I were to ever do that I would go through UCDavis(they have a website), or through a university setting, or if a vet, like in your case Eric, that I felt was knowledgeable.

Well the kit I was looking at was $60. It's not a lot of money but more than I would want to spend if I knew it was a complete fraud.
I was almost even considering it just to see the results considering I know Loki is at least 50% Siberian husky. Just so I could give other people my own experience with this particular product.

I looked up the UCDavis site and found it does not break down breed specific. What they do is parentage dna, with you case, you could test your pup, mom, and the 2 possible dads and they can determine which is your pups dad. Interesting. You want breed breakdown dna, correct i.e. percentage Siberian husky, percentage whatever, etc? according to UCDavis the breakdown percentage for dogs is way more difficult than for cats. Their reasoning was that dogs have been around a longer time than cats and with more breeds. Domesticated cats have been around just a little over a hundred years with only 29 base breeds, from something like 8 regions of the world. So it's easier to determine what breed your cat is through dna testing and is way more of a challenge with dogs. So I go back to my original post with the girl that has a black german shepherd, the dna test said no german shepherd, but it had 25% doberman, the dog looks nothing like a doberman.

Casey it's interesting to me for sure, I'm guessing that you would expect to see either 100% sibe husky or 50% husky and 50% golden retriever(let's say), and you may end up with it saying something completely off the wall. I'm curious, if you got $60 to spare, I would love to see what they say. I just don't think the test is accurate enough yet. Did I help?

Yes you completely helped. I was more interested in the breed make up other than paternity. Considering you know the back story it would just be fun to see what comes up from it. Like you said, my expecting to see some golden retriever especially because he is turning a redish golden color. Or maybe it's because he's shedding so bad right now I'm just seeing what his under coat is colored.

Casey, I understand where you're coming from. My parents last dog was supposed to be a golden retriever/cocker spaniel( strange combo I know, but it was purely a mistake hookup, lol), please follow along it gets interesting. My sister has a golden, half sister to this pup. Thinking part spaniel, my parents getting up in age said sure, thinking a smallish dog easier to walk. This dog, named Jeter after the Yankee baseball player, turns out to be the "Clifford the big red dog" Seriously weighing close to 150 pounds. The parents were really spaniel/retriever, he looked like an over grown irish setter. Huh? how does that happen? The people with the parents were not breeders, like I said a mistake happened, they were household pets. My sisters golden is maybe 50-60 pounds, yellow/cream in color with shortish hair(more lab like), yes golden retrievers and golden labs look different. What I'm trying to say and what I learned at the UCDavis web site is that once we start mixing, things show up that you don't expect. Loki is a gorgeous, gorgeous boy. Your 5 year old and Loki appear to be best buddies. I dislike the fact that there are DNA places who want to take someones hard earned money to tell you your dog is part chiwawa (just kidding, but you never know). When it was the lack of proper watching of a "breeder" who sold you a misrepresented dog, and now has you wondering. It makes me sad. I have enjoyed following Loki growing up, but I'm very sympathetic to you. My suggestion is if you really have the spare change( or see if you vet can do it), go for it. Or wait another year and see if the dna testing becomes more accurate. I would love to stay in the loop, and please continue showing off your wonderful boy.

Renee

Don't feel sad for me...Loki fits with our family perfectly. He's got such a goofy, friendly personality I catch myself laughing at him constantly! As I type this, I'm watching him trying to fit in a lawn chair on the deck!

If I buy the test it would purely be for fun. I already have a good attitude about finding results stating 50% husky and whatever else he may be. So there I find myself curious if the test will reflect that and they actually have a procedure to check for this. The test does not ask for a picture or physical description so I would think that may give it more credibility. But I'll keep you informed if I find myself with extra money lying around to buy it. That may not be for a couple months.

150 pounds!?! Do they feel like they have a mini horse?

HAHAH!! He was the biggest goof ball, the gentle giant. He was hit and killed in January 2009, my parents had about 3 feet of snow and was still coming down, and he took off(he was 9 years old), it was getting dark, parents figured he was chasing a bunny, and a car came down the hill, thought he was a deer and tried to stop and hit him. My parents were devastated. But proof positive it's not just huskies that take off and chase. They lived in the country and roads were so bad there was no traffic, but that one car. This dog should have been a 40 pound dog, he was not overweight at all. He was indeed a great dog, it wasn't what my parents bargained for, but they figured it out.

The reason I mentioned that I was sad, not the case of you or my parents. This is a great example of the problem we have here in the US, people get a puppy thinking one thing and end up getting something entirely different than what they expect. That's why there are so many dog shelters. My parents were in their late 50's early 60's when they got Jeter, both at the time were in extremely good health, walking a 150 pound dog was tough, but they did it. Some people do not have that type of dedication that they had and you have. Then these poor dogs end up in shelters. Bottom line it's bad breeders taking advantage of people and puppies, that's what is sad to me.

Btw, I have totally fallen in love with your Loki, so I will keep bugging you for pics, lol. And if you do get the test let me know how it turns out.

Renee

Just an update....I ordered and sent off the DNA test. The lab has emailed me that they received the samples and I should get a report in 2-3 weeks! I'm guessing 50% Husky, 25% Golden Retriever, and 25% Mixed. Anyone else have any guesses? I think it would just be fun to see what actually comes up!

I'm going to guess he has some German Shepherd in him. Those ears! He's a cutie

looking forward for your result

Kat, his ears so you would think gsd, I think daddy has big ears (golden) and momma's genes are so strong the husky in him made his ears stand up.

Casey, what I want the results to say is still my same answer, 50% husky and 50% golden retriever, however, I think the dna lab breaks things down more so I'm going with you, but exclude percentages and say mostly husky and golden retriever, with possible golden lab and gsd.

I can't wait for you to share.....and the drum roll please, lol.

I don't know if this would help with making a guess but he's about six and a half months old, 55lbs and slightly over 24" at the shoulder. My mom wants to think some malamute in there but I think its mainly because of his size that she thinks that. I'm saying golden retriever because of the texture of his fur. I don't know where this comes to play but the fur right behind his ears is almost crimped looking. I think I've seen that on retrievers.

We did DNA testing on our 'prebred mutt' and we were pleased with the results. I would take it with a grain of salt as with all things in life but it seemed accurate enough for our curiosity. The dog we used it on showed 50% one breed and 25% of two others and they all made sense based off our dogs personality and behaviors so we were pleased with it.

Thanks Robert. I'm glad to hear about some one else's experience!

Robert, was this done on Odin your husky/pitt? Will you share which dog you tested and what the 50/25/25 was? I'm just wayyyyy curious, thank you.

Just an update on the DNA test. I'm making them re-evaluate the test.

The results came back:

Mother: 50% Siberian Husky 50% Mixed Breed (too mixed to give results)
Father: 50% Siberian Husky 50% Mixed Breed (too mixed to give results)

Loki: 50% Siberian Husky 50% Mixed Breed (too mixed to give results)

I am disappointed. Loki's mother is 100% Husky. It was the father that we had questions about.
So far the test told me what I already knew (50% Husky 50% Mixed). I was wanting to know what was included in the Mix portion.

I am supposed to hear back in 3-5 business days, hopefully with better results.

I am happy to see that at least they had the Husky part considering I did not give them any information about Loki other than his birth date.

If the mom is truly 100% Husky and the dad is only 50%, wouldn't Loki actually be 75% Husky and 25% mix? Unless of course they got the dad's makeup wrong too...

That's what I was questioning. I would understand if the dad came back half husky half too mixed, but both of them? What are the odds that both parents would be that? I probably wouldn't have even questioned if it came back Mother 100% Husky and Father 50% Husky and 50% Mixed.

Silly DNA tests are silly, hopefully when they get back to you they'll have things more straightened out.

If the mom has AKC papers you could tell them that too so they know she's a purebred.