3 Reasons to DNA Test Your Dog
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Dog DNA testing has gained popularity in the last few years, and let me tell you, I am HERE. FOR. IT.
I used to believe that DNA testing for pets was privileged and superfluous. And while I do not intend to discount the privilege inherent in being able to afford a DNA test, in the last few years, I have learned how truly not-superfluous it is. An Embark DNA test can reveal a wealth of information about your dog that can help guide you in ownership. Particularly for rescue dogs with unknown backgrounds, DNA tests can be quite illuminating, and I will prioritize testing any future rescue dogs that I adopt.
Quito, my DNA-confirmed mutt!
It will break down your dog’s breed mix.
The old adage is that “Fido’s breed doesn’t matter; I will love him the same whether he’s purebred or a mutt!” Of course we will love our dogs the same – but to say breed doesn’t matter is a little naïve.
Breeds exist because humans selectively bred dogs to enhance certain traits and create lines of consistent animals with predictable behaviors.
The Border Collie was bred to herd sheep; the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was bred to be an affectionate companion and keep wealthy laps warm. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier originates from English dog fighting in the 1800s, and Siberian Huskies are descended from endurance sled dogs in Asia, a purpose that was preserved by Western breeders in the 1900s.
Predictability and consistency in dog breeding has always been a priority for breeders seeking dogs to perform certain jobs. Therefore, certain traits and behaviors are inherent in your dog’s DNA.
What does this have to do with rescue dogs? Many rescue dogs are mixed breeds and it is rare that a rescue knows the backstory of a dog. Learning breed makeup of a mixed breed, especially if done early on, can help an owner identify behavior patterns and tailor enrichment activities to meet the dog’s biological needs.
My late rescue mutt, Quito (Kiki), was quite the mix. Although I mostly understood her behavior as an individual dog, after I received her DNA results, I had additional insight into her quirks.
While most of her behavior reflected her 23% American Pit Bull Terrier – affectionate, sweet, goofy, and sadly, a penchant for defaulting to aggressive behaviors when scared – there was no doubt that she had herding breeds in her DNA. That girl used to herd me everywhere, whether it was down a mountain on a hike, or trying to convince me to take her back inside. (Unlike most dogs, sweet Kiki had so much trauma that she actually did not like being outdoors. Her favorite activity was napping in bed with me while watching television.)
And of course, it is also just sort of fun to see which breeds went into to making your rescue mutt!
But it’s about health too…
I actually think Embark’s health panel is the most useful thing about DNA testing your dog. Many owners, especially of rescue pups, don’t know their dog’s origins. Were the parents clear of hereditary genetic diseases common in the breed? This becomes an even bigger question if the dog is a mutt and at risk of any of the genetic conditions prevalent in any of the breeds in its makeup.
Health testing itself does not prevent diseases in your dog’s genetic makeup, but it can give you a head’s up about progressive genetic diseases your dog may be at risk of developing. Many genetic diseases are actually preventable, so armed with this knowledge, you can keep your dog as healthy as possible!
For example, degenerative myelopathy is a progressive genetic condition similar to ALS in humans. However, building muscle can prevent degenerative myelopathy or at least slow its progression. If an Embark DNA test shows that your dog is at risk for DM, you can focus on muscle building exercises to prevent the disease, and keep an eye out for early symptoms if your dog does develop DM so that you can treat it quickly and slow its progression.
A degenerating spine won’t stop this dog!
The health panel also includes a measurement of your dog’s degree of inbreeding. While this information itself is not particularly useful, knowing how inbred your dog is can help explain lingering questions.
Starsky, my rescue hound dog, suffers from a mysterious but definitely genetic progressive weakening of his spine. His Embark test informed me that it isn’t degenerative myelopathy, but some of his symptoms are similar.
Knowing that this is likely the result of his 27% coefficient of inbreeding makes me angry at whatever backyard breeder or puppy mill was so irresponsible – but also gives me a sense of peace in knowing what is slowly happening, even if the vets haven’t been able to put a name to his symptoms.
You might find your dog’s relatives!
One of the most fun parts of Embark DNA testing is the relative feature! And yes – it’s real!
My aforementioned rescue mutt, Kiki, was pregnant when she arrived at the rescue and her puppies were later sent up to a rescue in Albany, New York to find their forever homes. I was shocked when Kiki’s Embark testing revealed a 50% match – after getting in touch with both Kiki’s original rescue and Asta’s owner, I confirmed that Asta was in fact Kiki’s puppy from that litter! I was able to share puppy pictures with Asta’s owner, something she didn’t have at the time she adopted Asta.
Later on, I had Starsky’s DNA tested and was shocked to learn that he was related to two of my friends’ dogs. This should have been less surprising than Kiki’s story – after all, American Foxhounds are a pretty rare breed and so any two dogs are more likely to be related than with a mixed breed dog.
But it was still pretty funny that I became friends with both Jonathan’s and Fenway’s owners first, and almost a year later, learned that our dogs were cousins and siblings, respectively. (Ok, Fenway could also be Starsky’s aunt or niece, but I think half-siblings is more fun.)
While relative finding is mostly just for fun, it can also be useful. When you find a relative, particularly a close relative such as a parent or sibling, you can communicate to learn more about your dog’s backstory, as well as share health or behavioral challenges. That’s what Jonathan’s mom did with his DNA panel, since Jonathan was found as a stray with three littermates. Again…the more insight, the better.
Genetic testing for your dog may still be somewhat superfluous, but it is far more accessible and accurate now than it has been in the past. While it is still a privilege to afford a DNA kit for your dog, it is a relatively low price for the data and information you are getting.
That’s why I recommend genetic testing especially to adopters of rescue dogs with unknown histories. You may not be learning your dog’s story, but you are learning your dog’s genetic makeup, and that can be invaluable in dog ownership.
