Difference between revisions of "Identify Your Adopted Mutt"

#Check your dog's size. Your dog's size is related to your dog's breeds. You can't have a large mutt without him having a large-breed dog as a part of his genetic makeup.<ref name="rf1">http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/dog_basics/description_and_physical_characteristics_of_dogs/description_and_physical_characteristics_of_dogs.html</ref>

#* For instance, if your dog is very small (in the 5 to 10 pound range), he likely has some influence from the toy breeds, such as Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas, Papillons, and Shih Tzus.<ref name="rf1" />

#* Large dogs, in the 65 to 100-pound range, include dogs such as setters, retrievers, and shepherds.<ref name="rf1" />

#* The biggest dogs, the ones that come close to 200 pounds, likely have some giant dog in their mix, such as Saint Bernard, Komondor, or Mastiff.<ref name="rf1" />

#* Nonetheless, mutts can come in any size, and if your dog is mid-range, it may be harder to determine what breeds contributed to his genetic makeup based on size.<ref name="rf1" />

#* Bat ears are large ears that stand upright on a dog's head. They are large in proportion to the head. They may be slightly rounded. Chihuahuas and Cardigan West Corgis have these ears.<ref name="rf2">http://www.caninest.com/dog-ear-types/</ref>

#* Prick ears stand upright and are pointed. You'll see these ears on malamutes and Siberian Huskies, as well as some terriers. Sometimes, prick ears are made by cutting part of the ear, and those ears are called cropped. Great Danes and Doberman Pinschers often have their ears cropped. Another variation on prick ears is hooded ears, which curve slightly in at the bottom, like on Basenji dogs.<ref name="rf3">https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201208/what-shape-is-your-dogs-ear</ref>

#* Round-tip or blunt-tip ears are upright ears that are rounded on the ends, seen on Chow Chows or French Bulldogs.<ref name="rf2" />

#* Candle flame ears are pointed ears, but they pinch in slightly at the bottom, making them look like a candle flame. English Toy Terriers have these ears.<ref name="rf3" />

#* Button ears stand up, but the top part flops down, covering the ear canal. They're seen in Fox Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers, for example.<ref name="rf2" />

#* Cocked, semi-cropped, or semi-pricked ear stands upright, but folds just slightly over at the top, as seen in Rough Collies and Pit Bulls.<ref name="rf2" />

#* Drop ears or pendant ears drop down beside the side of the face, such as in the basset hound.<ref name="rf2" /> A folded ear is much like a drop ear. However, the ear hangs down in ruffles rather than straight down. You'll see these ears in dogs like Field Spaniels.<ref>https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201208/what-shape-is-your-dogs-ear</ref>

#* Filbert-shaped ears hang down, but they have an unusual shape, looking like filberts. You'll find these ears in breeds like Bedlington Terriers.<ref name="rf2" />

#* Rose ears are a type of drop ears, but they fold back instead of forward. You see these ears on Greyhounds.<ref name="rf3" />

#* Curly tails make a little corkscrew. You see this type of tail in Pugs, Akitas, and Chow Chows, for instance.<ref name="rf5">http://www.dogguide.net/curly-tail-dog-breeds.php</ref>

#* Bobtails are short tails that look cut-off. You see this tail on dogs such as Australian Shepherds and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.<ref name="rf6">http://www.caninest.com/dog-tail-types/</ref>

#* Flagpole tails are long and straight and stand up like, well, a flagpole. You'll see these tails on dogs like Beagles.<ref name="rf6" />

#* Rat tails hang down, and they have very little hair. These tails are prominent on Irish Water Spaniels and Afghans.<ref name="rf6" />

#* You might also see saber tails and sickle tails. Saber tails hang down but curve slightly upward and are covered in fur; German Shepherds have these tails. Sickle tails curve upward over the body and are covered in fur; Siberian Huskies and Chihuahuas have these tails.<ref name="rf6" />

#Look at your dog's head. The shape of your dog's head can also indicate the breed type of your dog. Head shape varies from apple-headed to blocky-headed.<ref name="rf7">http://www.dog.com/dog-articles/your-dogs-head/2060/</ref>

#* Apple heads are very rounded. In fact, they look like domes. These heads are often seen on Chihuahuas.<ref name="rf7" />

#* A square-shaped head is known as a blocky head, seen in Boston Terriers.<ref name="rf7" />

#* Dogs with noses sunk into their heads and an undershot jaw are called broken-up faces, as seen in Pekingese.<ref name="rf7" />

#* Snippy-faced dogs have sharp muzzles that aren't very wide, such as Salukis.<ref name="rf7" />

#* Dogs that have faces that are concave are called dish-faced, as seen in pointers.<ref name="rf7" />

#* Dogs with down face have convex faces. Their faces are curved outward from the nose to the top of their head, as with Bull Terriers.<ref name="rf7" />

#Realize you won't be able to identify your dog 100 percent. While you may be able to pull out some of the breeds of your dog just by looking at him, it is difficult to decipher ancestry in mixed-breed dogs. When dogs are mixed, they can produce interesting characteristics that you wouldn't necessarily associate with the original breed.<ref name="rf8">http://stopbsl.org/bsloverview/impossibleid/</ref>

#Order a genetic test online. Find a reputable company that sells genetic dog tests. They will send you a kit to help you test your DNA.<ref name="rf9">https://vetdnacenter.com/dna-tests/canine-dna-testing/canine-dna-breed-testing/</ref> Two of the major companies are Wisdom Panel and DNA My Dog.<ref name="rf10">http://fortune.com/2015/06/25/dog-dna-tests/</ref>

#* While these tests can provide some information, they aren't foolproof. In fact, getting tests from two different companies may show a different mixture of breeds.<ref name="rf10" />

#* It's especially difficult to identify breeds if your dog has a larger number than other dogs; if your dog just has a couple of breeds, it may be easier to identify.<ref name="rf11">http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dog-dna-testing</ref>

#Take a swab of your dog's cheek. The kit will come with two cotton swabs. All you do is rub it on the inside of your dog's cheek. Let them dry out, and stick them back in the envelope.<ref name="rf12">http://www.wisdompanel.com/how_it_works/</ref>

#Activate your kit. Some websites, such as Wisdom Panel, require that you activate your kit online at this point. You'll be given a code to write on your sample sticker.<ref name="rf12" />

#Mail it back in. Many kits come with the shipping label included. All you have to do is stick the kit back in the mail.<ref name="rf9" />

#Wait for the results. The company will mail back the genetic makeup of your dog. Some panels claim to go back as far as great-grandparents in identifying the breeds that makeup your dog.<ref name="rf9" />