Can You Identify these Mixed Breeds?

With thousands of dog rescues scattered across the country, dogs are constantly going to their new homes. The question that most people wonder when they adopt a dog is, what breed is my dog? Or what combination of different breeds? Most dogs are given a designated breed while in shelter, but many dog owners continue to wonder about their new dog’s breed or breed mix.  These questions can get answered, as people are paying money to get their dogs DNA tested with the hopes of finding out clues about their family pet.

The interesting part of these test results is that they do not always match the designated breed given by the shelter. Without the proper history and with generations of mixed breeds, it is nearly impossible to accurately determine a shelter dog’s purebred lineage just by looking at them.

Shelter dogs can often be mislabeled as Pit Bull mixes due to a lack of knowledge of the actual breeds that make up what people frequently assume is a Pit Bull. According to experts, there is no such thing as a “purebred” Pit Bull. Instead, what people identify as a Pit Bull is actually a mix of breeds with similar physical characteristics, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino and even the Boxer. However, the dog’s DNA may contain no genetic markers with the breeds commonly known to make up the Pit Bull.

The same can be said for other dogs across the breed spectrum. Labrador Retrievers are commonly mislabeled in shelters as well. The reason why dogs are so commonly mislabeled is the fact that mixed-breed dogs have been breeding for generations. A purebred could be so far down the line of generations that your dog may be only a quarter or less of what they appear to be. This also means that puppies can develop characteristics that look like what we think a specific breed would at that age, when in fact it is just a combination of different breeds. As they grow older, these dogs can look completely different then the breed they were originally thought to be.

Do you think you would be good at guessing mixed breeds? Take the quizzes below to see if you can correctly identify “Pit Bulls” and “Labs." The results may shock you!

 See the Pit Bull answers here!

See the Lab answers here!

When adopting a dog from a local shelter or rescue, you may not be 100% certain of their breed. You may never know the exact mix of your rescue dog, but they are family and we love them as the individual they are!

Getting Your New Dog

It is National Adopt a Dog Month and to celebrate we are making sure that you are prepared to bring your new dog home. Whether you just adopted a dog or went to a breeder, it is important to make sure you are prepared to bring your new pooch home.

Remember that getting a new dog isn’t a spur of the moment decision. You should seriously consider you time and ability to care for a pet before you make the commitment.  First it is important to find the correct dog that suits your needs (not just your wants!), and take into consideration your activity level as well as your living condition or lifestyle. For example, even though you may want a large dog, your apartment may be best suited for a small dog. Make sure you look at what you can provide the dog and not only what you want in a dog. Also consider the differences between getting a puppy and getting an adult dog. Getting a puppy can be vastly different than getting an adult dog. Do you research and find what size, breed and age of dog would best suit your needs.

Knowing what to expect on your dog’s first day home is critical. Remember that your dog is likely going to be stressed on their first day home, they are experiencing a new situation and it’s important to make them as comfortable as possible. Get them on a set routine as soon as possible, including a set feeding schedule and a set potty schedule. This will help them better adjust to their new lifestyle as well as help prevent accidents. Keeping the schedule consistent will ease the adjustment period for both you and your new dog. 

It can take weeks for your dog to become comfortable in their new environment and for their true personality to show. It is an adjustment for both you and your dog. The first few weeks can be stressful and you may feel as if you are in over your head. Remember that there is help out there! 

Morris K9 Campus has started a new class called “Canine Rescues and Remedies: Living Happily Ever After with Your New Dog.”  This class is focused on the main reasons why dogs and humans have a hard time adjusting to their new lives. The class is a non judgment zone to come in and talk about the issues you are experiencing with your new dog and get advice from our Pet Trainer. 

Always remember to give the situation time and don’t be afraid to seek help fr

om a professional. They are there to make the transition with a new dog as easy as possible for both you and your dog. A new dog can be stressful, but it also can be the most rewarding experience. Give it time and enjoy your new dog!

Guess Lexi's Breed Contest.. The Results are In!

Guesses have been made and the results are in; it’s finally time to reveal Lexi’s mix of breeds! Over the past month, we have invited you to guess what breeds are mixed in the two-year-old rescue dog of Morris K9 Campus owner Joanne Morris. Through the DNA test Wisdom Panel, we received scientific results of her family history.

According to Wisdom Panel Lexi is, drum roll please…. a Great Pyrenees, Chow Chow Mix!

Did you guess her breeds correctly?  The test indicates that Lexi’s Great Grandparents, as well as one of her Grandparents were purebred Great Pyrenees, it also indicates that one of her Great Grandparents was a purebred Chow Chow. Besides those two breeds, Lexi only tested as a mixed breed dog, meaning there wasn’t enough in her DNA in order to put it on her family tree. However, the test does include breeds that came up just under the detection threshold. According to the Wisdom Panel, Lexi also has traces of Flat Coated Retriever, English Foxhound, Scottish Deerhound, Boxer, and Irish Setter. 

The test also includes other information relevant to your dog. According to Wisdom Panel, Lexi should be between 58 – 93 pounds, she is near the middle of that weighing in around 70 pounds! The test also looks at traits of both of Lexi’s breeds and is accurate when describing her personality. We would agree that Lexi is a loyal family dog like the Chow Chow, and that like both of her breeds she responds well to reward based training!

Since no one guessed both of Lexi’s breeds, our winning guess was the first person to correctly identify one of Lexis breeds. Our winning guess was Shirley Meo-Crane, she was the first person to guess that Lexi was a Great Pyrenees! Congratulations Shirley! Shirley is the lucky winner of a $50 gift certificate to Morris K9 Campus as well as a gift basket!

What do you think of the Wisdom Panel DNA, do you the test is accurate when it says Lexi is a Great Pyrenees/Chow Chow Mix?

DNA Testing: Can YOU guess Lexi’s Breed? Enter to Win!

Adopting a rescue dog can be rewarding, but it often leaves pet owners asking themselves what type of dog they’ve brought into the family. Many rescue dogs are mixed breeds, and although shelters can often guess at a pet’s lineage, adoptees are left to wonder: what type of dog is my pet? 

Usually the question leaves an owner trying their best to make an educated guess. But wouldn’t you prefer to know what your dog’s DNA says? The Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Test allows you to get scientific results on what your pooch is with something as simple as a cheek swab. 

The test will compare your dog’s DNA to the DNA of over 200 different breeds and determine their breed mix. The test is easy and simple; all you do is swab your dog’s cheek, send it to the lab and in two to three weeks you have results based on their scientific DNA comparison.

We are often asking ourselves these questions about mixed-breed pets who visit Morris K9 Campus. Curious to put The Wisdom Panel to the test, we swabbed one of our own!

Meet Lexi: the two-year-old rescue dog of Morris K9 Campus owner Joanne Morris. Lexi joined the Morris family last year, and ever since everyone has been curious about what breed mix this beautiful girl might be. Lexi has been swabbed and the test has been sent to the lab, but the question remains, what type of mix is Lexi? For the next month we are looking for our readers to make your best guesses of what type of dog her DNA will say she is. 

Think you know what Lexi is? Leave us your guess on our blog, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest before 11:59 pm on Friday, September 20th. The person who guesses closest to her actual breed will receive a $50 gift certificate to Morris K9 Campus as well as a Morris K9 Campus gift basket! Be sure to check out our social media pages over the next few weeks for clues about Lexi’s behavior that could help you make a more educated guess.

Good luck!