Dog breed Genetic ID Tests

[flemishr2cool]

I'm sure its been discussed on here before but I thought i'd just pass on this information I have regarding the accuracy on these tests. I have clients ask about them often and I try to be pretty honest about them.
I was still working in vet hospitals as a CVT when these tests stated becoming very popular. The clinic I was in at the time had a sales rep from one of the major breed genetic ID companies (I can't recall the name now) contact us and wanted us to start carrying the tests and wanted to give us a presentation and a few free tests to try them out. Being typical CVTs we were up for learning anything new as well as free products so we had the rep come out.

The presentation was very convincing and good. The rep knew his stuff and could answer every question we had. He had all of us sold and eager to start selling the tests to clients.
While reading over the literature the sales rep left for us we happen to see a statistic the rep conveniently left out. In tiny print the company had put that in a control group of purebred labs that had verified pedigrees for many generations, the test results were around 70% accurate.

That's right, about 70% of the purebred labs tested came back purebred, the other 30% purebred labs were false or failed tests. We were pretty upset that this fairly important fact was left out by the sales rep and we refused to carry the tests.
The other thing that concerned me was that the tests we carried required a blood sample, some of those tests owners can order only require a saliva sample so I can only imagine how truly accurate those are. That was well over 3 years ago though so the tests could be more accurate but I have read a few previous comments people have made here that make me think otherwise. Just thought i'd pass that information on, I have never seen it mentioned anywhere else so I don't think it is common knowledge...

[Doubledogdare]

In tiny print the company had put that in a control group of purebred labs that had verified pedigrees for many generations, the test results were around 70% accurate.

That's right, about 70% of the purebred labs tested came back purebred, the other 30% purebred labs were false or failed tests. We were pretty upset that this fairly important fact was left out by the sales rep and we refused to carry the tests...

A pedigree is just a piece of paper. The names on that paper are only as accurate as the breeders are honest.

I bred Welsh Terriers for a number of years; that breed had been laced with Wire Fox and Irish Terrier blood up the gazoo for decades and well we all knew it.

You'd never know it by looking at the pedigrees. The pedigrees looked just fine. It was the genetics of the dogs that told the real story. Every breeding left you wondering if you were going to get spotted pups or what would look like small Airedales.

You also have to keep in mind that many current "purebred" breeds originated via frank cross-breeding. And there was a time when cross-breeding was not the sin it is viewed as now and a fair number of serious breeders openly used that method to improve their stock.

So, it could well be that the tests were just picking up the truth of the matter, trotting a few skeletons out of the family closet that nobody these days suspected were even there.

[windfall4]

A pedigree is just a piece of paper. The names on that paper are only as accurate as the breeders are honest.

I bred Welsh Terriers for a number of years; that breed had been laced with Wire Fox and Irish Terrier blood up the gazoo for decades and well we all knew it.

You'd never know it by looking at the pedigrees. The pedigrees looked just fine. It was the genetics of the dogs that told the real story. Every breeding left you wondering if you were going to get spotted pups or what would look like small Airedales.

You also have to keep in mind that many current "purebred" breeds originated via frank cross-breeding. And there was a time when cross-breeding was not the sin it is viewed as now and a fair number of serious breeders openly used that method to improve their stock.

So, it could well be that the tests were just picking up the truth of the matter, trotting a few skeletons out of the family closet that nobody these days suspected were even there.

That too was my first thought as well. These tests could just be SO accurate that they pick up little hints of another breed that was bred in generations ago. Just because a dog has a so called "pure pedigree" doesn't mean that is the case. People forge papers all the time.

[KarlaSnyder]

Interesting. I also heard that some of the companies don't have all or as many breeds as others that they check for. My brother is thinking of having their adopted dog checked.

As for the dog being purebred-how many pets do we see that are supposed to be a purebred whatever that obviously are not?

[windfall4]

As for the dog being purebred-how many pets do we see that are supposed to be a purebred whatever that obviously are not?

Ha ha, I actually have a story that is kind of opposite of that. I have a friend that breeds toy poodles. He breeds really nice toy poodles too. Well he had a litter a little bit ago and wasn't really all that impressed with the puppies. So he sold them online as multi-poos. Got about twice as much as he would have for a pet quality toy poodle. Some people might think that is wrong, but I think it's funny.

[Helly]

Ha ha, I actually have a story that is kind of opposite of that. I have a friend that breeds toy poodles. He breeds really nice toy poodles too. Well he had a litter a little bit ago and wasn't really all that impressed with the puppies. So he sold them online as multi-poos. Got about twice as much as he would have for a pet quality toy poodle. Some people might think that is wrong, but I think it's funny.

A lot of us might think it's funny, but in fact it's fraud.

[Particentral]

A lot of us might think it's funny, but in fact it's fraud.

And it makes him greedy IMO. WHY would you do that unless it was for money? If I am unhappy with a litter of cockers I just sell them at pet prices with no papers! I don't get it.

[windfall4]

Yes, it is wrong. I agree. I mostly think it's funny because he got twice as much for a mix breed, than he could a pure, well bred puppy. I don't really know this guy that well I've seen him at a couple dog shows. He was commenting on how puppy sales have dropped a little the past year or so. He was annoyed because people are more than willing to pay $2000-$3000 bucks for doodle, but he has a hard time finding people that are willing to pay $1000-$1500 bucks for a well bred toy poodle.

[Doggystyles]

One of the most beautiful cockers I ever groomed had papers that said it was a cockapoo. The lady wanted a cockapoo, paid for a cockapoo and got a cocker. I would put down good that there was no poodle in this cocker what so ever.
I truly believe that these people that do these things should be able to be sued for fraud.

[TawnyKitty]

I did the salvia test for my mix breed. The one they sell at Ryan's. It told me Alli had English Setter, Rhod. Ridgeback, Parson Russel Terrier, Beagle & Bull Terrier. All of which were not purebred. Now when you see her she is a little 30lb tall skinny beagle/lab looking mutt in the color red.
She points like the beagle & Setter. Her ridge goes up when she is excited. Her gums are thick and she has an over bite like the bull terrier. She barks like a beagle. I did the test purely out of curiousity. When people ask me what she is I tell them your all american mutt. :-)

[rapuzzled]

I did the salvia test for my mix breed. The one they sell at Ryan's. It told me Alli had English Setter, Rhod. Ridgeback, Parson Russel Terrier, Beagle & Bull Terrier. All of which were not purebred. Now when you see her she is a little 30lb tall skinny beagle/lab looking mutt in the color red.
She points like the beagle & Setter. Her ridge goes up when she is excited. Her gums are thick and she has an over bite like the bull terrier. She barks like a beagle. I did the test purely out of curiousity. When people ask me what she is I tell them your all american mutt. :-)

She's adorable!!

[windfall4]

I did the salvia test for my mix breed. The one they sell at Ryan's. It told me Alli had English Setter, Rhod. Ridgeback, Parson Russel Terrier, Beagle & Bull Terrier. All of which were not purebred. Now when you see her she is a little 30lb tall skinny beagle/lab looking mutt in the color red.
She points like the beagle & Setter. Her ridge goes up when she is excited. Her gums are thick and she has an over bite like the bull terrier. She barks like a beagle. I did the test purely out of curiousity. When people ask me what she is I tell them your all american mutt. :-)

Thanks funny. She is CUTE. You can see the beagle for sure, and I can see a bit of the setter and ridgeback.

[sheilabgroomer]

Tawny, she is really cute but she looks like a dog that when you see it you THINK it is a mutt but then you find out it is some rare breed......lol

[Helly]

. Her gums are thick and she has an over bite like the bull terrier.

Bull Terriers do not have an overbite. They should have a scissors bite, a few will have a level mouth and a few more will have a reverse scissors or underbite. But the only Bull Terriers you see with an overbite will be the ones with zinc absorption defect, and they usually die very, very young.