DNA test to confirm "full breed"?

tcarlisle · #1 10-02-2008, 08:32 AM

Is there such a thing as a DNA test to confirm a dog is full bred? I know there are tests to determine what mix a mixed breed is, but how can one confirm that a dog is a full breed? Also, can a DNA test give an idea how many generations the bloodline is of the single breed?

I mean, technically, if you trace the ancestry of any full breed boxer, you will end up arriving at a point before the "boxer" existed and it was a mix of the breeds used to create what we now call a "boxer".

Can a person find out through DNA exactly how "pure bred" their dog is?

suzyqdogsmom · #2 10-02-2008, 08:39 AM

I assume that the test that determines what mix a dog is, just tells you what breeds are in your dog. So that would tell you if your boxer is all boxer or has some other mix in it. As to how far back it goes, I don't know the answer to that.

LILYLARUE · #3 10-03-2008, 08:46 AM

I just did the Canine Heritage Test with my adopted "pit-mix". It was so exciting waiting on those results! It came back as:

Primary Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Mixed in: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

I knew she was of pitbull breed but had no idea what was mixed in. There was no Secondary Breed which meant that both parents were Staffies. But somewhere in her bloodline was the Cavalier.

I now can't wait for the results on my other sharpei/pit/greyhound mix. Exciting to find what parts are what in him.

I would think a full-breed boxer would come in with Primary Breed: Boxer with no secondary and no mixed in. But I don't think they would show any blips in the breed unless somewhere an ancestor wasn't full-breed boxer and show as a mixed in breed.

There is no way to tell how old the bloodline is though. Just that it is clean or tarnished by another breed or breeds.

LILYLARUE · #4 10-13-2008, 09:59 AM

These tests are not recognized by the AKC and can not be used to determine any purebreeds or confirm bloodlines. They are really just for novelty. I'm sure at some point, upon perfecting the tests and having them recognized by the breed certification groups, they may be used to validate.

LILYLARUE · #5 10-13-2008, 11:53 AM

I wish I knew. This is an interesting question one of the experts on here can answer.

You should be able to go to their website and readup on the rules of breeds and certification of dogs. May find your answer there.