How to Determine Your Dog’s Breed Mix

Mixed breed dogs come in all shapes and sizes, each with a unique blend of traits and characteristics that can leave even the most seasoned pet parent wondering, “What breed is my dog?” While every dog is unique, regardless of their breed mix, identifying their genetic makeup can provide interesting and helpful insights into their history, health, and behavior. 

The rescue or shelter where you adopted your dog does their best, but they don’t always get the breed mix right. If you want to determine your dog’s breed mix more accurately, here’s what you need to know. 

Benefits of dog breed identification 

First things first: It’s important to understand that a mixed-breed dog doesn’t usually have two purebred parents. One study, in which researchers DNA tested more than 900 shelter dogs, found that nearly 80 percent had more than two breeds in their mix, with some having five or more. 

So identifying your dog’s breed mix goes beyond just narrowing it down to one or two breeds. It’s about uncovering the unique combination that makes your dog truly one-of-a-kind. And knowing your dog’s breed mix offers several key benefits.

Satisfies curiosity

Let’s be real: One of the main reasons pet parents pursue breed identification is simple curiosity. Just as many of us enjoy uncovering our ancestry, discovering your dog’s breed mix is fun. Plus, having a definitive answer when people inevitably ask, “What kind of dog is that?” is pretty satisfying. 

Understanding behaviors

While certainly not a hard science (after all less than 10 percent of behavior comes from breed), knowing your dog’s breed mix may offer some insight into the type of care they need. For instance, a dog with strong herding ancestry may require more mental stimulation or job-related activities, while one with a hunting lineage might have a higher prey drive that needs to be managed through proper training and exercise. 

Understanding these breed tendencies can help you tailor your dog’s environment, activities, and training methods to better suit their instincts and keep them happy and engaged.

Anticipating health risks

Certain breeds are predisposed to specific health conditions, including hip dysplasia in larger breeds and respiratory issues in flat-faced breeds. By identifying your dog’s breed mix, you can take proactive steps to monitor for potential health concerns.

Legal reasons 

Some areas have breed-specific legislation (BSL) or housing restrictions that can affect where certain breeds are allowed to live. Identifying your dog’s breed mix can ensure you’re in compliance with local regulations and avoid potential legal issues. 

Identify dog breeds by physical characteristics

Physical traits can provide hints about your dog’s breed, but the connection between appearance and breed is more complicated than it seems. This makes visual identification of dog breeds tricky, if not impossible.

Dominant traits like a black coat or floppy ears, which only need to be inherited from the genes of one parent, can appear in a wide variety of breeds. Recessive traits, such as a long coat or upright ears, need to be inherited from both parents to show up. These traits can easily be masked by dominant ones, meaning they might not appear in your mixed-breed dog, even if they’re present in their genetic makeup. 

Studies show that visual guesses about a dog’s breed often don’t match their true genetics. For example, many medium-sized, blocky-headed dogs in shelters are labeled as Pit Bulls. In one study, staff at four shelters were asked to guess the breeds of 120 dogs. They identified 52 percent of them as some type of Pit Bull, but DNA tests revealed that only 21 percent had ancestry from one of the recognized bully breeds. What’s more, 20 percent of dogs that did have bully-breed heritage were missed by shelter staff. 

Mislabeling can be harmful due to the unfair stigma surrounding certain breeds, like Pit Bulls. In response, some shelters have eliminated breed labels entirely, which has led to increased adoption rates and a more open-minded approach to finding homes for dogs.

Identifying dog breed groups and traits

Instead of using physical traits to identify specific breeds, think of it as a fun guessing game, where certain traits might guide you toward broad breed groups, even if they can’t pinpoint an exact breed. Here are some examples.

• Erect ears: Erect ears are commonly seen in spitz, herding, and terrier breeds. 

• Double-layer coat: A dog with a double-layer coat could indicate origins from a northern breed (such as a Bernes Mountain Dog) or a spitz breed (such as a Siberian Husky or Pomeranian).

• Wiry coat:
A wiry coat is often seen in terrier and pointing dog breeds.

• Tail shape:
A curly tail might point to spitz breeds (such as a Finnish Spitz) or Asian breeds (such as a Shiba Inu), while a long, straight tail is often seen in sporting, herding, and hound breeds.

• Facial structure: Flat-faced features might mean a brachycephalic breed such as Pug or Bulldog in their origins, while long, narrow snouts could suggest a sighthound, Collie, or even a Dachshund.

Keep in mind, since these traits are found in many types of dogs, physical traits alone aren’t enough to accurately identify a specific breed. Genetics can be unpredictable. That’s where DNA testing comes in.

Other breed identification methods 

While DNA testing is the most accurate way to determine your dog’s breed, talking to your vet can also be a valuable step in the process. Veterinarians have extensive experience with different dog breeds and their physical and behavioral traits. Although they may not provide an exact answer, your vet can often give you an educated guess based on your dog’s appearance.

Breed identification apps allow you to upload your dog’s photo to receive breed identification results based on image analysis. While these tools can be fun, they lack the depth of a DNA test and tend to rely on visual traits, which may lead to less accurate results — especially in mixed breed dogs who are made up of many breeds.

Identifying breeds with DNA testing for dogs 

DNA testing is the only surefire way to determine which breeds make up your dog’s unique mix. While guessing based on physical traits or behavior might give you a rough idea, a DNA test provides precise insights into your dog’s genetic makeup. 

Here’s what you need to know about dog DNA tests, how they work, and what you can expect from them.

What is a dog DNA test?

A dog DNA test analyzes your dog’s genetic material to identify the different breeds in their ancestry. By comparing your dog’s DNA to a database of breed profiles, the test can reveal the various breeds contributing to your dog’s heritage, sometimes down to very small percentages.

How dog breed DNA tests work

The process is simple: You’ll receive a kit in the mail, which guides you through swabbing the inside of your dog’s cheek. You then send the sample to a lab, where your dog’s DNA is extracted and compared to thousands of breed markers. The results show the percentage breakdown of each breed in your dog, giving you a clearer picture of their background. Some tests also offer insights into your dog’s potential health risks based on their breed composition.

Our DNA test pick

There are several popular canine DNA tests available, each with different features. Our favorite option is the Wisdom Panel Essential. A highly regarded test, the Wisdom Panel screens for more than 365 breeds and tests for 25-plus genetic health conditions and 50-plus physical traits. It can also help you find your dog’s relatives. The test costs $84.99 (at time of publishing). 

Are dog DNA tests accurate?

Most reputable dog DNA tests have an accuracy rate of 95 percent or higher, but no test is perfect. Accuracy can vary based on the complexity of your dog’s breed mix and the database used for comparison. For rare or less-studied breeds, results may be less precise, but for common breeds, these tests are typically reliable.

Commonly asked questions

How can I tell what breed my large dog is? 

As with any dog, you can observe specific traits in your large dog, such as size, coat type, ear shape, and tail structure, to gain clues about their breed. However, the most reliable way to determine your dog’s breed mix is through a DNA test.

Can mixed-breed dogs have traits from rare breeds?

Yes, mixed-breed dogs can carry traits from rare or less common breeds, even if these traits aren’t immediately visible. DNA testing is the best way to identify any rare breed influences in your dog’s makeup.

Can I take a picture of my dog to determine the breed?

Some apps and websites use photos to assess your dog’s breed. However, they often rely on visual traits, which can lead to inaccurate results, especially for mixed breeds.

Are all shelter dogs mixed breeds? 

No, not all shelter dogs are mixed breeds. Purebred dogs can also be found in shelters, often due to surrenders or abandonment. To see which dogs are available in shelters near you, use Adopt a Pet’s search function. 

Resources

Can You Identify Dog Breeds Visually? 

A Canine Identity Crisis: Genetic Breed Heritage Testing of Shelter Dogs

Inconsistent Identification of Pit Bull-Type Dogs by Shelter Staff