How To Determine Your Dog S Breed 13 Steps With Pictures

For instance, if you find out your dog is part Doberman Pinscher, you will know that they are predisposed to heart disease and certain neck and spine issues. You can then inform your vet so they know to watch for any signs and symptoms as well as educating yourself on these health issues.

If you are confident your dog is not purebred, skip to the next step. If you acquired your purebred according to the regulations of the kennel club to which it belongs, you should be able to retrieve pedigree information either online or in hard copy by contacting the club with your dog’s registration number. If you don’t have this information, you may still be able to figure out which kennel club is likely to have the relevant records, and you may still be able to retrieve pedigree information through an online search of their records.

Ask his or her opinion about what breed your dog might be. They may have a very good idea or they may give you some suggestions that you will have to further investigate. You could also ask a groomer or breeder and see what ideas they have about your dog’s breed. They see dogs all day as well, after all.

For instance, a test might be able to tell you that your mutt is 60% lab with 30% dachshund and 10% of “other” in the mix.

Tests ranging from $60 and up are available both online and in many pet supply stores. Most of the kits require a cheek swab sampling. Some more expensive ones may require a blood test from a veterinarian’s office. To swab your dog’s cheek, first check to make sure there is no food or debris stuck between their cheek and gums. Open the swab that comes with the kit (avoid touching the bristles) and lift your dog’s lip. Place the swab against the inner surface of your dog’s lip, then lower the lip. Twirl the swab and move it back and forth a little, gently holding your dog’s mouth shut. Allow the swab to dry for about five minutes, then place it in the container provided. The results come in two to four weeks either by mail or email. [2] X Research source Regardless of the limitations and costs associated with DNA testing, this is the most scientific, and likely most accurate, way to determine your mutt’s breed profile.

One study on visual dog breed identification found that even self-described “dog experts” were only able to correctly identify a predominant breed in a mixed-breed dog about 27% of the time. [3] X Research source Regardless of accuracy concerns, however, identification by visual appearance is the most likely method for use by the average mutt owner, and often sufficient to satisfy a general curiosity. Best of all, it’s free.

Take measuring tape and measure your dog from front to back, top to bottom, and left to right. These general measurements will allow you to rule out breeds that are drastically different from your dog. For instance, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, you will know that you don’t have a small toy breed. Toy dogs (5–10 pounds (2. 3–4. 5 kg)) may include Chihuahuas and Shih Tzu, for instance; dogs in the middle range (10–50 pounds (4. 5–22. 7 kg)), may perhaps be terriers or spaniels; large dogs (50–100 pounds (23–45 kg)) could be setters or retrievers; and dogs over 100 pounds (45 kg) likely have some element of Saint Bernard, Mastiff, or other giants in their breed mix. [4] X Research source If your dog is a puppy, seek out an online calculator that will let you use puppy age and weight to estimate adult weight.

If you have a puppy, you may have to wait until it is fully mature for all characteristics to become apparent. Think about what the build of your dog might mean about its skills. This may help you narrow down the breed group. For instance, if your dog has long legs and is slender, your dog may be a herding dog.

Dogs like Pugs and Bulldogs have round skulls and very short snouts (brachycephalic), whereas Collies and Greyhounds have long snouts and narrow skulls (dolichocephalic). Mesocephalic dogs have skulls that most of us think are balanced (not exaggerated), like that of a Labrador or an Australian Shepherd. Visit How to Identify Your Adopted Mutt for several examples of physical characteristics that can often be tied to certain breeds or breed groups.

There are a wide variety of types of dog fur. Rottweilers tend to only have short black and mahogany fur with specific markings on the head and chest. Many (not all) terriers have wiry coats with short, stocky bodies like that of the Cairn Terrier, the Miniature Schnauzer and the Jack Russell (aka Parsons) terrier. Poodles have the distinction of having curly coats of springy curls in a variety of sizes and colors. [5] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source

For example, German Shorthair Pointer dogs usually come in liver and white and Vizslas are a solid copper color. There are breeds that also come in a merle pattern where diluted black or red colors are mixed in with white like the blue merle Australian Shepherd or Shetland Sheepdog.

There are numerous online options for dog breed searches, which use photos and brief character trait descriptions to help you find matches for your mutt. [6] X Research source Some also break down the categories by dog size, from “toy” to XL. [7] X Research source The American Kennel Club (AKC) breed search, for example, provides images and brief descriptions of characteristics common to each breed. [8] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Eliminate breed groups that don’t fit your dog’s characteristics. After that, go through pictures and descriptions of breed groups that are similar to your dog. Remember that your dog is quite possibly a mix of several different breeds. If your dog has some striking characteristics that match a breed, but it doesn’t match completely, it may only partially be that breed.