How Do You Know Your Dog's Breed?

Purebred Dogs

• Purebred dogs are bred to a standard, which outlines the size, appearance, temperament and working abilities of the dog. The American Kennel Club is the largest breed registry in the world, and comparing your dog to pictures and descriptions of purebreds is the easiest way to determine what breed he is. There are also smaller registries that recognize purebred working and hunting dogs not acknowledged by the AKC. Your dog may not be an AKC-recognized breed, but may be a regional working breed, such as a Montana stock dog or hunting feist from the southeastern United States. Consider your region when trying to figure out your dog's breed.

  Keep in mind that the vast majority of purebred dogs are not true to the ideal standard, even if they are registered and have champion parents. Some may have major faults, such as long haired rottweilers, gray or silver labradors, under-sized chihuahuas and shy fila brasilieros. A dog may not look or act like an "ideal" specimen but can still be purebred.

Cross-Breed Dogs

• Cross-breed dogs are usually easy to identify: a cross-breed is simply a mix of two pure bred dogs. Cross-breeds include cockapoos, mastiff/pit bull crosses and labradoodles as well as many random-bred dogs found in shelters. Many breeders intentionally cross-breed dogs to achieve a certain look or temperament.

Mixed Breed Dogs

• A mixed breed dog is a mix of three or more breeds. Sometimes the mix is so convoluted, it may be impossible to identify a single breed. When a large genetic pool of dog types are allowed to randomly interbreed, over generations they will start resembling a "type" rather than any identifiable breed.

  With a breed book or website at hand, compare your mixed breed dog's physical traits to different breeds. Pay attention to coat length and color, ear shape and set, facial features and body size. Read about the temperaments of different breeds and consider how they compare to your dog's traits. While you may never know all the breeds in your dog's genetic makeup, it is possible to identify the dominant breed or breeds unless your dog has a lengthy pedigree of random-bred mutts.

Significance

• There are several reasons you may want to know your dog's breed, or dominant breed if she is a mix. Some dogs are very susceptible to certain medical conditions. For instance, some terriers are highly likely to get bladder cancer. Rottweilers and Bernese mountain dogs are prone to elbow dysplasia and bone cancer, dobermans to bleeding and clotting disorders and Cavalier King Charles spaniels to the brain and spinal cord disorder, syringomyelia. Being aware of some of these risks may alter your care, feeding and management of your dog. It is also possible to test DNA for a wide range of health disorders and conditions.

DNA Testing

• Although reviews of canine breed DNA testing indicate it is not completely reliable, several DNA testing services will identify the purebred dogs in your dog's genetic makeup. Some companies require a cheek swab, taking cells from the inside of your dog's cheek. Others, like the MX Wisdom Panel, use a blood test to identify breeds. Currently the only breeds they can identify are some AKC recognized breeds, but as further DNA breed information is added to the database, the capabilities will expand.