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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
What you should know before you buy, February 27, 2009
This review is from: Canine Heritage Dog-Breed Mail-In Test Kit, XL (Misc.)
If your mutt's ancestry is largely mutt -- that is, if there were no pure-bred dogs in his lineage for two or more generations -- the results you get are likely to be disappointing.
Enlarge the picture of the sample certificate accompanying the item description, and you will see there are three categories of ancestor: "primary," "secondary," and "in the mix." Unless one of your dog's parents was pure-bred, there will be no "primary" listed. "Secondary" refers to a breed that "may or may not have a strong influence on your pet," representing "less than a majority of your dog's DNA."
Quite possibly, you won't get even a "secondary," and have to content yourself with a couple of "in the mix" breeds, which appear in "low and measurable amounts." In other words, your dog shares a few markers with breeds that have no influence on its characteristics -- that is, you stand a strong possibility of getting very little information for your money.
So, try the test for fun, if you enjoy that sort of thing -- but, one way or the other, congratulate yourself for choosing an animal likely to be healthier, smarter, and generally superior to any pure-bred. Hooray for hybrid vigor! Hooray for mutts!
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Try another test, May 16, 2009
This review is from: Canine Heritage Dog-Breed Mail-In Test Kit, XL (Misc.)
I tried this test for 2 mix breed dogs and was very disappointed. First try, they came up with nothing and asked for another sample on both dogs. Second time, only one dog was typed, with questionable results. The only thing I believed was that she was part Akita. The third try, they said they would use the "new" expanded data base. Finally, the second dog was typed, showing half Lab (which she obviously is) and nothing else. I don't know why they needed an expanded data base to come up with that. This whole process took 9 months since they were so slow in returning it after I sent off samples (6-9 weeks each time). I was so intrigued, I tried the other test available on Amazon by BioPet, and even though it was half price, it delivered much more reliable results on the first try, in only 2 1/2 weeks. First dog was Akita, Bulldog, Collie and Papillon. Second dog was Lab/English Setter. I think the second test had it right.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
I question the accuracy of this test, November 28, 2008
This review is from: Canine Heritage Dog-Breed Mail-In Test Kit, XL (Misc.)
It is a good idea but I don't think it is accurate at this time. I ran this test on three of my mix breed dogs.
Dog #1) The test was not able to determine much at all about the dog I know the least about though they did offer to retest later when their database gets better. I am guessing that dog is 13 or 14 so he probably won't be around for that.
Dog #2) The person who gave us this dog said she came from a home with a German Shepherd bitch and a male Shar Pei. The were quite sure that her mother was the German Shepherd. The test came back with no indication of German Shepherd or SharPei though it did mention Chow, Shih Tzu, Akita and Saluki so I guess it was sort of close. I still can't figure out why they could not detect German Shepherd.
Dog #3) This dog really looks like a Shar Pei mix since he has loose skin, a blue tongue and odd shaped feet. He was tested 3 times and the lab claimed we never were able to send enough DNA to do the analysis. My husband threw the final set of swabs away in disgust. I am kicking myself because I let him do that. I should have sent them back with DNA from my AKC registered German Shepherd just to see what would come back.
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