Breed ancestry
The breeds behind the dog
Your dog's DNA is compared with a curated reference panel and reported as estimated breed percentages. Smaller contributions and closely related breeds can carry more uncertainty.
The Science
How we read your dog's DNA.
Breed ancestry, genetic-health markers, and lineage, all from a single cheek swab. Here's the science behind the Complete Dog DNA Test report, in plain language.
The canine-genomics research this builds on
~400
modern dog breeds · Parker 2017
1,346
dogs genome-mapped · Parker 2017
161
breeds analyzed · Parker 2017
23
ancestral lineage groups
Figures from the canine breed-genomics literature (Parker et al., Cell Reports, 2017), research context, not PuppyGenes product specifications.
What the report reads
Three reads from one cheek swab.
Your dog's DNA carries a whole story, where they came from, the traits they carry, and how their family tree is woven. The Complete Dog DNA Test report reads all three.
55 markers · 12 categories
Genetic-health markers
A defined panel of 55 genetic variants across twelve categories. Each result applies only to the marker screened and is never a diagnosis.
Inbreeding · COI
How diverse the lineage is
A coefficient-of-inbreeding read that shows how closely related your dog's parents are versus the wider population, expressed as a clear percentile.
How breed detection works
Your dog's DNA, compared to thousands.
Published studies have documented genetic structure among sampled purebred dogs. In a controlled 2004 study of 85 breeds, microsatellite genotypes assigned 99% of the sampled dogs to their recorded breed (Parker et al., Science). That controlled purebred result is not a universal accuracy rate for mixed-breed consumer reports. Later genome-wide work (vonHoldt et al., Nature, 2010) examined dog population history, and in 2017 Parker and colleagues (Cell Reports) mapped relationships among 1,346 dogs from 161 breeds into 23 breed clades.
Consumer ancestry estimates compare selected genetic patterns with a provider's reference panel and model. Closely related breeds, small ancestry contributions, and backgrounds with limited reference data can be less certain. PuppyGenes reports probability-based estimates, not pedigree records.
Sample breed match
- Labrador Retriever58%
- Border Collie21%
- Australian Shepherd12%
- Chow Chow6%
- Trace contributors3%
Illustrative. Your report shows your own dog's breakdown, dominant breed first.
The genetic-health panel
55 markers, across twelve categories.
Beyond ancestry, we screen a defined panel of 55 genetic variants across twelve categories. The evidence, inheritance pattern, breed relevance, and predictive value vary by marker. Each result applies only to the position screened and is presented with plain-language context.
Coat, colour & appearance
Body size & morphology
Neurological & neuromuscular
Eye & vision
Blood & clotting
Metabolic & drug response
Kidney & urinary
Skin & connective tissue
Skeletal & joint
Immune & blood cell
Hearing
Reproductive
These are predispositions, not diagnoses. A marker being present means a genetic tendency exists, it does not mean a trait or condition will develop. In a study of over 100,000 dogs (Donner et al., PLOS Genetics, 2018), screened 101,427 animals for 152 variants. Among 96,514 dogs tested for the full set, 40.5% carried at least one tested variant. In a separate analysis of nine common recessive variants, 3.9% of purebred dogs and 1.4% of mixed-breed dogs carried two copies of at least one variant. Those population figures describe the study's panels and dogs, not PuppyGenes' panel or a diagnosis for an individual dog.
Lineage & inbreeding (COI)
How closely woven is the family tree?
The coefficient of inbreeding (COI) is a measure of how genetically related your dog's parents are, relative to the wider population. We read it directly from the DNA and report it as a percentile. It is more than genealogy: across 227 breeds, dogs from more inbred lines were found to have measurably more health problems (Bannasch et al., 2021).
- A higher percentile means a more concentrated lineage, common in tightly-bred purebred lines.
- A lower percentile means a more genetically diverse background, common in mixes and village-dog lineages.
- It's context for your dog's story and diversity, not a verdict, and never a diagnosis.
Sample COI read
LowAverageHigh
A sample read at the 62nd percentile, an established breed lineage, plotted against the wider population.
Lab methodology
From swab to report
- 1
Cheek swab
Cells from the inner cheek are a convenient, room-temperature-stable source of DNA , no blood draw, no vet visit. A gentle 30-second swab is all we need.
- 2
DNA extraction and analysis
DNA is extracted and analyzed for the breed signatures, marker positions, and lineage information included in the report.
- 3
Matching, screening & scoring
Your dog's genome is matched against the breed reference panel, screened at the 55 marker positions, and scored for lineage concentration (COI), then translated into a plain-language report.
- 4
Sample handling
PuppyGenes uses a U.S. lab partner. Report data is stored in Canada and handled in line with PIPEDA. We don't promise destruction of the physical sample by a fixed date.
Where we stop
What our reports are, and what they aren't.
Our reports are wellness reads. They surface signals from your dog's actual DNA, breed, genetic tendencies, and lineage, and translate them into plain-language context for everyday care. They are not, and will never be, a substitute for working with a veterinarian on anything symptomatic, acute, or medical.
What we do
- Review estimated breed ancestry
- Screen 55 genetic-health markers as wellness signals
- Report lineage diversity (COI) in plain language
What we don't
- · Diagnose disease
- · Replace veterinary care
- · Prescribe medication
- · Sell or share your dog's genome
The research behind it
Built on peer-reviewed science.
Every read on this page stands on decades of canine-genomics research. A few of the landmark papers, if you want to go to the source.
Science, 2004
Genetic structure of the purebred domestic dog
Parker HG, et al.
In a controlled study of sampled purebred dogs from 85 breeds, microsatellite genotypes assigned 99% to their recorded breed. This is not a universal consumer-test accuracy rate.
Read the paperNature, 2010
Genome-wide SNP and haplotype analyses reveal a rich history underlying dog domestication
vonHoldt BM, et al.
Used genome-wide SNP and haplotype data to examine population structure and the history of dogs and wolves.
Read the paperCell Reports, 2017
Genomic analyses reveal the influence of geographic origin, migration and hybridization on modern dog breed development
Parker HG, et al.
Mapped relationships among 1,346 dogs from 161 breeds into 23 breed clades, illustrating the population structure used in reference-panel comparisons.
Read the paperPLOS Genetics, 2018
Frequency and distribution of 152 genetic disease variants in over 100,000 mixed breed and purebred dogs
Donner J, et al.
Among 96,514 dogs tested for the full 152-variant set, 40.5% carried at least one tested variant. A separate nine-variant analysis found two-copy genotypes in 3.9% of purebred and 1.4% of mixed-breed dogs.
Read the paperCanine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2021
The effect of inbreeding, body size and morphology on health in dog breeds
Bannasch D, et al.
Found breed-level associations among inbreeding, body size, morphology, and morbidity across 227 breeds. It provides population context, not an individual prediction.
Read the paperCurious what your dog's DNA actually holds?
The Complete Dog DNA Test report reads breed makeup, 55 genetic-health markers, and lineage, from one cheek swab. Processing is currently estimated at about 4–5 weeks; delivery and return transit are separate.