Apollo and Zeus

Ever wonder what your mutt is mixed with? These are my two rescued pups, Apollo and Zeus. Apollo is the red dog chewing on the face of Zeus. Many times when I’m out walking them, people ask me what breed my dogs are. The only information I have is what I got from the animal shelter. Apollo was listed as part yellow Labrador and part Rottweiler. Zeus is part black Labrador and also part Rottweiler, but many people have speculatated that he looks like he is mixed with German Shepherd. One of the workers at the shelter told me that Zeus was mixed with cattle dog.

Dog DNA testing is available, and all of us who own mutts can find out what breeds they are mixed with. The testing is simple and painless for our dogs. A quick swab of the inside of your pup’s cheek (which can be done at home), and then the swab is placed in a tube, put it in the mail, and in 4 to 6 weeks the results are sent back.

With the knowledge of knowing what breeds our mutts are mixed with, we can understand what breed-specific health risks and diseases that they might develop, as well as their predisposed behaviors and ancestral heritage. When someone asks ”What is your dog?” we can have a definite answer to that question!

Tags: animal shelters, dog adoption, dog breeds, dog DNA testing, Dog Rescues