Dog DNA Test - Surprise!
Discussion
So I have a Patterdale Terrier. While it is not recognised as a breed over here, it is in one club in the USA. This means there is no breed standard and having seen dozens of the little t
ts, there is huge variation in their size, weight, coats (at least 3 different types) etc. Discovering that Billy is way outside the average Patterdale size, and out of curiosity, I did a DNA test through Wisdom Panel (part of the Mars Group).
This is the test result:
All the usual suspects are there including Lakeland, Wire Fox, Border, Parson Russell, Bedlington and Welsh Terriers and a couple of surprises with Danish Swedish Farmdog and Lancashire Heeler. There is also 5% Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Now all that is fine but the results show the major contributor is Patterdale Terrier at 44%. How can this be when there is no defined history of the breed or any form of standard? No mention of the old Black and Tan Terrier. All the other Terriers listed make up a Patterdale!!! Duh...
At least there is no labrador as many people think he has been crossed because he is twice the average weight (not an ounce of fat) and at 7 months more than an inch taller than others.
Any thoughts people?
ts, there is huge variation in their size, weight, coats (at least 3 different types) etc. Discovering that Billy is way outside the average Patterdale size, and out of curiosity, I did a DNA test through Wisdom Panel (part of the Mars Group). This is the test result:
All the usual suspects are there including Lakeland, Wire Fox, Border, Parson Russell, Bedlington and Welsh Terriers and a couple of surprises with Danish Swedish Farmdog and Lancashire Heeler. There is also 5% Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Now all that is fine but the results show the major contributor is Patterdale Terrier at 44%. How can this be when there is no defined history of the breed or any form of standard? No mention of the old Black and Tan Terrier. All the other Terriers listed make up a Patterdale!!! Duh...
At least there is no labrador as many people think he has been crossed because he is twice the average weight (not an ounce of fat) and at 7 months more than an inch taller than others.
Any thoughts people?
@Simpo Two - emailed the company and got this nonsense in reply.
"Thank you for your feedback! Having tested in the UK, your test was processed in Europe and compared to a reference database that considers the breed list associated with Europe, which can be found here: https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-gb/dog-breeds
Breeds are only included in our reference database if they are genetically distinctive, as well as consistent.
Based on the breeds and specific genes evaluated, we predicted Billy's weight (found under the Health tab in the report) to be 7-14 kg which still sounds like it's below what is being expressed, but is closer than when compared to the Patterdale weight alone."
Erm, but Billy is not a breed.....
@ Boosted - £74 later and I agree.
"Thank you for your feedback! Having tested in the UK, your test was processed in Europe and compared to a reference database that considers the breed list associated with Europe, which can be found here: https://www.wisdompanel.com/en-gb/dog-breeds
Breeds are only included in our reference database if they are genetically distinctive, as well as consistent.
Based on the breeds and specific genes evaluated, we predicted Billy's weight (found under the Health tab in the report) to be 7-14 kg which still sounds like it's below what is being expressed, but is closer than when compared to the Patterdale weight alone."
Erm, but Billy is not a breed.....
@ Boosted - £74 later and I agree.
Yes it does look suspect. Surely the 44% Patterdale bit would actually be a mix of terriers found in the north-west over the years such as Lakeland, Border, Jack Russell, Fox etc.
I had never heard of the Danish Swedish Farm Dog so looked them up. Good looking dogs & seems like they make good pets.
I had never heard of the Danish Swedish Farm Dog so looked them up. Good looking dogs & seems like they make good pets.
Simpo Two said:
I might get back to the testers and ask them why they have found my dog to be 44% a breed that is not a breed.
I wonder about these DNA tests. Didn't somebody once send in their own DNA and get identified as a labrador?
I bet a tester £1k for charity that our dog wasn't what they said he was. I look more like 80% Akita than he does.I wonder about these DNA tests. Didn't somebody once send in their own DNA and get identified as a labrador?
Big Red Cat said:
Yes it does look suspect. Surely the 44% Patterdale bit would actually be a mix of terriers found in the north-west over the years such as Lakeland, Border, Jack Russell, Fox etc.
I had never heard of the Danish Swedish Farm Dog so looked them up. Good looking dogs & seems like they make good pets.
The Danish Swedish Farmdog from Wiki says: The Danish–Swedish Farmdog is unlike a terrier – even though it is often mistaken as one – it is very mild and gentle in temper. Unlike the high-strung nature of the terrier, the milder nature of the DSF allows it to do its job, as well as be calm and affectionate when unoccupied. This makes it an ideal house dog.I had never heard of the Danish Swedish Farm Dog so looked them up. Good looking dogs & seems like they make good pets.
Hmmm... maybe should have got one of those. Its the opposite of a Patterdale. Now I know why mine is called a t
tterdale. 
LimmerickLad said:
Simpo Two said:
I might get back to the testers and ask them why they have found my dog to be 44% a breed that is not a breed.
I wonder about these DNA tests. Didn't somebody once send in their own DNA and get identified as a labrador?
I bet a tester £1k for charity that our dog wasn't what they said he was. I look more like 80% Akita than he does.I wonder about these DNA tests. Didn't somebody once send in their own DNA and get identified as a labrador?
After getting the Patterdale result I got a test kit for Max the Rottweiler. Duly swabbed and sent off and the results are in.
He's a Rottweiler. So are his parents, grandparents etc. Nothing about any other breed so he's 100% Rotty.
All good until I read the description on the Wisdom Panel results pages. There is the usual about guarding blah bah blah. Then there are the stats.
Weight - 33-60 lb
Height - 58-69 inches
So, a 5 foot 9 ins dog that weighs 60lbs. Any ideas?
For the record, Max, 16 months, is 26 ins and 110 lbs.
PS lbs should be Kgs and inches should be cms
He's a Rottweiler. So are his parents, grandparents etc. Nothing about any other breed so he's 100% Rotty.
All good until I read the description on the Wisdom Panel results pages. There is the usual about guarding blah bah blah. Then there are the stats.
Weight - 33-60 lb
Height - 58-69 inches
So, a 5 foot 9 ins dog that weighs 60lbs. Any ideas?
For the record, Max, 16 months, is 26 ins and 110 lbs.
PS lbs should be Kgs and inches should be cms
Edited by Viper201 on Tuesday 20th June 10:26
Been debating one of these for our Choco Lab for some time because people keep questioning his expressive face.
Soooo I've been doing a bunch of reading and the reviews and results like some say are unfortunately mixed. Out of the ones to choose Wisdom Panel seem like the one to use, the others have cases of people sending in human DNA and getting results which obviously shouldn't happen.
Reading through various tripe and information on how this all works I'd assume you get Patterdale because of their use of 'breeds, types and varieties'. It's used to give you the most 'accurate' results and is also linked to other information in the database with registered dogs, their breed and confirmed family tree. It also doesn't need to have a breed standard to have identifiable DNA markers.
Wisdom Panel is also supposed to go what, 4 generations deep and its a world wide database. All it takes is to have one tie into a link of Patterdale history and anything that might have come up Lakeland might be associated with the Patterdale path due to available ancestry information.
They say they're 98% accurate, but ultimately you can believe what you want. No one will know your dog like you and ultimately your bond is what matters, not a percentage of their breed.
Soooo I've been doing a bunch of reading and the reviews and results like some say are unfortunately mixed. Out of the ones to choose Wisdom Panel seem like the one to use, the others have cases of people sending in human DNA and getting results which obviously shouldn't happen.
Reading through various tripe and information on how this all works I'd assume you get Patterdale because of their use of 'breeds, types and varieties'. It's used to give you the most 'accurate' results and is also linked to other information in the database with registered dogs, their breed and confirmed family tree. It also doesn't need to have a breed standard to have identifiable DNA markers.
Wisdom Panel is also supposed to go what, 4 generations deep and its a world wide database. All it takes is to have one tie into a link of Patterdale history and anything that might have come up Lakeland might be associated with the Patterdale path due to available ancestry information.
They say they're 98% accurate, but ultimately you can believe what you want. No one will know your dog like you and ultimately your bond is what matters, not a percentage of their breed.
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