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If you don’t buy a dog from a breeder, you won’t know for sure what kind it is. We have an abundance of puppies and adult dogs in shelters just waiting to go home with a new family! A few appear to be 100% purebred, but the majority appear to be a combination of two or more different breeds. It’s fun to learn about What Breed Is My Dog, even though all dogs deserve the same amount of love and care no matter their breed. Breed composition can be important for medical reasons as well because some dog breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions.
If you’ve never worked with dogs before, it may be tough to tell what kind of dog is staring back at you. Fortunately, there are certain telltale signs when you look closely:
- Head
- Ears
- Coat
- Color
- Tail
1. Head
Canines can be classified as Dolicocephalic, Brachycephalic, or Mesocephalic in terms of their head shape.
Because dogs have three distinct skull types, the shape of their skull can provide valuable information.
The Afghan Hound or the Collie are examples of long-headed breeds that are dolichocephalic, meaning they have a long nose or rather a long head.
A brachycephalic dog has a flat face and a short muzzle, such as a Shih Tzu, Pug, Boxer, or French Bulldog.
The Labrador retriever, German Shepherd, and Dalmatian are all examples of mesocephalic dogs.
Suggested Read: What Breed of Dog Was Lassie
2. Ears
Are you still wondering What Breed Is My Dog? We can learn a lot about someone’s personality just by glancing at their ears while they’re still staring at us. Ears on some breeds, such as the West Highland White Terrier and German Shepherd, stand straight and point straight up in the air.
Some dogs, such as the Beagle and the Dachshund, have long, floppy ears. In order to help them track down scents, scent hounds have long ears.
Breeds that are used for work or protection are more likely to have upright ears since it helps keep them safe (they would hear threats sooner). Swimmers in the past would keep their ears flat to avoid getting water in them.
3. Coat
After that, let’s have a look at their outerwear. Double-coated dogs are more likely to be working breeds or those who spend a lot of time outdoors. Coarse guard hairs and a downy undercoat would keep them dry and warm in the rain and snow, respectively.
German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, and Labradors are examples of dogs with double coats. Wiry hair coats distinguish terrier breeds from other dog breeds.
A dog with a wiry coat has a dense undercoat for warmth and a rough outer coat for cleanliness.
Because it was only one layer, the curled poodle coat let them float better in the water. Greyhounds and whippets had silky-smooth coats, which aided in their speed and agility in the air.
4. Color and Appearance
When it comes to canine breed identification, color is the most difficult characteristic to employ when finding What Breed Is My Dog.
Also, a dog’s coat color can reveal a great deal about its personality and health. The Cocker Spaniel is a good example of bi or tri-colored dog. Like the Dalmatians, they may be easily identified by their distinctive markings. Merle or dappled coats are common on some breeds.
If you have the Merle gene, you may have mottling or spots on your skin or eyes. Dappling looks a lot like speckles, but you’re more likely to see a dappled Dachshund.
5. Tail
Have you noticed their tail? Is it curly or straight? The tails of working dogs, such as terriers and spaniels, are routinely shaved to prevent harm.
Their appearance isn’t the only thing that identifies them; their actions are as well.
A Quick Synopsis
Some qualities may not be specific enough for you to know what breed they belong to; you may have a general concept.
Among the breeds of active and alert sporting dogs are the Labradors, the Spaniels, and the Retrievers.
Hounds, such as the Beagle, Basenji, and Coonhound are known for their stamina.
Toy dogs may be diminutive in stature, but they make up for it in personality. The Affenpinscher, Havanese, and Maltese are just a few examples.
However, these clever and trainable herding breeds can be overbearing with infants if left unsupervised. Belgian Malinois, Border Collie, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi are a few examples.
DNA Testing to Identify What Breed Is My Dog
A cheek swab from your dog is used in most Dog DNA testing, and it is sent to a lab for examination. In general, tests cost $60 or more and can be completed in the privacy and convenience of your home.
The number of dog breeds in a company’s database increases in direct proportion to the price of a DNA test. The accuracy of any database system improves with increased data collection. Now there will be a larger pool of DNA strands from which to draw conclusions about the samples.
You will need to swab the inside of your dog’s cheek after ordering your DNA sample kit. You must return the sample in accordance with the kit’s instructions, and you will receive your findings in 2 to 4 weeks. Where possible, the test will reveal how much of your dog is a specific pure-breed.
Dog DNA testing has not been proven to be 100 percent reliable, but there are fears that if a dataset is missing from the database where the sample was taken, the results will be lost. In other words, if your dog is part of a rare breed that isn’t listed in the database, you won’t know.
Conclusion of What Breed Is My Dog
While identifying a purebred dog is pretty simple, it becomes more complicated when trying to determine the mix in our cross-breed pup.
A dog’s appearance, including its head shape and size, its ears, and the kind and style of its coat, can help distinguish possible breeds of the animal.
Furthermore, they may act like certain breeds, such as digging like a boxer.
Unless your dog’s breed is included in the dataset, the only way to determine for sure is to conduct a DNA test.
What if the fun is in guessing and picking out certain details or nuanced aspects?
If your dog doesn’t obey you, don’t worry; it’s natural. You can get your dog mentally trained here.
FAQs related to What Breed Is My Dog
Is Knowing the Breed Really That Important?
To find out what breed your dog is, how do you identify it? To that question, there isn’t a single correct response, and you won’t get one either. The best course of action may be to accept your dog as they are, regardless of their breed. After all, dogs will adore you regardless of your family’s background, and that’s a priceless gift.
