Pets/Animals

LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) ― When Judy Ellzey adopted Luke from a Minnesota shelter, she was told the black puppy was a Labrador retriever mixed-breed. However, as he grew into a 65-pound long-haired dog, she began to wonder what kind of breeds really made up Luke's heritage.

"I was always curious," Ellzey said. "What is he?"

Eight years later, she got her answer -- thanks to a dog DNA test.

The Mars Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis test breaks down the genetic makeup of a dog to determine what breeds may be present in its heritage.

Using about 19 million DNA markers from more than 13,000 dogs, the test can narrow down 134 breeds that might be in a mixed-breed dog's genetics.

Released in September, the test is the only blood-based DNA analysis available for pooches.

"It's a neat service to offer people," said Matt Jones, a veterinarian at the Loveland Veterinary Clinic, which recently began carrying the test.

Although he hasn't performed any yet, Jones thought the answers the test could provide would be fun for curious owners.

While some could use it to ensure their purebreds are truly pure, he said, answering the age-old question of "what's my dog" may be the most popular use.

"We all guess, 'What kind of dog is this?"' Jones said. "It's just the novelty of knowing."

Ellzey heard about the dog DNA test through Loveland's Worthington Animal Clinic, and jumped at the opportunity.

But before the test, Ellzey placed a bet with the veterinarian, guessing who could get the closest to Luke's breeds.

She predicted a poodle, Labrador retriever and Briard mix, while the veterinarian presumed poodle, terrier and Briard.

They were wrong.

"What we thought what he might be is totally different than what he is," Ellzey said.

A few weeks after the veterinarian sent the blood sample to the Mars company, the results of Luke's breeds were uncovered: golden retriever, schnauzer and bearded collie.

"The vets were blown away," Ellzey said.

Right away she began researching Luke's breeds to find that their traits were descriptive of her dog. For example, golden retrievers and bearded collies don't usually bark -- just like Luke.

Along with personality, understanding a dog's heritage can alert owners about any health problems the pooch may face in the future.

"Different breeds have different things go wrong with them," said Michelle Derrera, a veterinarian technician at Worthington Animal Clinic. "(Knowing a dog's breeds) helps the owners know if they should worry about that."

The test costs about $125, with prices set by the individual veterinarian.

Ellzey, who paid $120, thought it was a reasonable price for finding answers.

"I wanted to know," she said. "If something ever happened to (Luke) I would want to find another dog like him."

However, not all mixed dogs' heritage can be broken down. The further back a purebred is in the dog's heritage, the harder it is to uncover their breed.

About 20 percent of test results come back showing only distant or limited breeds detected. "It's kind of hard to test if it's a really mixed percentage," said Blue Sky Animal Clinic's Stephanie Fedewa.

However, if only a small percentage can be detected, the company will give a refund.

Since releasing the test nationwide, Mars Wisdom Panel MX has found a German shepherd heritage to be the most detected so far, appearing in more than 5 percent of all tests. Chow chows are second, with Labrador retrievers third.

As for Ellzey and her golden retriever-schnauzer-bearded collie mix, she's happy to finally know Luke's heritage.

"When I'm walking him, people would always stop and ask, 'What kind of dog is he?"' she said. "Now I can tell them."

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