Removing breed guesses in animal shelters puts the dog’s individual personality at the forefront and removes bias from staff and adopters
Dog DNA tests have become increasingly popular as a way to uncover the genetic background of mixed-breed dogs but, as one NYT’s reporter asks :
“How would knowing Rascal’s breed mix help me understand this unique little weirdo we’ve adopted?”
The answer is, it won’t.
Thanks to recent revolutionary research, we now know that breed has minimal correlation to personality. You also have no way of knowing what 21.8 % of the “shetland sheepdog” your dog acquired. Was it is coat length, tail shape, or something you can’t see on the outside like nerve function or digestive function?
While it’s okay to embrace these tests for entertainment, always prioritize spending time with your dog and learning about its unique personality.
*These tests claim to accurately identify the breeds present in a dog’s ancestry. However, it is important to note that the accuracy of these tests can vary.