Now You Can Find Out Your Mix-Breeds DNA.

Miss Kallee - A mix breed foundling, and my soul-mate. One of the best therapy dogs I have ever had and worked with.

When I found Kallee, some 17 yrs. ago, I made a guess as to what she was mixed with. I guessed a Smooth Collie and Australian Shepherd due to the color of her coat and the shape of her head. If you own a mix-breed dog and are wondering what your best friend has in him/her, you can now find out.

Breeders have been screening dogs for genes responsible for several physical traits and diseases for over a decade, but in 2004, this technology took a huge leap forward. While some geneticists in Seattle WA., whom were attempting to study the bases of human diseases like heart disease and cancer, compared the DNA of 85 domestic dog breeds and found a surprisingly high distinction between the breeds. So, they concluded that a mix-breed's unique mix could be determined by doing a DNA test. These tests were made available to consumers (pet owners) last year.

This test is totally painless and very quick to do. You just swab the inside of your dogs cheek. You can get the test by mail, and the results, too. Another way is the Wisdom Panel MX Mix Breed Analysis test. This is done by drawing blood by a participating vet , who delivers the results to the owner during a follow-up visit. Each breed has a unique DNA signature.

There are several different tests. Here they are:

Canine Heritage XL Breed Test. The manufacturer is Metamorhix Inc. It detects 108 breeds and costs $119.95 - http://www.dog-dna.com/. (the company is offering an upgrade to the people that purchased the original version, which only detected 38 breeds.)

DNA Breed Identification. The manufacturer is BioPet Vet Lab. It detects 61 breeds and costs $59.95 - http://www.biopetvetlab.com/.

Widsom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis. The manufacturer is Mars Veterinary. It detects 134 breeds and costs $135.oo to $170.00 - http://www.wisdompanel.com/.