Is Dog DNA tests worth trying?

[jeandecker76]

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Have you guys tried buying a DNA kit? Is it worth it?


If yes, which kit is the best one for you?

 

[excuseme]

It may depend on which type of DNA test I wanted!

 

[Hemlock]

DNA tests can prove the parents are the parents, and that other relatives are related, but they can't define breed mix. It might or might not be true, but allegedly a journalist sent their own sample and was told they were mostly spaniel. If it isn't true, it deserves to be.

 

[Buddy1]

It might or might not be true, but allegedly a journalist sent their own sample and was told they were mostly spaniel. If it isn't true, it deserves to be.

Yes, this happened on Joe Lycett’s programme. They sent off human DNA instead of dog DNA, along with a photo of the dog which the company had requested. The results came back describing exactly the same mix of breeds as the dog in the photo

 

[Hemlock]

Yes - it does rather make one lose faith when they request a photo!

My dog is a mixture of breeds but I know all the ingredients. If I had money to waste, it would be interesting to see what the various companies made of her - especially if I sent a photo of a different dog.

 

[jeandecker76]

Yes - it does rather make one lose faith when they request a photo!

My dog is a mixture of breeds but I know all the ingredients. If I had money to waste, it would be interesting to see what the various companies made of her - especially if I sent a photo of a different dog.

Ooooh this is interesting! It would totally break the company haha

 

[CoCo2014]

There is no DNA test that can accurately give 100% or anything near because ALL breeds have common ancestors.
The commercial tests compare things like coat colour/length/type, eye colour etc
Then a computer program predicts the possible breed types in the sample.

When the database was set up the company contacted people with a KC registered Kennel Name for DNA samples. I was contacted & sent in a sample from my smooth coated black & white Border Collie. He had already been DNA tested for genetic conditions as well as Parental DNA tested(which gave proof he was the offspring of his parents)
In return when their database was up & running I was sent a testing kit.
Being a genetist by profession I sent in a sample from the same dog.
Result came back that my dog was 90% Labradors Retriever & 10% unknown.
Now I have never seen a black & white Labrador/Labrador Cross with tradition Border Collie markings working a 250 strong flock of sheep.
When I queried the results & included the parental DNA test & his CEA(CH) carrier status, the company's response was the Parental test & CEA results were from known flawed tests!!! Optigen were surprised when I told them this as they are the leading DNA lab in the world for dogs.
Parental DNA testing is accurate, as are the health related tests, but ancestry tests are a total waste of money

 

[jeandecker76]

There is no DNA test that can accurately give 100% or anything near because ALL breeds have common ancestors.
The commercial tests compare things like coat colour/length/type, eye colour etc
Then a computer program predicts the possible breed types in the sample.

When the database was set up the company contacted people with a KC registered Kennel Name for DNA samples. I was contacted & sent in a sample from my smooth coated black & white Border Collie. He had already been DNA tested for genetic conditions as well as Parental DNA tested(which gave proof he was the offspring of his parents)
In return when their database was up & running I was sent a testing kit.
Being a genetist by profession I sent in a sample from the same dog.
Result came back that my dog was 90% Labradors Retriever & 10% unknown.
Now I have never seen a black & white Labrador/Labrador Cross with tradition Border Collie markings working a 250 strong flock of sheep.
When I queried the results & included the parental DNA test & his CEA(CH) carrier status, the company's response was the Parental test & CEA results were from known flawed tests!!! Optigen were surprised when I told them this as they are the leading DNA lab in the world for dogs.
Parental DNA testing is accurate, as are the health related tests, but ancestry tests are a total waste of money

Thank you for your input!!! I really appreciate it! So, it is just the ads on internet. =))