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Take a good look at this adorable puppy. With his glossy black coat, sweet face, and floppy ears, you’d probably guess he’s a Labrador Retriever mix, right? That’s what we thought, too!
 
This little guy is one of the puppies from a recent litter we took in. Like with all our rescue animals, we make our best guess on breed based on appearance. But in the world of rescue, looks can be deceiving. We decided to run a DNA test on two of his siblings, and the results were so surprising, we had to share them.

dna results 1
black puppy

This puppy, who looks like a classic Lab, is actually a mix of:

…and a few other breeds mixed in for good measure! Not a single significant percentage of Labrador Retriever to be found. His siblings had similarly diverse results, including breeds like Chow Chow and Great Pyrenees.

  • 27% Bloodhound
  • 22% American Staffordshire Terrier
  • 18% Belgian Malinois
  • 17% Perro de Presa Canario
  • 16% Rhodesian Ridgeback

This is a powerful reminder of a lesson we see every day in rescue: you simply cannot judge a dog by its looks.

The Myth of the Shelter Mutt

Visual breed identification, even by experienced professionals, is wrong more often than it's right. A study by the National Canine Research Council found that shelter staff and veterinarians only correctly identified the breed of a dog about 25% of the time. Why does this matter? Because breed labels come with stereotypes and biases. When we label a dog a "Pit Bull mix," people might assume things about their temperament that aren't true. When we label a dog a "Lab mix," we might create unrealistic expectations about their energy levels or personality. At Bogey's Buddies, we believe every dog is an individual. Their personality, energy level, and how they interact with the world are what truly matter, not a label based on a visual guess.

Meet the Real Dog

Instead of focusing on breed, we encourage potential adopters to focus on the individual dog in front of them.
 
• Is he playful and energetic, or calm and cuddly?
• Does she love other dogs, or prefer to be the only star of the show?
• Is he a confident explorer, or a gentle soul who needs a little encouragement?
 
These are the questions that lead to a successful adoption match. This little “Lab-looking” puppy might have the tracking nose of a Bloodhound, the loyalty of a Malinois, and the goofy smile of a Staffordshire Terrier. What a wonderfully unique combination!
Get Your Doggie DNA Kit here

Find Your One-of-a-Kind Companion This Weekend!

Ready to meet a dog whose personality is even more special than their surprise DNA results? We have two fantastic adoption events this Valentine’s weekend where you can meet your new best friend! Come see us and fall in love with a one-of-a-kind rescue dog.

Qualusi Vineyards Adoption Event, Saturday, February 14, 11-2

Meet adoptable dogs and puppies in a beautiful, relaxed setting. Enjoy some wine and find your new love!

PetSmart Adoption Event, Sunday, February 15, 12-4

A classic adoption event where you can meet a wide variety of our available dogs and cats.

 Whether you’re looking for a running partner, a couch potato, or a new best friend for your kids, we have a dog (or cat!) waiting for you.
And who knows?  Their DNA might just surprise you!
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