‘My huge black canine’s DNA check outcomes had a large shock which blew my thoughts’
EXCLUSIVE After a lifetime spent with dogs—from pedigree pups to losing my beloved Doberman Karl at just seven—I adopted Puck, a Romanian rescue mutt with a surprising mix of breeds
I’ve never known life without a dog. When I was born, my parents’ big black Briard, Isma, was one of the first living being I met.
Then came Oliver, my fox terrier, followed by Venus, our lakeland terrier. Eventually, I became old enough to get my own personal dog: Karl, a 40kg doberman (which inspired my parents to also get a doberman; Domino).
As much as Karl was my souldog, a friendly giant, extremely smart and gorgeous, his pure breed and pedigree came at cost. One day, as he was playing fetch, his favourite activity in the world, Karl collapsed of a heart attack right after catching his ball for the last time in the air.
I attempted to resuscitate him, gave him CPR, even mouth-to-mouth, but my beloved Karl didn’t survive, and at the young age of seven, he took his last breath in my arms. Three years later, Puck came into my life.
He was unlike any dog I’ve ever had: a mutt who was rescued from the streets in Romania. He came with some challenges and trauma, but eventually adopted me as his main person.
It’s been five months since I’ve adopted Puck, aged two, and I’m still learning a lot about his personality. This is why I decided to DNA-test him.
Understanding his breed-mixes and genetics gives me a better oversight of what type of canine education I should provide him, diet, and essential care I should adopt to accomodate him. Using EasyDNA, I bucally swabbed Puck and after some weeks, I got the results, which included more than one surprise!
Puck is:
Azawakh 21%
German Shepherd Dog 12%
Canaan Dog 11%
Maremma Sheepdog 9%
Caucasian Shepherd Dog 7%
Kritikos Lagonikos 6%
Central Asian Ovcharka 5%
Barbet 4%
Anatolian Shepherd Dog 4%
West Siberian Laika 3%
Small Swiss Hound 3%
Sloughi 3%
White Swiss Shepherd Dog 2%
Broholmer 2%
Miniature Poodle 2%
German Rough Haired Pointer 2%
Beauceron 1%
German Spitz 1%
Lapponian Herder (Lapinporokoira) 1%
And last but not list… Chihuahua 1%
Puck’s health
His DNA health results were overwhelmingly positive. For the vast majority of the genetic disorders tested, including blood clotting diseases, eye diseases, heart conditions, neurological disorders, and many more, Puck is “clear”.
This means he does not carry the genetic variants that cause these inherited diseases, so he is at very low risk of developing them. This is excellent news for his long-term health and wellbeing.
There were only two findings worth noting. EasyDNA found that Puck is a carrier for Factor VII Deficiency, a clotting disorder.
Being a carrier means he has one copy of the gene for this disorder but will not develop the disease himself and will not show any symptoms. This only becomes relevant if he is bred with another carrier, as some offspring could then be affected.
Nevertheless, since Puck is neutered and I not plan to breed him, this has no impact on his health. The second finding is that Puck has a “risk variant detected” for Copper Toxicosis, a condition that can cause copper to build up in the liver and potentially lead to liver disease.
Not all dogs with this genetic variant will become ill, but it does mean Puck could be at a higher risk than average. Vets may recommend routine monitoring of Puck’s liver enzymes or copper levels as a precaution, and can advise on any dietary or lifestyle adjustments if needed.
Knowing this, I will now be on the lookout for any signs of liver problems, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, or lethargy. Other results revealed Puck’s coat colour, shedding, and body size.
How to DNA-test your dog
- Dog breed test – https://easydna.co.uk/350-dog-breed-test/
- DogCheck 4.0 – https://easydna.co.uk/dogcheck-4/
- Dog allergy test – https://easydna.co.uk/dog-allergy-test/
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