A DNA test is the most reliable way to find out the breed of dogs. Purebred four-legged friends can sometimes also be identified by their appearance. Apps and a search in the Wikipedia image gallery help with this. This rarely works with mixed races.
I strongly recommend having your dog's breed determined, especially for your own dog. This has the following advantages:
- Breed-specific intolerances: Some breeds are genetically sensitive to anesthetics, so without prior knowledge, simple anesthesia can be fatal.
- Breed-specific diseases: For most breeds it is known which diseases they suffer most often. You can then specifically prevent these with the appropriate knowledge.
- Breed-specific needs: Sniffer dogs should be given something to sniff out every day. Greyhounds should sprint daily. You only know that if you know the breed.
In addition, it is also essential to find out the breed for dog liability insurance. Otherwise, you may be stuck with the damage.
Below you will learn about the 4 best methods for determining breed as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
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#1 Dog Scanner
We live in the 21st century. So why not make use of artificial intelligence? That is exactly the basic idea of the “Dog Scanner” app.
With this app all you need to do is take a photo of the dog or upload an existing photo. The database is then searched using artificial intelligence.
I tested it myself with several well-known breeds and got the right result in 8 out of 10 cases. Here's a test when I photographed a Golden Retriever.
Dog Scanner Application
The breed identification app is completely free with advertising. They are also available for Android and Apple. What I personally find particularly cool are the following 2 things:
- Picture gallery of all dogs
- History with all your scans
The app is also available in German. In my opinion, the language is irrelevant for use. Because all you have to do is take or upload a photo.
For mixed breeds, it also shows you a pie chart below with the suspected breeds. However, according to my tests, the accuracy decreased significantly. But okay.
With the help of the app called “Dog Scanner” the breed can be determined by photo. For purebred dogs, this is probably the quickest, easiest and most convenient way to classify dogs. With mixed breeds, accuracy logically decreases.
#2 DNA test
Studies have shown that determining breed based on visual appearance is often incorrect. This is not surprising given that there are over 500 different breeds.
Even when it comes to purebred dogs, there are sometimes different opinions from dog experts. The missing rate is said to be particularly high for mixed breeds. [1]
Hold onto. In over 90% of the mixed breeds identified, a DNA test was able to prove that the 2 most strongly suspected breeds were not the primary breed. [2]
Or to put it another way: assessing the breed of a mixed breed based on its appearance is wrong in almost all cases. No matter how many dog experts give their opinion on it.
For mixed breeds in the 2nd and 3rd generation, the error rate is even higher. The offspring of mixed breeds often have strong visual differences from their parents.
And this is exactly where such a DNA test can help. However, you don't need to take blood for this; saliva is sufficient.
Family tree of a sample of Feragen
The test result has 18 pages and includes the individual pedigree, a breed certificate and a detailed description of the breed. The process couldn't be easier:
- 1) You will be sent a test kit to collect your dog's saliva.
- 2) You register the sample online within a few minutes.
- 3) You drop the sample in the included return envelope at the post office.
- 4) You wait 4 weeks until you receive the result as a PDF.
It is not for nothing that Feragen is the market leader in Germany when it comes to DNA testing on dogs. Their directory also lists a total of more than 350 breeds and types.
A DNA test is the most accurate method for determining race. Such a test is particularly recommended for mixed breeds or before taking out dog liability insurance. All that is necessary for the evaluation is a saliva sample.
#3 Wikipedia image gallery
If you suspect that your four-legged friend is a purebred dog, then the picture board from Wikipedia can help, among other things. All domestic dogs are listed there.
Before you go through the pictures, I would make a few notes about the following characteristics of your dog. This then helps when filtering the races:
- Head shape
- Ear shape
- Shape of the rod
- Type of fur
- Size
- Weight [3]
Image board from Wikipedia
It can also make sense to classify behavior and instincts more precisely. With this knowledge, I would then go through Wikipedia's image gallery.
Once you find a dog that has strong visual similarities to yours, you can open the dog's profile. And then compare the noted properties.
The image gallery on Wikipedia can help you find out the right breed of dog based on its appearance and behavior. Unfortunately, this method is not only a little more time-consuming, but also less reliable. But it is completely free.
#4 Explore the past
According to studies, only 27% of experts can estimate the dominant breed of a dog. [4] However, the success rate is higher with your own breeder.
If you bought your four-legged friend from a breeder, I recommend going to them. Normally, this should also issue a breed certificate when selling.
Alternatively, you can also specifically look for your dog's parents. Maybe your breeder still keeps the parents himself? With street dogs this becomes a little more difficult.
But even there you can ask the local residents where which dogs like to hang out. This was the case, for example, with our own mixed breed “Alex”.
We originally found him as a street dog in Mexico and only then found his parents through research. But we were definitely lucky. No question.
While ordinary dog experts often get it wrong when determining the breed, breeders have a higher success rate. Even with street dogs, you may be able to draw conclusions about the breed if you can find the parents.
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