Dog DNA Tests- Frequently Asked Questions
View Dog Breed DNA Test FAQ or the Proof of Parentage Dog DNA Test FAQ.
Dog Breed DNA Test FAQ
Does the price of the test include processing? Yes. On completion of analysis, you will be mailed an Ancestry Analysis Certificate, suitable for framing. You will also receive a Behaviour, Health and Personality Summary which will give you general information pertaining to each of the breeds found.
Can I do the test myself? Yes, the collection process is very simple and can be performed at home by following the enclosed instructions.
Does the DNA collection hurt my dog? The DNA collection is painless. The sterile, gentle polyester tipped swab minimises any chance for infection or irritation.
Why are 2 swabs provided in the kit? We provide 2 swabs in each kit just in case there is not enough DNA on the first swab tested to get accurate results. The customer should take 2 swabs of DNA from their dog and return them both to us.
How do I send the swabs back to “What Breed is My Dog”? Once you have collected your DNA samples, simply put the swabs back in their paper sleeves, and place them, along with the Customer Information Card, in the enclosed prepaid envelope.
How long does it take to get results? Results are normally posted to you within 21 days from our receipt of the sample.
How does “What Breed is My Dog?” know which breeds are present in my dog? We have spent a considerable amount of time analysing DNA from purebred dogs to build a comprehensive reference database. Customers’ swabs are then matched to the database using a process called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). By matching your dog’s DNA with the breeds on our database, we can identify which breeds are present in your dog.
Can you confirm that my dog is purebred? The DNA Breed Identification test is designed for the sole purpose of identifying breeds found in the genetic composition of mixed breed dogs. If only one breed is detected in the dog it could be that the dog is purebred. However, the test can only identify breeds that are on the database and therefore, there could still be an undetected breed in the dog due to it not being on the database. The test also displays results in percentage levels the highest level being Level 1, over 75% of the dog’s DNA is from the breed listed. This is as accurate in terms of percentage, as the test can be.
What if there are breeds in my dog that are not on your database? All dog breeds are related to each other to varying degrees and go back to a common ancestor – the wolf. If the breeds that make up your dog are not on our database, your results may include the closest associated breed or a combination of breeds further back in your dog’s ancestry.
Will you be adding more dogs to your database? What Breed is My Dog? is actively working on adding more breeds to our database.
What do I receive with my results? All customers receive an Ancestry Analysis Certificate which will detail the results of the DNA analysis, this certificate is suitable for framing. Along with the certificate, customers receive a personality, behavioural and health summary for each breed in their dog.
Why are several breeds listed on my Ancestry Analysis Certificate and what does the order mean? In processing, breeds are detected as ranges rather than absolute values. These are then listed on your certificate as Levels, which are defined as follows:
Level 1: Over 75% of the DNA found in your dog is from the breed listed.
Level 2: Each breed listed represents between 37-74% of your dog’s DNA
Level 3: Each breed listed represents between 20-36% of your dog’s DNA
Level 4: Each breed listed represents between 10-19% of your dog’s DNA
Level 5: Each breed listed represents less than 10% of your dog’s DNA
How accurate is this test? It is understood that no analytical test is 100% accurate. If a breed is present in your dog that is in our database of 63 validated breeds, it should be detected. However, if DNA is found from a breed that is not in our data base, it will be assigned to the most closely related breed, or to breeds that are further back in your dog’s ancestry.
Go to the order page to buy online now or contact us on 029 2064 7019 or info@whatbreedismydog.co.uk
Proof of Parentage Dog DNA Test FAQ
Can I collect DNA myself? Yes, the collection process is very simple and can be performed at home with the swabs that come with the DNA Proof of Parentage kit and by following the provided instructions.
Does DNA collection hurt my puppies? The DNA collection process is painless. The sterile, gentle polyester tipped swab minimizes any chance for infection of irritation.
How long does it take to get the results? Results are normally available on your DNA World Pet Registry profile within 14 days of our receipt of the samples. If the cheek swab did not collect adequate DNA, your results may be delayed due to retesting.
How do I view my results? A unique feature of the Proof of Parentage programme is the ability for owners to perform their own parentage analysis. This creates a completely private and confidential method for investigating the parentage of your puppies. Once your DNA results are uploaded to the DNA World Pet Registry you receive an e-mail letting you know the DNA profiles are available. You then simply go to your My Business section of your registry account and enter the DN numbers for the sire, dam and puppy. The built-in analysis tool on the website will compare the DNA profiles for all dogs and return a confirmation that the parentage is either Qualified or Disqualified. If it is qualified, a certification will appear next to the puppy’s name on the website. A DNA Proof of Parentage certificate will also be generated that you can print out to show to prospective customers. If the result indicates that the puppy is disqualified, and you believe it is in error, first re-enter the DN numbers for all three dogs to assure you entered the numbers correctly. If the error remains, you may call us and ask for an analyst to review the results with you.
Why did I receive a “Disqualified” result, when I’m pretty sure the puppy should be qualified? Occasionally a puppy will be disqualified at one marker due to what are called mutations or null alleles. When the dam or sire’s DNA is copied to create the egg or the sperm, the copying mechanism can slip and change the puppy’s DNA to a different genotype. This is called a mutation. Null alleles occur when only one half of a dam or sire’s DNA can be analysed during the laboratory process because of a change in the DNA sequence. If the puppy inherits the invisible half, then the web tool will flag that result as a disqualification. Both of these circumstances occur rarely, but may be the cause for your puppy being disqualified. You can call us to discuss this with an analyst and if they confirm that the disqualification is from a mutation or null allele, they can overwrite the disqualification and qualify the puppy.
Can you confirm that my dog is purebred? The DNA Proof of Parentage does not test for breed ancestry like our DNA Breed ID test. It goes through a separate testing and analysis process. The Proof of Parentage will not be able to tell you whether your dog is purebred or cross bred or what breed(s) are in the dog.
My dog has been tested before, can I use those results? Once your dogs have been tested by us, their DNA will be stored on the DNA World Pet Registry for life. If you want to run their DNA again in another proof of parentage test, you simply need to reference the DN numbers of the applicable dogs.
Why do I need to test the dam when I know who she is? In order to run a genuine Proof of Parentage test, we need the DNA from both parents. The portion of the pup’s genetic profile that belongs to the dam must be accounted for before we can accurately determine if the sire submitted is qualified or disqualified. Without the dam, a sire may qualify as a parent, however only a breeding where both parents are tested can be verified at greater than 99.9% accuracy.
I sent the samples in at the same time, why are my results returned at different times? Results are uploaded to the DNA World Pet Registry as they are available. Some samples may not yield enough DNA on the first swab and the second swab may need to be processed.
Do I get a signed parentage analysis certificate? When your test is complete, you will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access your results and generate a certificate through your DNA World Pet Registry pet profile page. The certificate will bear the DNA Certified Canine seal.
What if I want to test an additional sire for a litter I already have? Simply purchase another kit for the potential sire and send in the sample. Once the results are available, go back to your DNA World Pet Registry profile and enter that dog’s DN number and re-run your parentage analysis.
What is the DNA World Pet Registry and how can it help me as a breeder? The DNA World Pet Registry is a safe and secure online member’s only site for storing and managing all the information about your dogs in one convenient location. Advantages for breeders are…
Dynamically generated pedigrees that follow your breeding program.
Built-in online tools for performing unlimited parentage analyses.
Lifetime DNA storage for future testing or identification.
World-wide listing of your dogs for sale online.
Space to post photos and enter detailed descriptions.
Easily transfer the DNA World Pet Registry profile associated with a puppy to its new owner.
I have not received an email containing my username, temporary password or any pet status updates. An email is automatically sent when your account is created. With today’s email spam filters, it is possible that the message got flagged and sent to your junk mail folder. Check in there first. You should see a message from NewAccounts@DNAWorldPetRegistry.com or Updates@DNAWorldPetRegistry.com. To ensure you receive future emails, add these email addresses to your safe list. If you do not receive an email from either of these accounts in your Junk mail folder please contact info@whatbreedismydog.co.uk