I didn't even want my humans to know my age...
So much for a girl having secrets!

Canine Health and Wellness

Pet wellness is perhaps the most important part of canine ownership

As the owner of a dog, you have a serious and important responsibility to make sure that your canine is happy and healthy in spirit, mind and body. Keeping your dog mentally engaged, properly exercised, groomed, healthfully fed, given regular veterinary check-ups/shots AND tons of love, is essential.

Acquiring DNA breed heritage knowledge will help educate you about your dog and his or her special needs. In turn, every member of the dog/human relationship will benefit!

Diet and exercise tailored to your canine's needs
An exercise regimen tailored to your dog's genetic needs will help enhance their happiness and overall health. A dog who is reveled to be part Greyhound, for instance, will most likely need and desire to get generous amount of exercise to fulfill it's genetic requirements.

Furthermore, gaining the knowledge that certain breeds cannot, or should, consume certain types of diets will ultimately prevent you from spending hundreds to thousands of dollars at the vet office to care for a sick dog. Knowledge and prevention is key!

Understand predisposed behaviors and personalities
Historic selective breeding has increased the odds that dogs heralding from the ancestry of a particular breed will be predisposed toward certain complex behaviors, such as pointing, herding, attacking or guarding and personality traits, like aggressiveness, playfulness, aloofness and fear.

Understanding which types of genetic behavior your mixed breed dog is genetically predisposed to can help by assisting you in the ways that you train, live and work with your dog.

For instance, certain people might not find a bold, working-dog mixed breed type a suitable pet because dogs those dogs are highly active and have great stamina, a strong desire to play with an object, boldness and fearlessness which might require more time, attention and activity then another mixed breed type who is more of a companion/lap dog.

Therefore, it is very helpful to start your relationship with your newly acquired dog on the right path... and a DNA Breed Test will do just that!

Train and play with your dog in ways that will appeal to their natural talents

Canine athletes chase Frisbees, catch fly balls, run agility courses and engage in more traditional work -- hunting, herding, pulling sleds and competing in field trials and general competitions that measure their talents in those areas. Different breeds have different stamina, sensory perception, size, agility and emotions.

Not every dog that performs these tasks is a purebred. In fact, many working dogs are mixed breeds. Unlike the beauty pageants for documented dogs, a mixed breed can compete right along side a purebred at an Agility competition! And if you find out that your dog has a prime heritage as a retriever, you'll most likely want to find a safe body of water and play fetch with your canine as a great way to bond and have fun! After all, isn't that why you got a dog to begin with?

Recommended Reading and Next Steps

• Benefits: Discover Your Dog's Canine Ancestral Heritage
• Read about medical issues on our breed profiles
• Order your dog breed test kit today!