Johnson: Mixed-breed label best when in doubt

A towering great Dane, a poodle with puffy pom-poms, a shaggy sheep dog or a sleek Doberman – they are pretty easy to distinguish and just about anybody with even a remote knowledge of canine breeds can play “name that dog” pretty well.

Perhaps it is those distinct and often easily recognizable breed characteristics that cause it, human nature, or a mixture of both, but we tend to be pretty confident in our ability to quickly pin a breed on a pup based on a brief visual inspection.

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The problem is, we might not be as good as we think we are.

For starters, there are a lot of breeds to choose from, and since each country has different standards, there are between 150 and 340 distinct breeds of dog recognized around the world — meaning there are more than enough breeds for a decent trivia game, complete with some challenges and surprises.

Generally speaking, however, it is safe to say most of the time a pooch with a pedigree looks the part and purebred dogs aren’t the ones likely to experience an identity crisis.

Nope, it is the common folk in the canine world that are the most likely to be misunderstood.

It really is understandable how it happens… a chubby, black and tan puppy with floppy ears looks exactly the way a German shepherd is expected to at that age, a tiny pup with long ears, a long body and stubby legs could be a natural fit for dachshund, and a wiry, curly coat is a terrier’s dead giveaway.

Those may be good guesses, but they are just guesses.

When it comes to dogs of unknown origin, the genetic influences at play are not so easy to pin down, and, as it turns out, even the experts sometimes struggle to get it right.

Florida researchers recently released a study in which they evaluated the accuracy of identifications made by staff at animal shelters when labeling dogs as “pit bulls”.

After testing the DNA of 120 dogs in animal shelters that had been identified by 16 staff members – four of whom were veterinarians – it was discovered up to 48 percent of the dogs labeled as “pit bulls” actually had no genetic ties to American Staffordshire terriers, the Staffordshire bull terrier or the American pit bull terrier, the breeds to which the term pit bull refers.

In the inverse, researchers found that up to 66 percent of the time, dogs that did in fact have pit bull heritage were labeled as other breeds.

When it comes to labeling dogs – as in the case of the pit bull label, which encounters restrictions in many communities, housing areas and is a dog often passed over for adoption due to negative perception — researchers concluded that it is better to simply use the term “mixed-breed” than risk mistakes in identification that could have dire consequences for dogs that might otherwise find loving homes.

It is natural to wonder what a dog is made of, particularly when they have distinctive traits or when trying to anticipate what they will grow up to be. In other cases, knowing breed information can help diagnose and deal with genetically predisposed medical issues.

While it is not practical for shelters to conduct routine DNA testing of dogs, pet owners willing to pay a fee have the option, and who knows, a swab of the pup’s mouth might even shed some light on his quirks.

In the absence of DNA testing and/or a pedigree, however, not only are “mutt” and “mixed-breed” acceptable, they might just be the kindest labels of all.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

[email protected].