Man's best friend has become an integral part of the modern family. Canines accompany their owners anywhere and everywhere, having become a fixture in the San Diego social scene. From the Gaslamp, where Toy Terriers being toted around in handbags survey the trendy hot-spots, to Solana Beach, where Retrievers romp in the Pacific amongst beach volleyball, surf lessons and sunbathing.

While the sheer number of dogs around town is multiplying, so are the varieties of breeds. Pure breeds are a thing of the past, with mixes dominating the streets, as well as coffee shops, restaurants and bars that cater to our attachment and devotion to furry family members. America, known as the Melting Pot of the world, a place where people of different ancestry have co-existed and intermingled from our nation's inception, has become a similar breeding and blending grounds for dogs.

Knowledge of genetics has been used for breeding certain qualities in animals for centuries. While in the past this information was used to hone the purity of features and behaviors in well established breeds, we are now using knowledge of canine genetics to design new breeds with particularly desirable qualities. For instance, the newly popular Labradoodle and Golden Doodle are designed to combine the personality traits of the Labrador or Golden Retriever, breeds known for their friendly and loving nature but whose shedding is problematic, with the coat properties of the Poodle, which is hypoallergenic but has a less agreeable temperament. The result is a family friendly pet suitable for those with pet allergies. Available in three different sizes these designer dogs are the new craze, and their muppet-like appearance doesn't hurt their popularity either.

On the other hand, some mixes are haphazard combinations of many different breeds that have resulted from generations of mixing. Adorable and intriguing features and behaviors often result from this unique genetic ancestry, which is most likely undocumented or unknown to owners, many of who may have adopted an abandoned or neglected animal from a shelter. This compassionate option, which is becoming more common-place, leaves owners to generate their own theories about their dog's heritage. But just as we like to track the roots of our own family trees, many dog owners desire more concrete answers about their pet's ancestry as well. When written records do not provide this information, in this day and age we can turn to genetic testing. We all know that curiosity killed the cat, but what about the canine?

There are currently two types of genetic tests for dogs on the market, which may be available at local Muttroplis stores of San Diego (http://www.muttropolis.com/index.cfm). The easiest method uses cheek swabbing as the collection method, but results can only be guaranteed to 25%-40% accuracy. The other option uses blood collection, which must be done by a veterinarian but results in much greater accuracy, ranging from 90-95%. Two of the most well respected and established testing kits, the Wisdom Panel Insights (cheek swab method) and the Wisdom Panel Professional (blood sample method) developed by Mars Veterinary. This subsidiary of the same company we all know so well for their chocolate bars, is a lesser known branch devoted to pet foods and products. In collaboration with the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, the Insights genetic test was developed by examining 19 million genetic markers in over 13,000 canines. The resulting product is able to identify 157 different breeds using 321 genetic markers. While the genetic markers chosen for breed identification show proven linkage with these breeds, the particular traits they are responsible for is undetermined.

Currently, one of the major ethical issues to be addressed is how the information from these genetic tests should be used. While most tests are motivated simply by curiosity, in some cases testing is performed for legal reasons. For example, in some urban areas it is illegal to own certain breeds, such a pit-bulls. Would proof of pit-bull ancestry force an owner to give up his/her pet or relocate to a different area? Others are concerned that dogs proven to be descended from certain breeds might destine them for euthanasia, as citizens may be concerned about dangerous behaviors.

Mars Veterinary warns against such uses for its testing kits, due to the possibility of erroneous results, as well as variability between individual dog personalities. They stress that “Wisdom Panel Insights is not intended to predict behavior in any particular dog. Each dog is unique and its physical and behavioral traits will be the result of multiple factors, including: genetics, training, handling and environment.” Instead they suggest that this information should be used to “understand your dog’s natural tendencies, (to) tailor a training, exercise and nutrition program to his needs... (and to) help you and your veterinarian develop a custom health and wellness plan for your dog.” In addition, knowing the disease propensity of different breeds “can help you (and your veterinarian) take early preventative care measures and watch for warning signs and symptoms.” Essentially, Mars Veterinary is paralleling strides to implement personalized medicine in our own health-care system in an effort to use genetics to tailor caninized-care.  Overall, the hope is to use our growing knowledge of genetics to enhance the health and happiness of ourselves and our pets.

If you choose to get your dog genetically tested, you are in good company. Even Bo, the Obama's first dog, has been genotyped in a study by the National Institutes of Health determining which genes are responsible for certain coat characteristics in Portuguese Water dogs. Closer to home, many San Diegans are jumping on board. Ben and Steph Johnson of Mira Mesa adopted their mix Bernie outside of PetSmart and were told he was a Dachshund/Cocker Spaniel mix. Genetic testing indicated that he was not Dachshund at all, but a mix of Cocker Spaniel, Great Pyranese, Afghan Hound, Dalmatian, Chihuahua and Shitzu! After making this discovery Ben and Steph say they can trace some of his behaviors to the breeds. His feisty nature and tendency to want to chase down dogs ten times his size are easier to understand. Steph chuckles, “I think it's funny that he truly is a big dog in a small body. We would always joke that he acted like a big dog in a small body, and it turns out it was true!”  What mysteries lie in your mutt's ancestry?  Genetic testing may provide you with some insightful and intriguing results.