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Buster

Mixed Ancestry

“Buster is 11 yrs old and the most laid back chill and smartest dog I have ever come across. He loves people and gets along with every dog he encounters. He knows about 3 dozen words and loves it when I bite his face (yes, bite his face). When he was younger he loved chasing chickens and deer but now he is content just watching them. Buster's mother was a pregnant Boxer when rescued from a puppy mill. His dad was a Chow Chow, Golden Retriever. Everybody should have a Buster in their life!”

Place of Birth

Currie, North Carolina, USA

Current Location

Elwood, Illinois, USA

From

Wilmington, NC, USA

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Genetic Breed Result

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Boxer

Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a popular family dog: patient, loyal and smart-requiring lots of exercise and proper training. For active families or owners looking for a rambunctious jogging buddy, Boxers may be the perfect breed. Boxers delight their humans with their sense of humor and affectionate nature.

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Chow Chow

This distinctive-looking dog breed has a proud, independent spirit that some describe as catlike. Often aloof and suspicious of strangers, the Chow Chow may not be a cuddle buddy, but for the right person, they are a fiercely loyal companion.

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Golden Retriever

Developed as an ideal hunting retriever, the Golden Retriever's eagerness to please and friendliness has made them an extremely popular family pet.

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German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherds are confident, courageous dogs with a keen sense of smell and notable intelligence. These are active working dogs who excel at many canine sports and tasks -- they are true utility dogs! Their versatility combined with their loyal companionship has them consistently listed as one of the most popular breeds in the United States.

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Dogs Like Buster

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Discover dogs who share a similar breed mix to Buster. A higher score means the two dogs have more of their breed mix in common. A score of 100% means they share the exact same breed mix!

Click or tap on a pic to learn more about each dog and see an in-depth comparison of their DNA, breeds, and more.

DNA Breed Origins

Breed colors:
Boxer
Chow Chow
Golden Retriever
German Shepherd Dog

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Here’s what Buster’s family tree may have looked like.
Buster
Family Tree From Embark PARENTS GRANDPARENTS GREAT GRANDPARENTS Boxer Mixed Boxer Boxer Chow Chow mix Golden Retriever / German Shepherd Dog mix Boxer Boxer Boxer Boxer Chow Chow Chow Chow mix Golden Retriever German Shepherd Dog
While there may be other possible configurations of his family’s relationships, this is the most likely family tree to explain Buster’s breed mix.

Breed Reveal Video

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Health Summary

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Buster inherited one variant that you should learn more about.

And one variant that you should tell your vet about.

Degenerative Myelopathy, DM

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Buster inherited one copy of the variant we tested

What does this result mean?

This variant should not impact Buster’s health. This variant is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that a dog needs two copies of the variant to show signs of this condition. Buster is unlikely to develop this condition due to this variant because he only has one copy of the variant.

What is Degenerative Myelopathy, DM?

The dog equivalent of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, DM is a progressive degenerative disorder of the spinal cord. Because the nerves that control the hind limbs are the first to degenerate, the most common clinical signs are back muscle wasting and gait abnormalities.

ALT Activity

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Buster inherited one copy of the variant we tested

Why is this important to your vet?

Buster has one copy of a variant associated with reduced ALT activity as measured on veterinary blood chemistry panels. Please inform your veterinarian that Buster has this genotype, as ALT is often used as an indicator of liver health and Buster is likely to have a lower than average resting ALT activity. As such, an increase in Buster’s ALT activity could be evidence of liver damage, even if it is within normal limits by standard ALT reference ranges.

What is ALT Activity?

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a clinical tool that can be used by veterinarians to better monitor liver health. This result is not associated with liver disease. ALT is one of several values veterinarians measure on routine blood work to evaluate the liver. It is a naturally occurring enzyme located in liver cells that helps break down protein. When the liver is damaged or inflamed, ALT is released into the bloodstream.

Breed-Relevant Genetic Conditions

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Multiple Drug Sensitivity

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Hemophilia A

Identified in Boxers

Hemophilia A

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Hemophilia A

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Canine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type III, CLAD III

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Platelet Factor X Receptor Deficiency, Scott Syndrome

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Golden Retriever Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1, GR-PRA1

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Golden Retriever Progressive Retinal Atrophy 2, GR-PRA2

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Day Blindness

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Urate Kidney & Bladder Stones

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Anhidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Renal Cystadenocarcinoma and Nodular Dermatofibrosis

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII, Sly Syndrome, MPS VII

Identified in German Shepherd Dogs

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5, NCL 5

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Muscular Dystrophy

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Ichthyosis, ICH1

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Identified in Golden Retrievers

Additional Genetic Conditions

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Traits

Explore the genetics behind your dog’s appearance and size.

Base Coat Color

Base Coat Color

Coat Color Modifiers

Coat Color Modifiers

Other Coat Traits

Other Coat Traits

Other Body Features

Other Body Features

Body Size

Body Size

Performance

Performance

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Through Buster’s mitochondrial DNA we can trace his mother’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends. This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1e

Haplotype

A234

Map

A1e

Buster’s Haplogroup

This female lineage likely stems from some of the original Central Asian wolves that were domesticated into modern dogs starting about 15,000 years ago. It seemed to be a fairly rare dog line for most of dog history until the past 300 years, when the lineage seemed to “explode” out and spread quickly. What really separates this group from the pack is its presence in Alaskan village dogs and Samoyeds. It is possible that this was an indigenous lineage brought to the Americas from Siberia when people were first starting to make that trip themselves! We see this lineage pop up in overwhelming numbers of Irish Wolfhounds, and it also occurs frequently in popular large breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards and Great Danes. Shetland Sheepdogs are also common members of this maternal line, and we see it a lot in Boxers, too. Though it may be all mixed up with European dogs thanks to recent breeding events, its origins in the Americas makes it a very exciting lineage for sure!

A234

Buster’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1e haplogroup, this haplotype occurs in village dogs in South America, South Asia, and into the South Pacific. Among breeds, we see it in highest frequency among Vizslas, Boxers, and Yorkshire Terriers.

Irish Wolfhounds are a consistent carrier of A1e.

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Through Buster’s Y-chromosome we can trace his father’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends. This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A2a

Haplotype

Hc.5

Map

A2a

Buster’s Haplogroup

A2a is a truly ancient lineage. Unlike the recent upstart A1 lineages which found their way from a few popular European males a couple hundred years ago into many dogs in many breeds, A2a shows ancient roots without major recent expansion. It is likely one of the oldest eastern Eurasian male lineages of dogs, where it has existed for thousands of years. Nowadays, it's commonly found in Tibetan Terriers and Chow Chows as well as in Southeastern Asian village dogs. The Chow Chow seems to have been depicted in sculpture over 2,000 years ago, so this is an ancient lineage indeed, and dogs with it have a long and noble pedigree! Males from this lineage have continued to be bred in similar forms and breeds for millennia.

Hc.5

Buster’s Haplotype

Part of the A2a haplogroup, this haplotype occurs most commonly in Chow Chows and village dogs from Papua New Guinea.

The large-sized Tibetan Mastiff descends from this ancient lineage.

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