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Merlin

Mixed Ancestry

“Merlin is a loving dedicated companion. He loves to go on car rides being my co-pilot while sitting in the passenger seat.”

Current Location

Haymarket, Virginia, USA

From

Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

This dog has been viewed and been given 3 wags

Genetic Breed Result

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Embark Supermutt analysis

What’s in that Supermutt? There may be small amounts of DNA from this distant ancestor:

Beagle

The Beagle is a scent hound and a great family pet. They are known for being affectionate and having loud voices.

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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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American Eskimo Dog

American Eskimo Dogs belong to the spitz family and they actually came from Germany. They got their start in American circuses due to their intelligence. Today, Eskies make wonderful family pets.

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Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are handsome and intelligent hunting dogs that are also well-suited to life as a loving family pet.

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Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound was the main companion of the Vikings. These guys have been used in almost every role imaginable for a dog. In modern times, they are primarily companion dogs, but they are still used for hunting and herding.

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Border Collie

Border Collies are highly energetic and work-oriented herding dogs, whose stamina is matched by their intelligence and alertness. While they excel at the herding they were bred for, many Border Collies also enjoy flyball, obedience, and other canine sports. As long as they have a job to do and are physically and mentally stimulated, Border Collies can make excellent companions for the right owners.

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Dachshund

The Dachshund, meaning “badger dog” in German, is a lively breed with a friendly personality and a great sense of smell. Known for their long and low bodies, they are spirited hunters that excel in both above and below-ground work. They come in three different coat varieties (smooth, wirehaired or longhaired) and can be miniature or standard size.

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Dogs Like Merlin

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Discover dogs who share a similar breed mix to Merlin. 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:
Beagle
German Shepherd Dog
American Eskimo Dog
Cocker Spaniel
Norwegian Elkhound
Border Collie
Dachshund
Supermutt

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Here’s what Merlin’s family tree may have looked like.
Merlin
Family Tree From Embark PARENTS GRANDPARENTS GREAT GRANDPARENTS Mixed Mixed Beagle / American Eskimo Dog mix Norwegian Elkhound mix Beagle / Cocker Spaniel mix German Shepherd Dog / Border Collie mix Beagle American Eskimo Dog mix Norwegian Elkhound mix Mixed Beagle Cocker Spaniel mix German Shepherd Dog Border Collie mix
While there may be other possible configurations of his family’s relationships, this is the most likely family tree to explain Merlin’s breed mix.

Breed Reveal Video

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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 Merlin’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

B1

Haplotype

B1c

Map

B1

Merlin’s Haplogroup

B1 is the second most common maternal lineage in breeds of European or American origin. It is the female line of the majority of Golden Retrievers, Basset Hounds, and Shih Tzus, and about half of Beagles, Pekingese and Toy Poodles. This lineage is also somewhat common among village dogs that carry distinct ancestry from these breeds. We know this is a result of B1 dogs being common amongst the European dogs that their conquering owners brought around the world, because nowhere on earth is it a very common lineage in village dogs. It even enables us to trace the path of (human) colonization: Because most Bichons are B1 and Bichons are popular in Spanish culture, B1 is now fairly common among village dogs in Latin America.

B1c

Merlin’s Haplotype

Part of the large B1 haplogroup, we have detected this haplotype in Mexico and Lebanon village dogs. Among the 12 breeds that we have spotted this haplotype in, it occurs most frequently in Border Collies, Australian Shepherd Dogs, and West Highland white Terriers.

The B1 haplogroup can be found in village dogs like the Peruvian Village Dog, pictured above.

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Through Merlin’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

A2b

Haplotype

Hc.15

Map

A2b

Merlin’s Haplogroup

A2b appears to have split a few times in succession, which means that some of the Central Asian male ancestors of this lineage went their separate ways before their respective Y chromosomes made their rounds. There is not much diversity in this lineage, meaning that it has only begun to take off recently. Two iconic breeds, the Dachshund and Bloodhound, represent this lineage well. Over half of Rottweilers are A2b, as are the majority of Labrador Retrievers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. While A2a is restricted mostly to East Asia, this paternal line is also found among European breeds.

Hc.15

Merlin’s Haplotype

Part of the A2b haplogroup, this haplotype occurs most frequently in mixed breed dogs.

A2b is found in the Daschund breed.

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