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Rufus

Mixed Ancestry

“Rufus was from a hoarder's home in Newark, NJ. We got him as a puppy from Second Chance Pet Adoption League in 2006. The foster person caring for him described him as "fresh" (which he was). Would love to know where the Catahoula Leopard Dog in him comes from. Rufus passed in September 2022 at 16 1/2 years old.”

Place of Birth

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Current Location

Morristown, New Jersey, USA

From

Morris Plains, NJ, USA

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Genetic Breed Result

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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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Chihuahua

Chihuahuas have a huge personality that defies their tiny frame, known to be highly active and intelligent canines.

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Catahoula Leopard Dog

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is an American working breed with origins in Louisiana. These guys come in a patchwork of colors and patterns, giving them their trademark look. They are primarily a working dog, but can make good companions with intensive socialization from an early age.

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Poodle (Small)

A highly intelligent and playful dog, Miniature and Toy Poodles make for great lap dogs and companions.

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Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdogs are a lively, smart and athletic herding dogs that also makes a great family pet.

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Dogs Like Rufus

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Discover dogs who share a similar breed mix to Rufus. 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
Chihuahua
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Poodle (Small)
Shetland Sheepdog

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Here’s what Rufus’s family tree may have looked like.
While there may be other possible configurations of his family’s relationships, this is the most likely family tree to explain Rufus’s breed mix.
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Health Summary

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Rufus is at increased risk for one genetic health condition.

And inherited one variant that you should learn more about.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (Type I)

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Rufus inherited one copy of the variant we tested

How to interpret this result

Rufus has one copy of an FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 12. In some breeds such as Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and Dachshunds (among others) this variant is found in nearly all dogs. While those breeds are known to have an elevated risk of IVDD, many dogs in those breeds never develop IVDD. For mixed breed dogs and purebreds of other breeds where this variant is not as common, risk for Type I IVDD is greater for individuals with this variant than for similar dogs.

What is Intervertebral Disc Disease (Type I)?

Type I Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a back/spine issue that refers to a health condition affecting the discs that act as cushions between vertebrae. With Type I IVDD, affected dogs can have a disc event where it ruptures or herniates towards the spinal cord. This pressure on the spinal cord causes neurologic signs which can range from a wobbly gait to impairment of movement. Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) refers to the relative proportion between a dog’s legs and body, wherein the legs are shorter and the body longer. There are multiple different variants that can cause a markedly chondrodystrophic appearance as observed in Dachshunds and Corgis. However, this particular variant is the only one known to also increase the risk for IVDD.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, crd4/cord1

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Rufus inherited one copy of the variant we tested

What does this result mean?

This variant should not impact Rufus’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. Rufus is unlikely to develop this condition due to this variant because he only has one copy of the variant.

What is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, crd4/cord1?

PRA-CRD4/cord1 is a retinal disease that causes progressive, non-painful vision loss over a 1-2 year period. The retina contains cells, called photoreceptors, that collect information about light and send signals to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods, for night vision and movement, and cones, for day vision and color. This type of PRA leads to early loss of cone cells, causing day blindness before night blindness.

Breed-Relevant Genetic Conditions

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Multiple Drug Sensitivity

Identified in Shetland Sheepdogs

Factor VII Deficiency

Identified in Beagles

Von Willebrand Disease Type III, Type III vWD

Identified in Shetland Sheepdogs

Von Willebrand Disease Type I, Type I vWD

Identified in Small Poodles

Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

Identified in Beagles

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, CNGA

Identified in Shetland Sheepdogs

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd

Identified in Chihuahuas and Small Poodles

Collie Eye Anomaly

Identified in Shetland Sheepdogs

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Identified in Beagles

Urate Kidney & Bladder Stones

Identified in Catahoula Leopard Dogs

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 7, NCL 7

Identified in Chihuahuas

GM2 Gangliosidosis

Identified in Small Poodles

Neonatal Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration

Identified in Beagles

Spinocerebellar Ataxia with Myokymia and/or Seizures

Identified in Chihuahuas

Degenerative Myelopathy, DM

Identified in Shetland Sheepdogs

Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures, NEWS

Identified in Small Poodles

Hypocatalasia, Acatalasemia

Identified in Beagles

Cobalamin Malabsorption

Identified in Beagles

Musladin-Lueke Syndrome, MLS

Identified in Beagles

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Identified in Beagles

Osteochondrodysplasia

Identified in Small Poodles

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

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Other Body Features

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Body Size

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Performance

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Through Rufus’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

B1b

Map

B1

Rufus’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.

B1b

Rufus’s Haplotype

Part of the large B1 haplogroup, we see this haplotype in village dogs across the world, including those from Central America, the Middle East, South Asia, and the French Polynesian Islands. Among the 31 breed dogs we see it in, we see it in Poodles, Otterhounds, and Labrador Retrievers. It is also our most commonly-sampled Golden Retriever haplotype!

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

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Through Rufus’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

A1a

Haplotype

H1a.8

Map

A1a

Rufus’s Haplogroup

Some of the wolves that became the original dogs in Central Asia around 15,000 years ago came from this long and distinguished line of male dogs. After domestication, they followed their humans from Asia to Europe and then didn't stop there. They took root in Europe, eventually becoming the dogs that founded the Vizsla breed 1,000 years ago. The Vizsla is a Central European hunting dog, and all male Vizslas descend from this line. During the Age of Exploration, like their owners, these pooches went by the philosophy, "Have sail, will travel!" From the windy plains of Patagonia to the snug and homey towns of the American Midwest, the beaches of a Pacific paradise, and the broad expanse of the Australian outback, these dogs followed their masters to the outposts of empires. Whether through good fortune or superior genetics, dogs from the A1a lineage traveled the globe and took root across the world. Now you find village dogs from this line frolicking on Polynesian beaches, hanging out in villages across the Americas, and scavenging throughout Old World settlements. You can also find this "prince of patrilineages" in breeds as different as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Border Collies, Scottish Terriers, and Irish Wolfhounds. No male wolf line has been as successful as the A1a line!

H1a.8

Rufus’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1a haplogroup, this very common haplotype occurs in village dogs throughout the world (including southeast Asia, which is uncommon for A1a’s). Among the 25 breeds we see this haplotype in, it occurs most frequently in Labrador Retriever, Vizsla, and English Springer Spaniel.

Dogs with A1a lineage travelled during European Colonial times.

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