CaniLine – Breed Identity Analysis

Due to a corporate agreement, the test is available only for customers located in Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, Hungary and Russia.

Did it ever occur to you to search for the breeds making up your mixed-breed pet? Or to have the origin of your purebred dog verified? Sometimes, things are not what they appear to be ... The test can differentiate more than 280 dog breeds shown in the list below, while the number of breeds is still being widened.

What are the cases where the CaniLine breed identity test can be applied?

- Dog’s breed purity verification

- Finding out the breeds making up a dog waif

Only some genes can be seen

It is very difficult to identify all the breeds that take part in the unique appearance and nature of a crossbreed; even professionals are only able to determine the parent breeds for sure in 25 %. In dogs, physical appearance is controlled by a small number of genes – about 2 %. It is quite important to understand the dominant and recessive genes. The recessive genes are those which need two copies (one from each parent) to show a trait, while one copy is sufficient in the dominant genes. The dominant genes, such as those for short black coat, drop ears or block head shape then take over the recessive ones, such as long coat, prick ear or tan points associated with certain breeds. Then, the observer would not even guess a breed whose characteristics are hidden under the dominant genes of the other parent. Some breed features, such as flattened face in bulldogs or extremely curled tail in pugs, only seldom survive the first crossing. Moreover, dominant features can be attributed to literally hundreds of different breeds in addition to those we take into account.

Fig.: Would you guess that the mother of this little bitch was a black Schnauzer?

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When crossbreeds are crossbred

It is obvious that the difficulty to determine ancestor breeds increases with every crossed generation. The more mixed the dog’s origin is, the more mixed and diluted characteristics would be in his or her genetic signature. In average, puppies obtain 50 % of the genes of either of the parents, i.e. 25 % from the grandparents and 12.5 % from the great grandparents.

It can very well happen that not two puppies resemble each other in a litter of two mixed-bred parents. Dogs of mixed-bred origin can differ considerably in size, shape, colour, and character. The different characteristics of their close relatives are the result of genetic recombination, i.e. the exchange of various DNA parts between chromosomes, which results in obtaining a unique DNA combination.

Fig.: The bitches shown on this picture are close relatives. You surely wouldn’t guess that the black one in the middle and the hairy one on the right are sisters, would you?

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Dogs cannot speak but their DNA can

Three things are needed for precise breed detection: an extensive database of breeds, a sophisticated algorithm, and a great number of markers strategically located in the genome. The next-generation sequencing technique is used in testing. The CaniLine test establishes 1,877 traits in the canine genome. Such traits are then compared with the database of more than 280 different canine breeds containing over 12,000 samples, evaluating the conformity and similarity in the marker combinations of the dog being tested and of the breeds described in the database. This patented technology helped more than half a million dog owners all over the world to find valuable information about their four-legged friends and understand their unique needs.

Fig.: Of which breeds were the Ben’s parents? Let CaniLine unveil it.

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How about the purebred dogs?

The CaniLine test can be used to analyse not only canine mixed breeds but also the pure breeds and to compare precisely through further analyses as to how consistently the dog’s DNA corresponds with that of other purebred dogs of the same breed in the database. The DNA profiles of certain breeds can differ in dependence on their family lines and their specific geographic origin. Different DNA formulas, for instance, have been found in certain purebred dogs in the USA, Great Britain, or Australia.

The test CaniLine is not used to verify whether the dog with a pedigree certificate is purebred. The purity of purebred dogs with pedigree certificates is verified by confirmation of parentage (by determination of DNA-profiles of the parents and the offspring and their comparison). If it is confirmed that a dog is an offspring of purebred parents with pedigree certificates, the dog is also considered purebred. If samples of both parents are not available, it is possible to calculate the probability of the maternity/paternity by testing of only one parent and the offspring – this method can be used with breeds for which breed-specific allele frequencies of markers of DNA-profiles have been determined. We will be pleased to provide you with necessary information.

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Test capacities and limitations

• The test will establish the breeding history three generations back, which means that we can find the breeds of the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of the dog being tested.
• If a dog is made up of a breed missing in the breed database, it will be reported as a mix of breeds in the protocol. If you wish to verify the purity of a breed that is not listed, the test will most likely not provide the answer you are seeking.
• If all great-grandparents are mixed breeds, it is not possible to establish the breeds making up the dog being tested.
• The test cannot be used to validate pure breeding but to indicate a breed. If a dog has 7 or 8 purebred great-grandparents, the test will analyse to what extent the individual resembles / differs from the majority genetic traits of his/her breed.
• The test cannot be used to envisage dog’s behaviour or aggressiveness. Every dog is a unique individual whose physical and behavioural characteristics are the result of several factors, including genetics, training, treatment, and environment.
• Learning the unique origin of your mixed-breed dog will facilitate your understanding of his or her behaviour and nutritional and health needs. In mixed-breed puppies, the test can estimate their probable weight when grown up, which may help the owner to set an optimal diet and choose suitable food.

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How to order the test and collect a sample?

If you are interested in this test, place an online order by pressing the key Order the examination (you will find the key in the upper-right corner or lower-right corner of this page).

Enter the dog data that you know in the order form. As to the type of sample collection select “Free sample kit for CaniLine”.

As soon as we receive your order, we will examine it and then we will send you confirmation of the order inclusive payment instructions.

After receipt of the payment, we will send you the sample kit in a gift-box by registered mail via Czech post services. The kit contains two brushes for sample collection, a return envelope, an order form with instructions for sample collection and a leaflet with information about the test.

The sample is collected by a buccal swap. The sample collection is painless and non-invasive. Please, do not send other samples. The testing laboratory will process only samples collected by this sample kit. You will receive the test results by email approximately one month after the sample delivery.

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What do the test results include?

• The test results include the percentage of breed composition in the form of a family tree of 3 generations and a pie chart. It makes it possible to find out the breeds present at the levels of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The parent contributes to the puppy’s DNA with 50 %, while the grandparent with 25 % and great-grandparent with 12.5 %.
• Profiles of individual represented breeds.
• Expected weight profile of the dog being tested.
• Example of the result report can be found here: