WisdomPanel_Research

Wisdom Panel originally started in the UK, so we’ve always had significant UK representation of breeds in our database. We definitely see genetic differences between many UK populations of breeds vs. other countries because for many years the UK had very restrictive import requirements as a rabies-free nation, and the cost of import/export is so high. Breed standards definitely influence genetics, but so also do breeding goals, such as use, and more practical factors, like the cost of breeding out to an unrelated line.
For example, we see differences in English vs. American Labrador Retrievers, which as you point out, also have different standards and priorities in breeding. We currently try to be inclusive of as many of these differences as possible and report them out as a single breed, simply Labrador Retriever in this case. In the future, we are looking to report out such differences, where they can be accurately distinguished.
In general, we aim to have an excellent representation of dogs from that breed’s region of origin. This means we have large numbers of international dogs in the breed reference panel, but it depends on the breed and how differentiated the breed is between regions -- for example, the majority of the individual dogs for Jindo are directly from Korea.
-- CK and JH

We know that receiving a report with less breeds in it can be frustrating, and we are constantly working to improve our science. We’re happy to say that our pet parents no longer see “breed groups”, but rather breed breakdown all the way down to 1% with our Essential and Premium tests.
Back in July, we launched a brand new breed detection system that is >98% accurate, uses the full extent of our customer DNA genotyping microarray chip and reports >350 breeds (including village and/or street dogs). We are also in the process of updating all results from samples that were submitted after November 2019. If you happened to test before then, we will be emailing you soon with a special option to retest your pup at a significantly discounted rate.
--BF and CK

In general, we’re in favor of breed standards that promote the health and wellbeing of the dog or cat. We do not support ear cropping or tail docking for that reason as well, and don’t depict that on our website. Short-faced breeds, called brachycephalic breeds in the veterinary profession, like Pugs, Boxers, and French Bulldogs, as well as cat breeds like the Persian, have been the subject of a lot of controversy in recent years. We test for some of the genes that influence face shape, which some breeders have been using to create less extreme face shapes.Dachshunds are actually a different subject - their backs are not actually longer (they have the same number of bones in their back as a Beagle does), but their legs are shorter, giving that impression. The reason short legs have been selected for is not just for looks - short legs were thought to allow terrier breeds to fit into holes better when chasing prey, to make companion dogs smaller so they could be more comfortably held in their owner’s lap, and also to allow a hunter to keep up with their scent hound when on foot, rather than on horseback. We now know there are two primary genetic variants that cause this, called dwarfism in people, or chondrodysplasia in dogs. One is called “breed defining chondrodysplasia,” or CDPA for short, which is the same variant found in Shih Tzus, Corgis, and Basset Hounds, and it has not been tied to disease. The other is ironically the same gene, but pasted into a different spot in a dog’s genome, and it causes less leg shortening, but also predisposes the dog to back problems, namely intervertebral disc disease and herniation. The discovery of that gene was made in the last 5 years. It’s commonly referred to as CDDY, or CDDY with IVDD risk. Some breeds have one of the two variants, some have both.

Dachshunds unfortunately always seem to carry both variants, which is why they are known for having problems with their backs. However, Beagles only carry CDDY, which is why although they are “stocky” rather than “stubby” dogs, they are prone to back disease like the Dachshund. With the discovery and reporting of these genes, several proactive breeders are using this information to optimize the health of their dogs and prioritize good breeding practices. At Wisdom Panel, we have reported CDPA for some time, and are working to report CDDY in the coming year, in partnership with Dr. Bannasch, the researcher who discovered it.

-- CK, BF, and JH

First off, Mochi is ADORABLE and the name is perfect. We updated our breed detection system in July 2021 and are now proud to say that we offer the most accurate breed prediction available on the market (at more than 98% purebred accuracy!). Part of our mission is to bring the best and most accurate science to our pet parent community, so we are working on updating as many reports as possible (if you tested after November 2019 and purchased a Wisdom Panel 3.0 or 4.0, your results should already be updated).

We had a peek and hope you’ll like your updated results! We are working on a feature that shows related dogs in our database. In the meantime, if you need to know about likely parent/offspring relationships, we have on-demand tools to help, if requested by contacting us. We definitely see instances of multiple sires to a litter -- the current record is three sires!

--BF, JH, CK

Wow, I am so sorry to hear you’ve been battling so much contagious disease in your foster pups. That must be really emotionally draining, but so glad you’re sticking it out. Yes, we would certainly consider replacing a kit, especially since you’re a non-profit rescue group. Hopefully, this wouldn’t happen, but if it did, reach out to our customer service team and explain.
-- CK