Oakley at 1 year old measuring 23 inches and 50 pounds
Oakley's mother is a mixed breed dog who was pregnant when she was rescued. Oakley was one of six puppies born in a foster home on July 7, 2012. No one knew for sure what breed(s) he was and no one knew what mix his parents were.
We decided to let everyone guess what they thought Oakley was and then get him DNA tested. You can see everyone's guesses below posted with various ages along with the number of people who guessed that breed(s). Interestingly enough, no one correctly guessed all of the primary breeds in Oakley's mix.
Oakley's DNA test results are in! They came back as a Golden Retriever / Beagle / White Swiss Shepherd mix. The Wisdom Panel has the White Swiss Shepherd as another name for a German Shepherd and DNA wise they are correct. However a White Swiss Shepherd has been recognized as a separate breed by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI). White Shepherds often have longer fur than the traditional shepherd, but do not always have a second coat. Another version of the White Shepherd is called a Berger Blanc Suisse.
Oakleys family tree is as follows...
Great Grandparent = Purebred Golden Retriever crossed with a purebred Beagle
Great Grandparent = Golden Retriever / mix breed crossed with a White Swiss Shepherd / mixed breed
Grandparent = Golden Retriever / Beagle mix
Grandparent = Golden Retriever mix / White Swiss Shepherd mix
Parent = Golden Retriever / Beagle mix
Parent Golden Retriever / White Swiss Shepherd mix
This makes Oakley primarily a Golden Retriever that is mixed with a Beagle and White Shepherd and some other third generation breeds which stem from one of his great grandparents.
A portion of Oakley's ancestry was predicted to be mixed beyond 3 generations. While it is difficult to identify strong breed signals in this mixed portion, the 5 breeds with the strongest statistical likelihood identified in the analysis of Oakley's DNA are listed below. The image shows the breeds detection threshold.
The breeds are listed by the relative strength of each result in the analysis with the most likely at the top of the list. One or more of these breeds could have contributed to the genetic makeup of the ancestors indicated by the mixed breed icon. Note that it is highly unlikely that all these breeds are present in Oakley's ancestry. There could also be a breed or breeds present in the mixed breed component that cannot be detected with the current database of over 200 breeds.
The Wisdom Panel 2.0 canine DNA kit test was purchased to do the DNA test. The kit came with a box and two bristle swabs. The instructions ask you to activate the kit online. To take the sample the instructions say to insert the swab into the mouth between the upper gums and cheek. Firmly roll and rotate the swab's bristles between the inner surface of the cheek and gums for about 15 seconds in order to collect a large quantity of cheek cells for a DNA analysis. It came with two swabs and instructed to get a cheep sample on both of them.
The two bristle swabs inside the sleeve
After collecting the samples the swabs had to be set out to dry for 5 minutes by placing them inside the holes of the box that came with the kit. We had to be careful not to let the swabs touch anything. As instructed, after the time was up we re-inserted both dry swabs back into the protective sleeve so the swab's bristles were completely covered, leaving the sleeve unsealed so bacteria and fungus did not grow.
The samples were to be placed into the original blue box tightly sealed shut. The kit came with preprinted labels. One label went on the back of the sleeve where the swabs were placed and the other was a prepaid postage label that went onto the box. The samples had to be mailed back in the original box the kit came in. There is an online login to check the status of the results. We are to get the results emailed within three weeks. They will be posted on this page when they come in along with everyone's guesses.
Oakley at 1 year old measuring 23 inches and 50 pounds
Oakley at 1 year old measuring 23 inches and 50 pounds
Oakley at 1 year old measuring 23 inches and 50 pounds
Oakley at 1 year old measuring 23 inches and 50 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 8 months old
Oakley as a puppy at 6 months old measuring 20 inches tall and 43 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 6 months old measuring 20 inches tall and 43 pounds—He has a small head compared to his body. His tail is very long.
Oakley as a puppy at 6 months old measuring 20 inches tall and 43 pounds—He has a long snout.
Oakley as a puppy at 6 months old measuring 20 inches tall and 43 pounds—There are medium length hairs around his neck.
Oakley as a puppy at 6 months old measuring 20 inches tall and 43 pounds—He has a bit of a ridge across the top of his head. His forehead is raised over the front with dents in the middle.
Oakley at 7 months old—notice the green eyes
Oakley as a puppy at 4 months old measuring 14.5 inches tall and 27 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 4 months old measuring 14.5 inches tall and 27 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 4 months old measuring 14.5 inches tall and 27 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 4 months old measuring 14.5 inches tall and 27 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 2 1/2 months old measuring 11 inches tall and 12 pounds. His eyes are green and his nose is brown and pink. His coat is short, mostly white with a brown mask on the face and brown patches on his back.
Oakley as a puppy at 2 1/2 months old measuring 11 inches tall and weighing 12 pounds
Oakley as a puppy at 2 1/2 months old measuring 11 inches tall and weighing 12 pounds
