Doggy DNA

What makes Kozmo the Koz? Since the day I met Kozmo I've been trying to figure out what special mix of breeds make him so cute, so much fun, and have so much energy. The shelter told me he was a Lab - Dalmatian mix. Everyone who meets Koz has their own opinion, I've heard all sorts of guesses.

With a very generous birthday gift from my best friend I did a doggy DNA test and waited on the edge of my seat to find out what special mix made Koz such a one of a kind dog.

The results are in and I don't think any of us could have guessed our could ever recreate this special mix!!!

This DNA test was truly the best birthday gift. His results arrived in my email and I spent the evening looking at photos and reading about all of the breeds identified.

Below is the DNA Certificate:


The folks at Canine Heritage test for DNA markers in 120 different breeds. Because Kozmo has no primary breeds identified we know for sure that neither of his parents was a pure breed dog. Kozmo seems to come from a long line of mixed breeds and there isn't enough of any one breed to be identified as a secondary breed.

Kozmo has four breed identified as "in the mix" and the only one of those four anyone guessed before the test is Staffordshire Bull Terrier. If you look at his head you can see the square shape. None of us could have ever guessed Great Pyrenees or Shih Tzu. Now that I look at photos of a Great Pyrenees and think of my friend's GP, I see it in Kozmo's eyes and mouth. Kozmo smiles. We read that Dalmation smile but Great Pyrenees can also smile. I don't see anything that even resembles a Shih Tzu, all I can say is those little dogs get around.

Now that I look at Kozmo's spots and see some of his instincts when he sees small animals like squirrels and bunnies on our walks the Bluetick Coonhound makes sense.

Kozmo is such a mix that traces of two other breeds showed up. Boston Terrier and Vizsla. Until I got Koz I never heard of a Vizsla. My pet sitter regularly keeps two Vizsla's. They are intense high energy dogs. I vividly remember asking my pet sitter why on earth anyone would go out and choose a dog with that much energy. I guess the joke is on me, because my little darling has some energy!!

If you are like me and now take the time to google each one of these breeds you will find that in addition to similar physical characteristics Kozmo also has some personality traits from each breed. It seems like my instincts were right on one thing, most of Kozzy's breeds make great agility dogs.

Since I am such a visual person with OCD tendencies I had to make a visual aid of the breeds. Look at all the breeds that make my little boy so special and let me know what you see in him. For now, I'm calling him a Great Blue Bull Shih. Suggestions welcome!!