Sighthound crossed with... well we're pretty sure it's SOME kind of a dog....

[bunn]

Brythen's genetic test results have come back!

Comments

[mcmurphy79]

This is so interesting.

I miss my saluki cross.

We had an adoptive lurcher Who had this done. I was convinced he had Australian cattle dog in him but not so I am told.

[bunn]

Saluki crosses... well, they definitely make life interesting!

I think with all the Australian breeds, they tend to have been developed from whatever European, primarily British dogs were being used as working dogs in the nineteenth century and went there with the sheep and cattle - which would be before stud books closed, quarantine was introduced etc.

So, a dog that looked vaguely aussie cattle dog might test as that, but I think might also show up as any of the collie or sheltie breeds to which they are closely related - similar to the Silkie terrier in Brythen. I'd bet that Silkie is some shared ancestor, maybe a randy little nineteenth century terrier that sired a few litters before setting off to the New World!

[mcmurphy79]

Well yes that's true.

I love a saluki and mine was wonderful. She was a collie cross we think and she was just wonderful.

[wellinghall]

I had no idea they could tell so much.

[bunn]

I'm not sure how accurate it is. I think given the history and other documented research into dog genetics, stuff like 'is it a saluki or a greyhound' ought to be right, and clearly since they had no idea what size or shape Brythen is, the accuracy is a lot better than a guess.

But I suspect that when it comes to relatively recent composite breeds like the whippet or sheltie, it's indicating a family likeness rather than a direct connection.

[na_lon]

Dalmatians were originally bred as carriage dogs. For their looks, not their brains. I'm not sure if a carriage dog counts as working dog. So maybe a lurcher on that side after all?

[bunn]

They were, but I think they kind of gave that up not much later than the bulldog gave up bull baiting... I am not sure I can really argue for them as a working dog nowadays!

I think the lurcher breeders tend to cross with herding dogs (hoping for improved trainability) or terriers (hoping for enhanced hunting instinct) but I think there is very little science in it, so they may well end up with a dog that is as fast as a terrier and as trainable as a saluki! :-D

[timetiger]

Oh, interesting. Nice hyrax, too.

[bunn]

I fear he is Wikipedia's hyrax rather than mine, but they are a fascinating species. They look so much as if they really should be rodents!

[sineala]

This is really interesting! I didn't know they could actually determine all of that!

[bunn]

I'm not certain about the accuracy down to individual breed level, but I think the greyhound/Saluki side of the report suggests the science must be real to some extent. I'm glad I had it done!