QUOTE:

What Does Embark’s “Wolfiness” Score Mean?

Bella got a high wolfiness score of 3.1% (most dogs score 1% or less). Does that mean she’s part wolf? No, but she has inherited more wolf genes than many other dogs! A wolfiness score below 10 doesn’t mean your dog is a product of a recent dog-wolf mating. Almost all wolfiness scores below 10 are from ancient wolf genes that have been passed down multiple generations — possibly even dating back to 15,000 years ago when people began domesticating wolves!

from https://www.caninejournal.com/embark-dna-reviews/



also, QUOTE:

"Wolfiness Score is based on hundreds of markers across the genome where dogs (or almost all of them) are the same, but wolves tend to be different," Embark explains. "These markers are thought to be related to 'domestication gene sweeps' where early dogs were selected for some trait." Most pet dogs now have wolfiness scores of 1 percent or less, but some "especially unique individuals" hit 5 percent or higher.

from https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/blogs/dog-dna-test-embark-supermutt


(No, I didn't just happen to have this info. I had run across these sites when I was reading about the Embark DNA tests after seeing Betty's original post.)

Thanks Connie.

VERY interesting article.

Fabulous input, Connie. I will make such a test too with one of my Pits and the go on with the other ones.Tthanks a lot!

I thought the Embark test was valuable. The eye information ( he WILL) go blind alone was worth the price of the test.
His predicted size is 20 lbs--mid winter he was 38lbs, a super pickle! He's been on a diet since I receiv d the results.
Thanks for the article that describ s the " wolfiness"....Pinker is almost 7%, super hi.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

I thought the Embark test was valuable. The eye information ( he WILL) go blind alone was worth the price of the test.
His predicted size is 20 lbs--mid winter he was 38lbs, a super pickle! He's been on a diet since I receiv d the results.
Thanks for the article that describ s the " wolfiness"....Pinker is almost 7%, super hi.

Ah, yes .... the dreaded pickle shape!

Betty, I'm not sure if we ever talked about the book by Caroline Levin called Living with Blind Dogs.

https://smile.amazon.com/Living-Blind-Dogs-Resource-Low-Vision/dp/0967225345/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g1405964225?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8

It's also almost always available used on eBay, too.

I found it extremely helpful years ago when I took care of a blind dog, and I've mentioned it to many people since.

I bought it, thought it was great.
He is not blind in the day....yet.
Thank you so much!

I need to do one of those with Maverick. I'm curious what his dad had mixed in and I'd like to know his PRA status.

your vet might be able to get a discount for you. They gave me a discount.
My guy has been on a huge diet since I received info that he should weigh closer to 20lbs than 40.
He may have lost 5 lbs of hair....but he is looking trimmer.

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

That's very interesting.I've once read they ar called Pitbulls, because in roman times they were put into a pit together with a bull in orde4r to fight and kill him.

But nowadays I've only read but never seen a vid or pict with a pitbull used as servicedog for disabled people or as sniffer to track down a criminal or discover drugs. Is this just a fairy tale?

There are many pitbull's that are used as service dogs (at least in my area), they have have been used as "true" service dogs for people with a legitimate disability, and also as "emotional support" dogs, and I've seen them with veteran's, children, women.
There are a couple of pitbulls that were taken from drug houses during raids and eventually trained by LE to be drug dogs. I observed these dogs firsthand, and they were gentle, and serious about their training.
The "pitbull" name, at least in my reference is more modern, pit type dogs were first used to control Bulls on farms, as the farmer was moving cows, the dog would be tasked with controlling the Bull (who was protective of his ladies) and would grab the bull by the nose or leg and they were known as Bull dogs, revered for their bravery, courage, and ability to control an animal easily 20x its size, somewhere in modern times dog fighting became a "sport" and because of their ability to control a bull- Bull dogs became the breed of choice (because they were more willing to fight/and had much more endurance) because the Bull (and these were nothing like the old english bull dog of today) was used, and fought in a ring or pit, eventually the term Pitbull was hung on them, but it is a name from 19th century not roman times. BTW, Bull dogs were known as fierce protectors of their families and children and were often used as babysitters and were also known as Nanny dogs, until sadly the fighting became more popular and the the pitbull term came in vogue... Selective and non-selective (breeding) traits have made modern pitbulls a mixed bag as far as size, temperment, and selective breeding resulting in the different types and sizes such as the american pitbull 20-30lbs avg), the staffordshire terrier, (40-50lbs avg), Bull terrier (egg shaped head), olde english bulldog (which is far removed from the original type). There are several bull dog heroes the most famous being Stubby, there are multiple pitbulls nominated for ASPCA hero dog awards, for service dog, working dog, etc.
The media has done a wonderful job of trashing this breed, and yes, there have been instances where they have done bad things, but there are many more instances where they've been perfectly normal, loving pets. When I investigated dog bites, MANY different breeds bit, goldens, labs, dachshunds, border collies, cockers, JRT's, so on so forth... Sorry for being long winded