Pet owners are testing their dogs to make sure of pedigree
DNA testing for dogs has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years with more than 700,000 of Australia’s 4.8 million dogs checked – and it’s for a very good reason.
QLD News
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THEY say every dog has his (or her) day but now pet owners are finding out exactly what the past and the future hold for their four-legged friend.
DNA testing for dogs has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years with about 700,000 of Australia’s 4.8 million registered dogs already tested.
The test, which set owners back about $150, can determine everything from exact breed, lineage and hereditary diseases.
Co-Founder and Managing Director of pet DNA testing company Orivet, George Sofronidis, said most tests were done by pedigree owners checking litters for disease.
“Demand for DNA tests to check for disease has gown enormously over the past 10 years due to the increased availability and growth in range of tests,” he said.
Mr Sofronidis said owners of mixed breed or rescue dogs also used the tests to satisfy their curiosity.
“Most of the time this is done for curiosity factor, and usually done when their pet is close to death and they want to finally know everything they can about their pet,” he said.
Queensland French Bulldog Club secretary, Kelly McClelland, said DNA testing had recently become a requirement for registering a pedigree pup for showing or breeding.
She said it aimed to prevent the fraudulent selling of “purebred” frenchies, which go for an average price of $5000.
“We had a lady come to us with what was sold to her as a purebred frenchie from a pet shop, and what she had looked like a frenchie crossed with a staffie,” she said.
Ms McClelland said she had all her pups tested.
“We give all of our customers the full lineage of the puppy – the parents, grandparents – so they are actually getting what they paid for and aren’t getting scammed,” she said.
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