Couple Wondered Why Rescue Puppy Got So Big, Then DNA Test Revealed Truth – ryan

A couple who found themselves fielding questions about why they rescue dog had grown so large decided to get him a DNA test to find out the truth once and for all.

The pair, who asked to go by the pseudonyms Steve and Alex, have had Baxter for six years now. “We rescued him as a puppy with not a lot of background information,” Steve told Newsweek.

In many ways, Baxter is exactly the same dog he was when they first got him. “He is still the curious, sweet boy we brought home,” Steve said. He’s not so big on playing fetch but he will kick toys around and wrestle with you. He loves being outdoors, howling at sirens, and being with his family.”

There have been some noticeable changes though. “Now he’s also our fierce and loyal guardian,” Steve said. “It’s funny because he’s actually quite lazy but he’s always on constant guard duty. He loves to snuggle up on the couch where he can look out the window and warn us of anyone or anything approaching.”

The most noticeable change, however, has come with Baxter’s appearance. He’s grown considerably since Steve and his wife Alex got him as a puppy. That’s essentially what led to them getting Baxter a DNA test.

“We’d always get a lot of questions and comments about Baxter because of his size and handsome looks,” Steve, based in the U.S., said. “So I guess curiosity just got the best of us!”

Pet DNA testing is very much in vogue with owners today. According to business consulting firm Grand View Researchin 2023 the global pet DNA testing market was valued at around $365.34 million.

For Alex and Steve, a pet DNA test would help them find out answers about Baxter’s distinctive appearance and potentially offer some explanation as to why he behaves the way he does.

The results provided some of those answers, but also revealed some very unexpected surprises too. Baxter was revealed to be 39.2 percent Perro de Presa Canario, 35.8 percent German Shepherd, 10.8 percent American Bulldog and, most surprising of all, 14.2 percent gray wolf.

The results came as a surprise to both Steve and Alex. “Besides him being part gray wolf, I was actually kind of surprised to see Perro de Presa Canario,” Steve said. “Just seems like a somewhat rare breed! But I definitely see the coat resemblance now!”

Steve felt that the fact Baxter is part wolf made “a lot of sense” to him. “Especially with some of his mannerisms,” he said. “He’s a very sweet boy but he’s super smart and can be somewhat aloof too. He’s always been our wild boy!”

The only thing that wasn’t a surprise was Baxter’s German Shepherd heritage, which Steve believes explains his guard dog-like tendencies. Steve ended up sharing the results to Reddit under the handle u/New_Chemical last month, where it was upvoted more than a dozen times.

Ultimately, while providing a few shocks, the couple are hopeful that knowing Baxter’s origins will help give them a better understanding of how he operates and help make them better human companions to their beloved pup pal.

This isn’t the first time a dog DNA test has thrown up some major surprises. One Baltimore-based pet owner who was eager to find out the origins of his mixed-breed rescue dog got more than he bargained for with the results.

In another instance, an animal shelter worker was shocked when the results of a DNA test revealed the dog they were caring for was not even a dog at all. Then there was the couple who thought they had bought a purebred dog off Craigslist, only for DNA testing to reveal otherwise.