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Zak

Mixed Ancestry

“His stumpy legs do not match his body. He is still very energetic, despite turning 16 this year. He is extremely intelligent and loves watching TV.”

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Genetic Breed Result

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German Shepherd Dog

German Shepherds are confident, courageous dogs with a keen sense of smell and notable intelligence. These are active working dogs who excel at many canine sports and tasks -- they are true utility dogs! Their versatility combined with their loyal companionship has them consistently listed as one of the most popular breeds in the United States.

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Australian Cattle Dog

A classic cattle dog, Australian Cattle Dogs were developed from a mixture of breeds in Australia in the 19th century, and still maintain their energetic herding instincts today.

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Samoyed

A working breed, the Samoyed can be strong-willed at times, but above all they remain friendly, gentle, and devoted family dogs. The Samoyed was originally bred to hunt, haul sledges, and herd reindeer. Among the breed’s duties: pack hiking, tracking, and warming their owners by sleeping on top of them at night.

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Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a small, energetic, herding dog that is good with families.

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Collie

Collies are attractive herding dogs, boasting a beautiful coat while being highly intelligent. They also make for extremely loyal and sweet family pets.

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Papillon

The Papillon, also called the Continental Toy Spaniel, is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type.

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Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier, sometimes called the English Bull Terrier, is perhaps most famous for its egg-shaped head (and being Target's mascot). This breed can be overly rambunctious and play rough, so early training and socialization is important. However, they make lovely companions for active homes, and Bull Terrier owners delight in the breed's sense of humor.

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Dogs Like Zak

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Discover dogs who share a similar breed mix to Zak. A higher score means the two dogs have more of their breed mix in common. A score of 100% means they share the exact same breed mix!

Click or tap on a pic to learn more about each dog and see an in-depth comparison of their DNA, breeds, and more.

DNA Breed Origins

Breed colors:
German Shepherd Dog
Australian Cattle Dog
Samoyed
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Collie
Papillon
Bull Terrier

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Here’s what Zak’s family tree may have looked like.
Zak
Family Tree From Embark PARENTS GRANDPARENTS GREAT GRANDPARENTS German Shepherd Dog mix Mixed German Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog / Papillon mix German Shepherd Dog / Samoyed mix Australian Cattle Dog / Collie mix German Shepherd Dog German Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog Papillon mix German Shepherd Dog Samoyed Australian Cattle Dog mix Collie mix
While there may be other possible configurations of his family’s relationships, this is the most likely family tree to explain Zak’s breed mix.
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Through Zak’s mitochondrial DNA we can trace his mother’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends. This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1a

Haplotype

A17

Map

A1a

Zak’s Haplogroup

A1a is the most common maternal lineage among Western dogs. This lineage traveled from the site of dog domestication in Central Asia to Europe along with an early dog expansion perhaps 10,000 years ago. It hung around in European village dogs for many millennia. Then, about 300 years ago, some of the prized females in the line were chosen as the founding dogs for several dog breeds. That set in motion a huge expansion of this lineage. It's now the maternal lineage of the overwhelming majority of Mastiffs, Labrador Retrievers and Gordon Setters. About half of Boxers and less than half of Shar-Pei dogs descend from the A1a line. It is also common across the world among village dogs, a legacy of European colonialism.

A17

Zak’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1a haplogroup, this common haplotype is found in village dogs across the globe. Among breed dogs, we find it most frequently in Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, and Mastiffs.

Shar Pei dogs think A1a is the coolest!

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Through Zak’s Y-chromosome we can trace his father’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends. This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1a

Haplotype

H1a.20

Map

A1a

Zak’s Haplogroup

Some of the wolves that became the original dogs in Central Asia around 15,000 years ago came from this long and distinguished line of male dogs. After domestication, they followed their humans from Asia to Europe and then didn't stop there. They took root in Europe, eventually becoming the dogs that founded the Vizsla breed 1,000 years ago. The Vizsla is a Central European hunting dog, and all male Vizslas descend from this line. During the Age of Exploration, like their owners, these pooches went by the philosophy, "Have sail, will travel!" From the windy plains of Patagonia to the snug and homey towns of the American Midwest, the beaches of a Pacific paradise, and the broad expanse of the Australian outback, these dogs followed their masters to the outposts of empires. Whether through good fortune or superior genetics, dogs from the A1a lineage traveled the globe and took root across the world. Now you find village dogs from this line frolicking on Polynesian beaches, hanging out in villages across the Americas, and scavenging throughout Old World settlements. You can also find this "prince of patrilineages" in breeds as different as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Border Collies, Scottish Terriers, and Irish Wolfhounds. No male wolf line has been as successful as the A1a line!

H1a.20

Zak’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1a haplogroup, this haplotype occurs in village dogs throughout the world (outside of Asia). It is quite common in breed dogs, occurring frequently in Golden Retrievers, Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Terriers, Border Collies, and Mastiffs.

Dogs with A1a lineage travelled during European Colonial times.

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