Dogs are amazingly variable. Think of a chihuahua and a Great Dane, a Rottweiler and Dachshund, a greyhound and a Shar Pei - all the same species, Canis familiaris! And of course there are countless glorious mixes out there.

Dogs have been part of our families for thousands of years. While most of our dogs have left the working life behind, many breeds had specific jobs - like hunting, herding, or protecting human settlements.

In British Columbia, First Nations had some very interesting dog breeds that have been lost over time. Diseases that piggy-backed on the dogs that explorers and settlers brought with them were deadly to the First Nations鈥� dogs. They did not have the immunity, just like their human families who suffered from introduced diseases like smallpox.

These BC breeds included the Salish Wool Dog, which was prized for its long, soft fur which was used in weaving by Coast Salish people. These dogs were fed cooked and raw salmon, and were sometimes kept on specific islands so the genes for snow-white fur would be maintained.

The Tahltan Bear Dog was used for hunting bears, an important sustenance food for the Tahltan. These little dogs, weighing about 20 pounds or so, had an honoured place in the tent and around the fire and were often carried on the family鈥檚 backs to preserve the dogs鈥� energy.

While these two ancient breeds have been lost, it is most likely that their DNA has been passed onto the great doggie gene pool.

Many current 鈥渞ecognized鈥� breeds have been selected from small gene pools. This has led to inbreeding of many purebred dogs 鈥� with effects such as deafness in many Dalmatians. Certain breeds such as pugs and bulldogs have also been selected for features that cause suffering 鈥� poor airways and severe respiratory issues, folds that lead to skin conditions, and the need for puppies to be delivered by Caesarian section.

Mixed breeds have a bigger assortment of genes and tend to be healthier.    

Several companies offer genetic testing for your dog鈥檚 ancestry as well as markers for different potential genetic problems. Knowing the types of breeds that are closest to your dog鈥檚 DNA can help you see your dog in a new way. Maybe your dog has a lot of hound DNA 鈥� perhaps that is why they love to endlessly follow the trail of that rabbit that went through the yard. Looks can be deceiving, and the test results can be surprising!

Have you seen the bumper sticker that says 鈥淩escued is My Favourite Breed鈥�? It is a good reminder that regardless of the DNA you are looking for, be it in a purebred or mixed-breed form, you can find it through a reputable shelter or rescue group in your neighbourhood. An estimated 25% of dogs in the shelter system are purebreds.

鈥擜listair Schroff is with Increased ACCESS (formerly Lakes Animal Friendship Society)

CONTEST 鈥� GUESS BEEBEE鈥橲 BREEDS

This is Beebee, who was rescued by the amazing Rowan鈥檚 Rescue out of Houston. As you can see from the first picture, she was in rough shape and very skinny when she was rescued.

Thankfully, through the care of Rowan鈥檚 Rescue and the new adopted family, Beebee is doing much better.

We have tested Beebee鈥檚 DNA and want YOU to guess the breeds of her ancestors! You can guess up to 3 breeds, from 鈥渕ost鈥� to 鈥渓east鈥� DNA. Until March 31st, 2025 you can post your guess on the LakesAnimalFriendship Facebook page or email to valerie@lakesanimalfriendship.ca.

Here are a couple of more pictures to help you guess! We will make a draw from closest answers and the winner will get their own doggie DNA test kit!