Have a former stray dog that looks like a purebred black lab, English field type. These days the term ‘stray’ seems no longer in use, he’d be a ‘rescue’. But he didn’t go through a rescue organization. He just turned up, lost and hungry, and we couldn’t find an owner to claim him - the general opinion is that he was dumped. Mighty fancy-looking dog for someone to dump, but I’m told by those who would know that it isn’t uncommon even for purebreds. And labs, as they sometimes prove to be more high energy than an owner anticipated.
People who know labs have seen him and said “What a beautiful lab! How’s he bred?” Dunno, have to ask the people who abandoned him, whoever they are.
So out of curiosity I did the DNA test to see if he really is full lab. The results are that he ‘expresses’ as a lab, is almost all lab, but does have a minor genetic dose of mixed miscellaneous everything domestic dog. From terrier to Rottweiler to chihuahua, and many, many more.
And I have wondered if at least some registered dogs would show similar DNA results. Some of them, at least. They are supposed to be line-bred, of course. But due to life experience, I do wonder, even about legit pedigreed dogs. Maybe someone who knows more about dogs would know about that.
His actual breeding is unimportant, just an intellectual curiosity. He’s a wonderful dog, loving, funny and charming, and a great emotional stabilizer in this household.