When we brought Archie home, I was convinced I had him figured out.
A bit of pug, definitely. But I was sure there was something else in there too. His build, his expressions, the way he carries himself… I’d convinced myself there was Boxer in the mix somewhere. Turns out, I was completely wrong.
We decided to DNA test him using the Premium kit from Wisdom Panel and I’m so glad we did.
We opted for their Premium test because it goes far beyond a simple breed breakdown. It screens for 260+ health conditions and gives insight into personality and behavioural tendencies. It also allows you to connect with genetic relatives and provides a detailed ancestry tree, which I found so interesting.
For me, it wasn’t just about curiosity. It was about properly understanding him – the bigger picture of who he is and where he comes from.
The Results
The results genuinely shocked me. Archie came back as:
86% Pug
8% French Bulldog
4% Shih Tzu
1% Pekingese
1% Border Terrier
Eighty-six per cent pug. I honestly thought he’d have far less pug in him. His proportions and expressions had me convinced there was boxer in there somewhere… but not a trace. It’s funny how we build little stories in our heads about our dogs. I did the same when we DNA tested our first dog, Oscar.
I’m going to dive a little deeper into what his results actually showed. Beyond just the percentages, the report breaks down traits, ancestry and behavioural markers in a way that really helps you understand how everything comes together. It’s not just a headline of “86% pug” – it’s layers of information that explain why he looks the way he does, why he moves the way he does, and even why he reacts to certain things the way he does. And that’s the part I found genuinely fascinating.
The Health Screening
Because we adopted Archie at six months old, we didn’t have the chance to meet his parents or speak to a breeder about family health history. That naturally leaves a few question marks.
For me, the health screening element of the Premium test brought real peace of mind. It meant we weren’t relying on guesswork – we had clear information about his genetic health profile. Knowing what your dog may be predisposed to (or clear of) helps you:
Have informed conversations with your vet
Make lifestyle adjustments if needed
Plan for the long term
Thankfully, Archie’s results were all clear, but even if they hadn’t been, I’d rather know than not know. Over the lifetime of a dog, the cost of £145 for the Premium test feels like a worthwhile investment for that clarity.
Physical + Behavioural Traits
Another part of the report I really enjoyed exploring was the section on traits. This goes beyond breed and looks at the genetics that influence both how your dog looks and how they may behave.
Physical Traits
The physical traits section explains the genetics behind your dog’s appearance. For Archie, it confirmed details such as his coat colour, eye colour and head shape, which we obviously already knew, but it was good to see that the test had got it right.
It even picked up on the fact that he carries the floppy ear trait, which explains why his ears sit the way they do. That’s something I’ve always loved about him, so seeing it reflected in the results was super cute.
Behavioural Traits
The test also provides insight into behavioural tendencies linked to genetics, which I found really interesting.
A few of Archie’s predicted traits felt very accurate. The report suggested he may be likely to gain weight, something many food-loving dogs (and pugs in particular) can relate to. It also highlighted that he may enjoy nesting, which definitely makes sense when you see how he burrows into blankets and cushions.
Other traits included being friendly towards unfamiliar people, being less likely to experience separation anxiety, and even having a tendency to reverse sneeze, which can be more common in pugs.
The Relative Match
One of the most fascinating parts of the whole experience was discovering Archie’s relatives. Through the platform, he matched with another dog sharing 24% of his DNA, which is a significant amount. That’s not just a distant connection – that suggests a fairly close relative, possibly a half-sibling or similar.
Being able to see that link, where they’re based, and even reach out to the owner through the platform made it feel surprisingly personal. It adds this whole extra layer to the test that I hadn’t really thought about beforehand. It’s a bit like ancestry testing for humans… Suddenly your dog has extended family out there somewhere.
Is it Worth it?
In my opinion? Absolutely. It’s not just about satisfying breed curiosity. It’s about truly understanding why your dog behaves the way they do, where certain physical traits come from, what their overall genetic health picture looks like, and even how they’re connected to other dogs out there. It adds context to so many little things you notice day to day.
It genuinely deepens your understanding of them. And when you spread that cost across the ten to fifteen (or more) years you’ll hopefully have together, it feels like a very small price to pay for that level of insight.
Watch The Full Reveal
I’ve shared Archie’s full results and my real-time reaction over on YouTube, where I talk through the breakdown in detail and show exactly how the report is presented. If you’re curious about what the process looks like or how in-depth the results actually are, you can see it all there.
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your dog wondering what they really are, I genuinely can’t recommend doing a DNA test enough. For me, it’s been fascinating, reassuring and just really lovely to explore. You can save 30% on select tests with our exclusive discount code: ARCHIE30.
Let me know if you test your dog – I’d love to hear the results!
Emma 💁🏼♀️Oscar, Archie & Henry 🤍🐾
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