Thursday, October 25, 2012

Ziggy's DNA Results Are Here!

I received an e-mail informing me that Ziggy’s DNA test results are available. I expected to find that Ziggy was mostly a mutt. I expected him to be part American Staffordshire Terrier, Dalmatian, or Pointer, with several “unidentifiable” results thrown in for good measure. I was wrong.


I read the results with growing disbelief. The DNA results indicated that Ziggy was a product of two purebred dogs. One of them, I’m assuming his mother, was a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier. No real surprise there, and now Ziggy can truthfully claim to be a “pit bull” mix. But the other parent? His father? It’s just too embarrassing to share.

I’m sure Ziggy would like to keep this a secret, but since we already announced he was taking a DNA test, I will have to tell you. According to his DNA test, Ziggy’s other parent was a Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie.

Once I stopped laughing, I immediately e-mailed the company to ask them to verify the results. After all, a union between an AmStaff and a Yorkie is not only unlikely, but Ziggy of course looks nothing like a Yorkie. Yet the results are clear – 50% of Ziggy’s DNA matches that of a Yorkshire Terrier. And in fact unions between AmStaffs and Yorkies have been known to occur. Yes, the little dog with a big personality – the one often accused of having Small Dog Syndrome – is most likely Ziggy’s father.

Some people think canine DNA tests are inaccurate, and while they are not 100% foolproof, after a lot of research it appears they are most often correct when a dog is a hybrid of two purebred dogs. So as much as I hate to say it, I have to admit it’s possible that Ziggy really is 50% Yorkie. Until I look at him. Then I start laughing all over again.

So what do these results mean? Well, first of all I told Ziggy not to be so embarrassed. There are plenty of famous AmStaff/Yorkie mixes out there. Okay, maybe not. But maybe he can be the first! Plus, being half Yorkie means he is a designer hybrid. I am going to start calling him a Yorkiestaff. I made that up myself! He did not seem amused. But Yorkies are a very popular breed, so I’m quite sure this will help him get adopted. Who wouldn’t want to adopt the most famous Yorkiestaff in the world??


19 comments:

Unknown said...

Of all the results I've been dreaming of in my head NOT ONCE did Yorkie come to mind! Well this will give us all something to ponder for sometime to come.
Diane :-)

FANCY the Red Standard Poodle said...

Hi Y'all!

Doest this make Ziggy more adoptable? Hope, hope and paws crossed!

Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog

Corbin said...

O.m.g. not in a million years would we have guessed a yorkie was in those blood lines! But we also wouldn't have guessed a full 50% am staff. Oh Ziggy, you continue to surprise.
-Corbin

How Sam Sees It said...

OMG - I almost fell out of my chair laughing. Never in a million years did I expect that! It is okay Ziggy, you are beautiful!

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

I am STUNNED... I wouldn't have been THIS stunned if it had said 50% Am. St.... and 50% ... DACHSHUND... BUTT YORKIE??????? WHO would EVER have though THAT????

Blueberry's human said...

Gasp! A Yorkie? Really? Oh Ziggy. That is a tough one to live down. Although now - you can be listed on Petfinder as a Yorkie mix and therefore, probably have even more people take a moment to look you over! Maybe one of them will decide that you do indeed resemble a Yorkie and want to take you home!

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Sorry, I can't help but laugh at the picture of how Ziggy was created. Good grief!
This is why you should always spay or neuter your pet! To avoid these unholy, um, er, highly unorthodox unions!

Anonymous said...

A Stork? Storkie? Storkshire?

Anonymous said...

When there are super wacky results, Yorkie seems to be suspiciously present in a lot of them. Have you thought about testing him again to see if the results are consistent? (a lot of money to spend in the name of a science experiment, but still!)

Dachshund Nola said...

Seriously?! I know crosses tend to favor one parent over the other, but I'm just not seeing yorkie!
Nola

Bev said...

Ziggy is 1/2 foofoo dog......bwhahahahahahahahahaha

Christina said...

Can you say American Storkie! BAHAHAHA!

Cindy said...

Poor Ziggy,a foo foo Storkie! No matter what Ziggy you're a good looking guy. And like someone said,you can be advertised as a Yorkie Mix.

Barb's Cats and Quilts said...

Yeah, didn't see that one coming. Where's the short stubby legs, the long wavy hair??? How about a Pitkie, Yorkford, Bullkie....

LP said...

Hmmm. That just may explain his constant state of confusion in his every day life!! :p


the critters in the cottage xo

Emily said...

That is SO hilarious! I'll be laughing all weekend! Poor thing... try not to let it get to his big adorable head. ;)

Dog Foster Mom said...

Lucky for Ziggy, the Wisdom Panel company agreed to review his results, and we should have an answer within the next several weeks!

Vertigo said...

So most silly! Am looking most forward to seeing a review of results.

Think, that Wisdom Panel should include a second test or a review in the package! Seems like many people question their initial results.

Anonymous said...

Uhhhhhhhh...

I don't even know what to bark. THAT is not what I was expecting in a million bajillion years.

I mean, my dee-en-ay results were pretty believable. Even the doxie part cuz I'm a super good digger, plus it was only a teeny tiny part of my dee-en-ay. But, um, HALF Yorkie?? Huh.

Maybe Ziggy found some Yorkie dee-en-ay to puts on those swabs to mess with your mind. Cuz, to be honest, that seems like something he'd do.

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness!I laughed so much that I wheezed! We would love to have this test done on some of ours; maybe someday.