Advances in canine genetics have made DNA testing an increasingly valuable tool when selecting a prospective working animal. Commercial DNA testing services, such as Embark, Wisdom Panel, Orivet, and other reputable laboratories, can provide information about breed ancestry, inherited disease risk, genetic diversity, carrier status and selected physical traits. Some laboratories also offer testing for behavioural predispositions, although these should be interpreted cautiously as behaviour is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors.

DNA testing should never replace comprehensive veterinary examination, behavioural assessment, structural evaluation or gait analysis. Rather, it should be considered one component of a holistic assessment that assists breeders, trainers, veterinarians and prospective handlers in making informed decisions.

Whether selecting a purpose-bred puppy, a rescue dog or an adult rehomed prospect, DNA testing can provide valuable information that may influence healthcare planning, training expectations and long-term suitability for work.

Benefits of DNA Testing

Modern canine DNA tests can provide information that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to determine, particularly for mixed-breed or rescue dogs with unknown ancestry.

Potential benefits include:

• identifying breed composition in mixed-breed dogs
• confirming or clarifying pedigree where documentation is unavailable
• screening for inherited genetic diseases
• identifying carrier status for inherited disorders
• assessing genetic diversity and estimated inbreeding
• predicting adult size in some cases
• confirming inherited coat colours, coat types and other physical characteristics
• identifying breed-specific health risks
• supporting preventative healthcare planning
• assisting veterinarians when interpreting breed-related disease risks.

For rescue and rehomed dogs, DNA testing may also provide valuable insight into expected exercise requirements, grooming needs, behavioural tendencies and breed-specific health conditions that would otherwise remain unknown.

The information obtained may help prospective handlers develop realistic expectations and implement proactive healthcare throughout the animal’s life.

Health Screening

One of the greatest advantages of DNA testing is the ability to identify inherited genetic disorders before clinical signs develop.

Many commercial DNA testing providers screen for hundreds of inherited conditions affecting multiple body systems.

Examples include:

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
• Multidrug Resistance Gene Mutation (MDR1)
• von Willebrand Disease (vWD)
• inherited eye diseases
• inherited neurological disorders
• inherited metabolic disorders
• skeletal and connective tissue disorders
• cardiac diseases
• bleeding disorders.

Early identification allows owners and veterinarians to monitor for clinical signs, modify management where appropriate and make informed breeding and healthcare decisions.

Importantly, DNA testing identifies genetic risk rather than confirming that disease is present. Some dogs carrying disease-associated variants may never develop clinical disease, while other conditions require additional environmental factors or involve multiple genes. Likewise, a dog receiving a clear DNA result is not guaranteed to remain healthy throughout its lifetime.

DNA testing should therefore be interpreted alongside veterinary examination and other diagnostic investigations where indicated.

Understanding Breed Ancestry

Breed ancestry can provide useful information when evaluating a prospective working animal, particularly where little historical information is available.

Knowing the breeds contributing to an individual dog may help explain:

• energy levels
• motivation and working drive
• trainability
• prey drive
• exercise requirements
• coat maintenance needs
• expected adult size
• breed-specific health risks
• common behavioural tendencies.

However, breed ancestry should never be used to stereotype or predict an individual dog’s suitability for work.

Within every breed there is considerable variation in temperament, motivation, resilience and behaviour. Individual assessment remains significantly more important than breed label alone.

Similarly, mixed-breed dogs may inherit characteristics from any combination of their ancestral breeds and cannot be expected to display an equal blend of each.

Breed information should therefore be viewed as one useful source of information rather than a definitive predictor of future performance.

Breed Identification, Restricted Breeds and Hybrids

Where DNA testing has been performed, the complete report should always be reviewed as part of the prospect selection process. In addition to providing information about health and ancestry, DNA results may identify the presence of breeds that are subject to legislative restrictions within Australia.

Restricted Dog Breeds

Under Australian Commonwealth legislation, the importation of the following dog breeds is prohibited:

• American Pit Bull Terrier (Pit Bull Terrier)
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• Perro de Presa Canario (Presa Canario).

These are commonly referred to as restricted or prohibited import breeds.

In addition to Commonwealth import restrictions, all Australian states and territories regulate the ownership and management of restricted dogs under their companion animal or dangerous dog legislation. Depending on the jurisdiction, this may also extend to dogs declared to be, or substantially conforming to, a restricted breed type.

Where DNA testing identifies a restricted breed or restricted breed ancestry, organisations should carefully review the legislation applicable in the relevant state or territory before proceeding with the animal as a working prospect.

In many jurisdictions, owners of restricted dogs are legally required to notify or register the dog with their local council. Restricted dogs are commonly subject to lifelong management requirements, which may include secure containment standards, warning signage, compulsory desexing, permanent identification, restrictions on breeding and transfer of ownership, and mandatory muzzling and leash requirements whenever the dog is in a public place. These obligations differ between jurisdictions and may change over time.

Because assistance animals and other working animals frequently require unrestricted public access, dogs subject to restricted breed legislation will generally be unsuitable candidates for public-access working roles.

Where DNA testing has not been performed, breed identification is generally based upon available pedigree records, information supplied by breeders or previous owners, veterinary opinion and the dog’s observable physical characteristics. This is commonly referred to as the dog’s presumed breed or breed type.

Visual identification has recognised limitations, particularly in mixed-breed dogs. Likewise, DNA testing is not infallible. The most reliable approach is to consider all available evidence, including pedigree documentation, DNA results, veterinary assessment and observable characteristics when determining breed ancestry.

I would actually expand this section into a broader “Hybrid Animals” section that covers both cats and wolf-dogs together. It flows much better and avoids repeating legislation.

Hybrid Animals

Although this chapter primarily focuses on dogs, organisations working with assistance cats or other working animals should also be aware that Australia regulates many domestic–wild animal hybrids differently from ordinary domestic species.

Hybrid animals are produced by crossing a domestic species with a wild ancestor. Depending on the species involved, these animals may be subject to Commonwealth import restrictions, state or territory legislation, or both. Before accepting a hybrid animal as a working animal prospect, organisations should ensure the animal has been legally bred, imported and owned, and that all applicable legislative requirements have been met.

Hybrid Cats

The Bengal cat was originally developed through crosses between domestic cats (Felis catus) and the Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). Historically, Australia permitted the importation of Bengal cats that were at least five generations removed from their wild ancestor (commonly referred to as F5 or later), provided appropriate pedigree documentation verified their generational status.

Since 1 March 2026, however, this Commonwealth exemption has been removed. Bengal cats, including those five or more generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat, are no longer eligible for routine importation unless specifically listed on the Australian Government’s Live Import List. Other domestic–wild hybrid cats, including Savannah, Chausie and Safari cats, are likewise prohibited from routine importation into Australia.

For Bengal cats already legally established within Australia, pedigree documentation and, where available, DNA information should still be reviewed. Where generational status is relevant, recognised pedigree records remain the preferred method of confirming ancestry, as commercial DNA testing cannot accurately determine filial generation from a wild ancestor.

The presence of Bengal ancestry does not automatically indicate that a cat has been unlawfully imported or bred. The animal’s pedigree, import history, breeding history and the legislation applicable at the relevant time should all be considered before any conclusions are drawn.

Wolf–Dog Hybrids

Wolf–dog hybrids (commonly referred to as wolfdogs) are the offspring of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wolves (Canis lupus). Depending on their ancestry, they may be first-generation hybrids or descend from multiple generations of hybrid breeding. Several recognised breeds, including the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (Vlcak) and the Saarloos Wolfdog, originated from historical wolf–dog crosses and are recognised by some international kennel organisations. Recognition by a breed registry, however, does not determine their legal status in Australia.

Under Australian Commonwealth legislation, wolf–dog hybrids are considered domestic–wild animal hybrids rather than ordinary domestic dogs. They are not included on Australia’s Live Import List and therefore cannot be routinely imported into Australia. Organisations should exercise caution where DNA testing identifies wolf ancestry or where an animal is represented as a wolf hybrid, as this may have significant legal implications depending on the animal’s origin and applicable legislation.

Commercial DNA testing occasionally identifies low levels of wolf ancestry in individual dogs. Such findings should be interpreted cautiously. Small percentages may reflect ancient shared ancestry, limitations of the testing methodology or historical hybridisation many generations in the past rather than recent wolf–dog breeding. Where substantial wolf ancestry is identified, the findings should be considered alongside pedigree documentation, veterinary advice and any applicable legislation.

From a behavioural perspective, wolf–dog hybrids are generally considered unsuitable for assistance animal or other public-access working roles. While individual animals vary considerably, wolf ancestry may contribute to increased independence, heightened environmental sensitivity, stronger prey drive, greater tendency to roam, and reduced predictability under stress. These characteristics are generally inconsistent with the stable temperament and reliability required of working animals.

Regardless of species, breed or ancestry, the primary considerations when selecting a working animal prospect remain the individual’s health, temperament, structural soundness, behaviour, trainability, welfare and legal suitability. Breed or hybrid status should inform decision-making but should never replace comprehensive veterinary, behavioural and welfare assessment.