In a world where more people are choosing to adopt pets from shelters rather than buy from breeders, it’s increasingly common for owners to be unsure of their dog’s exact breed.
That uncertainty has led many pet parents to turn to DNA tests—and often, the results come as a surprise.
Reddit user Humanon1717 recently shared her experience after testing her dog, Jackie Bear, whom she had long believed was part Great Pyrenees. A slideshow of photos posted online shows Jackie Bear from puppyhood through adulthood, with the dog strongly resembling his golden retriever mother.
The caption reads: “We knew his mom was a golden retriever, but dad was a mystery. I always thought he had some Great [Pyrenees] in him.”
But the DNA results told a very different story. The post title refers to Jackie Bear as a “DIY Pyr,” as the results found he has no Pyrenees in him at all.
According to the results, Jackie Bear is half golden retriever (51.9 percent), 32.9 percent Chow Chow, and 15.9 percent supermutt.
She notes in the caption that his purple tongue should have been a “dead giveaway” as this is a unique trait to the Chow-Chow.
The American Kennel Club states the true reason Chow Chows have blue‑black tongues remains unknown, with experts noting there is no documentation explaining the trait—only that it was observed as early as the 1820s and later used as a marker of purebred dogs.
The woman added in the comments: “The super mutt is American Eskimo, German Shepherd, and American Bulldog.”
More than 20 days earlier, the owner had introduced Jackie Bear on another post, writing: “He has been the perfect dog for my family. Calm, great with kids, loved adventures in his younger years, not too big of a barker, easy to train. His biggest flaw is that he sheds terribly!”
The reveal sparked reactions across TikTok, where viewers shared their thoughts on Jackie Bear’s surprising genetic makeup.
“Wow DIY pyr is right except missing the sad face,” one user commented, prompting the owner to reply: “he always has the golden smile!”
Another viewer wrote: “I’ve owned both a golden and a chow and I could tell looking at the first pic! His golden genes are strong though! He’s beautiful.”
Jackie Bear’s story reflects a broader shift in how people approach dog ownership today. Humans have bred dogs for their skills, companionship, and looks for thousands of years, resulting in hundreds of recognized breeds worldwide—and even more unofficial mixes.
But 2025 research conducted by dog walking website Rover suggests that for many modern pet parents, breed matters less than personality.
In a survey of 1,000 pet parents, 15 percent said they intentionally sought to adopt a mixed-breed dog, while just 26 percent had a specific breed in mind. Instead, size (58 percent) and temperament and personality (51 percent) were the most important factors. Those priorities led 41 percent of pet parents to say that meeting their dog was love at first sight.