At Wisdom Panel, our team of scientific and veterinary experts is always looking ahead to what’s next in pet genetics and how new discoveries can advance companion animal health or strengthen the bond between people and their pets. But sometimes, it’s nice to look back. As we close out the year, we tapped into our database of more than 5 million pets from around the world to find interesting trends and insights. Below are some of our favorite highlights.
Dog behavior trends for 2025
Identifying the link between DNA and certain dog behaviors so pet parents can better understand their pup’s personality was a high point in last year’s research. This year, we got to see the discoveries come to life when we integrated these genetic behavior tests into our products. Of the dogs we tested:
- 48% are prone to splooting
- 47% are prone to reverse sneezing
- 40% like to nest
- 39% are predisposed to sleeping on their backs
- 38% prefer to avoid getting wet
- 28% are predisposed to crossing their paws
Physical traits and health trends in dogs and cats
We work together with scientists everywhere, in addition to conducting our own research, to bring you over 300 genetic tests for physical traits and health predispositions in dogs, and over 70 in cats.
Who doesn’t want to understand the genetic roots of their furry friend’s unique appearance? Here are some statistics from this year on a few of the features that make us swoon:
- 5% of cats carry at least one copy of the glitter coat variant
- 3% of cats carry at least one copy of the rexing variant for curly coats
- 24% of dogs carry at least one copy of the variant for furnishings like beards and eyebrow fluff
- 0.07% of dogs carry the at least one copy of the variant for hairlessness
What’s under all that fur is just as important as the floofy outer layer. You can see our full list of health tests here, but for now we’ll leave you with one big trend in dog health:
- 48% of dogs are genetically predisposed to excess weight gain
Breed mix trends for dogs and cats
It may not surprise you to learn that American Pit Bull Terrier and Chihuahua were the top breeds found in mixed-breed dogs. But, you may be stumped by this finding: 2% of the mixed-breed dogs we tested have some Corgi (Pembroke Welsh Corgi or Cardigan Welsh Corgi) ancestry!
For our feline friends around the world, the Norwegian Forest Cat and Scottish Fold were the second and third-most common breeds found in mixed-breed cats, after the American Domestic Cat. On top of all that, 32% of mixed-breed cats tested had some Maine Coon ancestry!
They may be our companions but they all have a wild side and the DNA of our Wisdom Panel pet community proves it! Over 32,000 mixed-breed dogs in our database have detectable gray wolf ancestry.
All in the family
Wisdom Panel’s genetic relative match lets pet parents discover their pet’s family members, from birth parents to more distant relatives. In fact, more than 99.9% of dogs in our database have at least one match, which adds up to 322,902,547 relative relationships identified through Wisdom Panel! Almost 30% of the dogs we have tested have a sibling in our database. For pet parents wanting to get the litter back together for a family reunion, this is the product feature for you!
Gain a deeper understanding of your pet through their DNA
DNA testing does more than just satisfy a curiosity. The insights provided by Wisdom Panel’s dog and cat DNA tests provide actionable intel that you can use for the good of your pet. From screening for health predispositions, to decoding their personality quirks through behavior and breed insights, you’ll have the info you need to tailor their care and training. The more you know about your pet, the better you can help them live their best life!
