Bernie and Atticus have a lot in common. Both are Great Pyrenees that ended up on the euthanasia list at a shelter in South Carolina. But that’s just the start of their similarities.
Bernie was the first dog pulled from the shelter and taken in by Jenna and Randy, who run local rescue organization Dog Squad. A serious leg injury left him in need of emergency surgery, and Jenna and Randy committed to getting him the care he needed. Complications from the procedure led to a leg amputation and an extended foster stay with Jenna and Randy. It also led to a permanent home. By the time Bernie recovered, the couple had grown so attached that they officially made him a member of their family.
Flash forward a year later. Jenna and Randy were looking for another dog to help through Dog Squad when Atticus caught their eye. Not only did he look a lot like Bernie, but he also had a severe leg injury that required extensive care. They pulled him from the shelter, and he underwent an amputation—on the same leg that Bernie had removed. Atticus then went to another Dog Squad foster home to recover.
Given their similarities, Jenna and Randy decided to introduce Bernie and Atticus. Bernie typically doesn’t like other large dogs, but these two hit it off right away. They clearly felt calm and comfortable around each other, but it wasn’t until later that they understood why.
Dog Squad uses Wisdom Panel™ pet DNA tests on all of their adoptable dogs to learn more about their background—info that helps them find appropriate homes for every pup. Along with breed and health insights, the test also identifies genetic relatives. When they received Atticus’ results, they learned that Bernie and Atticus were half-brothers. Suddenly, the instant connection these two dogs felt made perfect sense.
Want to find your dog’s relatives?
All three of Wisdom Panel’s dog DNA tests include genetic relative match. Using this feature, you can find your dog’s parents, littermates, or extended family. You can also see any photos their pet parents have uploaded, compare test results, or send messages.
How the relative feature works
Genetic relatives located in our database fall into three groups:
- Close relatives that share 20% or more of their DNA (like parents, siblings, or grandparents)
- Extended relatives that share 5-19% (great grandparents and half aunts and uncles)
- Distant relatives that share 1-4% of their DNA
By navigating to the Relatives tab of your Wisdom Panel test results, you’ll be able to see any dogs that fall into these categories. From there, you can click on each relative and learn details about their age, location, and genetic similarities.
Connecting with relatives
You probably are already picturing a reunion with your pup’s family. Good news! This feature also allows you to send messages to each relative’s pet parents (assuming they have their permissions set to receive them).
Once the lines of communication are open, you can share additional photos or stories about your dogs—and even set up a meet and greet if your pups live close together.
Managing your privacy settings
You have control over how much information you share about your dog and if people can send you private messages through our platform.
From your pet’s profile page:
Scroll to the section on sharing and select who can see information about your dog.
From your account management page:
Navigate to the messaging section and turn on or off the ability to receive messages.
The relatives feature is a fun way to find and connect with your dog’s family. As with all online communication, remember to be mindful about sharing private or sensitive information.
Share your relative story
We love hearing about pups who have found their families. If your dog has reunited with a relative, please let us know! You can submit details of your story. With your permission, we may even feature you on our social media channels.
