A woman who adopted a mixed-breed puppy thought she knew what she was getting, until DNA results proved a major shock.
Mizuki Arai lives in Westchester County, New York, and recently became the owner of adorable puppy Lyle, whom she adopted from a shelter in Louisiana after seeing photos of him online.
Arai, who is expecting her first child, told Newsweek: “People told us we were nuts for getting a puppy now, but we’re putting in a lot of work, and he’s becoming a very promising family doggo. He’s just so awesome, and we love all the different sides of him.”
It took a while to get to know their new puppy properly—because, while his profile stated Lyle was an Australian shepherd and Australian cattle dog mix, Arai wasn’t convinced. She and her partner believed that, based on his looks, he was a flat-coated retriever, a breed closely related to the Labrador retriever.
When Google reverse image search and AI appeared to agree when presented with Lyle’s photos, the couple thought that was the end of it—but then they saw photos of Lyle’s siblings and mother, and they were left with “no idea” what Lyle could be.
Because, not only were those dogs definitely not retrievers, they also all looked completely different: some with a merle coat; some black, white or brown; some with short hair; and some boasting a fluffy coat.
Arai and her partner decided it was time to put the mystery to rest with a DNA test, as they were “trying to prepare for what size and temperament we can expect as best as possible.”
And having already begun training their new puppy, the couple told Newsweek, “knowing his genetics will help us guide him in the ways he would be most responsive.”
Three weeks later, they got their answer. The test results said Lyle was 19 percent German shepherd dog; 16 percent Labrador retriever; 15.5 percent American pit bull terrier; 11 percent Australian shepherd; 8 percent chow chow; and 7.9 percent boxer.
Lyle was also, the test suggested, 16 percent “Supermutt,” meaning he has ancestry from several different breeds but whose DNA segments are too short to be confidently identified, according to the Embark DNA testing website.
Arai said that the results have proved extremely helpful when training him, as they now know he is “one-third herding breeds, one-third guard breeds, and one-third hunting and retrieving breed. It’s a good mix!”
As the couple got to know Lyle while waiting for his test results, the puppy “really started to show his personality,” and they came to suspect he had German shepherd ancestry.
“He had a lot of herding instincts, and he was such a ‘Velcro dog’ and gave us very little privacy,” Arai said, but added he is “also very much a Labrador.”
“We took him to Lake Ontario, and he went nuts for the waves and water. He got to use his big webbed paws—a Lab thing—to doggy paddle. He was a bit wary of strangers at first, which is a shepherd thing, but as he got comfortable, he became very loving, friendly, and playful with everyone and every dog—more of a Lab thing!”
Arai shared her unique pup’s story to Reddit’s u/DoggyDNA via her account u/supercooper77 on August 20, where she wrote: “We thought his breed was obvious until we met mom and siblings.”
In the post, Arai shared photos of Lyle settling into his new home, taking naps, stretching out, and playing with toys. She then shared a snap of Lyle’s mother and littermates, followed by the DNA test.
“Everyone (including us) assumed he was a flat coated lab mix. Then we got the rare chance to meet his mom and siblings … and suddenly nothing looked so obvious anymore,” Arai said.
“Same family, totally different looks. His DNA tests are in the last pic—this pup is a true sheprador mutt, a certified good boi, and very much a dog of the world!”
Reddit users were fascinated, with one commenter calling him, “one hundred percent gorgeous, as is his extended family!”
“I called GSD and Chow Chow,” another wrote. “It’s never a flattie. He is gorgeous.”
A third posted: “Actual flat coat mixes are very rare. I was thinking maybe pyrenees and GSD [German shepherd dog].”
Flat-coated retrievers are known for their cheerful, good-humored nature, and ability to get along with family, small children and other dogs. While as tall as Labrador retrievers, they are leaner and more elegant, according to the American Kennel Club.
In 2024, flat-coated retrievers ranked 97th in the AKC’s list of the most-popular dog breeds.
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