As a former dog owner, I found that breed and age were key when considering adoption. While I had my preferences, I believe many people do, and that’s perfectly fine. However, some individuals adopt dogs without knowing their true breed, only to discover later that their expectations were wrong. This was the case for a North Carolina owner who adopted a ‘Labrador’ puppy, unaware of the journey that lay ahead.
Jenny Was Surprised
When Jenny adopted Stetson, she had no reason to believe he wasn’t a black Labrador. The shelter listed him as a ‘stray,’ but they seemed to have done little research regarding his breed. However, as Stetson grew, Jenny noticed significant changes. Three and a half months later, she realized he was not a black Labrador. To confirm her suspicions, she decided to conduct a DNA test, and the results were shocking.
As it turned out, Stetson wasn’t a single breed at all. He was a mix: 58 percent German Shepherd, 18 percent Retriever, and 10 percent Chow, with no trace of Labrador. Despite this revelation, Stetson’s family loved him just the same, proving that breed isn’t everything.
Reactions on TikTok
After discovering Stetson’s true breed, Jenny shared his story on her TikTok account, where people quickly expressed their thoughts. One commenter noted a similar experience, stating, “I was told my dog was a black lab, but once she grew, I realized she’s part Great Dane. They also claimed she would weigh 40-60lbs. She turned out to be 98.” Such mix-ups are common with young puppies, leading to unexpected surprises.
Another comment read, “I got a ‘lab mix’ from the shelter. Turns out there’s no lab in him at all. I guess they assume all black dogs are labs. You have a beautiful shepherd mix there.” This made me curious—perhaps this phenomenon occurs in some shelters, although I wonder why they would label all black dogs as labs.
Lastly, one commenter observed, “Those ears and back legs are screaming German shepherd!” I am fascinated by how people can identify breeds based on distinct features like ears and legs. Although I’ve been around dogs my entire life, I admit I lack that keen eye for differentiating breeds. Regardless, this delightful story illustrates how misunderstandings can occur. Such occurrences, while minor, often lead to interesting reactions from others.
