Nothing could have prepared an Arizona couple for the results of their rescue dog's DNA test.
Zira has been part of Michaela Hyle's life ever since she saved her from being put down while she was still at university.
A mysterious mix
But one thing has always made Zira stand out: her appearance. She's a mixed-breed dog, and for the longest time, her exact heritage was a complete mystery, which often led to some gentle teasing.
In fact, several people used to joke that she was part coyote. These comments prompted her owner to get a DNA test to finally get to the bottom of the mystery.
*"I wanted a DNA test not only to prove she wasn't a coyote, but also to see what breeds she actually was,"* she told Newsweek. *"The shelter told me she was a Rottweiler and German Shepherd mix, but she didn't look like either of those breeds to me."*
The big reveal
In a video shared on TikTok, Michaela and her husband decided to reveal the DNA test results. And it turns out Zira is 19% Rottweiler, 16% Australian Cattle Dog, 14% Pit Bull, 7% Siberian Husky, and 5% American Staffordshire Terrier. She also has a bit of Border Collie, German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, Dalmatian, Labrador, Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, and Airedale Terrier in her.
Despite the surprising results – Zira's DNA is made up of 20 different breeds! – the whole family is delighted to know more about the dog who has been sharing their lives for all these years.
