Evaluation of Two Commercial DNA-Based Breed Identification Tests for Pit Bull-Type Dogs in Taiwan: A Pilot Study

The “Declaration of Specified Breed Names of Animals Banned from Being Owned, Imported, or Exported” was promulgated in Taiwan in response to aggression involving pit bull-type dogs. To support enforcement, we developed standards for visual breed identification based on international breed standards and UK guidance. Given the subjectivity of visual identification, samples from 21 healthy dogs, including 12 pit bull-type dogs, were submitted to Embark® and Orivet Genetic Pet Care for SNP-based breed identification. Across pit bull-type dogs, American Pit Bull Terrier signatures reported by Embark® were reported as American Staffordshire Terrier by Orivet, while Formosan Mountain Dog signatures were reported as mixed breeds. Embark® covered all four pit bull-type breeds and the Formosan Mountain Dog and produced fewer failed tests, providing broader coverage of breeds relevant to Taiwan. However, substantial discordance was observed between the two services in the assignment of the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier, the two breeds specified in the Taiwanese declaration. This findings suggest that commercial DNA breed identification requires further validation before it can support regulatory enforcement.