Dog owner believed for a decade their high school gift was a ‘Golden Retriever’ — until a DNA test exposed the lie

As dog owners, we often believe we know everything about our pets. From their quirks to their lineage, it's easy to assume we have it all figured out. But sometimes, a simple DNA test can reveal surprising truths. One Reddit user recently shared an eye-opening story about their beloved dog, who had been assumed to be a Golden Retriever for nearly a decade, only to discover she wasn't one at all.

Robin, a Californian who posts as u/jchfs on Reddit, first got their dog nearly ten years ago, back when they were in high school. "Early on in high school, I really wanted a Golden Retriever because I wanted a smart and long-haired breed," they told Newsweek. Robin’s aunt had bought the dog from a Craigslist ad and given it to them, claiming the mother was a Golden Retriever, though the father was unknown. Robin had no reason to question this. "She grew up, loving the water, loving to please, loving people, loving to chase and well, retrieve," Robin explained, traits characteristic of the breed.

Over the years, Naru’s behavior further confirmed Robin’s belief. She was extremely trainable, loved to fetch, and had a high energy level that required daily exercise. "Everything about her personality just said Golden to me, so I never thought of any other possibility," Robin added. Photos shared in the Reddit post show Naru happily fetching a ball, swimming in the ocean, and relaxing at home, all while looking every bit the Golden Retriever.

However, as Naru aged, Robin began to notice something unusual. Despite being almost nine years old, Naru didn’t seem to be aging like a typical large dog. "I was guessing her other half was some herding breed because of some of her behaviors I've noticed as we grew up together," Robin wrote. This curiosity led her to get a DNA test, and the results were indeed shocking. Naru was 29.6% Labrador Retriever, 27.5% Cocker Spaniel, 24.4% Australian Cattle Dog, 12.4% Chinese Shar-Pei, and 6.1% Chow Chow. “To be honest, finding out Naru's results were completely world-shifting,” Robin admitted, shocked to learn Naru had no Golden Retriever in her.

Although initially stunned, Robin came to appreciate how these unexpected breeds contributed to Naru’s personality. "With some time to process it and seeing other dogs, I can see how every result came into play to make her into the suspiciously golden retriever-like dog she is today," they reflected. The story also quickly gained traction, with more than 1.9K upvotes from Reddit users, many of whom were equally surprised by Naru's true lineage.

Comments pointed out how the dog's appearance, particularly her fur color and rounded head, resembled breeds like Chow Chow and Shar-Pei. u/Bitterrootmoon shared, "The Chow is really carrying the team there." Robin also later noticed the resemblance and replied, "I can see it now! Thank you! All of those things I wouldn’t have attributed to Chow besides the lion's mane, but after looking at some more Chow pics, I can see it." 

For more wholesome dog content, follow u/jchfs on Reddit.