It’s not unusual for people to adopt a dog believing it’s one breed, only to later learn through DNA testing that the truth is something entirely different.
This happens more often than one might think, especially since identifying a puppy’s breed accurately when they’re very young can be tricky.
This particular story comes from California, where one dog owner thought he had adopted a Border Collie. When a DNA test revealed the real results, he couldn’t believe what he discovered.
The Unexpected Truth
A Reddit user known as u/Bombared adopted a dog named Achilles, who was listed as a Border Collie by rescuers. However, it soon became clear that the young pup wasn’t quite what he seemed.
Achilles and his sister had been found wandering the Central Valley in California before being rescued and taken to a shelter. Staff believed they were Border Collies, and that’s how they were listed for adoption.
After bringing Achilles home, his new owner started noticing unusual behavior that didn’t fit the breed’s typical traits.
One of the first things that stood out was Achilles’ personality. Unlike most Border Collies, who tend to be energetic and eager to learn, Achilles was calm and took his time adjusting. It even took him a while to figure out how to take treats properly.
Food didn’t seem to interest him much, which was another clue that something was different. As he grew, his appearance also began to change, prompting his owner to do a DNA test to learn more.
When the results came back, they told an entirely different story. Achilles was actually 45.8% Pomeranian, 43.8% Husky, 6.2% Alaskan Malamute, and 4.2% Supermutt.
The mix explained his fluffy coat, moderate energy, and unique temperament. Even though the results were surprising, Achilles’ owner said nothing about their bond changed. He still loved his dog just the same.
Reactions From The Reddit Community
After posting Achilles’ DNA results on Reddit, the story quickly caught the attention of many users, who couldn’t believe the unexpected mix.
One commenter wrote: “Was expecting to see a chow or Akita in there, but Pomeranian definitely explains the tiny fluffy ears too! He’s very handsome, and other than the black and white coloring looks absolutely nothing like a border collie!”
That reaction echoed what many others were thinking, although Achilles’ smaller size ruled out some of the guesses.
Another person commented: “Somehow these breeds combined to look like a purebred Karelian Bear Dog. That’s just wild.”
That might seem accurate at first glance, but Achilles is far smaller than a Karelian Bear Dog, which quickly clears up the confusion.
Someone else added: “My first thought was Akita, so I got the Spitz part, just the wrong breed, haha. Fun fact – Pomeranians were originally medium to large sized dogs before the breed was bred down to be a companion dog.”
That fun fact about Pomeranians caught the owner by surprise and also helped explain some of Achilles’ personality traits.
The Dog He Was Always Meant To Be
Although Achilles turned out to be nothing like the breed listed on his paperwork, he has grown into a loving companion with a gentle nature.
He enjoys lounging at home, watching the world go by, and occasionally chasing squirrels just for fun. Despite the unexpected DNA results, he remains the same loyal, affectionate dog he always was.
In the end, it didn’t matter what mix he turned out to be. What mattered most was that Achilles found a home where he is loved for exactly who he is.