Before bringing a dog home, most people consider things like breed and age. Even though those details aren’t everything, they help paint a picture of how large a dog might grow, what kind of temperament they could have, and how much exercise they’ll likely need each day.
The truth is, shelters don’t always have the full story on a puppy’s past, and sometimes adopters don’t learn the whole picture until much later.
That was the case for a woman in North Carolina who adopted a puppy labeled as a Labrador, only to realize over time that her new best friend wasn’t quite what she’d been told.
Jenny’s Unexpected Discovery
When Jenny first adopted Stetson, there was no reason to doubt that he was a black Labrador. The shelter had listed him as a stray, and no one had done a deeper check into his background.
Everything about him seemed typical for a young Lab: his color, his playful personality, and his love of people.
But as the months went by, Jenny started noticing changes. Stetson’s features began to shift, and his appearance no longer matched that of a Labrador.
She decided to get some answers and sent off a DNA test. What she found was more surprising than she ever expected.
The results revealed that Stetson wasn’t a Labrador at all. He was 58 percent German Shepherd, 18 percent Retriever, and 10 percent Chow.
Her guess had been completely off, but that didn’t change how much she loved him. For Jenny, Stetson was family, no matter what his mix turned out to be.
Reactions From TikTok
When Jenny shared Stetson’s story on TikTok, people immediately related to her experience and began sharing their own.
One user wrote, “Yeah. I was told black lab and when her legs hit her growth spurt I realized quickly that she is part Great Dane. They also said she would be 40-60 lbs. She is 98.”
It turns out that many dog owners have had similar surprises, especially with young puppies whose features haven’t yet developed.
Another person commented, “I got a ‘lab mix’ from the shelter. It turns out he has absolutely no lab in him at all. But I think they tell you all black dogs are labs. You have a beautiful shepherd mix there.”
Someone else pointed out, “Those ears and back legs are screaming German shepherd!”
It’s true — some people seem to have an incredible eye for spotting subtle breed traits, while others (like many of us) find it nearly impossible to tell.
In the end, Jenny’s story is a lighthearted reminder that appearances can be deceiving. While breed guesses can sometimes be off, what really matters is the bond formed between a dog and their person.
Whether Labrador, Shepherd, or Chow, Stetson has found his forever home — and that’s the only thing that truly counts.