...some interesting and unexpected ingredients, as it turns out. For years, we had a hunch that these special dogs had some unusual DNA. We like to refer to them as the canine equivalent of a snowflake because each one reflects a distinctive mix of breeds that renders it spectacularly unique. Now, we can back up this notion with hard science! Thanks to the new DNA breed analysis tests, we are starting to find out what actually goes into a Sato....

By looking at Rosie Pelligrino, right, would you have guessed she is part Cairn Terrier and part Alaskan Malamute, followed by a smattering of Scottish Terrier and German Shepherd? That's an interesting mix of sizes, Rosie! She was adopted from the Worcester Animal Rescue League in Worcester, Mass.

Rosie's sister Abby, left, also got tested....Abby, in the arms of her thoroughly adorable human sister, has secondary German Shepherd traits. (The tests show a breed composition analysis of primary, secondary, and "in the mix." ) But she also has English Coonhound, Chow Chow, and Labrador Retriever in the mix. Abby too came from the shelter in Worcester, which has made many terrific matches for Save a Sato.


Lulu, right, may look like a terrier, but she is actually a mix of Shih Tzu and Siberian Husky! Lulu was adopted from the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass. by Joann Allen and lives with three Sato sisters....



OK, this one kind of makes sense. Here's Valiente. At 28 pounds, he is a mix of Border Collie and Chihuahua....the border collie comes out whenever he meets another dog and drops to the ground for a low stalk. Maybe he thinks he's come upon an errant sheep! But the shape of his head is all Chihuahua.

If you did a DNA breed analysis on your Sato and would like to share the results--along with a photo--please send them to the email address at the bottom of the page.

Ricky's person had been getting the question "What kind of dog is that?" for so long that she decided to get his DNA tested. Ricky was adopted in Puerto Rico from Second Chance in Villalba and now lives in Arlington, VA. Ricky, pictured here (in a collar and leash with the Puerto Rican flag motif!) tips the scales at 35 pounds, which isn't much. But his ancestors turn out to be canine heavyweights: Akita, Chow-Chow, Labrador Retriever, and MASTIFF!

Moses, at left on the beach in Mass., was found to have a little bit of Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Terrier, Chow Chow, Bull Mastiff, and Labrador Retriever.....that's a lot of relatives! Based on these results, his new dad refers to Moses as a "Cattlabmacherrier."


So many people commented on Mimi's adorable Corgi heritage that her person, Ashley, decided to find out what was really in this stocky, big-eared, 30-pound Satita. That's when she found traces of Collie and Dachshund, but not a hint of Corgi!

Luca, on the left, seemed like an easy call....the ears, the head, the size....everything pointed to German Shepherd, right? Well, Satos are nothing if not surprising. Luca turns out to be descended from an English Setter.....and, get ready--the mighty Pug!!

Ginger, at right, with her lovely fur coat looked much different when she first arrived at the Save a Sato shelter. You can see her photos in the "Makeover" section. When her dad received her DNA results, he understood the part about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in her past, but what about that Great Dane?