Texas Man's Rescue Dog Revealed as Poodle-Golden Retriever Mix

A DNA test showed the dog everyone thought was a standard poodle had a surprising breed in its ancestry.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:18pm

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Justin Philip from Houston, Texas adopted a rescue dog named Ivory about a month ago. Everyone told Philip that Ivory was a standard poodle, but he had his doubts. Philip decided to get a DNA test done, which revealed that Ivory is actually 70.8% standard poodle and 29.2% golden retriever, much to Philip's surprise.

Why it matters

This story highlights how DNA tests can reveal unexpected details about a dog's ancestry, even when the dog's appearance suggests a different breed. It also shows how rescue dogs can have mixed heritage that may not be obvious at first glance. The story touches on the popularity of poodles as a breed in the U.S. and how rescue pets can sometimes defy initial assumptions.

The details

Philip adopted Ivory, an estimated 18-month-old dog, from a local rescue organization called Camo Rescue in Magnolia, Texas. Many people told Philip that Ivory was a standard poodle, but he had doubts and decided to get a DNA test done. The Embark DNA test revealed that while Ivory is predominantly a standard poodle (70.8%), she also has 29.2% golden retriever ancestry, which came as a surprise to Philip. He had previously had a rescue dog that was thought to be a poodle but turned out to be 100% poodle. With Ivory, the golden retriever traits were more apparent in her coat texture, facial features, and scent.

  • Philip adopted Ivory about a month ago.
  • The DNA test results were recently revealed in a Reddit post by Philip.

The players

Justin Philip

A man from Houston, Texas who adopted a rescue dog named Ivory.

Ivory

A rescue dog adopted by Justin Philip that was initially thought to be a standard poodle, but a DNA test revealed she is 70.8% standard poodle and 29.2% golden retriever.

Camo Rescue

A local rescue organization in Magnolia, Texas where Justin Philip adopted Ivory.

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What they’re saying

“We were initially somewhat 'disappointed' because we really wanted a full standard poodle. But also shocked at how much she presented as a poodle being only 70 percent.”

— Justin Philip

“When you rescue, there's always a risk like this.”

— Reddit user

The takeaway

This story shows how DNA tests can reveal unexpected details about a rescue dog's ancestry, even when the dog's appearance suggests a different breed. It highlights the unpredictability of rescue pets and the importance of being open-minded about a dog's true identity, rather than making assumptions based on looks alone.