A dog owner who was curious about her rescue pup’s striking features decided to do a DNA test, and the results didn’t disappoint.
Faris was discovered as a stray in Qatar when he was just a puppy, and he was rescued by the National Greyhound Adoption Program in Philadelphia in 2021. He was only a few months old at the time, and spent the following years in a kennel, waiting to find a loving home.
In July 2025, Faris caught the eye of Katie, who had rescued greyhounds from the organization in the past and felt ready to help another dog. Katie, who resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, told Newsweek that she believed Faris was “a Saluki mix,” but there was no certainty.
Faris was rescued alongside another dog, named Remy, who was thought to be his brother. After seeing Remy’s DNA test, Katie felt curious about what Faris’s results would show.
“The person who adopted his brother had done the rest and provided information, and I was curious,” Katie said. “It turns out his brother is more likely his cousin, though they share a lot of the same breeds.”
The DNA tests showed that, while Faris is 20 percent Saluki, he is 37 percent Central Asian Ovcharka, 10 percent Qatari street dog, and 7 percent German shepherd. If that mix wasn’t varied enough, Faris is also 7 percent wolf and 4 percent Akbash.
The results were certainly eye-opening, but Katie told Newsweek that “everything tracks” with how Faris looks and his overall personality. What surprised her the most was that the dog is predominantly Ovcharka, especially since he “looks more like a sighthound” to her.
Following his adoption, Faris’s personality has undoubtedly started to shine through. He has shown just how gentle and protective he can be, and he gets vocal at times and loves going for long walks.
Katie shared several images of Faris on Reddit (posting as user u/Cinestheric) alongside his DNA test results. The caption alongside the post notes that Faris has the look of a Saluki, although he does also have the “protect the village attitude” that is associated with shepherd breeds.
One thing is for certain; as Katie joked, Faris is “somehow zero percent horse,” despite his large frame.
Faris’s DNA results have stunned many social-media users, with the Reddit post generating over 1,600 votes at the time of writing. Many internet users took to the comments section to share their thoughts and their fascination with Faris’s genetic makeup.
One comment on the post reads: “International dog of mystery!”
Another Reddit user wrote: “Well I think Ovcharka may be the closest canine relative to the horse, so not far off. Beautiful pup!”
A third posted: “Might want to retest—that’s clearly a deer!”
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