The lifespan of dogs is much shorter than ours. Experiencing and coming to terms with the grief of her death is one of the most difficult aspects of loving dogs. For dog guards who feel like they just can’t let go, cloning is an increasingly accessible option. Dog cloning may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but it’s much more common than you might think, and you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford to clone your dog.
Lauren Aston of ViaGen Pets and Equine, whose work focuses on pet cloning as well as conservation-based cloning with organizations such as the San Diego Zoo, stated that the US-based company began producing cloned dogs in 2015 and has grown several since then has successfully cloned a hundred pets for families. Cloned dogs generally have the same looks and possibly even the intelligence and temperament of your original dog. Cloned puppies are genetic twins of your dog who were born at a different time. Cloned dogs have the potential to lead full and healthy lives, and are believed to be no more prone to health problems than any other dog.
How does dog cloning work?
If you think you might want to clone your dog at some point in the future, the first step is something called “genetic preservation”. Your vet will take your dog’s DNA / gene sample from a small tissue sample. Your dog’s tissue sample will then be frozen / preserved for future use if you choose to proceed with cloning.
ViaGen incurs a one-time fee of $ 1,600 for processing your dog’s DNA through genetic preservation and then an annual storage fee of $ 150. DNA samples can be successfully taken from dogs of all ages, but if your dog dies suddenly or becomes terminally ill, it is not too late to consider cloning as an option. “We can even accept DNA samples within five days of death as long as the samples are refrigerated and NOT frozen,” explains Lauren.
There will be a waiting list for dog cloning
Once you’ve decided to move on to cloning your dog using the genetic material you collected, the process is pretty straightforward. Lauren notes that ViaGen currently has a waiting list for all types of pets (dogs, cats, horses) they clone, so you need to put yourself on that waiting list. Not considering the waiting list, Lauren says the cloning process takes about six months from start to finish from a genetic preservation sample to cloning to getting a puppy. If you clone your dog, the cloned puppy will be born and cared for at the ViaGen facility in the northeastern United States and will remain there until he is at least eight weeks old and can go to your home.
How much does it cost to clone a dog?
Unsurprisingly, cloning is expensive. At ViaGen, “the cost of cloning dogs is currently $ 50,000,” says Lauren. The costs associated with cloning are the same regardless of the breed of dog and the size of the dog being cloned. For that fee, Lauren notes that people can expect to have a cloned puppy or two.
Will a cloned dog be the same as your dog?
The big question most people have when it comes to cloned dogs is whether the puppy produced is the same as their dog. The answer is complicated. When you clone a dog, you get a puppy (or pup) who is genetically identical to your dog, but is not your dog.
“With cloning you are guaranteed to have a genetic twin to your original beloved dog. We know that part of temperament and behavior is genetic. That means you can find similarities, but nature vs. care will have the best result, “says Lauren.
If you are considering cloning your dog, it is important to remember that while the cloned puppy is genetically identical to your dog and looks like your dog, it will not have the same life experiences and socializations as your dog. Unlike your dog, the puppy will not know who you are or understand the same things your dog knows.
As with any other puppy with a cloned puppy, you will need to start over with both training and bonding. The idea of cloning may have some stigma on it, but ultimately, cloning your dog or collecting genetic samples to keep the possibility of cloning open in the future is a very personal decision. As the procedure becomes more accessible, there will likely be more cloned dogs in our communities. Would you consider cloning your dog?
