“His DNA has been a running joke …”
Desirea Auten had been looking for a Labrador retriever she could train as a working dog when one puppy’s photo stopped her. The little black pup had soft, soulful eyes and was the last of his litter still waiting for a home through Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, a group that saves dogs from meat trade and breeding farm situations in Korea.
Auten agreed to foster him and named him Venom. As a professional dog trainer with years of experience helping dogs with behavior challenges, she began introducing him to life at home and to the work she hoped he might one day do.
At first, Venom seemed like exactly what she had been searching for. Auten had been told he was a purebred black Labrador of the English style, which was her ideal choice for a working dog. Labs are often used as service and assistance dogs because they are usually smart, trainable and steady-tempered.
But Venom had a few surprises waiting for her.
Originally, Auten thought his stay would only be temporary. She already had a Saint Bernard who helped with her training work and was well loved in their Las Vegas neighborhood. Venom was mostly there to keep the older dog company and learn basic manners until he found a permanent home.
But then Auten’s Saint Bernard suddenly suffered a serious health crisis and passed away. Heartbroken, Auten decided to officially adopt Venom. Before long, it became clear that he was exactly where he belonged.
As Venom grew, Auten discovered he had a special talent. He was naturally calm and balanced around other dogs, making him an excellent “neutral dog” during training. His steady presence helped nervous, fearful or reactive dogs feel safer.
Venom showed other dogs that meeting new animals and people did not have to be scary. Because he was social and gentle, Auten often used him as a helper dog during sessions, allowing anxious dogs to build confidence at their own pace.
While Venom was becoming an incredible working partner, another mystery was growing along with him — literally.
The “Lab puppy” kept getting bigger and taller than expected. Month after month, Auten and her son watched in disbelief as Venom’s body stretched far beyond typical Labrador size. He had a long, elegant head, floppy ears and the tall, leggy frame of a much larger breed.
His unusual appearance became a running joke in the family. They loved him, but they were sure there was more to his background than Labrador retriever.
Eventually, Auten decided to find out for certain. Since Venom had come from Korea, she chose a DNA test that could identify international and less common breeds. She ordered a kit from Embark Vet, swabbed his cheek and sent it in.
When the results came back, Auten was shocked.
Venom was partly Labrador — but he was also half Tosa Inu, a rare Japanese mastiff breed known for its impressive size.
The test also revealed that Venom had many relatives living in the United States. Auten discovered pages of family connections, and Venom has even been able to reunite with some of his siblings through the training and obedience classes she teaches. One of his sisters regularly stays with them when her family travels.
Today, Venom continues working alongside Auten, helping dogs learn trust, confidence and calm behavior. He may have turned out very different from the Labrador she first expected, but he became something even better.
What began as a search for a dream Lab led Auten to a gentle giant with a rare background, a loving heart and a gift for helping others.