Abstract: Methods of genotyping canines by analysis of polymorphisms in the number of microsatellite DNA repeats are provided. The internal repeat sequence is amplified by the use of specific primers. The number of repeats, and therefore the distance between the primers, is highly variable in a population, thereby providing an allelic marker for the locus. The combined information from multiple loci provides a means of distinguishing individuals, even among inbred dog breeds, for parentage testing, forensic testing and analysis of individuals relatedness.