A question every dog owner should be asking themselves is how well they know their furry companion. Raising a dog without knowing its genetic composition can be hectic, particularly when it comes to health, nutrition, and healthcare. Luckily, these days you can screen your dog’s genetic characteristics right from the comfort of your home. Dog DNA testing kits provide a range of benefits, which range from breed discovery, health evaluation, and behavioral analysis. The tests help to uncover the hidden facts about the dog’s heritage. Besides, they’ll help you understand the dog’s genetic makeup. Here are the best:
Are you in a hurry?
The best dog DNA tests provide you the unique opportunity to track your dog’s ancestry for the comfort of your home. You can know its breed, origin, and susceptibility to common hereditary conditions, which can help you to plan. The kits are easy to use. You take a swab, ship it to a laboratory, and wait for results in 2-4 weeks. Also, because most modern kits eliminate the need for bloodwork, every Tom and Harry can use them efficiently with or without medical training. If you are looking for one, we have reviewed the best herein.
Best Overall
Embark Dog DNA Test
Embark is a versatile dog DNA test kit that supports a range of tests. It can screen for over 350 dog breeds, varieties, and types to help you to track your dog’s ancestry. The research-grade genotyping assays that it uses provide quick and accurate results for pure or mixed dog breeds. You can also use it to identify your dog’s relative via shared DNA/ relative finder evaluation and screen the dog’s susceptibility to over 200+ genetic health conditions without blood work. You take a swab, ship, and wait for results in 2-4 weeks.
High-End Pick
Embark Dog DNA Test Breed & Health Kit
With an Embark Dog DNA Test, you will be able to know your dog’s breed and its health status in 2-4 weeks. Like other Embark tests, it uses a research-grade genotypic algorithm to screen for over 350 dog breeds and varieties. It can also check susceptibility to over 200 genetic dog diseases and provide an accurate breakdown of your dog’s overall wellbeing without drawing blood. Key diseases that it checks include dilated cardiomyopathy, and degenerative myelopathy, glaucoma, all debilitating to dogs. These trusted DNA tests also track your dog’s close and distant relatives.
Budget Pick
Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test
Wisdom Panel is a leading canine DNA testing company, liked for its accuracy and versatility. In just three steps, you can use this 3.0 panel to identify your dog's breed. A Wisdom Panel test can identify up to 350 breeds of dogs with both varieties and type analyses. It can also identify dogs that are susceptible to help conditions to help with planning and find both distant and close relatives. This is a purely bloodless system. Sample collection is via a non-irritant cheek swab. Each package also comes with prepaid shipping with the address of the lab where they prepare samples and run genetic tests. As such, you process the entire kit at home.
Shopping Guide for Dog DNA test
Are you considering running a DNA test for your dog to track its ancestry and overall wellbeing? Are you struggling to choose the best dog DNA test for home use? Most brands market their dog DNA tests as the best. Do not fall for this sales gimmick. Check these features instead to get the best.
Accuracy: Accuracy is very critical as the DNA test might influence how your treat and care for your dog. Products that provide inconsistent or inaccurate results, therefore, will not only mislead you but also affect your pet’s wellbeing indirectly in the long term. Make sure the test is accurate.
Metric: Which dog metrics do your DNA tests of choice provide? If the intention is to understand your dog’s ancestry, buying a DNA test kit that also detects disease predisposition might be a poor decision. Buy a product that can satisfy your needs. If possible, look for a versatile one that can track ancestry, relations, and disease risk at once.
Convenience: Will you be able to use the test kit that you are planning to use? How long do you have to wait for results and how will you get them? Buy a product that you can use easily. Bloodless designs that utilize check swabs/ cells are the best in this regard. Turnaround time should be less than four weeks, preferably via a web-based platform.
Top 5 Dog DNA Tests in the Market this Year
The five DNA tests we have reviewed herein not only detect the breeds of dogs but also relations and susceptibility to disease. They use cheek swabs (not blood) and share results in under four weeks. Read on for more information.
1. Embark Dog DNA Test
With the Embark Dog DNA Test, you can quickly discover and connect with your dog’s relatives. The Doggy DNA Relative Finder gives you a percentage of shared DNA between your dog and others tested by Embark. Getting to identify your dog’s genetic roots has never been any easier. It takes 30 to 60 seconds to swab your dog’s cheeks.
Then mail the swab back to the company at no extra charge. Additionally, the kit’s code should help you track the results, which should be available in 2 to 4 weeks.
Embark detects breed contribution up to 5% of the total breed make, making it one of the most precise dog DNA tests on the market today. Besides, thanks to its research-grade genotyping platform, it screens for 350+ breeds.
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Our Verdict:
Embark is the ultimate DNA dog test for discovering your dog’s breed so you can provide customized care. Also, it captures over 200,000 genetic markers to tell you as much as there is to know about your furry companion.
2. Embark Dog DNA Test Breed & Health Kit
Yet another dog DNA test from the reputable Embark store. Similarly, thanks to its research-grade genotyping platform, it screens for 350+ dog breeds. This way, you can be sure you are getting the most accurate breed breakdown.
What’s more, you can use the kit to test your furry friend for 190+ genetic diseases, including glaucoma, drug-sensitive, and cardiomyopathy – no extra purchases. Also, this dog DNA test is easy to use, with results being available in 2 to 4 weeks. Embark also gives you a percentage of shared DNA between you and other dogs tested by the company. Finally, you can find and connect with your pet’s close and distant relatives. By identifying your dog’s genetic predisposition, you can keep it healthier, happier, and longer.
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Our Verdict:
Nothing will help you take better care of your furry companion than discovering its genetic composition. Luckily, with this dog DNA test, you not only learn your dog’s breed composition but also get to find out whether it is at risk for developing any genetic disease.
3. Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test
Here is a dog DNA test that provides a comprehensive report with just one test. The report provides the following information, predicted weight profile, potential multidrug resistance, breed percentages, three-generation family tree, and detailed information on each breed.
Even for naïve users, this is one of the easiest kits to use. Purchase the kit online, swab the inside of your dog’s mouth, and send it back via mail. Do not forget to activate the kit online to get instant access to the Learning Lab and more tools. What’s more; the results should be available on the website in 2weeks. In addition, discovering your dog’s potential multidrug resistance helps your veterinarian plan for its medications, surgeries, and dental cleaning. Besides, a predicted weight profile can help optimize your pet’s health.
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Our Verdict:
Order the Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA test to discover your dog’s physical traits, ancestry, and predisposition to various medical conditions. These can help with planning.
4. Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA Test
This is the dog DNA test kit used by most veterinarians globally. It offers extensive access to robust ancestry, trait, and critical health insights that every parent needs to know. It helps you uncover your dog’s breed mix down to 1% by testing for 350+ dog breeds.
Additionally, the Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA Test enables you to better understand your dog’s health by testing for over 200 health measurements, including vision, weight, drug sensitivity, and mobility.
Capable of testing for over 35 traits, the Wisdom Panel premium dog DNA Test helps you to appreciate your pet’s uniqueness by revealing the factors behind its hair length, muzzle shape, and more. The kit is user-friendly, even for first-timers, with results provided within 2 to 4 weeks.
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Our Verdict:
Discover a whole new side of your furry friend using this dog DNA test kit from Wisdom Panel. It boasts of the largest breed database and offers more than 200 health screenings. Indeed, the results are precise and actionable, enabling you to take better care of your dog.
5. Embark Dog DNA Test Breed Identification & Canine Genetic Health Screening
A 30 to 60-second mouth swab could make a massive difference in the lives of you and your dog. You could discover information with life-saving implications or find the need to adapt your care routine to suit your dogs’ breed.
Embark Dog DNA Test screens for 350+ dog breeds and 190+ genetic diseases, including glaucoma and cardiomyopathy. Besides, it gives you a percentage of shared DNA between you and other dogs tested by Embark. This way, you can find and connect with your dog’s distant and close relatives.
Discovering your dog’s breeds helps you understand their personality, plus what makes them happy. Moreover, understanding their genetic predispositions enables you to provide better care to optimize their health and lifespan.
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Our Verdict:
Embark produces high-rated dog DNA testing kits. This model is no different as it comes loaded with superior features that add to its functionality and convenience. These include fast, accurate results, health, and breed screening, plus helping you discover your dog’s relatives.
Final Thoughts
To some people, DNA testing a dog is a waste of money. This should not be the case. Apart from knowing the breed, a DNA test can tell you whether your dog is susceptible to life-threatening diseases. Thus, you can plan its stay with you better and have a happy and bubbly pet for long. In this article, we have reviewed the best brands for personal use.