Here are the best dog DNA test kits.
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Want to understand whether your dog is 100% Pug or Maltese? Does your dog have joint problems even though it is still young? Is your puppy growing fast, and you wonder what’s happening?
The answers to these questions lie with your dog’s genetics. Understanding your dog’s genetic makeup exposes you to the potential health problems common to your dog’s breed. This is key since it paves the way for you to look for preventive measures and help your furry canine friend live a healthy life.
Your dog’s origin also unveils its life span. Dogs have a life span and understanding that earlier prepares you psychologically. You will spend sufficient time with your dog as you prepare to say goodbye.
The genetic composition also helps you know how big your puppy is growing. This further ensures you select the correct diet that matches your dog’s growth rate. Additionally, you will understand why your dog behaves a certain way and know how to react to their behavior. This increases the bond between you and your pup.
DNA tests reveal your dog’s genetic makeup. They give you a breakdown of who your dog is. DNA test kits come in handy when you want to understand your dog’s DNA. The kits are available in the market but selecting the best one can be difficult.
We make it easy for you by giving you the best DNA kits to go for. We also give you the features to look out for. Take a look.
How We Reviewed
We thoroughly examined each kit before deciding the best one for your dog. Here are the key features we employed:
- Accuracy is critical because inaccurate results are misleading and will not help you understand your dog. You will only be wasting your money. We looked at the number of breeds in each kit’s database and chose those with the most.
- Additional features: Besides giving the breed details, some test kits include ancestry, personality traits, and health markers. Pet parents that need such information ought to purchase the correct test kits.
Other factors include the results, delivery timeframe, and price.
Embark Breed & Health Kit : (Best Overall)
This is an excellent choice for mixed-breed dogs. It provides valuable information about your dog. The information includes your dog’s ancestry. Its database contains over 350 dog breeds.
Most dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club are included, as are street dogs such as the gray wolf. This test kit examines over 200,000 genetic markers to provide you with vital information about their health.
The company’s policy is to contact dog owners with concerning results, making it the best customer service company. Their website is simple and includes a downloadable report and a shareable dashboard.
Features
- A downloadable report and shareable dashboard make it easier to share the results.
- Covers most dogs, so you can be assured your dog will fit the bill.
- Examines more than 200,000 genetic markers to give you vital information on their health.
Pro
- It is a great choice for mixed breeds.
- Easy to share results.
- The website is easy to navigate.
- It covers more than 350 dog breeds.
- A wide range of disease screening is available.
- You can use one account for multiple kits.
- Genetic age estimation is included.
Cons
- It is a bit expensive.
- It may not suit pure dog breeds.
What Testers Say
My husband and I adopted a dog from a rescue, and we wanted to know about genetic risk and of course, his breed. The process resembled a COVID test as we swabbed our dog’s saliva and kept them in a tube before transporting them to Embark.
Fufu
DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test Kit:(Best Budget-Friendly)
Besides checking your dog’s breed type, this affordable, non-invasive test kit reveals personality traits. The process is quick and painless, so your dog can return to its activities after the swab. It gives you a reliability of 99.997%, and the results are sent to you through an easy-to-navigate report.
The breed-specific personality results give you a detailed explanation of your dog’s behavior. This helps you understand how to handle your dog while keeping extreme behaviors at bay. You will also identify health problems common to your dog and act before they become chronic.
Features
- Non-invasive for a painless swab.
- Tests for personality traits for a better understanding of your dog’s behavior.
- You can detect health issues common to your dog; hence, you can devise strategies like diet changes.
Pro
- The procedure is painless.
- Includes tests for personality.
- Gives the health issues your pup is susceptible to.
- It is affordable.
- Results are available in approximately one week, so you do not have to wait long.
Cons
- May not be 100% accurate for breed testing.
What Testers Say
My 12-year-old son volunteered to do it because it was so simple. He took the swab and returned it. He was just as eager to learn the results as I was! Our one-year-old “big puppy” is exactly what the animal shelter predicted, a German Shepherd with a small percentage of Staffordshire Bull Terriers. I’d assumed she was something completely different, like a Black-Mouthed Cur, which I’d only recently learned about, or another Mastiff mix. It’s fascinating to learn and explains why she’s so intelligent and muscular.
Bonnie H.
Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA Test:(Best for mixed breeds)
Pet parents with mixed breeds will appreciate this test kit. The test is thorough, and the kit tests for more than 350 breeds. The test is simple. But you should make sure your dog does not consume anything some hours before the test. This can be hard since dogs enjoy chewing on things.
The kit comes with 2 DNA swabs for taking samples inside your fido’s mouth. You will then wait for approximately 3 weeks for the results. The user interface is simple to use. The database is built from up to 1.7 dog breeds making it a reliable test. The testing is fast.
Features
- The MDR1 medication sensitivity test is included to identify potential adverse reactions to commonly used medications.
- The process is simple and fast, so your dog won’t get bred during the process.
- Postage fees are inclusive so that you won’t pay more.
Pro
- Postage is included.
- Tests approximately 350 breeds and 210 health issues.
- One account for multiple test kits.
- Excellent packaging.
- Great results presentation.
- Over 35 trait tests like color, ideal body weight, and coat type.
Cons
- May be difficult to share data.
What Testers Say
Our dog came from a rescue and was supposed to be a Beagle mix, but everyone kept mixing her up with a German Shepherd, so we tested her. This test revealed no Beagle genes at all. But she is 6& German Shepherd. The test further revealed she does not have any health problems. I am happy with the kit and the results.
Lisa
Orivet Genopet Dog DNA Test
This is an excellent selection for pet parents who love digging deeper into their pup’s origin. The test kit screens more than 350 breeds and gives you every percentage of the breed your dog is made of. You can access the results after 2-3 weeks, making it a fast test tool.
It is simple to use and takes less than one minute, thus saving you time and ensuring your dog does not get bored. It also screens more than 250 health issues and traits. The report is easy to understand and includes a personalized wellness plan based on the dog breeds discovered and your dog’s age, weight, gender, way of life, and geographic location.
Features
- A personalized wellness plan ensures you give your dog the best according to its breed and wellness.
- Fast for timely results.
- Testing is easy, saving you time.
Pro
- Screening for over 350 breeds
- Weight forecasting (for dogs below 12 months)
- Displays a DNA breakdown of breed percentages.
Cons
- Scarce health information.
What Testers Say
I got a dog from a shelter and was curious about his origins. Everyone assumed it was a terrier mixed with a wolfhound and possibly an English lab. He’s mostly a standard poodle boxer mix. Sure enough, I looked up pictures of that breed and found several that resembled Higgins. It makes sense because he bats with his large paws. The results did take some time, and you received numerous sales emails. Overall, I believe the purchase was a good value because it was the cheapest test we could find.
Amazon Customer
Best Dog DNA Test Kits: Buyers Guide
The selection process can be stressful, so having a guide to refer to is beneficial. Guides explain what to look for when purchasing a DNA test kit. This ensures that you do not have any regrets and that the kit is worth your money.
Why Test Your Dog’s DNA?
Understanding your dog’s DNA is important. Here are the main reasons why you should bother testing your pup’s DNA:
You can anticipate the average lifespan and size
Understanding how big your puppy will grow and how long it will live can help you manage your expectations and ensure they have enough space in your home. You can provide the right diet for your dog according to its size. Additionally, you will maximally utilize your dog’s presence and appreciate it before it dies.
Understanding your pup’s personality traits
DNA tests allow you to understand why your pup behaves a certain way. You can then look for ways to deal with the behavior or help your dog cope.
Understanding potential health issues
The main reason for carrying out a DNA test is to understand your dog’s origin. Each breed is prone to certain health problems. For example, Dalmatians are prone to hypothyroidism and seizures. Knowing your dog’s breed ensures you start them on the correct diet and avoid such issues.
Discovering hidden traits
This is critical for breeders. Knowing the type of genes in your dog comes in handy when breeding.
How Can a DNA Test Benefit My Dog’s Health?
DNA testing for dogs is divided into two categories that may be related: breed identification and identifying potential disease-causing mutations.
DNA tests to identify a dog’s breed makeup may indicate a high probability of certain issues developing in the future, but it is far from conclusive. On the other hand, tests for specific genetic mutations are more predictive.
DNA testing reveals known mutations that may negatively impact your dog’s health. Breeds with unique mutations require unique care from their pet parents. So having such information at an early stage helps curb their negative effects.
Understanding your dog’s breed type also gives you the diseases it is susceptible to. Most conditions can be treated or minimized with a proper diet. This protects your dog from experiencing the extreme effects of the disease since you can curb it before it progresses.
DNA tests are also essential during veterinary visits. The vet will recognize which medications are inappropriate for your dog. Certain medications cause allergic reactions in some DNA sets. Avoiding such drugs protects your dog from pain and other side effects. Some reactions can be fatal, so avoiding them is critical.
How Dog DNA Kits Work
Here’s how the kits work:
- After registering the kit, swab inside the cheek using 1-2 swabs.
- Swab up as much DNA-rich saliva as possible so the vet or labs can use it.
It is preferable to take the sample a couple of hours after they eat. There should be no food left.
DNA tests are similar across services. However, Embark is more sophisticated. The cotton wool used to collect the sample is transported inside a solution.
Other kits use cotton swabs which you can dry before returning them.
How We Test Dog DNA Kits
We used various features to determine the accuracy of a test kit. Test kits that met our threshold were included in our best DNA test kits. Some of the factors we took into account include the following:
- Accuracy: Test kits with the highest accuracy ensure you get reliable results. Less accurate test kits will leave you with many unanswered questions. We looked at the accuracy percentage; most of our reviewed kits have 99.99% accuracy. You can comfortably buy any one of them.
- The number of breeds the kit can screen: Understanding this is vital as it helps you decide whether a given kit can accurately test and reveal your dog’s breed. The more the number of screenings, the better.
DNA Results
After sending the sample to the lab, the feedback is delivered within a stipulated time, which varies with the company. The results are sent through email. Some companies attach the results through email, while others make them accessible online. Wisdom Panel and Embark are accessible online, where you can create many accounts.
Three things to keep in mind when you get your results
- The tests can reveal cues about your dog’s lifestyle. They assist you in developing a precise diet, preventive care, and health plan for your dog.
- Always trust the professional when it comes to health risks. You need not be heartbroken when you learn your dog is prone to certain issues.
- Your pup’s breed is not its destiny. Do not stress over issues of your dog’s breed. Stigmatized dogs like Pitbull Terriers can stress you, but they are great.
What to Look for in any Dog DNA Test
Here are the qualities to watch out for before choosing a DNA test kit for your dog:
- The results speed: Pet parents are anxious about DNA tests, and the longer the results take, the more anxious they become. You may find kits taking as short as 1 week or as long as a month, depending on the company and the kit’s sophistication.
- Genetic testing features Understanding what you need before purchasing a kit is important. For example, a simple test kit is sufficient if you are interested in knowing your dog’s breed. However, a more sophisticated tool is key if you want to test for other characteristics, including size, age, and personality traits.
- Pedigree depth: Your dog’s family lineage is important, and some kits will trace your pup’s great-grandparents. Some are also designed to provide a list of all dogs related to your dog so you can easily contact their owners.
- Ease of use: If your dog is sensitive or hyper and cannot stay for long in one place, then a simple-to-use test kit is paramount. It should not take lots of time to collect the sample. Most kits come with a cotton swab, and take approximately 10 seconds to get the correct sample size.
- Accuracy: It can be hard to find a test kit that is 100% accurate. However, knowing the margin of error comes in handy. The Embark test kit provides almost accurate results so you can fully trust it.
Are dog DNA tests regulated?
No. DNA tests are non-regulated. Unlike human DNA tests, the FDA does not monitor dog DNA tests’ quality or promises. The responsibility lies with the companies doing the tests.
How much is a dog DNA test?
DNA prices vary with the information you are seeking. Regular information like your dog’s ID can cost approximately $60, while more complicated tests can be as high as $200.
Can a DNA test show inbreeding?
Yes. Some DNA tests show inbreeding. Test kits like the Embark Breed & Health Kit use a test called genetic diversity to show inbreeding. The test is a measure of genetic similarity.
How long does a dog DNA test typically take?
DNA testing is a short process. It can take approximately 6 weeks. It involves a mouth swipe using a cotton swab. Once the swab reaches the lab, the process of extracting DNA starts.
Which dog DNA test is most accurate?
Most DNA kits we have reviewed will give you accurate results. But Embark dog DNA tests are the most accurate and informative on the market. Their professional packaging comes with clear instructions.
Can dog DNA tell age?
Yes, a dog DNA and age test can accurately determine your dog’s age. The DNA and age test for dogs is less expensive, accurate, and simple.
Do vets do dog DNA tests?
Yes. Vets do dog DNA tests. But you can also do it. Most vets prefer a blood sample. This is because large amounts of DNA are found in the blood.
Are there any reasons not to test my dog’s DNA?
DNA testing is important. However, some instances, like tests revealing your dog’s breed as among those with restrictions on certain breed ownership, may lead to relocation or increased home insurance.
Are Dog DNA Tests Worth It? Final Thoughts
Dog DNA is common among pet parents. Curiosity drives every pet parent, and getting the results quells that curiosity. Dog DNA testing has immense benefits, but the key ones include understanding your dog’s parentage, size, age, and personality traits.
Knowing your dog’s breed ensures you create a breed-specific plan that meets its health and nutritional needs. Test kits come in handy, and our best overall Embark Breed & Health Kit provides accurate results for a perfect decision.
Our budget-friendly option DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test Kit, is also great. The Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA Test comes in handy for mixed breeds. All the best.
