Are you curious to understand more about your dog’s DNA profile? If so, it’s well worth taking a closer look at some of the best dog DNA tests currently on the market, many of which are both cost-effective and surprisingly accurate when it comes to determining your dog’s breed correctly, as well as providing you with a whole host of additional data.
In this guide, we’re going to focus on a few of the top-rated dog DNA tests available, as well as learn more about the potential benefits of trying these kits and how they usually work. With this in mind, let’s begin.
How Do These Kits Work?
In general, the kits work by having you swipe the inside of your dog’s cheek with a swab in order to gather up saliva. You’ll then safely store this swab in the appropriate collection device and send it back to the lab.
You’ll need to register and set up an account with the chosen company, and you’ll be able to see the results via email as soon as they’re complete.
However, there can be slight variations with this process, depending on the kit you choose. But the actual process tends to be very simple and straightforward regardless of the kit you pick, just as long as you follow the instructions carefully.
The Benefits
1. Know whether your dog is a purebred.
It’s not always easy to tell if your dog is truly a purebred, but one surefire way to get a better answer will be to use one of these DNA tests. Additionally, the test will help you to avoid the risks of inbreeding, which could lead to further health issues later on.
2. Comprehensive mixed breed breakdowns.
If you already know you have a mixed breed, it can be fascinating to uncover the actual percentages of each breed. And just like the popular 23andMe style of tests for humans, these can often be very interesting and surprising at times! In fact, most owners will find this information fascinating to uncover.
3. Understand health conditions and behavior traits.
In some cases, it’s possible to determine the likelihood of certain health conditions that may develop with your dog, as well as gain a better insight into certain behavioral traits your dog may display. Just as you’d expect, this can be both interesting and enlightening, as well as useful for planning your dog’s long term health care.
Last update on 2023-09-06 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Embark Dog DNA test is one of the most popular options right now, and it certainly manages to tick many of the key boxes you’re looking for in a quality test. It covers over 250 dog breeds, while also covering coyotes and wolf DNA. It can also give you the information you need to fill out your dog’s family tree, going all the way back to your dog’s great grandparents.
Interestingly, it can give you some handy data on which breeds to mix with yours, as well as examine profiles to see how they might match your dog. There’s also the ability to track your dog’s relatives based on data from other dog owners who’ve used the Embark test, and it can certainly be interesting to learn more about your dog’s relatives in this way.
Another important feature is how the test covers over 165 diseases with their detailed genetic testing, which will help you to plan your dog’s healthy aging, as well as alert you to any potential drug sensitivities. It can certainly be useful to be aware of any genetic diseases that may face your dog as they grow older.
The turnaround time for the results is generally quite speedy, and you can usually expect to see the test results within 2-4 weeks of submission.
Last update on 2023-09-06 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s a highly popular DNA test kit from Wisdom Health, and it’s an affordable option that gives you a great deal of useful data about your dog. It’ll identify and test over 250 different breeds and varieties, making it one of the most comprehensive tests available right now, specifically when it comes to testing breed makeup.
Of course, it will help you to identify potential health issues and genetic problems that could have an impact on your dog, and this can help you to know where to alter your dog’s nutrition or long-term health care, too.
The test gives you results in the form of breed percentages, and it’ll go back as far as three generations for extra information to explore. You can also test for drug sensitivity with this product, which is often very useful and potentially lifesaving in some cases. You can expect to see the results back within 2 to 3 weeks.
Last update on 2023-09-06 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here’s a Dog DNA test from Find My Pet which focuses on giving you a simple percentage breakdown of your dog’s DNA profile, along with a report on possible behavior traits and potential health issues.
Again, you can expect to see the results back from the lab within 3 to 4 weeks in most circumstances, and you’ll have a better understanding of your dog’s breed makeup, behavioral dispositions, and genetic health troubles they may run into based on their DNA.
This kit from Emmy’s Best gives you a complete dog DNA test that’ll let you know your dog’s breed in a detailed way, and it also tests hundreds of different genetic markers that give you further useful information about your dog’s personality and health.
Specifically, the customized ‘life plan’ gives you facts on several key areas such as nutrition, common health problems, activity levels, and suggestions on the best things you can do for your dog’s ongoing health care. You’ll get the results back within a few weeks just as you’d expect, and you’ll get this via email for convenience.
