Top 5 Best Dog DNA Kits
If you’re the proud owner of a mixed-breed pup or beloved rescue mutt, you’ve probably spent some time wondering what exactly went into your dog’s genetic ... read more...makeup. Dog DNA tests are your chance to find out—as well as learn crucial health details, devise a better nutrition plan, and identify all sorts of pertinent information. Here are the best dog DNA tests available, each of which can easily be completed in your own home.
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Embark’s dog DNA tests are the most accurate, information-rich tests on the market. For mixed breed dogs, Embark’s Breed ID or Breed + Health Kit is best. Embark tests for over 210 genetic health risks and 350 breeds, including the likes of dingoes, village dogs, and even wolves!
Embark Dog‘s founders, Ryan and Adam Boyko have dedicated their lives to researching the genetic history of dogs. Passionate about enhancing dogs’ health care through advanced scientific discovery, their pioneering research has uncovered the basis for many canine genetic diseases and traits. The Embark test is produced in partnership with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and garners thousands of stellar online reviews.
Embark delivers the most accurate, extensive dog DNA results on the market. From start to finish, Embark provides an amazing experience for dog owners with clear instructions, professional packaging (postage included), and a personalized profile to view your dog’s results. Embark captures 200,000 genetic markers, giving you a wealth of information about your dog’s breed ID, ancestry, and predisposition to genetic health conditions. Plus, they offer the world’s only canine relative finder, so you can connect with dogs that share your precious pooch’s DNA. If you’re looking for the real deal, look no further than Embark.
Pros:
- Determines a dog’s health span and the lifespan
- It calculates the dog’s concise genetic age
- Gives insights into the dog’s optimum and healthy weight at different ages
- It identifies all health-related issues
- Easy to use: activate, swab, bag, and send
- Certified by Cornell University’s Veterinarians
- It gets raw DNA
- Carries out gene mutation testing for at least 160 canine health conditions
Cons:
- Costly
- The test results may come longer than expected
Link to buy: https://cutt.ly/USDTWsl
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Coming in at #2 is Wisdom Panel, another high-quality dog DNA test kit. Wisdom Panel was born out of Mars Petcare and offers two dog DNA kits: Wisdom Panel Essential and Wisdom Panel Premium. Wisdom Panel Essential is a basic breakdown of breed composition and 25 “must-know” potential gene mutations such as MDR1 (multi-drug resistance) and Wisdom Panel Premium is a more extensive breakdown of breed composition and health insights.
Similar to Embark, Wisdom Panel tests for over 210 genetic health risks and 350 breeds making it a fairly extensive database. Wisdom Panel’s internal testing has revealed that its breed results are 93% accurate for mixed breeds, yielding reliable results. Your pup’s results are delivered via email where you can view your results on an easy-to-understand web page. Though medical testing is included in Wisdom Panel Premium, Embark’s medical testing remains unmatched, which is why Wisdom Panel wins second place.
Pros:
- The results don’t take long; 2-3 weeks
- The company offers excellent customer service
- Predicts dog’s nutritional guidance and the weight profile
- Detects more than 250 breeds and for each breed detected, you will get a pie chart giving percentages of the different breeds.
- Easy to use: get a skin swab, activate the lit online to access the learning lab, and mail the sample using the prepaid shipping container.
- Has screening for MDR1 drug sensitivity
Cons:
- It doesn’t offer EIC testing, and it cannot detect coyote or wolf DNA
Link to buy: https://cutt.ly/GSDYrFf
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If you’re looking for a dog DNA test in a lower price range, DNA my Dog might be a good option for you. Less expensive than both Embark and Wisdom Panel, DNA my Dog gives you insight into your pup’s breed breakdown, breed history, personality traits, exercise levels, and some high-level health insights. DNA my Dog comes in at #3 because it has a smaller database of breeds on hand. This means that if your dog is of a rare origin or an unregistered breed, DNA my Dog is probably not the best choice.
DNA my Dog is a great budget-friendly option. When you receive your results, you’ll get a custom photo certificate of the breed composition of your dog, a report on your dogs dominant breeds, personality traits and health concerns, and a percentage breakdown of each level of each breed. Although it does have a much smaller breed database than its competitors, its database represents the majority of common dog breeds in the United States. If budget is a concern, check out DNA my Dog.
Pros:
- Results take two weeks
- Genetic information will give a clue about the dog’s ancestry as well as its breed and an understanding of the dog’s behavior
- Affordable
- Accurate and the results are easy to understand
- Tests for food and other environmental intolerances
- Gives detailed information about the health and diseases predispositions of the dog
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a big brand reputation and recognition unlike other brands
Link to buy: https://cutt.ly/gSDYnZL
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Coming in fourth on the Dog DNA kit list is Orivet. For over a decade, Orivet has been trusted by veterinarians and breeders as a worldwide leader in canine genetic research. Now you can get the same innovative testing professionals to use for your own dog. Although Orivet markets itself primarily to breeders and veterinarians, its extremely detailed health tests cater to pet parents who love to dig into the nitty-gritty. Orivet screens for over 350 breeds and canine varieties and over 250 diseases and traits.
Orivet is a quality test for a reasonable price. Orivet’s results come with a percentage of each breed in your dog’s DNA, health findings, and also a personalized wellness plan based on the dog breeds discovered as well as your dog’s age, weight, gender, geographic location, and lifestyle. Some reviewers have reported extra-long wait times for results, so if you’re eager to find out, this might not be the test for you.Pros:
- 350 recognized and developing breeds in their database
- Genetic mutation testing for over 200 canine health conditions
- Health risks classified based on likelihood and impact
- Gives you adult weight prediction
- Results are emailed within 3-4 weeks
Cons:
- Results not as detailed as Embark and Wisdom Panel
- Some customers said it took a long time to get results
- Some complaints about hard-to-reach customer service
Linh to buy: https://cutt.ly/aSDUNxb
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The GenoPet 5.0 does a whole lot more than explain to you the various breeds floating around inside your dog’s genetic code. It can help you map out your dog’s entire life. The company provides something called a Life Plan that helps you direct the course of your dog’s life according to their genetic makeup. This helps you figure out everything from their diet to recommended activity level so that they can live their best life based on their natural proclivities.
In addition to your results, you’ll have access to an online report that includes the Life Plan as well as some other information. Unlike many other tests, though, you can update this report over time to reflect your dog’s current health status. It can also track vaccines and other health information to ensure your dog doesn’t miss any important shots or checkups.
While the online report is a good idea, the implementation is a little clunky. The interface is often buggy, and you may find yourself needing to enter in the information multiple times before it takes. This kit is also very expensive, but it’s unclear what it really offers that the Embark Detection Kit does not. As a result, it’s hard to justify paying the additional price. All in all, the GenoPet 5.0 is a good test with a lot of clever bells and whistles, but it’s hard to recommend it when there are better, less-expensive options out there.Pros:
- Life Plan feature helps you map out the healthiest choices for your breed
- Can update personalized online reports over time
- Report monitors vaccines and other important health information
Cons:
- Online interface is clunky
- Very expensive
Link to buy: https://cutt.ly/CSDUg03