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As science continues to unlock secrets about the human body, it’s also shedding light on another beloved subject: our dogs.
For pet parents, understanding a dog’s health, emotional needs, and breed history is extremely important. But since more than 60% of dogs in the U.S. are adopted or come from friends and family, most dog parents have only hunches about their dogs’ particular breed.
So it’s no surprise that dog DNA testing has become increasingly popular in recent years. And with easy, at-home access to advances in medical science, pet parents can find out more about their dogs’ potential health conditions, traits, and training preferences than ever before. Enter the Embark Dog DNA Test, one of the most comprehensive and well-known dog DNA tests available to pet parents. But is it worth it? Let’s find out.
This dog DNA test review will look at the features, cost, and performance of the Embark Breed + Health Dog DNA Test and compare it to others in the market.
Product Overview
The Embark Dog DNA Test offers more than just breed identification. Developed in partnership with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Embark’s Dog DNA Test provides valuable insight into a dog’s ancestry, along with physical and emotional needs, all with one simple cheek swab.
The test is available in three versions:
All kits include:
- Breed Ancestry
- Family Tree
- Relative Finder
The Breed + Health Dog DNA Test and Purebred Dog DNA Test go further, screening for:
- 270+ genetic health risks
- 55 physical and behavioral traits
These versions are especially helpful for dogs with mysterious medical symptoms.
Key Benefits and Features
Embark’s Dog DNA Test stands out for its scientific rigor, user-friendly process, and highly detailed data. With fast results that are typically available in 2-4 weeks, it’s a user-friendly pet ancestry test that surpasses most of the competition.
Key benefits and features of Embark’s Dog DNA Test:
- Easy to use
- Fast, user-friendly results
- Regular email updates
- Embark tests for over 400 breeds, types and varieties
- Relative Finder
- Family Tree
- Includes allergy risk scores*
- Screens for over 270 health conditions*
- Screens for 55 traits*
*Only available in the Breed + Health and Purebred Tests
Embark’s veterinarian-approved test sets itself apart in many ways, notably because it has the most comprehensive canine genetic health screening, with 270+ genetic health risks tested. The results of the health screenings can alert you to genetic conditions that are common in your dog’s breed or breed mix.
Embark’s website and customer emails are informative, interesting, and easy to navigate, which makes learning about your dog more fun.
One feature that is especially helpful is the “Learn More” button. This button is located throughout the site and provides clear explanations about different aspects of your dog’s results. It also includes engaging graphics that really help you understand more about what the data means.
One standout feature is Embark’s commitment to continuous learning. As their database grows, your dog’s results automatically update with new relatives, markers, and health insights. No need to retest.
How to Use It Safely and Correctly
Embark makes their dog DNA tests very easy to use. Everything you need is right in the box! When you open the box, there are clearly marked instructions about what to do and how to do it.
These are the easy to follow steps:
- Activate your kit using the QR code on the inside of the lid
- Wait at least 30 minutes after your dog eats (drinking water is okay)
- Swab the lower cheek pouches of your dog’s mouth for 30-60 seconds to fully soak the sponge
- Insert the swab into the tube with its tip facing down
- Seal the tube and shake it 10 times
- Place your sample tube in the clear bag and seal it
- Put the bag with the tube into the prepaid U.S. Postal Service envelope
- Seal and mail the envelope back
- Go to Embark’s website to track your results
When you activate your kit, you will receive emails that help you track the progress of your dog’s swab. These emails are informative, fun, and keep you updated on what’s happening. It’s important to remember that Embark’s Dog DNA Test is not a diagnostic tool. It will not let you know if your dog is currently suffering from a particular illness. This test will only screen for genetic markers that may impact your dog at some point in their life.
Hot tip: Make sure your dog is calm and relaxed before attempting to swab! This will make the whole process smoother. Don’t forget to have a treat ready for after they complete their test!
Pros and Cons
There are several dog DNA tests available on the market, all with different features and at different price points. When comparing Embark’s Dog DNA Test to others, there are several pros and cons to consider.
Pros:
- Industry-leading breed database and accuracy
- Health risk screening goes beyond just breed info
- Vet partnership ensures scientific credibility
- Results are clear, visually engaging, and easy to share with your vet
- Ability to find genetic relatives is a fun bonus
- High-transparency with the testing process
Cons:
- Higher price point than more basic dog DNA test
- Health results may cause anxiety or require vet follow-up (true with any genetic health testing)
- Requires internet access to view full report
Embark Dog DNA Test Review
Our two dogs are bundles of cuteness, but a complete mystery to us when it comes to their breed! Adopted from North Carolina from a pet rescue in 2020, all we knew about Simon and Teddy is they had short Corgi legs and Border Collie coloring. Naturally, we assumed they were a corgi/border collie mix! Bonded when they came to us, and with similar stature and faces, we were pretty sure that they were brothers. However, some differences made us wonder if maybe they weren’t.
- Simon has a long coat and Teddy has a medium coat.
- Simon is anxious and Teddy is calm.
- Simon has seasonal allergies and Teddy isn’t affected at all.
We decided that it was finally time to get to the bottom of the mystery of this duo’s ancestry and ordered two Embark’s Breed + Health Test. Since we knew so little about Simon and Teddy’s breeds and genetic markers, we wanted to get as much information as we could to help us keep them healthy and happy for as long as possible.
The tests arrived quickly and had very easy-to-follow instructions.
We waited until our dogs were nice and relaxed before beginning the cheek swabs. This process was easy for one person to complete on their own, nothing complicated about it!
Each test had a special product code so we took extra care to make sure the samples did not get mixed up between the swabbing and repackaging. The prepaid envelope for mailing the tests back was a nice addition. All we needed to do was pop it in the nearest mailbox!
As soon as we followed the directions for setting up our account with the QR codes on the boxes, we began receiving emails updating us on the process and progress of the swabs. The tracking information was helpful because it let us know when the tests arrived at the lab.
The steps of the testing process are:
- Account activated
- Arrived at lab
- Extracted
- Genotyped
- Analysis
- Results
The whole process, from swabbing to results, took exactly two weeks. Each email we received from Embark over those two weeks was such a pleasure to see! They kept us excited for the results and we also learned more about the process through the resources they provided.
Ready for the results? Drumroll, please…
Teddy and Simon ARE brothers! They share 47% of the same DNA.
They have close relatives in North Carolina named Levi, Dixie, and Jada.
And finally…
They are NEITHER Corgi NOR Border collie!
While they are both mostly “Supermutt,” which means they descended from several generations of mixed-breed dogs, they both have large percentages of American Eskimo Dog, American Cattle Dog, and American Pit Bull Terrier.
We had never heard of two of these breeds, so we were surprised to see how much they look like a cross between an American Eskimo Dog and an Australian Cattle Dog. Embark’s results are great to navigate because they include pictures of the breeds and information about each one.
They give all of the quick information you want when scanning through your results, which really made the report easy to understand and enjoyable to explore.
Once we combed through the results, we checked out the health and allergy risks. We were relieved to see that both Simon and Teddy only have one genetic health risk factor, and it is not significant.
The traits feature went through which physical characteristics are likely for each of the dogs, and it was interesting to see how accurate they are. After reviewing health risk results, we checked out the Family Tree feature. This showed possible breeding patterns that led to their unique genetic makeup.
One thing is for sure, it took many, many years of many different combinations of pups to bring us our adorable Simon and Teddy!
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, comprehensive, and engaging dog DNA testing experience, look no further than Embark’s Dog DNA Test.
Embark makes the process simple, interesting, and FUN! The information presented with the results is easily accessible and there are lots of little details to explore. You’ll even stumble upon your dog’s “wolfiness score” that lets you know how closely they are linked to ancient wolf ancestors!
Embark provides great genetic insights and interesting breed breakdowns that may surprise you. If your dog has unexplained symptoms that could be connected to their breed and genetic risks, it is a valuable tool that could provide beneficial medical insight. If you are just curious about your dog, this is an entertaining way to learn more!
Overall, Embark is one of the most comprehensive and trustworthy dog DNA tests on the market. It’s well worth it for pet parents who value science-backed insight in a high-quality product.
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