The Best Dog DNA Testing Kits

Tuesday, January 19th

2021 Dog DNA Testing Kit Reviews

Embark

• Cost: $199 for the Embark Comprehensive Dog DNA Test Kit
• $179 for the Embark for Breeders Dog DNA Test Kit
• Discounts available when ordering multiple test kits
• Free shipping

Embark takes science to a whole new level when it comes to DNA Dog Testing. Created by Ryan and Adam Boyko over ten years ago, this company takes a deep love of dogs and combines it with cutting-edge research around the globe to help owners give their canine companions the best possible care. Embark has partnered with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, National Geographic, the National Science Foundation and many others to study dogs on every inhabitable continent, in more than 40 different countries.

Although it's not the cheapest test on the market, Embark's Comprehensive Dog DNA Test is exactly that: extremely detailed. While some of their competitors only look at approximately 10,000 genetic markers, the Embark test looks at more than 200,000. Your dog will be tested for more than 160 diseases and a dozen traits. Best of all, as new discoveries are made and tests are added, your dog's profile will be updated automatically at no cost to you whenever possible. Note - some new tests require probes; in that case, you would need to buy a new kit to get the updated information added to your pet's profile.

We're not exaggerating when we say that Embark is the most comprehensive Dog DNA test on the market. See for yourself:

• Dog Breeds: the test covers 250+ breeds, including village dog, dingo, wolf, and coyote (!). More than 98% of the dogs in the US will be covered by the ancestry results of the Embark test.
• Health Conditions and Disorders: Embark screens for 165+ genetic health conditions and continues to add to their database as research progresses. Some of the tested conditions include Muscular Dystrophy, Dysplasia, Narcolepsy, and Glaucoma.
• Traits: you'll be able to find out a dozen trait characteristics, such as coat color and other features, body size, genetic diversity, and performance.

Your results will be easy to understand: they come as an interactive guide that you can access on your computer, tablet or phone, and you can even share a Vet Report with your veterinarian.

The Embark test costs $199 for the regular comprehensive Dog DNA test, and $179 for the test specific to breeders. When we visited the site, we were given a $20 discount off our first order if we entered our email address. You can also get a discount for ordering more than one kit at a time: 10% on two kits, 15% on three kits, and 20% on four or more - so it might be worth it to see if your friends are also interested in finding out more about their furry friends. You do have to ship all of the kits to a single address to get the multiple kit discount.

Customers have extremely positive things to say about the experience with Embark. They report in-depth results, helpful customer service representatives, and very thorough screening that comes with every test. You can expect to receive your DNA test results back anywhere from 3-7 weeks. Most customer reviews we found mentioned an average of 6 weeks from the time they sent the DNA kit back to Embark until they received the test results for their dog.

If you're looking to get information on your dog's ancestrygenetic health predispositions, and trait characteristics, Embark is the dog DNA test for you. For their comprehensive testing and top quality results, they earn our highest rating.Embark is the go-to company for the most comprehensive DNA testing currently available for your dog. They earn our highest rating as the best dog DNA Testing available today.

Wisdom Panel

• Cost: $84.99 for Canine Breed Detection
• $149.99 for Canine Breed + Disease Detection
• Free shipping

Owned by Mars, Incorporated - yes, the same company that brings you candy and dog food - Wisdom Panel is a well-recognized choice for Dog DNA Testing. Originally started in 2002, this company screens thousands of dogs each year to determine their breed ancestry, genetic susceptibility to illness, and inherited traits.

If you're only looking for information about your dog's breed, you'll want the affordably-priced Canine Breed Detection test. For $84.99, your dog's DNA sample will be compared to their database of more than 250 breeds. When compared with some of their competitors, Wisdom Panel's results with respect to breed were much more specific, often breaking down a larger breed group into estimated percentages of subcategory breeds (e.g. different types of Labrador Retrievers).

On the other hand, if you also need details about your pet's health forecast, you can choose the Breed + Disease Detection kit for $149.99. This test screens for more than 150+ disease-causing DNA mutations, such as Skeletal Dysplasia, Ichthyosis, and Fanconi Syndrome.

For either test, we suggest that you go through a sample report, to see exactly how Wisdom Panel displays your dog's results. For example, if your pet comes back as a carrier of a particular disorder or is at risk for developing symptoms, you'll be able to click on a link that will tell you more about that condition and what you can do to help your dog to stay healthy and possibly avoid developing symptoms in the future.

Wisdom Panel also makes it easy to share your results with your veterinarian, directly from the report you receive.

One of the best parts of this service is the fast turnaround time: the company advertises an average of 2-3 weeks for results to arrive, and customer reviews are consistent with that timeframe. Out of all the Dog DNA testing providers we surveyed, Wisdom Panel definitely wins in terms of quick delivery.

Because of their thorough testing, speedy return of results, and overall strong reputation, Wisdom Health's Dog DNA tests are an excellent choice.

Live Well Testing

• Cost: $129.99

Live Well Testing is on a mission "to improve your health and wellness by providing more affordable and easily accessible testing solutions for yourself, your pets, and your environment". Based in San Diego, this predominantly female owned-and-operated business maintains a solid reputation for accurate

The main Dog DNA test offered by Live Well is the Canine HealthCheck, which screens for over 150 diseases and ailments that could affect your pet in the future. We recommend that you click on the sample report to see the details provided after your dog's cheek swab is processed, but here's a basic idea of what to expect:

• Overall genetic health profile
• Appearance profile
• Blood and Clotting
• Cancer
• Dental
• Drug Metabolism
• Eyes
• Heart
• Hormonal
• Immune System
• Liver/Gastrointestinal
• Metabolic
• Midline Defect
• Musculoskeletal
• Neurologic
• Neuromuscular
• Reproduction
• Respiratory
• Skin and Hair
• Urinary Tract

Live Well very clearly states that this is not a breed identification test, so be aware that if you're trying to find out if your mutt is a Beagle or a Boxer, you won't get that information with the Canine HealthCheck.

The test costs $129.99, and ground shipping is free; USPS Priority Mail or UPS options are available for an extra fee. Also, if you sign up for the Live Well newsletter, you'll get a 5% off coupon to use on any product or service in their online store. We got this offer as a pop-up as we browsed the site.

In general, customers are very happy with their shopping experience when using Live Well Testing. While we didn't find many reviews that specifically talked about the Dog DNA Testing, most people say that they got exactly what they paid for, and that their tests were processed accurately and quickly.

While Live Well's Canine HealthCheck isn't the most robust on the market for what you pay, it does provide a good amount of information about health conditions your pet could develop, and the company itself has a solid reputation.

Easy DNA

• Cost: $19.95/month for unlimited searches; may have offer of $9.95 for the first month
• $19.95 for a 24-hour People Search Passv
• $49.95 for a one-time report

EasyDNA is an international company, serving customers in more than 20 countries for over a decade. Their range of services includes paternity tests and allergy testing, among many other services for people. This company also offers DNA testing for other animals, such as cats, birds, and horses.

When it comes to dogs, EasyDNA doesn't bundle their tests, so you'll have to pay for each one that you need to get the answers you're looking for. At the time of our review, the following tests were offered:

• Dog Parentage: for $198, you can prove the bloodline of your dog. Expect to provide a sample of the dam, sire, and offspring for most thorough results.
• DNA My Dog Breed: for $79, you can have your dog's DNA compared to the EasyDNA database of 80+ breeds - the most commonly found in North America - and determine the breed mix. The company notes that this is only made for mixed-breed dogs and won't determine if your pet is purebred.
• Dog Allergy: for $99, your dog will be tested for allergic reactions to 100+ allergens, such as grains, grass, or chicken.
• Dog Inherited Disease & Trait: for $75, you can find out if your dog is a carrier, affected, or clear for at least 8 different inherited conditions, like Hyperuricosuria and Degenerative Myelopathy.

We definitely recommend that you look at each test's sample report, so that you'll know exactly what you're getting when your results come.

The biggest drawback is the obvious one: how much you'll spend to get a comprehensive profile of your pet. If there's only one specific area you need to know, such as paternity or breed, you may appreciate the a la carte approach. But, once you start choosing two or more tests, you're likely to get more details at a lower price by going with one of the highest-rated services we reviewed.

EasyDNA has a good worldwide reputation, with a decent amount of feedback from customers who say that they got everything they were expecting with the service purchased. We weren't able to find many third-party verifications of their history specifically in the US - no BBB rating or Google reviews, for example - but we're comfortable recommending this company based on their track record in other places.

Home DNA

• Cost: $115

HomeDNA specializes in "easy, at-home genetic testing" - for you and your pet. Their tests include ancestry and paternity, health condition screening, and more

HomeDNA's Dog test screens primarily for health-related traits and risks. How will your pet respond to certain medications? What preventative measures can be taken to help him or her live a long, full life? You'll get a "Life Plan" that gives you specific recommendations for what your furry friend needs and when - similar to the maintenance/mileage suggestions you get when you buy a new car.

This test is created and administered by Orivet. This means that you'll need an account on the Orivet website to access your test results. It also means that you might be able to get your Dog DNA test for less money if you go through Orivet directly, depending on what promotions are available at the time. In fact, HomeDNA offered only one type of test, but the Orivet site offered several different kinds - including the more popular tests that can tell you the breed of your dog (or cat!).

We were less than impressed with the sample Life Plan offered on the HomeDNA site. All of the recommendations seemed to be what good pet owners would do automatically, not specific to any results that come from a DNA test. And, since many dog owners buy DNA tests to confirm their dog's breed, they may be disappointed to not have that service available when buying through HomeDNA.

We also found a number of negative reviews for the one Orivet test offered by HomeDNA: that results aren't specific enough to be meaningful, and that getting results can take a month or longer. Similar customer experiences are probably why HomeDNA is accredited with the Better Business Bureau but only had a "B" rating at the time of our review.

Compared with other services in our review, HomeDNA comes up fairly short. You'll probably find a wider range of options with higher-ranked Dog DNA Testing services.