The Best Dog DNA Test Kits

Friday, March 24th

2023 Dog DNA Test Kit Reviews

Embark

• Free shipping on all orders
• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• Results in 2-4 weeks
• Dog relative finder with all purchases
• Tens of thousands of positive customer reviews

Embark boasts that they deliver the most accurate results and is the highest-rated dog DNA kit on the market. Their company began in 2007 to help people better understand domestic dogs. The founders, Adam and Ryan Boyko, partnered with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to bring cutting-edge insights and science to your phone and desktop. Through sharing insights and data, the Embark platform grows to help pet owners benefit from the best type of care. They've been featured by media outlets like Mashable, Canine Journal, Daily Dot, The Verge, and Today.

Get testing specifics

To know exactly what breeds Embark will test for, you can view a full list on their website. They also list the 16 areas of health conditions checked for including blood, neuromuscular, eyes, heart, connective tissue, metabolic, immune, gastrointestinal, and more. You will learn about the muzzle length, coat features and length, muscling, and other physical traits that make your dog unique.

3 dog DNA kit choices

To make life simple, Embark has just three dog DNA kits for customers to choose from and offers free shipping on all purchases. They include:

• Breed ID Kit ($99)
• 350+ breeds
• Family tree
• Relatives
• Breed + Health Kit ($149)
• 210+ health risks
• 35+ physical traits
• 350+ breeds
• Family tree
• Relatives
• Purebred kit ($149)
• 210+ health risks
• 35+ physical traits
• Relatives
• Genetic diversity measurement
• Breed confirmation

2-4 week turnaround time

Once you receive your kit, you'll need to activate it by registering it with the code included inside. Next, you'll do a quick 30-second swab of your dog's cheek and mail the sample back to Embark with their free return label. Results from the DNA kits are available in just 2-4 weeks.

Discover your dog's relatives

Embark has a comprehensive, professional platform for customers to view the results of their dog's DNA test. You can discover and connect with dogs that share DNA with yours through the relative finder, which comes with all purchases. You'll be able to see how much DNA your dog shares with other Embark dogs in the database and connect directly with them if you choose to. Embark is one of the only canine DNA companies to offer something like this.

Contact customer service about returns

Embark doesn't mention a cancellation policy, but they do accept returns as long as the kits are in new, unused condition and less than one year old. However, they don't say specifically that you will get a full refund, but rather they say you aren't eligible for store credit. You'll need to reach out to customer service via email to work through a solution together.

Transparent and well-liked company

There are over 10,000 unfiltered customer reviews directly from Embark's website. We like the transparency here and are pleased that the company gets very high ratings. They also have a solid "A+" Better Business Bureau rating, which didn't surprise us. Embark leaves nothing to question as far as their services go. Their website is thorough and explains the science of their testing, everything you'll learn through ordering a test kit, exactly how to do a cheek swab on your dog, see sample reports, and more. We appreciate the effort Embark has made to educate pet owners about the options available to them. Because of this, they've earned our highest rating.

Wisdom Panel

• Save 10% with email subscription
• 1% breed reporting precision
• Results ready in 3 weeks
• Free US shipping
• 60-day product promise
• Non-invasive cheek swab procedure

Wisdom Panel says they have done over 20 years of research and genotyped more than 3 million dogs and cats to provide customers the knowledge through DNA to best care for and protect their pets. The DNA testing conducted through Wisdom Panel has 1% breed reporting precision and includes over 25 health tests, 35 trait tests, and has the world's largest breed reference database.

2 primary options

There are two primary options you can select from to conduct DNA testing on your dog. The first option is Wisdom Panel Essential for $99.99 that includes over 25 medical complications tests, screens over 350 breeds, provides a multi-generational family tree, matches your dog to its relatives, gives coat color and type, body features, and personalized nutritional recommendations.

More bang for your buck

The second option is the Wisdom Panel Premium test for $159.99 that includes everything the Essentials kit does but also detects genetic conditions related to vision, weight, and mobility. It gives a carrier status about genetic risk factors your dog has, and measures how genetically diverse your dog's DNA is. If you want the most for your money, The Wisdom Panel Premium is the best option.

View sample results

For both tests, Wisdom Panel has screenshot examples of the results you'll receive from the DNA test so you can see how straightforward and easy to understand their platform is. All the results are clearly displayed and can be referred back to at any time or shared with family or friends.

Save on purchases

You can save 10% off your order from Wisdom Panel when you sign up to receive emails from the company. At the time of this review, they also offered $30 off of DNA tests at checkout. All orders ship free within the US and results are ready within 3 weeks from receiving your sample.

Product promise

Something we've only seen from a few dog DNA companies is a product guarantee. Thankfully, Wisdom Panel has a 60-day product promise that says you can request a refund or replacement if you are not satisfied with the test you purchased. To claim this refund, customers should call or email customer service.

Give them a try

We were initially hesitant about Wisdom Panel because they have an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, this is because of their failure to respond to three complaints, which although important, doesn't trump the thousands of positive customer reviews this company receives. Most people are pleased with the results and service from Wisdom Panel and give the service high praises for its help with medical insight, breed identification, and quick turnaround times. We recommend giving Wisdom Panel's affordably-priced dog DNA kit a try.

Easy DNA

• 3-4 weeks for results
• 17 dog DNA tests
• Free standard shipping

EasyDNA was founded in 2007 and is home to a long list of DNA and other genetic tests. Their categories of products include paternity tests, relationship tests, prenatal tests, animal tests, ancestry tests, clinical tests, health tests, drug tests, analytical tests, and more. Within each category are a lot of specific choices, making EasyDNA a great place if you want a range of options for both you, your family members, and your dog.

Most comprehensive test on the market

There are a few DNA kit choices for your dog that you can take advantage of at EasyDNA. The first is a PetGen Canine DNA test for $159 ($149 if you purchase more than one) that they claim is the most comprehensive canine test on the market. This provides information about your dog's breed, genetic diseases, predicted size, hair/coat trait, character and traits, and life expectancy. You'll receive a 25 page report as well as a personalized breed certificate that you can view samples of on their website.

3 months to collect samples

If you opt for standard shipping, your test kit will ship to your home for free. You'll have three months to follow the instructions and send the mouth swab samples back to EasyDNA once you receive your kit. If you fail to do so within this time period, your account will be closed. The reactivation charge after that will be $65.

17 dog DNA tests available

Other helpful test kits available for your dog include:

• DNA My Dog Breed Test ($79) - Identify the genetic heritage of your mixed breed dog
• Dog Breed Identification Test ($109) - Checks for 1,800 genetic markers and covers over 350 breeds of dogs
• Dog Parentage Test ($169)
• Dog Parentage Test Without The Mother ($269)
• Premium Dog Testing Package ($195) - tests for allergies, breed identification, and genetic age
• DogCheck (Canine) Genetic Disease Test ($199+) - screens over 175 diseases your dog is susceptible to
• Dog Inherited Disease and Trait Test ($69)- tests what genetic diseases your dog carries
• Dog Allergy Test ($99)

A lot of these tests have similarities, so we recommend reading all the details for each test on EasyDNA's website to make sure you order one that tells you everything you're interested in finding out about your dog.

Specific cancellation policy

If you order a DNA kit from EasyDNA and decide to cancel your order, you'll only be offered a full refund if the company has not issued a kit yet. If you cancel after a client kit has been issued but before they receive a customer's samples then a postage fee of $40 will apply. No refunds will be given once EasyDNA receives a customer's samples.

Satisfied customers

EasyDNA is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but they do have a "C" rating. This would be more concerning to us if it weren't because of just one single complaint that hasn't been resolved. For the most part, customers are satisfied with EasyDNA and say they've used the company for DNA testing on multiple pets and the information they received was insightful and life-changing for many of the animals. Most people rely on EasyDNA's food sensitivity tests for their dogs, but all the products are helpful and easy to use. If you want a wide range of DNA and other test kits for your dog, EasyDNA is a great place to look.

Paw Print Genetics

• Affordable prices
• Amazing customer reviews
• Results available in 14 days
• Free first-class shipping

Paw Print Genetics is a company dedicated to achieving optimal canine health by providing genetic resources to dog owners, breeders, trainers, and vets. They continue to innovate and grow with the latest technologies in order to raise the standard in canine genetic diagnostics. Paw Print Genetics was founded by Lisa Shaffer, who has an impressive resume and background in molecular biosciences and has been published in over 300 medical publications.

Strict procedures to improve accuracy

Paw Print Genetics includes a lot of layers in their processes to ensure the highest quality for their customers. They base all their test results off of published medical literature, have board-certified geneticists on staff, send all tests for a final review by a PhD geneticist and veterinarian, and all mutations are tested twice. This leaves a lot less room for error and shows that this company is committed to giving personalized care to all their customers.

Extensive catalog of disease testing

We found one of the most extensive selections of dog testing available through Paw Print Genetics. You can search for tests based on the breed of your dog, disease/trait, or the symptoms they are experiencing. The catalog of disease tests ranges from A-Z and includes hundreds of choices to help dog owners get to the bottom of their pet's health.

Create a free account

To order a DNA profile or parentage test through Paw Print Genetics, you'll have to create an account on their website. You'll provide your email address, name, phone number, and make a username and password. Through this account you'll "add a dog" with their call name, breed, sex, approximate birth date, registered name, microchip number, litter name, and registration number. The DNA profile test does not reveal the breed of your dog, but rather provides all the information needed to uniquely identify your dog if it gets lost or stolen. This provides proof of ownership as a pet owner and the DNA identifiers are stored securely in your online account.

Parentage test

The second test available through Paw Print Genetics is the Paw Print Parentage test that can be used to identify the sire of your puppies (not their breed). The test will compare the DNA of each puppy to the dam and potential sires to be used for future litter certifications.

Low, transparent costs

The cost for DNA profiling per dog is $49 and the cost for parentage profiling is $30 per dog (expect a minimum of $90 since you'll be testing at least a puppy, dam, and sire). Paw Print Genetics provides one cheek swab kit for each dog in the order as well as a complimentary return shipping envelope. First-class shipping (3-6 business days) is free unless customers want to upgrade for faster delivery.

Processing fees for cancellations

If you decide to cancel your order, Paw Print Genetics will charge a $25 processing fee for each dog. The remaining balance will be refunded prior to receiving samples in the laboratory. After 90 days from the order date, kits are no longer eligible for a refund and once the lab receives samples, no refunds will be issued and they will proceed with testing.

Not your typical DNA tests

We did not find a rating or accreditation from the Better Business Bureau for Paw Print Genetics. However, they have thousands of positive customer reviews nearly resulting in a perfect 5 out of 5 star average. People say this company is efficient and always stays within the promised turnaround time, provides accurate results, has fantastic customer service, and is always professional. The reason they haven't earned our highest rating is because the DNA tests they offer are a little more obscure than what some people might be looking for. You won't learn the breed of your dog here, potential health risks, or behavior information. But you can test for specific diseases and securely store the genetic information for your dog to provide you peace of mind. If this is something you're interested in, you won't go wrong with Paw Print Genetics.

Orivet

• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• Free standard shipping
• Tests over 350 breeds
• Results come via email in 10-14 days

Orivet's goal is to help pet owners safeguard the health and well-being of their animals with breed-specific care. Their premise is built on the idea that every animal is unique and has its own set of behaviors, traits, genetic health needs, and inherent risks that pet owners can be aware of to provide quality care. Orivet operates out of Australia, the USA, Europe, and Japan and is an institutional member of the International Small Animal Genetic Society.

Easy to understand reports

Customers can view screenshot images of the DNA results provided by Orivet to know what to expect. Their platform is professional and simple to understand and profiles can easily be shared with your dog's veterinarian, healthcare providers, friends, and family. If you have questions about interpreting your dog's DNA results or working through the ordering process, Orivet has provided a phone number as well as email address and postal address to contact them.

Comprehensive results

The main product offered by Orivet is the GENOPET 5.0 DNA test. Orivet boasts that this is the most complete DNA test in the world because it determines the breed of your dog with their database of DNA from over 350 other breeds. It also includes a personalized Life Plan based on the pet's age, weight, gender, geographic location, and lifestyle. In addition, you'll receive/learn:

• Percentage levels of each breed
• Interactive online report
• Nutritional suggestions and daily energy needs
• Routing healthcare reminders and alerts
• Adult weight prediction (for puppies younger than 12 months)
• 3-generation ancestry tree

Free standard shipping

Each GENOPET DNA kit costs $125.95 and includes sterile DNA collection swabs, an information brochure with collection instructions, and a self-addressed prepaid envelope. All dog DNA kits from Orivet ship for free with standard shipping (3-7 business days).

2 other test kits available

The other two products offered by Orivet include a dog breed identification kit DNA test for $69.95 and a dog biome test kit for $129. Orivet doesn't make it very clear what the major differences are between the $69.95 breed identification kit and the GENOPET 5.0 DNA test. From what we can tell, there might be less nutrition suggestions in the cheaper kit, but that's about it. The Dog Biome 5.0 product tests your dog's gut microbiome to give recommendations about dietary changes you can make for your dog and recommends probiotics and supplements if needed.

No cancellation policy

You can expect to receive your Orivet results via email within 10-14 business days. Customers can use the kit status checker straight from the website to see where their sample is at in the process for a more accurate estimation of when they'll get their results. If you decide to cancel your Orivet kit before receiving results or sending in your sample, you might be out of luck since there is no cancellation policy here. This usually means the company doesn't accept cancellations and all sales are final.

Mixed feelings from customers

Orivet has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. They also let customers leave honest reviews straight on their website, which we like. Unfortunately, there are only 2 of them and they don't include any comments. There aren't a ton of customer reviews for this company, but from what we've seen, people have mixed feelings about Orivet. While some people have used multiple kits from them and are pleased with results, others report poor communication from customer service and extremely slow turnaround times. Because of this mixed feedback, Orivet has earned an average rating from us.

DNA My Dog

• Results in 2 weeks
• Free shipping
• "A" Better Business Bureau rating

DNA My Dog is a Canadian company that offers tests for breeding information as well as allergens, wolf DNA, genetic age testing, and more. They've been in business over 14 years and can ship their tests anywhere in the world. In 2020 DNA My Dog won an award for being a leader in ethical canine genetic testing by the GHP and are participants in the Canadian Dog Group and Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs.

5 product options

There are quite a few products offered by DNA My Dog. There's a basic kit which identifies your dog's breed, a combo kit which tells you the breed as well as the genetic age of your dog ($99.99), a wolf test that reports if your dog has wolf or coyote DNA ($88.99), a deceased dog DNA breeding test ($189), and a canine allergy test for $107.99. You can read a lot more about each of these tests and why they might be important for you right on DNA My Dog's website.

Guaranteed the basics

The results from DNA My Dog's breed identification kit are guaranteed to include three things:

1. Custom photo certificate of the breeds in the dog's genetic breed composition
2. A percentage breakdown of the levels found in your dog's DNA
3. A report on dominant breeds, personality traits, and health concerns

You can view sample results of photo certificates from DNA My Dog's website so you know what to expect.

Free shipping plus 2-week turnaround

The cost for the DNA kit is $68.99. This includes free shipping and a 2-week turnaround time. If you order 2 or more kits at a time, you'll save $5 off the total. DNA My Dog does note on their site that there is a 2.3% chance that canine DNA testing will yield results that are inaccurate. They say the reasons for this usually are due to the dog having extremely high levels of oral bacteria that can result in sample degeneration or the breed of the dog is not part of the database of the most common breeds found in North America.

15% restocking fees on returns

If you purchase a kit and feel that the results are inaccurate, DNA My Dog doesn't mention a guarantee or promise that they'll give you a refund, but they say they'll consider each customer report on a case-by-case basis. If you choose to send the kit back before using it, you'll have to pay a 15% restocking fee.

Helpful FAQ section

To get help with your DNA kit, you can contact customer service via phone or their online "Contact Us" form. They also have a helpful FAQ section that helps troubleshoot issues with uploading information, questions about how the test works, how to interpret results, whether or not DNA collection can hurt your pet, and tons of other important topics.

Reports of inaccuracies

DNA My Dog doesn't seem to be the most popular dog DNA testing service based on their lack of customer reviews. The people that have reported on their experience with them all have a common complaint: results don't seem accurate. Some results have come back saying the dogs are a breed that is obviously completely inaccurate and in the case where at least one of the dog's parents' breeds are known, it's often not mentioned at all as part of their DNA. Review after review of DNA My Dog states this same concern, so that's an obvious reason to trust a higher-rated company instead.

Home DNA

• "A+" Better Business Bureau rating
• Results emailed within 3 weeks
• Free standard shipping

HomeDNA provides home DNA kits for individuals as well as dogs and cats. They process results through their DNA Diagnostics Center in Ohio. HomeDNA was founded in 1995 with the belief that technological advancements in DNA should be affordable and available to everyone. Every year they handle over 1 million samples and focus on giving back through their support of the Innocence Project where they use DNA evidence to exonerate wrongly convicted persons. HomeDNA promises to keep personal information safe and secure and destroys DNA samples once results are processed.

Basic and expensive DNA tests

For dog owners, HomeDNA offers two options for DNA tests. The first is a Health Screen and Life Plan kit for $125 that screens for over 100 genetic diseases and traits. The test also provides a life plan to help you meet your dog's health needs now and in the future. A sample report of this life plan showed vague information about potential health alerts as well as what should be done at their next clinical examination, which looked to us like what a standard exam would include anyway. We immediately felt like you could get more from other companies for the amount of money HomeDNA charges for this basic test.

Couldn't access all information

The second DNA kit is a Mixed-Breed Dog Identification DNA Test and Life Plan for $89. This seems to have the same contents as the health screening kit but its main purpose is to uncover the most likely breeds in your pet's history. This also includes a life plan for your dog. When we tried to read more on "The Science" , "How It Works" , and FAQs for this product, we were only shown related products that were for sale.

Simple test kit materials

Test kits include sterile DNA collection brushes, an information brochure and instructions for DNA collection, and self-addressed, postage-paid envelopes for returning your sample to HomeDNA. The company says you'll receive your results within 3 weeks.

Contact customer service to cancel

If you decide to cancel your order, you'll need to do it before you send in your dog's cheek swab sample to HomeDNA. You can contact them by phone or email to work through the refund process.

Not a top choice

It doesn't seem like HomeDNA's specialty is dog or cat DNA tests. Even though they offer them, it isn't their focus and probably not the main product purchased from them. We weren't able to find customer reviews about the reliability of these tests because people have only written about the human ancestry categories. Even though they have an "A+" Better Business Bureau rating, HomeDNA is not one of our top choices if you want a lot of information about your dog's health and genetic background.