Ancestry Review

Monday, July 7th

2025 Dog DNA Test Kit Reviews

Ancestry

• Dog DNA test costs $99
• Compares dog's DNA against 400+ breeds
• Reveals dog's character and physical traits
• Can show your dog's tested relatives in results
• Participate in canine health studies
• User-friendly test kit
• Results received within a few weeks

You might know Ancestry as a major American company that helps people explore their family history. Based in Lehi, Utah, they are the largest company of their kind in the world, dealing with genealogy, historical records, and related genetic studies. Recently, they've decided to let Fido in on the fun, expanding their services to include DNA testing for dogs under the name Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry.

$99 to test against database of 400 dog breeds

Ancestry offers one dog DNA test for $99. To get started, you'll need to create an account and use the kit provided to swab the inside of your dog's cheek for about 30 seconds. Then, put the swab in the provided tube, shake, then send the swab back in the included prepaid box. You should expect to receive your results in a few weeks. Your report will include a comparison of your dog's DNA to over 400 different breeds and reveal any character or physical traits your dog may have, like stubbornness, acute intelligence, or droopy eyes. And, if any of Fido's cousins, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, or grandparents have been tested with an Ancestry dog DNA test, you'll be able to see them in your results. However, since Ancestry's dog DNA test is so new, Fido's relatives are less likely to have been tested here than by several better-known competitors.

$25 fee for replacement tests

Unlike the majority of dog DNA testing services that graciously offer a replacement kit for free if the first one goes belly-up, Ancestry takes a different route. They ask for more of your hard-earned money. If you need a new Know Your Pet DNA testing kit, you'll have to cough up an extra $25 for the privilege. And if you're in the US, they'll even throw in some additional charges for shipping and handling. Because, why not?

Not thought to be accurate

As a newcomer in the field of DNA testing for dogs, Ancestry isn't seen as very trustworthy yet. Sometimes, they even give away their test kits for free with subscriptions to pet-related services. This might be a strategy to grow their database... or because they're struggling to sell their tests. In Dog DNA test online forums, users have been sharing their confusing and obviously inaccurate Ancestry test results. For instance, one user shared that their dog, thought to be a mix of German Shepherd and Malinois (both large, distinctive breeds), was identified by Ancestry as being 57% small poodle.

$15 processing fee applies to each refunded kit

If you're in the United States and want a refund for your Know Your Pet DNA kit, you can get one if you return the kit within 60 days from when you ordered it. However, a $15 processing fee will be deducted, and shipping and processing costs or any taxes on the non-refundable part of the kit won't be refunded. The refund will go back to the payment method you used. If you're outside the United States, you can cancel your order and get a full refund, including the shipping costs, within 14 days of getting your order. Bought a bundle with multiple products? You can get a refund within 60 days of purchase, but only if you return the entire bundle. And guess what? They'll deduct a $15 processing fee for each DNA kit in the bundle. (Yikes!) But, if you happen to be in the European Union, you're in luck. You won't have to pay anything extra.

Might be more guesswork than science

Reviews for Ancestry's pet DNA tests aren't great, with only unhappy customers on Trustpilot. One customer shared their experience, saying they felt like they wasted their money. They tested their dog, who they knew was likely a mix of Labrador, Beagle, and Kelpie from Brazil. But the test results suggested breeds common in Australia, where they live now - which makes it seem as if when Ancestry doesn't have enough data to determine your dog's breed, they make a guess based on which breeds are commonly found in your location.

You have to test again to stay up-to-date on their health findings

Ancestry may use your dog's DNA as part of their studies on canine health. However, one thing that really bothers their Know Your Pet customers is that Ancestry asks you to buy a whole new test to find out what they've learned, even if your pet's DNA helped to find new health markers. Other companies just let you know for free if they find new health issues or traits that could affect your pet.

Not reliable enough to recommend

We'd say "paws off" Ancestry's dog DNA test. Sure, the $99 price tag might seem competitive at first glance, but they seem to find every opportunity to take more money from you. This can come in the form of charges for failed tests, which may not even be your fault, or through processing fees when you seek refunds. What's more, there's a strong feeling that their tests just aren't accurate. Perhaps in the future, their accuracy will improve. Maybe one day they'll shape up, but for now, we suggest you sniff out one of Ancestry's more reliable rivals.