Which Dog DNA Test is the Best? Have you ever looked at your dog, with her mismatched ears and quirky habits, and thought, "What in the world are you?" Well, you're not alone. Many dog owners are turning to DNA tests out of curiosity about their furry friend's breed, health predispositions, and even unique behavioral traits.
Good
Prosper K9 was founded by Professor Matteo Pellegrini, who runs a lab at UCLA where they develop new ways to study how dogs age and their genetic traits. As a dog owner himself, he understands how much you care about your dog's well-being. Professor Pellegrini is excited to share the advanced science they're developing in his lab with you and other dog owners. He's determined to make Prosper K9 the top company for testing your dog's genetic traits.
Whole genome sequencing for $85
Prosper K9's Complete Breed and Health Test, priced at $85, is unique. Where most commercial canine DNA tests utilize genotyping, Prosper K9 offers accessible whole genome sequencing (WGS) for a fraction of the typical cost. There are research projects pet owners can participate in which charge over a thousand dollars for such a test. Genotyping involves analyzing a specific set of locations in a dog's DNA, carefully chosen because they are known to vary among different dogs and can tell us a lot about the dog's breed, traits, and risk for certain diseases. WGS, on the other hand, involves reading almost the entire genome of an organism. WGS is often used in research and clinical settings because it's great at identifying mutations that genotyping might miss. Prosper K9's breed test compares your dog to their database of "over 300" breeds, which is 50-100 fewer breeds than the number some of their competitors claim.
Reports don't include your dog's relatives
In your dog's Complete Breed and Health report, you'll see a list of his breed mix, genetic markers, and how inbred he is. However, it's a simple PDF, so you can't click on the breeds for more info or find your dog's relatives. The report does include an appendix of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in Prosper K9's database with indications of which of these SNPs, or variations, your dog has and which he does not. These variations can offer insights into your dog's breed, characteristics, and potential health risks. If you want to get the full DNA sequence of your dog, you can email Prosper K9 and they'll send you the data in a format you can use.
Personality and age information must be tested separately
Prosper K9 offers a separate age and personality test for $89, and an oral health test for $79. The former was sold out at the time of this review, and the sample report link led nowhere. We could see some pet owners being disappointed not to get access to age and personality information included with the breed test, because some of Prosper K9's competitors roll all those things into one result. Also, they don't specify whether these two kits are genotyping or whole genome sequencing, so we assume it's genotyping, since these two kits have been around for a while and the breed test is a new addition to Prosper K9's portfolio.
Easy collection process
Prosper K9 sends you an uncomplicated swab to collect your dog's saliva. The collection process is straightforward and similar to other companies - you just need to swab your dog's mouth for about 30 seconds. After this, follow the provided instructions to register your sample and send it back using the prepaid package. In about a month, you'll get your report.
Cancellation and refund policy unknown
Prosper K9's website doesn't clearly state a return or cancellation policy. However, if you need to get in touch with them, you can use the contact form on their website. They've also provided an email and a phone number for you to reach out to them.
Reputation is still uncertain
There were only 11 reviews under Prosper K9's product listing for their whole genome Breed and Health test, but they were all positive. However, it's hard to find reviews of Prosper K9 elsewhere on the internet. A year before the time of this review, some Reddit users were panicked that they might have been scammed by Prosper K9 because it was so difficult to get in touch with customer support, they couldn't figure out how to register their kits, and the business address of the company was showing up as a residential home. Now, there's a contact form with an email and phone number listed and clearer instructions on how to use the kit. The website has a new look, too. We're hoping this is an indication that those issues have been resolved, but it'll be hard to be sure until more customer reviews come in. If you decide to try out the whole genome breed test, we hope you'll write about your experience.
Continued from above...
Have you ever looked at your dog, with her mismatched ears and quirky habits, and thought, "What in the world are you?" Well, you're not alone. Many dog owners are turning to DNA tests out of curiosity about their furry friend's breed, health predispositions, and even unique behavioral traits.
Whether you adopted your pup from a shelter with a mysterious past, or simply want to understand why your dog insists on greeting any visitors with a toy in his mouth, a DNA test might just hold the answers. However, there are quite a few services offering dog DNA tests these days, so you may be wondering if one is much different from the other.
Some tests focus solely on identifying breed composition, which can be fascinating for owners of mutts - who knew your funny-looking Boston Terrier has a Chow Chow great-grandparent? If you want to be proactive in managing your pet's health, you might prefer a test that screens for genetic health conditions. Some tests analyze traits and behaviors, shedding light on why your dog might exhibit certain habits, like digging up your dahlias or barking exclusively at his reflection in the oven door.
Some popular dog DNA tests also offer a relative database feature, connecting you with other dogs that share your pet's DNA. This can be a fun way to "meet" your dog's relatives and possibly even find some siblings. If this is important to you, double-check that the service you're considering offers this.
Some companies out there offer tests that can identify food or drug allergies your dog is likely to have. Other tests can estimate their age. These options can be really useful if something is making your dog sick, or if you're just curious about how old they really are. You may want to pay a little more for a breed identification test that includes health screenings for genetic disorders. This way, you can prepare for potential health issues and discuss preventive measures with your veterinarian.
As you shop online for a dog DNA test, here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
Choosing the right dog DNA test isn't just a walk in the park. It requires careful consideration of these factors. Whether you're driven by curiosity about your dog's breed or concerned about potential health issues, the right test can provide insights that deepen your understanding and strengthen the bond between you and your pet. Top Consumer Reviews has sniffed out and ranked the best Dog DNA Tests available. We hope this review helps you fetch the perfect test for your four-legged buddy, making your shared journey even more pawsome.
Compare Any 2 Products
How Can Dog DNA Testing Help You?
Dog genetic testing can be useful for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to know more about your pup's prestige, or maybe you worry about potential health issues - either way DNA testing could really help you!
In this article we'll delve into why its worth the time and effort to find out more about your pooch's background, and the things to look for once you decide to do it. The most important thing to remember of course is to love your dog no matter what, and to be prepared to brag about the results along with cute pictures on Facebook.
One important reason you might want to test your dog's genes is for their health. There are some dogs who are more sensitive to common vet medicines, and could have reactions to them. This especially applies to farm dogs or animals near other wildlife, as there can be things that the farm animals can ingest just fine, but when the dog eats their poop it can harm the dog. There is also a condition called "exercise induced collapse" that can be tested for at some companies. While these are some of the more serious health reasons you might want to test your dog, there are also plenty of fun reasons you might be interested in the process.
Dogs are super cute, it's just a fact. But when you look at your little pup's face, do you ever wonder what breeds are looking back at you? If your dog is mixed breed, like most dogs are now, chances are people have only guessed at what your dog's lineage is. You might think you have a border collie shepherd mix, but really the majority is lab! It can be fun to know what makes up your companion, especially to look up breed traits and see how well your dog matches them. You might even be able to learn about a type of breed you never even knew about, and see that it might just be one of your new favorites. While the reasons behind deciding to test your animal are important, it's also good to educate yourself about the process, and learn how to interpret the results of your test.
Dog genetic testing has changed with modern technology. While in the past places would need a blood sample from your dog, now they just need a cheek swab, like human DNA testing. The company will use a lab to take a strand of DNA out of the swab. They will then multiply the strand until they have what they need, and then they will test it against their own personal stock of DNA samples. What's important to know about this, is that bigger companies will have a bigger supply of "knowns", meaning they are testing your dog's genes against many more types. Smaller companies have fewer samples to compare with, which means their results can be skewed since they aren't testing against as many types of genetics. It's safest to go with larger companies so you can have a more detailed analysis of your dog.
Dog DNA testing can be very helpful for pet owners. The more dogs that are tested, the more we can learn about each breed, and each individual dog, to best take care of them. So go get your dog tested and make sure to share the results!
Top Products.
Top Reviews.
Top Consumer Reviews.
Reviews
Browse through thousands of reviews.
Social Media
Like us? Follow us! We'd love to have you join our community.
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.
