You don’t have to know your dog’s genetic history to be a caring advocate for your pet. But having your dog’s DNA sure does make things easier.
An accurate DNA test can give you insight into your dog’s unique pedigree. Your vet can perform this testing, but there are also a number of testing kits on the market so you can do it at home on your own. These kits give step-by-step instructions on how to collect DNA cells from your dog’s cheek using a special swab that’s included.
Once you get your results, you’ll have a lot more information about your dog’s breed history. Some tests can reveal genetic conditions your dog may have inherited or be a carrier for. This is great intel as you make health and training decisions.
We broke down the best DNA tests for dogs, so you know what’s currently on the market.
Top DNA Tests for Dogs
- Best Overall: Orivet Geno Pet +
- Best for Accuracy: Embark Health + Breed ID
- Best for Finding Relatives: Wisdom Panel Essential
- Best Budget: DNA My Dog Breed Test
- Best for Inherited Conditions: Canine HealthCheck
- Best for Purebreds: Orivet Full Breed Profiles
How We Chose the Best Dog DNA Tests
At-home testing kits for doggy DNA are relatively new. That means they’re likely uncharted territory for customers like you and reviewers like us.
When a human opts to test their DNA, there are strict criteria the testing lab must adhere to. This isn’t the case for animal DNA tests. Guidelines for genetic testing for dogs were only recently established in 2018, and as of now, there’s no governing body to enforce those guidelines.
There is, however, a nonprofit called the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD), where breeders, geneticists, and pet parents collaborate to use genetic information for the benefit of dogs worldwide. All tests on our list have accreditation from the IPFD.
When you consider that the technology is still developing and that the criteria for these types of kits don’t have a lot of regulatory oversight, it’s not surprising that only a few quality products are available in this category.
To compile our list, we researched specifications that customers are looking for, including the accuracy of each test’s breed and health condition results as well as how many breeds and health conditions the test assesses. We evaluated each test’s ease of use and how long it takes to get results. We also read hundreds of verified reviews to get a feel for what customers were happy with and what they disliked about certain products.
Best Overall: Orivet Geno Pet +
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What we like
- Customized health plan based on genetic information
- Money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
What we dislike
- Turnaround time might be longer than advertised
This at-home DNA kit tests for over 350 breeds and varieties. The process is quick and user-friendly, and customers are generally confident in the accuracy of their results.
Results come to you via an app, and you get access to a pet profile with all of the information from the simple-to-administer swab DNA test within two to three weeks. Some reviewers noted a lag in getting their results, but that could be due to mail delays or holidays.
The Geno Pet + tests for genetic and inherited diseases, too. Orivet uses these results to give pet parents like you a LifePlan. The plan flags specific health concerns your dog might’ve inherited and the age at which to start to look out for them. You can share this information with your vet and discuss the best preventative measures you can take for your dog.
Tests for: 350+ breeds; 250+ diseases
Best for Accuracy: Embark Health + Breed ID
What we like
- Genetic counseling available
- Identifies relatives
- Tests a massive number of genetic markers
What we dislike
- Pricey
- No app
Embark’s Health + Breed dog DNA test is so accurate that the esteemed Westminster Dog Show uses it to vet and verify participants’ breeds. It may test the most thoroughly compared to the other products on this list, considering Embark claims it evaluates over 230,000 genetic markers. That’s probably also why it’s more expensive than others.
In addition to looking for more than 350 breeds and 215 health conditions, the swab-style DNA test screens for over 35 genetic traits that predict how much a dog will weigh or how long their hair might be.
Some other competitors list a large percentage of a dog’s breed as “unknown” or “undetermined.” According to customer reviews, Embark’s Health + Breed ID is more likely to be able to provide results without these types of information gaps.
The results come in two to four weeks, and if you have questions about what Embark determines, you’ll have access to their trained genetic specialists.
Tests for: 350+ breeds, 251+ health conditions, 35+ genetic traits
Best for Finding Relatives: Wisdom Panel Essential
What we like
- Over 3 million dogs tested
- Super user-friendly
- Results are easy to understand
What we dislike
- Large percentage of “unknown” is possible
- Tests for a smaller number of health conditions
- No app
If you’re looking to match your dog’s DNA with a parent or sibling, Wisdom Panel might be your best bet. This dog DNA test has been used on millions of dogs. That means that there’s a strong chance you’ll find a direct family link to your dog somewhere in their database when you use this DNA test.
The Wisdom Panel test is also more affordable than several direct competitors. However, there’s a reason for that — the Essential test looks for only about 25 inheritable health conditions. If you’re interested in a more comprehensive health screen, you’ll want to consider the Premium product, which tests for more things at an added cost.
Results from this swab test come in two to three weeks, but unfortunately, there’s no app currently available.
Tests for: 350+ breeds, 25+ health conditions, 35+ physical traits
Best Budget: DNA My Dog Breed Test
What we like
- Least-expensive options on our list
- Transparent testing process
- Includes custom photo certificate of results
What we dislike
- No family lineage provided
- Only detects the most common breeds
The DNA My Dog Breed Test doesn’t provide the same level of comprehensive health traits and genetic disease results that the others on this list offer. If that’s OK with you, this test comes at a lower, more affordable price and can provide you with information about your dog’s breed history.
Your results, which come in two weeks or less, will include a printed certificate with your dog’s breed results, as there’s no app currently available. You can include an image with your kit if you’d like a photo on your certificate. Some suspicious reviewers, however, noted that they believe the company uses those photos to make guesses about your dog’s breed, but there’s really no way of knowing if that’s true.
Quite a few reviewers question the accuracy of this test, so you might want to use this product as an affordable novelty and not if you need critical health information about your dog’s genetic history.
Tests for: Most historically popular breeds
Best for Inherited Conditions: Canine HealthCheck
What we like
- Quick turnaround for results
- Great for information about health risks
- Genetic counseling available
What we dislike
- No breed identification
- Retail price is on the higher end, but test offers less info than most
- No app
The original Canine HealthCheck DNA test looks for 14 genetic traits as well as 141 diseases. The primary purpose of this test is to predict possible future health problems for your dog so that you can take preventative action.
If you have questions about the results you get online, you can speak with a geneticist employed by Canine HealthCheck’s parent company, Paw Print Genetics, within regular office hours.
Keep in mind that the Canine HealthCheck test doesn’t test for your dog’s breed, family connections, or ancestry. But since certain breeds are more prone to inheritable diseases, your results may still give you some indication as to what your dog’s breed is.
You’ll get your results online in two weeks or less, which is the quickest guaranteed turnaround time of all the tests on this list. There’s no app currently available.
Tests for: 141 diseases, 14 traits
Best for Pure Breeds: Orivet Full Breed Profiles
What we like
- Includes DNA fingerprint to establish parentage
- Tests from hundreds of genetic conditions related to your dog’s breed
- Traits will only be relevant to your dog’s breed
What we dislike
- Only works if your dog is a purebred and you already know the breed
- Some noted the company can be slow to respond to customers
You might already have a dog who’s considered purebred. Purebred dogs, however, have a host of genetic diseases and traits for which they may be at risk.
Full breed profile testing can help you learn what was passed down to your dog through their family line. This way, you can be proactive about potential issues, and you won’t have to worry unnecessarily about conditions your dog isn’t carrying.
The test provides valuable information within three to five weeks of sending in your sample. However, it’s pretty expensive, considering that it’s only a health screen and doesn’t provide any information about your dog’s breed or family history.
Tests for: 240+ genetic conditions
How to Choose the Best DNA Test for Your Dog
There’s no perfect, one-size-fits-all DNA test for your dog. This technology is still evolving, and many of the tests named here look for similar genetic conditions and traits.
Look for the following characteristics to choose a high-quality DNA test for your dog:
- IPFD certification. This indicates that the company that sells the product is collaborating with breeders and geneticists from all over the world.
- Transparent testing policies. This includes what your sample is tested for and what type of results you’ll receive.
- Reasonable pricing. Most DNA tests for dogs cost $100 or more. Make sure to look around for coupon codes and referral links to bring that cost down whenever possible.
The Doggy DNA Difference
It may feel unnecessary to have your dog’s DNA established, but it can be helpful in addressing certain health issues. Having your dog’s DNA means you can feed them a special diet, keep them active, and give them vitamins or supplements to give your furry friend their best chance at a happy, long, and healthy life.
For some pet parents, this information is simply a must — and lucky for them, there are several products available that will deliver results quickly.
FAQs
Which DNA test is most accurate for dogs?
Several DNA tests claim to be the most accurate for dogs. We think all of the tests listed above are viable options for reasonably accurate results.
How accurate are DNA tests for dogs?
It’s impossible to know how accurate DNA tests are for dogs. DNA testing companies claim their tests are within a narrow window of 99% accuracy.
Which DNA test do dog breeders use?
The DNA test that dog breeders use may depend on the specific breed and personal preference. Many breeders use the Embark Health + Breed ID to get breed information. They may choose this test over others because Embark uses hundreds of thousands of genetic markers to analyze each sample.
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