Embark Breed & Health Dog DNA Test - 400+ Breeds, 270+ Health Conditions, Allergy Risk Score, Relatives, and More

I had such a great experience with the Embark Breed & Health Test Kit! The results were accurate and so much fun to read through. It gives you tons of detailed information. not just about your dog’s breed mix, but also health traits, genetic risks, and even fun personality insights. The breed breakdown was super thorough and easy to understand, and I loved learning more about where my dog’s traits come from. The health section was especially helpful and gave me peace of mind. Overall, it’s informative, easy to use, and really exciting to go through when the results come in. I’d definitely recommend it to any dog owner who’s curious about their pup’s background!

This is purely fun and educational! It’s so easy to use and you anticipate the results! Everything you need is right in the box and pretty much foolproof! We looked forward to learning more about each of our fur babies and seeing what health risks they may have. Easy to swab inside of their gums as they just gnaw on it for a bit providing the saliva it needs. Within 2-3 weeks we had answers and actually celebrated their true genetic makeups. Overall we also hope it provides for research in the future so our pets can live longer!

I would definitely say anybody that needs or wonders what their dog is should actually get this test taken It is definitely a trusted brand. I am confident at what I received back from them and they let you know every step of the way what they're doing they notify you when results are in they notify you when they're going through the process. It is definitely a detailed and very informative test. I got the results through the app. I actually was told that my dog was a shepherd and a lab mix and now I find out he is not a lab he is a shepherd but he's literally half shepherd and half American pitbull staffy. So that was definitely a shock to me. That would definitely suggest this test to any dog owner because seriously it was easy to give and take from my dog because of the fact that he's just a good puppy. But the accuracy that they do it at and the things that they find that have to do with their breeds. It is definitely well worth it. I found out more information about my dog's health that now I need to let the vet know so that we are aware of his conditions and that he is a dog that has a sensitive stomach as well as allergies. Which we've already started to see that come out. But now we know why. So if you want peace of mind as well as to know exactly what your breed of dog is and know his medical and even his connection to other dogs they have it so that I can literally connect with his other siblings. So it was worth it to get the test. And once I got all of my results other than being shocked it was helpful for me so that I could better care for my dog. Just make sure that you register your test before you send it. It is very important so that they can keep track of each test. There are different kinds I have done the breed in health kit and the age kit because they didn't know what age my dog was when they gave them to me from the shelter. Thanks for reading my review have a great day! And hug all your fur babies.

We adopted a 2-3 yr old rescue, who was believed to be mostly Yellow Labrador Retriever. As you can see in her photo, she looks like an English Pale Yellow Lab, with the same size (71 lbs), blocky head, otter tail and body. But, her ears are smaller, higher, with spotted vs ombre tips, her eyes are smaller & almond-shaped, her muzzle fur is thin, with freckled skin, and she has no undercoat. She is also very mellow & reserved, low-energy & less playful than a Lab, and has minimal interest in food or treats. She also has behaviors like nocturnal roaming indoors & barking at night, and her bark & whine are very different than any of our past dogs (Labs, German Shepherds, Husky, Hound). As a rescue, her health history & that of her parents is unknown. We've had other dogs that developed life-altering or fatal issues due to genetic issues, that could have been avoided or better & less expensively treated if uncovered earlier via DNA screening. So, we decided to do a DNA test to learn more about this dog's breed mix and heath. We decided on Embark after reading several reviews in Wirecutter and on other sites, which compared results between Embark and other brands. Another factor was that Embark works with Cornell, not just to have the latest, most relevant technology and scientific information, but to contribute results & info from tested dogs to Cornell to help with research on canine health and traits that can help improve and develop care and medical treatments to benefit all dogs. Collecting my dog's DNA sample was extremely easy to do. We created our Embark account to activate the test code when we opened the box, took the sample, and put it in our mailbox. Embark actually sent us an email the next day, shortly after it picked up & brought to our local post office, to let us know that it was enroute and being tracked by them in the postal system. A few days later we received another email, letting us know that they'd received the package and would start processing on the next business day. Then another, telling us when processing began. About 2 weeks later, our first results - breed - were ready, and 2 days after that, we received her health results. Big surprises! First, Embark was very accurate re:her physical traits. I didn't provide any photo or info, other than her estimated age & sex. They got her exact size, coloring - even the faint fawn spots - coat & fur length and texture, dew claws, eye, nail & nose colors, weight, tail, etc. The breed results were very helpful, and surprising to us, the rescue, and our vet. Based on her ears, face, deep "woof" and nocturnal barking, we speculated she might have a trace of Kuvasz, or even, way back, Great Pyrenees. Her muzzle, with with freckled skin & thin fur, and smaller, almond eyes, made us wonder about American Bulldog, Staffordshire, Bull, Jack Russell or Pitbull Terrier, or even Beagle. Embark identified two genetic health issues, one that she only carries, so we don't have to address, since she is neutered. The other, though, affects her, and is important for our vet to know if she develops certain illnesses or injuries, or needs certain medications. Knowing will allow it to be monitored easily at her annual check-ups, and allow us to avoid treatments, diets or medications which could aggravate it and make her seriously ill or damage her liver. The breed results were the biggest surprise. She is only 12.9% Lab! As well as 12.9% each Australian Cattle Dog, Pit Bull, and Hungarian Komondor. But she she is 50% Great Pyrenees. It was really neat to see the breakdown that Embark did of parents/grandparents/great-grandparents. Everything about makes sense now. The area where she was found is rural farm country, where Great Pyrenees, and a few Komondors, are popular on farms as livestock guardians, bred to roam the perimeter of farms & pastures at night, discouraging predators, warning herds/flocks & alerting caretakers by barking, then resting in the daytime. It makes us think she likely resulted from a stray mix + pure bred GP mom, and spent her puppyhood in such an environment, learning to be a guardian/herder. Knowing this helped remendously in understanding and successfully addressing behaviors like herding & nighttime barking that are purposely bred into those breeds. It also helped us adjust how we interact with her, and her training. After years of Labs & other breed mixes, we were used to dogs that easily & quickly trained using food motivation, and who were more excitable, active, affectionate & playful. And now we know where her freckled ears & nose come from! She is a very sweet, wonderful dog, and Embark's health & breed results provided info that let us know what potential health issues we need to work with our vet to watch for, and that we needed to adjust her diet to keep her weight healthy, as well as adapting our routines & training methods to better her suit her dominant Great Pyrenees breed. It's really made a difference. Instead of trying to control & train her behaviour like our other dogs, we worked with her instincts, recognizing her need to do the job she was bred for, that her breed has done for thousands of years. Within 2 weeks, her "new rescue" adjustment period stress was *gone*, her nocturnal barking & whining was 99% ended, and we communicated better, understanding why she needs a "last call" late night walk in the yard & around the house, and that she responds to calm, gentle acknowledgement & ear rubs vs stern correction or training treats.

We got this kit to learn more about our Staffy-mix doggie that we got from a shelter years ago. We knew she had been picked up on a street in New Mexico, and that she was almost a year old when we adopted her, and that's all we knew about her background. The kit we received was very to use, they offer advice on how to best get the sample, and the advice worked right away! I sent the kit back early April, and our dog's Gotcha day is late April. I knew there was a chance the kit wouldn't be processed in time, but it was actually ready about 5 days before her Gotcha day. We had fun having family members submit their guesses, we loved how interactive Embark makes the whole process! And most importantly, we were able to get so much information about our dog's background! We knew she would have different mixes, but some of them were very surprising. We also got information on her health and allergies -- now that our dog is 10, we really want to make sure to prevent any issues that could affect her. And we were very excited to find that our doggie has many possible cousins! After not knowing anything about her background, it was very exciting. Definitely recommend this kit to any pet owners who want to learn more about their doggie.

This DNA test turned out to be pretty cool. It didn't take too long and the results were both surprising but also made a lot of sense. We adopted a puppy from a local rescue and they said he was a Chi mix, but everyone that met him said that he looked like a German Shepherd. He turned out to be a mix of Chihuahua, Siberian Husky, Australian Cattle Dog, German Shepherd, and small poodle. I'm glad that we did the DNA test because the rescue said the pup would be a good couch buddy, but after seeing his genetic mix is mostly working breeds, that helped us realize that he needs more exercise and stimulation than we originally expected. The combo test also provides lots of additional features like the pup's 'wolfiness' level, genetic diseases etc and if your pup carries the gene, it even shows other dogs near you that have similar DNA and could be potential relatives. The test gave so much more information than I expected, and you can download the entire packet like a little book. You also receive email updates and app notifications along the way as your test progresses through the process. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get a good enough sample because you need to swab the cheek for 30-60 seconds and my pup is still super young and not very cooperative with things like that. But he actually did really well! Then I thought I had ruined the sample because when I pulled it out it had grass on it LOL but it was still usable. So it's nice to know that a little contamination here and there doesn't throw a wrench in things :)

We got this kit for a Shiba Inu puppy we got from a backyard breeder. We love our little pup, and wanted to know more about him, since he looked a little off from other breed standards. So, we got this DNA test, mostly for breed identification. The sampling: The kit was easy to sample. Be careful with the swabs and solution. My wife spilled 60% of the solution immediately. But the dog was okay with the inside cheek swab. No way to hold the swab for 30 seconds, but 10 seconds was fine. The results: After sending results in the mail, we got an immediate email that the test was received. Then we had to wait 3-4 weeks for the final results. Embark kept sending emails with partial updates, so it wasn't exactly limbo but we had to wait a full 4 weeks for results. So don't expect fast turn around. But I guess that made it seem like we were part of the process, so it wasn't bad. The results finally came in. The breed identification was the only one we wanted, but there was some medical stuff there too. Nice to know our little guy wasn't going to get some random genetic disease on there. But it was over our heads as non veterinarians. They DID offer a suggested lifespan, which was reassuring. Who knows if that will be accurate. The breed came back as 85% Shiba, 12% Jindo (which is a dog I never heard of) and like 3% German Shepard. The Shiba is obvious. The Jindo, they showed some pictures, and it was fun to see the resemblance. The German Shepard I don't get. Also the percentages are mathematically confusing, because how do you get 3% when pairings should be power of two, right? Two parents, four grand parents, 8 great grand parents, etc. After researching these kinds of tests, most geneticists advise they shouldn't be used for identifying purebred dogs. More for finding out your lovable mutt's possible breeds mix. So, basically, take it with a grain of salt. This isn't FBI DNA evidence stuff, nor is it Montel William's "You are NOT the breed!" reality show tests. It's just not that type of thing, no matter how scientific the title implies. The verdict: This is a quality version of an imperfect product. They put together a good package and it provides about 4 weeks of fun around the house as you discuss the results and wait in anticipation. But don't hold your breath for super detailed ancestry data or like evidence you can take to the AKC for papers.

I’m so happy with this purchase. I’ve been wanting to do a DNA test for my dog for a while and after researching, Embark seemed to be the best choice. The test was quick and easy, with simple instructions and return by mail process. I got updates once my sample was received and every step throughout processing. I received the results quick! A little over 2 weeks. It was so cool to learn all about my pups breeds, but also loved that it included health factors as well as some characteristics. I always thought my rescue had her tail cropped. Come to find, she carries a gene that makes it most likely her tail is naturally bobbed. That was a pleasant discovery I wasn’t expecting, but definitely brought me some ease of mind. All in all, it was definitely worth the purchase!

This is the second time I’ve purchased this DNA kit. Once for my previous dog and again for my current puppy. It is well worth it. The kit is very easy to use, and the results are both thorough and accurate. While I would love my dog regardless of breed, it was fun and informative to see which breeds contributed to his personality and physical traits. The health component also provided valuable peace of mind by identifying potential health conditions. I can confidently say the results are accurate, as my first dog was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease, which the test correctly identified. One of my coworkers, who is a breeder, also uses this test to assess which traits her dogs may potentially pass on to their puppies. I appreciated learning that my dog is 0% inbred, has close relatives who have also completed the DNA test, and seeing his allergy risk, among many other detailed insights. My only suggestion for improvement would be to include an additional $5 toward postage for Canadian customers, as the provided stamps did not fully cover the mailing fee.

Very happy with the product and the handling. Fast delivery (US to AU in 1 week), fast processing (3 weeks). Useful and cheery email updates along the way. The results are presented in a very accessible prose. Although we managed to contaminate the swab with a few bits of beef liver treats, the analysis seemed to have worked (otherwise our dog would have come out as like 20% cow). This test achieved three goals: * Screen for hereditary diseases, estimate treatment cost, compare to pet insurance premiums/cover and estimate whether pet insurance will be worth the investment (in our case for a completely healthy puppy - likely not). * As a bday present for my wife, she was super happy to learn more about our rescue puppy. The photos and character descriptions of our puppy's relatives on the embark website are a delight! * The daily, hour-long discussions about which dog breeds look similar to our puppy and what breeds she might be a mix of now have found a satisfying resolution. This test is definitely good value for very young dogs to evaluate pet insurance ROI. If hereditary conditions are found, early treatment can give your pup a longer, healthier life.

I decided to get my pup dna tested and I chose embark as they are the most accurate and most reliable canine dna test on the market. I am in the UK, so I expected it to take quite a while to receive the results considering that embark is based in America, but it actually only took just over 3 weeks, which is shorter than what was estimated. First I had to swab my dog, which was pretty easy as my girl just wants to put everything in her mouth lol. Then I had to send it off, which I did using the pre paid envelope included in the kit, as Embark states on their website if purchased from Amazon UK, you can use the envelope supplied and it will be sent to their UK warehouse, and then rerouted to their lab in the USA. After I sent it, it took 2 days to be received in the UK warehouse, and then just under 2 weeks to arrive at the lab. A week after it was received at the lab I was emailed the results. We were told that my girl was a german shepherd x belgian malinois mix, with her mum being a pedigree german shepherd. And her dad being a working Malinois cross. Her results came back 60% german shepherd, 20% Belgian Malinois, and 20% dutch herder, which all make sense. She also came back with completely clear health so it was well worth doing just for that. The only things that I would say don't seem completely accurate are the family tree, the weight estimate, and the relative match. On my dog's family tree, her mother is listed as having a belgian malinois mix grandparent, which I know is incorrect as her mum has a pedigree to prove it. It does have a disclaimer however, that the family tree displayed is just what the algorithm determined was most likely, and that it is not the only possible one. So I would take this with a pinch of salt. The adult weight estimate also seems to be off, my girl is only 10 months old and weighs 92 lbs, yet it predicted that her adult weight would be 63 lbs. After looking other dog's results online, most of the weight estimates seem to be incorrect by quite alot. The relative match is not necessarily incorrect, but is not explained very well. For example my girl matched with alot of purebred German shepherds that embark claims are "close relatives" as they share 35-36% of her dna, even though it says this for every single pure German shepherd I compared her with, and they are definitely not all "close relatives". After speaking with other people online, apparently this is the case with most dogs that are primarily a breed that's known to have low diversity. But it is somewhat misleading to say a dog is another dog's "close relative" when they are actually no more related then any two dogs of that breed. The actual shared dna percentage is seemingly off too. So it definitely has it's flaws, but is still definitely the most reliable compared to the other tests that are available, and the actual parts of the test that matter are reliable. If you want to find out your dog's breed, I would definitely recommend.

Fantastic product with fantastic information provided about your dog. If buying in Australia - be aware you'll have to ship it back to the USA at your own cost (approx $25). Worth every cent to see valuable information about your pet dog.

I was originally hesitant after reading several reviews regarding packages getting lost, after all, 200 bucks per test is no small amount. Here's what I'm going to say to make it easy for anyone in Canada (West Coast). I ordered 2 kits end of March for my 2 dogs, and it took about 3 weeks in total to get the result. I also had the incident where the swab results was accidentally swapped between my 2 dogs. I contacted their support and was able to resolve it within 2 business days. Now, regarding the package delivery. 1) The staff that helps you at Canada Post is highly important. Luckily, I had a staff who was quite knowledgeable. The original USPS (that came with the package) does not scan into their system. If you want it to be tracked, it is better for them to create a new sticker with new USPS and stick in on the back of the package. That way, you can track it on the Canadian Border side. They did deduct the number of postage stamp from this service, and it ended up costing me $5 more. 2) You do have to submit declaration and download Zenos pay app (US duty). Took me about 30 mins to fill in on site. The app does require you to upload photos, so make sure you take a photo of the swab tube ahead of time. What you fill in as description is highly important (Dog DNA identification Swab). No additional cost here. 3) Took about 1.5 week to get to the lab, and another 2 weeks to get the result. Overall, pretty accurate. They correctly identified both my dog breeds, including hair colours, patterns. Very happy customer!