DNA Tests for Your Dog: The What, How and Why of It

How certain are you that your dog is really a Dachshund, Dalmatian, Doberman or Retriever? If you're a longtime dog owner, you may have confidence in your breed-guessing skills. But even the professionals get it wrong most of the time without the help of genetic testing.¹

It's true: When presented with photographs of 100 shelter dogs, experts in a 2012 study correctly identified a dog's prominent breed only 27 percent of the time.¹ And in 2015, shelter staff guessed that 52% of the dogs in a study were pit bull mixes — but only 21% of the dogs actually carried pit bull DNA.²

Clearly, there's a lot more to a dog's DNA than meets the eye.

What is a Dog DNA Test?

Dog DNA tests are designed to replace the guesswork with scientific facts about your dog. DNA test kits can reveal a dog's breed composition; genetic traits and genetic markers; and identify potential health conditions for which they may be more at risk.³

How Does Dog DNA Testing Work? 3 Steps

If you purchase an at-home DNA test kit, all you need is a sample of your pup's saliva and cheek cells to identify their genetic makeup. Here's how it works:⁴

1. Collect your dog's DNA. Swab the inside of your dog's mouth for around 20 seconds.
2. Submit the results. Send the test back in the box it came in; just drop it in the mail.
3. Get DNA test results back in two to six weeks. Turnaround time depends on the company and how extensive its lab tests and methods are. Your test results will appear in an online dashboard, with breed composition broken into percentages.

If you're having difficulty swabbing your dog, you may want to wait for their annual checkup and ask your veterinarian to help you collect the sample. Check with your vet to see if DNA testing is a service they perform. Or you can choose a vet-administered DNA test instead, which may require a blood sample from your dog.

According to Greg Burns, assistant professor in small animal reproduction at Colorado State University, the major difference between doing an at-home DNA test and getting one through your vet's office is having a veterinarian to interpret the data.⁵

6 Benefits of Dog DNA Tests

Learning more about your dog can be fun — and it can be practical, too. Here are six key benefits of getting your dog's DNA tested:

1. Anticipate average size and lifespan.⁶

Knowing how big your puppy might become — and how long they may live — can help you manage your expectations and create the right amount of space for them in and around your home.

2. Learn about personality traits common to some breeds.⁶

Discovering specific needs based on your dog's breed makeup can provide insight into their behavior, which may be helpful with training.

3. Understand and prevent potential health problems.⁶

Knowing the risks that are common to certain breeds, or mixed breed dogs, can affect the way your veterinarian cares for your dog. And DNA health tests can reveal if you need to make lifestyle or food changes for your fur baby.

4. Discover hidden traits.⁷

DNA tests can help you find out which genes your dog may carry but not display, which may be useful information for breeders.

5. Prove pedigree.⁶

If your dog has puppies, you can provide future families with their DNA results. This can be particularly helpful for families seeking DNA-certified purebred pedigrees.

6. Find their fur family.⁸

Some DNA tests come with access to a canine relative finder, so you can connect to your dog's relatives and map out a family tree.

Accuracy of Dog DNA Tests

Since different companies use different testing methodologies, the accuracy of dog DNA tests varies. Consider the claims of the two biggest dog DNA testing companies, Embark and Wisdom Health (the parent company of Wisdom Panel):⁵ In 2019, Embark said its breed results were 95% to 99%t accurate, and Wisdom Panel claimed a 93% accuracy rate.⁴

But DNA companies use proprietary technology, so experts can't independently verify the accuracy of their breed and health reports. And there's no government oversight of the pet genetic testing industry.⁴

However, several groups are taking steps to increase transparency in an unregulated industry. Both Embark and Wisdom Health, among others, sponsor the International Partnership for Dogs, a consortium standardizing dog genetic-testing services.⁹

And experts believe that accuracy in breed ancestry will improve as technology advances. For example, one expert tested their dog with Wisdom Panel three times in five years and received refined yet different results.⁴

Average Costs of Dog DNA Tests

If you choose a vet-administered blood test to learn about your dog's DNA, it may cost you approximately $150.¹⁰ For at-home dog DNA tests, costs vary by brand and the extensiveness of the tests you want done. Base testing typically includes breed identification only; for inherited-disease detection, you may pay an additional $50 to $100.⁴ In total, you can expect to pay between $60 and $200 for most at-home dog DNA tests.¹¹

For example, Embark's Breed ID Kit costs $129, and its Breed + Health Kit costs $199.¹² Comparatively, Wisdom Panel Essential (breed identification kit only) costs $100, and Wisdom Panel Premium (breed and genetic disease detection kit) costs $160.¹³

CareCredit Financing for Dog DNA Tests

You don't have to keep guessing about your fur baby's ancestry — the CareCredit credit card can help you get your dog tested today.* Apply for CareCredit as a payment option, and use the CareCredit Acceptance Locator or Mobile App to find a participating veterinary practice.

Author Bio

Robyn Tellefsen is a freelance writer and editor with 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, finance and more. Her work has appeared on sites such as Beachside Rehab, Wayfair, LoopNet, First Horizon Bank, SoFi, A Place for Mom, American Express, Chase and others.