We Tried Embark's Dog DNA Test: Here's What to Know (2024)

By

Rebecca Rovenstine

Our pets are our furry little besties, and any chance to get to know them a bit better is more than welcome. Doggy DNA tests are relatively new to the market. Most are very simple to use and allow you to learn so much about your pet with just a cheek swab.

Embarksends a DNA test in the mail with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions. The hardest part of the process is getting your dog to sit still for the 30 to 60-second cheek swabbing and waiting for the results while they're processed. (We recommend a yummy reward.)

Once they're finished, you'll get a full panel of what breeds your dog has flowing through their veins.Beyond these exciting findings, Embark gives you a ton of other fun information about your pup, like genetic health risks and trait insights. They even find relatives by comparing their DNA samples for matches. These results are fun and informative for any dog owner.

Find Your Dog's Results with Embark

Knowing more about our pets can help us provide them with care more fitting to their needs, which is important for their health and happiness. So when Embark invited us to try their Breed + Health Test, we were all ears. The question remaining is: How well do these DNA tests actually work? We put the Embark DNA Test to the test and here's what we had to say.

I'm Rebecca Rovenstine, an e-commerce writer here at ET, and I've had my terrier, Apollo, for over a decade.Apollo has the head-strong terrier attitude, and while I was told he was a Westie and Carin terrier mix, he's always looked a bit different than those breeds, so when given the option to test his DNA with Embark, I jumped at the chance.

The DNA test was simple and took me less than five minutes to complete. All I had to do next was mail it back in a pre-packaged envelope and wait for the results. It took about six weeks to get Apollo's DNA results back. It's worth noting that I mailed his test back a few days after Christmas, which was likely a busy time due to the influx of pet parentswho received tests as holiday presents sending in their swabs, too.

I was so excited when his results came in. Drum roll, please—According to Embark, Apollo is 44.6% West Highland White Terrier, 19% Supermutt, 16.1% Dachshund, 8% Yorkshire Terrier, 8% Pekingese and 4.3% co*cker Spaniel.

If you — like me — are wondering what Supermutt is, Embark explains, "BecauseApollodescends from other mixed-breed dogs, some ofhisDNA comes from breeds inhisdistant past. Over time, that amount of DNA may become too small for us to attribute to any one breed."

Embark's finding also mentioned Apollo will likely have dental issues—which is accurate, as Apollo had some teeth pulled during his last cleaning. Embark also matched him to some relatives, like an adorable Westie named Homer who shared 22% of his DNA, meaning he is likely ahalf-sibling, uncle or grandparent. They even researched his ancestry and said his lineage is likely from "the wolves that were first domesticated into dogs in Central Asia about 15,000 years ago."

These results were not only informative but also allowed me to learn new things about Apollo, which is refreshing after spending a decade together. I'd recommend Embark to any dog ownerwho wants to know their dog better, plus they'd make excellent gifts for any pet parents this Mother's Day or Father's Day. Along with DNA tests, such as the Breed + Health Test and Dog Age Test, they also offer Gut and Oral Health Tests for your furry friend.

Below, check out Embark's range of products to find out everything you can about your canine companion.

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