Breed & Health Kit - Dog DNA Testing Kit - Discover Breed, Ancestry, Relative Finder, Genetic Health, Traits, Allergy Risk Scores

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!

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.

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!

The Embark Breed & Health Kit is one of the most comprehensive DNA tests you can get for your dog, and it lives up to the hype in real use. Setup is easy — swab the cheek, send it back, and within a few weeks you get a detailed online report that goes way beyond basic breed guesses. What you get Breed & ancestry breakdown: A deep dive into your dog’s genetic makeup with precise percentages and lineage insights. It’s far more accurate and detailed than basic breed tests. Health risk screening: Identifies dozens of genetic conditions and predispositions, so you can catch potential issues early or discuss risk management with your vet. Traits & characteristics: Adds fun, scientifically backed insights into things like coat type, size predictions, and even behavioral tendencies. Relative finder: Connects your dog with genetically related pups in the Embark database — a neat feature if you’re curious about lineage or want to connect with other owners. Real-world value Many owners find the health insights alone worth the investment, especially if you have a purebred or mixed dog with unknown background. The online dashboard is user-friendly, with clear explanations and links to research — no guesswork or data-dump overwhelm. Results feel actionable rather than vague, so you can talk specifics with your vet or plan training/health care with solid data. Bottom line: If you want a real genetic portrait of your dog — not just a throwaway breed percentage — this kit delivers. It’s comprehensive, scientifically grounded, and actually helpful for care, curiosity, and long-term wellbeing. Worth it for any devoted pet owner who wants to understand their dog at a deeper level.

I bought this on a whim, I got a doberman puppy and I know both parents are dobies so it was not a surprise that she was listed as 100% doberman. Dad also has AKC papers so great grandparents are known so really really no surprise with the results. Dobies are also predisposed to DCM, a heart dieaese and a genetic marker was shown on her results. The only surprising and interesting part was the relative section. It showed her littermates and other possible relatives. None near where we live but it was fun to see everyone's profile. I do recommend this for anyone who has adopted a pet with questionable breed characteristics. There is a dog at the dog park that acts like a hunting dog but has lush, furry locks like a golden retriever. I think he's part retriever and GSP but we'll see the results.

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 got the 🧬kit in a couple days and was excited to get started. I read through the instructions to make sure I did everything required and in order as recommended. It was easy to do Getting my dog to do the swab was pretty easy. He's got a big mouth and big floppy lips so he wasn't bothered by the oversized cotton swab in his mouth! I then contained it as necessary and put it in the mailing envelope that's provided in the kit. I was so excited I opted to take it to the post office instead of waiting to catch the mail carrier 🚗 As soon as USPS scanned it in, I got an email from Embark that the sample was on it's way. They then proceeded to let me know when it arrived and emails for each step through the process! 🧪 They really kept me informed! Initially I was told up to 6 weeks for processing. It wasn't..it wasn't even three; I think it was about 10 days after they got it that I had the results.📱 Right away I found out about a prominent mix (didn't know he was 28% Boxer) and that answered some questions about him, both physical and behavioral Included with the results was a lot of good information; for instance about allergies. They broke it down to the types of allergies and ways to recognize them and how to deal with them. I'm really glad I did this, there's information contained in the results that I will be checking for a long time to come. For the amount of information that I've been provided, this is a good value for money!💲💲💲