Our pets are our best furry friends, and any chance to get to know them a little better is more than welcome. Canine DNA tests are relatively new on the market. Most are very simple to use and allow you to learn a lot about your pet with just a cheek swab.
to board sends 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 during the cheek cleaning for 30 to 60 seconds and wait for the results while they are processed. (We recommend a tasty reward.)
Once they’re done, you’ll have a complete dashboard of which breeds your dog has flowing through his veins. In addition to these exciting discoveries, Embark offers lots 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 care that best suits their needs, which is important for their health and happiness. So when Embark invited us to try the Breed + Health Test, we were all ears. The question that remains is: how well do these DNA tests really work? We put the Embark DNA Test to the test and here’s what we had to say.
I’m Rebecca Rovenstine, an ecommerce writer here at ET, and I’ve had my terrier, Apollo, for over a decade. Apollo has the stubborn attitude of a terrier, and although I was told he was a Westie and Carin terrier mix, he always seemed a little different from those breeds, so when I had the option to have his DNA tested 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 return it in a pre-packaged envelope and wait for the results. It took about six weeks to get the Apollo DNA results. It’s important to note that I sent his test a few days after Christmas, which was probably a busy time due to the influx of people. pet parents which received tests such as holiday gifts sending your swabs too.
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% Cocker Spaniel.
If you – like me – are wondering what Supermutt is, Embark explains: “Because Apollo is descended from other mixed-breed dogs, some of his DNA comes from breeds in his distant past. Over time, this amount of DNA can become very too small to attribute to any race.”
Embark’s discovery also mentioned that Apollo will likely have dental problems – which is accurate, as Apollo had some teeth knocked out during his last cleaning. Embark also matched him with some relatives, like an adorable Westie named Homer who shared 22% of his DNA, meaning he’s probably a half-brother, uncle, or grandfather. They even researched her ancestry and said her lineage likely comes from “wolves that were first domesticated from dogs in Central Asia around 15,000 years ago.”
These results were not only informative, but they also allowed me to learn new things about Apollo, which is refreshing after spending a decade together. I recommend Embark to any dog owner who wants to get to know their dog better, plus they would make excellent gifts for anyone. pet parents that Mothers Day or Father’s Day. Along with DNA tests like Breed Test + Health and Dog Age Test, they also offer gut and oral health tests for your furry friend.
Below, check out Embark’s product line to learn everything you can about your canine companion.
Gut Health Test
This vet-developed test can provide information about your dog’s bacterial imbalances and microbiome diversity to better personalize his diet and supplements.
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