The Dog DNA Test Shopper’s Guide

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Looks can be deceiving especially when it comes to mixed-breed dogs. The only way to know what breed your dog is conclusively is by testing its DNA. However, there are several types of tests and many different options. So we’ve created this guide to help you find the best dog DNA test for your needs

Dog DNA Test Basics

Most owners who have adopted their dog from a shelter will guess what breeds make up their dog’s mixed heritage based on its appearance. However, guessing is unreliable at best even when it’d done by experts such as veterinarians. To find out the truth about your dog’s roots you’ll need to use science. A dog DNA test can tell you exactly what breeds your dog is made up of and even what percentage of each.

They can show you the breed makeup of each of its relatives going back for several generations. Many testing companies can use such results to help predict things such as behavioral traits and even how big your mixed breed puppy will be when fully grown. There are also tests which screen for numerous health conditions allowing you to know in advance if your pet is at risk for certain diseases.

How To Do A DNA Test On A Dog

Unlike in the past, a DNA test does not require you to bring your pet to the vet and is not a blood test. Instead today it is done both quickly and easily at home. Typically owners purchase a dog DNA test online on a site such as Amazon. The test kit is sent in the mail and will include specific instructions from the testing company and typically swabs and a collection tube.

While the exact instructions may vary depending on the test, the basic procedure is usually the same. The swabs are used to swab the inside of your dog’s cheek in order to collect cheek skin cells. These cells are what provide the genetic material for testing.

You’re typically given more than one swab to ensure you get enough genetic material. The swabs are then placed in the collection tube and the kit is mailed back to the testing company in a pre-paid envelope.

Once the test kit has been received the turnaround time on the testing and analysis is typically several weeks. When the dog DNA test results are ready they are provided to the pet owner online. And these can then be printed out and if needed brought to the vet.

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Important Considerations For Choosing A Test  

When shopping for a test keeping the following considerations in mind will help you to choose the best dog DNA test kit for your specific needs.

Size Of The Database

Each company that sells dog DNA tests has its very own database containing the genetic markers for specific dog breeds. The bigger the database a company has the more breeds their test will be able to identify accurately. Choosing a test from a company with a large database can be important particularly if you already suspect your dog has ancestry from breeds that are considered rare.

Tests with the largest databases such as the Wisdom dog DNA test include up to 350 breeds but also wild ancestors such as wolves, coyotes, and dingoes. Tests from companies with smaller databases are generally cheaper. However, a cheap dog DNA test is more likely to come back with a vague result such as, “mixed breed” which won’t help to answer any of your questions.

Genetic Ancestry

In addition to telling you the breed makeup of your pet, some tests will also include the genetic makeup of your dog’s ancestors. These can show the breeds on both the mother’s and father’s side of your pet’s family tree going back several generations, usually to their great-grandparents.

Health Screening

Along with breed information some dog DNA test kits will screen for health issues as well. While they won’t tell you if your dog has a certain health condition they will let you know whether or not your pet is genetically predisposed to them. Some tests screen for a handful of conditions for instance MDR1 drug sensitivity (a particular concern for Australian Shepherds and Collie breeds) along with providing a basic overview of your pet’s health.

Others offer much more comprehensive screening. For example the Embark dog DNA test screens for over 165 genetic health conditions. These include some of the most common diseases that affect adult dogs such as glaucoma and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) but also those that are rarer and known to affect specific breeds.

A more comprehensive dog DNA test will cost more. However, if it does turn out your pet has a higher than-normal risk of developing a disease or health condition it can give you a chance to plan in advance. And that can be priceless.

With your vet, you can come up with a proactive care plan which may help your pet from being affected or maximize the amount of time you can spend with him. You may also be able to avoid expensive genetic testing, costly treatments, or even worse a possible misdiagnosis later on.

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Time

Another consideration for some pet owners is the time it takes for you to get the results of the test. Typically the turnaround time on dog DNA test results can range anywhere from two to eight weeks.

If you need results quickly for a specific reason this may influence which test you choose. Otherwise however it’s always best to pick a test that’s known for providing quality results.

Accuracy

Like mentioned above, the accuracy of a test can be influenced by how many dog breeds a company has in its database. The larger the database the more precise the results they can provide about your pet’s genetics. Another factor in dog DNA test accuracy is the number of genetic markers the test company analyzes. The best tests currently analyze around 200,000 markers which are used to produce a detailed picture of your dog’s genome.

In contrast, cheaper tests will analyze a smaller number of makers. How the company analyzes the genes of your pet when health screening can also be an important factor in terms of accuracy. The most accurate results are obtained by companies that use two independent methods of testing. They will also have any irregular results hand-checked by scientific experts to verify their authenticity.

Cost

When shopping, you’ll notice that dog DNA test prices will relate to the size of the breed database. On the lower end, you’ll find tests that range anywhere from $40 to $60. These tests have smaller databases and may therefore provide less accurate results.

The good news is for a bit more, usually around $75 to $125 you can find excellent mid-range options that have very large breed databases and provide highly accurate results. These won’t typically provide much health screening, however.

The most comprehensive tests which offer both breed ancestry results along with health screening for a large number of diseases and conditions will cost more. In general, they range from around $175 to $200.

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Extra Dog DNA Test Tips

-Remember genetics is like a game of chance and are quite complex. Mixed-breed dogs even with very similar breed ancestries can look wildly different in color, size, and body type. So while your pet’s ancestry results may not be what you thought, this doesn’t change, “who” your loving pet is.

-DNA technology is always increasing. And this means breed databases and the number of health issues that tests can detect will increase over time as well. So you may want to consider a test that will update your results in the future (such as the Embark dog DNA test).

-Unfortunately, some state and local governments have adopted breed-specific legislation (BSL) in an attempt to ban certain breeds. DNA testing offers owners a way to help prove in court their pet’s true breed makeup and fight back against unfair discrimination against this.

-Not all testing companies will give you access to the raw data from your dog DNA test.  While you may not want or need this information, it can be a helpful resource for those who do.

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