Price typically $129–$160 · Free shipping with Prime
The first time you see your dog's breed breakdown — "42% Labrador Retriever, 28% American Staffordshire Terrier, 18% Boxer, 12% mixed" — something clicks into place. Behaviors that seemed random start making sense. The obsessive retrieving instinct. The stubborn streak. The way they swim. Breed composition is interesting on its own, but it's the health screening component that makes a dog DNA test genuinely useful beyond curiosity.
Many heritable health conditions in dogs are breed-linked: hip dysplasia in large breeds, progressive retinal atrophy in certain lines, MDR1 drug sensitivity in herding breeds, DCM in specific spaniel and retriever crosses. Knowing which conditions are in your dog's genetic profile allows you to watch for early symptoms, adjust preventive care, and have informed conversations with your vet — before something becomes a problem.
| Kit | Breeds | Health Tests | Relative Finder | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embark Breed + Health | 350+ | 250+ | Yes | ~$150 |
| Wisdom Panel Premium | 365+ | 210+ | Yes | ~$100 |
| Orivet Dog DNA Test | 350+ | 200+ | No | ~$90 |
| DNA My Dog Breed ID | 350+ | Breed only | No | ~$60 |
Every dog DNA test on this list identifies breed composition — this is the baseline capability. You collect a cheek swab, mail it to the lab, and receive a percentage breakdown of the breeds detected in your dog's genetic profile. Breed identification accuracy has improved significantly over the past few years as the reference databases have grown; Embark and Wisdom Panel both maintain databases of over 350 breeds, and both are considered highly accurate for identifying primary breed components.
Health screening is where the tests diverge. Embark's 250+ health condition tests include everything from common conditions like exercise-induced collapse and von Willebrand's disease to rarer mutations relevant to specific breed combinations. Wisdom Panel's health panel covers 210+ conditions and includes MDR1 drug sensitivity testing — critically important for dogs with any herding breed ancestry, as certain common medications (including some dewormers and anesthetics) can cause fatal neurological reactions in MDR1-affected dogs. DNA My Dog tests breed only, with no health component.
Wisdom Panel Premium covers 365+ breeds (slightly more than Embark) and 210+ health conditions — including MDR1, which matters for any dog with potential herding breed ancestry. At $100, it delivers the overwhelming majority of what Embark offers at a $50 savings. The primary advantage Embark holds is the depth of its health condition panel (250+ vs. 210+) and a research-grade database built with Cornell University. For most owners, Wisdom Panel Premium is an excellent choice that balances thoroughness with price.
If health screening isn't a priority and you simply want to know what breeds are in your dog's background, DNA My Dog delivers breed identification at the lowest price in this review. It doesn't include health condition testing, and its database is smaller than Embark or Wisdom Panel, which can affect accuracy for less common breed mixes. For owners with a straightforward curiosity question — "what is this dog?" — it's an affordable starting point.
Find out what your dog is made of — and which health conditions to discuss with your vet. Check current prices below.
Shop Dog DNA Tests on Amazon →For primary breed components (the major breeds making up most of your dog's ancestry), Embark and Wisdom Panel are both highly accurate — studies have confirmed strong agreement with pedigree records for dogs of known heritage. Accuracy decreases for minor components below ~5–10% of the mix, and for very rare or regionally specific breeds that are underrepresented in the reference database. The health condition tests are based on well-established genetic markers and are considered highly reliable for the conditions they screen.
All kits use a cheek swab method: you swab the inside of your dog's cheek for 30–60 seconds to collect cells, let the swab dry, seal it in the provided container, and mail it to the lab in the prepaid envelope. The process takes about 5 minutes. Dogs should not eat, drink, or chew anything for at least 30 minutes before swabbing to avoid contaminating the sample. Most dogs tolerate the procedure well — a little distraction with a treat works for reluctant patients.
Share them with your vet, particularly any positive findings for serious conditions (MDR1 drug sensitivity, DCM risk, hereditary diseases). A positive result for MDR1 sensitivity, for example, should be noted in your dog's medical record immediately — certain common medications become dangerous for affected dogs, and your vet needs to know. For most other health findings, the results inform preventive monitoring rather than requiring immediate action. Embark's reports are designed to be shared with veterinary professionals.
No — the kits reviewed here are designed specifically for dogs and use canine-specific genetic markers and reference databases. Cat DNA testing is a separate product category with different labs. Basepaws is the most widely reviewed option for cat breed and health DNA testing.