Embark Purebred Breed ID & Health Dog DNA Test Kit

If you’ve ever wondered why your purebred dog doesn’t quite resemble the dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the Embark Purebred Breed ID & Health Dog DNA Test Kit may offer some insights into their genetic makeup.

“Many people purchase ‘purebred’ dogs and are taken by surprise to find that they are not what they seem,” says Dr. Hansen. “Knowing the genetic makeup of a pet can be vital in uncovering potential health or personality issues that aren't expected.”

This thorough test, administered the same way as the other Embark tests on this list, can identify your purebred dog's lineage from more than 350 breeds.

It also has a unique genetic diversity score to detect high levels of inbreeding. One of our panelists highlighted this test as a good pick for people considering buying another dog from the same breeder.

"This is a great screening tool for people interested in learning more about their purebred, or even going back to the same breeder for future dogs," says Bermingham.

While a study published in “Frontiers in Veterinary Science” concludes that “simply being purebred may not necessarily be associated with increased disorder prevalence overall,” the health screening feature of this dog DNA test kit can still help identify more than 270 genetic risks, including genes for MDR1 drug sensitivity, glaucoma, degenerative myelopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Again, our vet panelists appreciate that this test is continually used in research. Much like the other Embark DNA kits in our roundup, this test was developed by veterinarians and in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.