5 Best Dog DNA Test Kits in 2025, Recommended by Vets

Published Sep. 30, 2024
Woman holding mixed breed dog. The best dog dna test kits can help you determine your dog's breed makeup and more.

PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images

All products in this article have been reviewed by our trusted vets and experts. PetMD is owned by Chewy.

Finding out your dog’s breed isn’t just a fun activity for curious pet parents. There are many benefits of DNA testing for dogs, ranging from identifying genetic health risks to discovering physical traits that may affect how your four-legged friend looks.

With the help of our expert veterinarians, we’ve identified the best dog DNA test kit for pet parents with different budgets, purebred dog parents, and more.

If you’ve ever wondered what breed your mixed breed truly is or why your dog has such pointy ears, these DNA tests may help answer those questions.

Everything Our Vets Recommend

What To Look for When Buying a Dog DNA Test Kit

Database and Breed Identification Accuracy

All of the companies in our roundup boast large databases of dog breeds that connect your own pup’s genetic information to existing breeds.

Wisdom Panel has a database of more than 365 dog breeds, Embark® has a database of more than 350, while Ancestry has the most extensive database of over 400 dog breeds.

The number of pet parents who have used a company can also affect testing accuracy. Wisdom Panel has a community of 4 million dogs and cats, whereas around 1.5 million pups have been “embarked” with Embark.

Wisdom Panel claims to be over 98% accurate, while Embark is slightly higher at 99%.

Health Screening

Many dog DNA test kits these days do more than identify your dog’s breed makeup. They also provide insights into their genetic health risks.

Though a dog DNA test isn’t a substitute for going to your veterinarian to get regular pet wellness exams, it can indicate health issues your pup may be more likely to get depending on their breed.

For example, Wisdom Panel can check for more than 265 genetic health conditions. Embark can identify more than 250 genetic health conditions by scouring a database of more than 230,000 genetic markers across 350+ dog breeds.

Canine Community

Understanding your dog’s genetic makeup is just the beginning. These tests can also help you trace your dog’s lineage back several generations, connect with relatives of your dogs, or even dogs of similar breed mixes in your area.

This all allows you to chat with people who may have shared experiences with dogs from the same line.

How We Selected the Best Dog DNA Test Kits

This list of the best dog DNA test kits was meticulously curated by a panel of veterinarians and vet techs who are employed by Chewy, the publisher of PetMD. They were asked to choose the best DNA test kits for dogs in their honest opinion, across multiple categories (as listed above) based on the following:

  • Their knowledge and practical experience
  • Review of information published by the test manufacturers
  • Database size and accuracy of genetic testing
  • Health screening accuracy and depth
  • Whether companies have partnered with veterinary experts and/or institutes

Opinions and product recommendations in this article belong solely to the review panel of vets and animal health experts. Manufacturers and vendors cannot buy placement in Vet Verified content, or exert influence on our panelists as they evaluate products.

Our sole goal with this program is to provide pet parents with the information they need to make the best decision for their pets.

Dog DNA Test Kit FAQs

How accurate are dog DNA tests?

Dog DNA test results are becoming more and more accurate every day as increasing numbers of pet parents sign up for services and increase the size of databases.

Wisdom Panel and Embark are currently the most accurate, claiming to be more than 98% and 99% accurate, respectively.

Can you DNA test a dog to see what breed they are?

Yes, you can use all of the companies in our roundup to see what breed your dog is. If you’ve ever wondered what breed your mixed breed truly is or why your dog has such pointy ears, these DNA tests should give you the answers.

Do dog DNA tests tell age?

Some dog DNA tests do estimate your dog’s age. Embark, for example, offers a separate Dog Age Test for that.


Our Vet Pick: Best in Show

An all-encompassing test that makes your dog’s health a priority

Embark Breed & Health Dog DNA Test Kit invites pet parents to “get to know their best friend on a deeper level” by exploring where they come from. One of the main reasons our vets have identified this test as the best in show is its depth.

Developed with veterinarians and in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, this test can identify more than 350 dog breeds and canine types, including dingoes, coyotes, wolves, and village dogs.

It also screens for more than 250 genetic health conditions by scouring a database of more than 230,000 genetic markers. Some of the common canine health conditions it tests for include:

  • MDR1: A gene mutation that changes the way dogs process certain medications and can lead to serious side effects.
  • DCM: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease.
  • DM: Degenerative myelopathy is a disease that affects the function of the nerves, typically in older dogs.
  • PRA: Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease that is inherited and almost always leads to blindness.
  • EIC: Exercise-induced collapse is an inherited nervous system disorder seen in some dog breeds.
  • IVDD: Intervertebral disc disease is when a spinal disc bulges into the spinal cord, sometimes causing nerve damage, paralysis, and pain.

“Embark is supported by research, proven accurate, and examines 100 times more genetic markers than other dog DNA tests,” says one of our vets.

It’s also easy to use: Activate the kit online, swab the inside of your dog’s cheek and under the tongue using the provided swab, and then send the sample to Embark’s lab in the prepaid envelope.

Turnaround time is quick, with results available in two to four weeks. Breed ancestry results are 99% accurate, according to Embark.

“This test is considered the most reliable of the veterinary tests available to the public,” says another one of our vet panelists.

Results also include a report on your dog’s traits, such as expected coat color, amount of shedding, and size—more than 30 characteristics total.

As an added bonus, Embark matches your pup with nearby relatives when possible. Which seems likely, considering 94% of dogs tested have at least one dog in the database who they’re genetically related to as closely as human first cousins, according to the company.

So you can finally find out if Fido’s look-alike Labrador from the dog park shares the same lineage. 

Things to Consider
  • Developed in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and veterinarians
  • Tests for 350+ dog breeds and canine types
  • 250+ genetic health conditions tested
  • Uses patented technology to find your pup’s family members
  • 35+ traits tested
  • Receive results in two to four weeks
  • More expensive than some other tests but comprehensive offering

Our Vet Pick: Best Dog DNA Test for Health Screening

A popular DNA test with plenty of bang for your buck

Another comprehensive dog DNA test kit, Wisdom Panel Premium identifies hundreds of dog breeds and genetic health conditions and is known to be highly accurate, earning the top spot for best dog DNA test kit with health screenings.

“I have used it on many patients over the years and found the results to be very accurate,” says one of our veterinarians.

It’s another easy-to-use cheek swab test that comes with prepaid packaging to return your dog’s sample. (Our vets note that the swab is a bristle, which some dogs may not like.)

However, this one provides extensive health information, screening for more than 265 genetic conditions and health risks, including:

  • MDR1
  • IVDD
  • Pro-opiomelanocortin gene (POMC), which causes dogs to be excessively hungry, leading to obesity
  • Urinary stone risk, which is the propensity to develop different kinds of stones in the urinary system (bladder, ureters, urethra)

“It shows if a pet has the mutation (at risk) and if they are carriers (which would be more significant if planning to breed),” says one vet panelist.

Additionally, it can identify more than 365 dog breeds, showing your dog’s mix of breeds all the way down to those that represent 1% of their breed makeup. It also offers 50+ trait tests to provide insights on your pet’s physical characteristics.

Wisdom Panel has a growing community of more than 4 million dogs, which means its database is growing, making it easier to compare and contrast results for accuracy.

Part of Mars Petcare, Wisdom Panel Premium draws on the expertise of scientists at Waltham™ Petcare Science Institute in the United Kingdom, among other experts throughout the world. Our vets point out it has been part of more than 40 published scientific studies.  

Things to Consider
  • Developed in collaboration with Waltham Petcare Science Institute and other pet experts
  • Tests for more than 365 dog breeds
  • 265+ genetic health conditions and health risks tested
  • 50+ traits tested
  • Uses a bristle brush to collect sample
  • Receive results in two to three weeks

Our Vet Pick: Best Dog DNA Test for Breed Identification

A breed-identification test to help plot your pup’s family tree

Embark Breed Identification Dog DNA Test Kit is the less expensive alternative to Embark’s Breed & Health Dog DNA Test Kit, but still offers the patented technology developed alongside veterinarians in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

It functions the same way as the premium test: Swab your dog's cheeks and under the tongue, then send in the sample using the pre-paid packaging. Results are ready in two to four weeks.

While you won’t get the health screening benefits or traits report of the premium test, this test can identify more than 350 dog breeds and canine types with 99% accuracy. 

Though this test does not include the health screening, Embark offers educational resources about potential diseases in certain breeds.

The dog relative finder comes with this Embark test as well. The company will tell you how much DNA your dog shares with others in its database and gives you the option to connect with them.

Our veterinary experts love that families with pets can build a community with others by connecting dogs with relatives that share similar genetic backgrounds in the system.

In fact, one of our vets has had firsthand experience with pet parents who have been able to “find relatives and trace behavioral issues back through generations in rescue dogs.”

Things to Consider
  • Developed in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and veterinarians
  • Tests for 350+ dog breeds and canine types
  • Uses patented technology to find your pup’s family members
  • Does not include health screening
  • Receive results in two to four weeks

Our Vet Pick: Best Dog DNA Test for Purebreds

DNA test kit and health screen for purebred dogs

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 one of our veterinarians. “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 vets highlighted this test as a good pick for people planning on “going back to the same breeder for future dogs.”

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 250 genetic markers, including genes for MDR1 drug sensitivity, glaucoma, degenerative myelopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy. 

Again, our vet panelists appreciated 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.

Things to Consider
  • Developed in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and veterinarians
  • Tests for 350+ dog breeds and canine types
  • Genetic diversity tested
  • 250+ genetic health risks tested
  • Uses patented technology to find your pup’s family members
  • 35+ traits tested
  • Receive results in two to four weeks

Our Vet Pick: Best Budget Dog DNA Test Kit

A dog DNA test kit from the human ancestry specialists.

Founded in 1983 and trusted by more than 25 million people, Ancestry has made a name for itself in the human genealogy world. It has also earned the trust of our vet panel, which has selected the company’s dog DNA test kit as their top pick for pet parents on a budget.

Like others on this list, this easy-to-use swab test comes with pre-paid packaging to send back your dog’s sample. Results typically come back in two to four weeks.

It identifies your dog’s mix of breeds from a database of more than 400 breeds, and it provides insights into 30 behavioral and physical traits.

It also matches your dog with other dogs in Ancestry’s database.

A benchmark DNA company in its own right, Ancestry collaborated with geneticists to create the test and engages in research collaborations with University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and Massey University

“It does not provide the health information of some of the tests at a high price point and does not have the same candor regarding accuracy and R&D behind its development,” says one of our veterinarians. “Still, given the association with vet schools and employment of geneticists, I feel it can be trusted as a source of breed makeup information.”

Things to Consider
  • Developed in collaboration with geneticists
  • Tests for 400+ dog breeds
  • Matches your dog with others
  • 30 traits tested
  • Receive results in about two to four weeks