What Is DNA My Dog Breed ID Test? How Does It Work?

The DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is exactly what it sounds like. It offers dog owners, especially those with dogs of mixed or unknown breed, a way to see what breeds their beloved pet is made up of. Why is this important? In addition to allowing dog owners to learn more about their dog in general, it can also help you learn more about breed characteristics and potential health concerns to be aware of. You can learn why your dog is the way that they are.

The DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is easy to use. You simply register the test online, swab your dog’s mouth with the included swab, and then mail it back in the provided, postage-paid envelope. Once the company receives your test, they will analyze your dog’s DNA and email you the results. This can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks after they receive your test. You will learn what percentage of different breeds your dog is (out of 350 breeds in their database) and even potential genetic health concerns just through your dog’s DNA.

In short, DNA My Dog offers an affordable way to test your dog’s DNA from the comfort of your home. This is a great option if you don’t have time to take your dog to the veterinarian just for DNA testing, or if you want a more budget-friendly option than what some vets may charge for this service.

DNA My Dog Breed ID Test – A Quick Look

DNA My Dog Breed ID Test Pricing

DNA My Dog offers two separate breed tests: the Essential Breed ID Test and the Premium Breed ID Test. The Premium Breed ID Test costs around $50 more than the Essential Breed ID Test, but the only major difference between the two is that the Premium test will also test for wolf and coyote DNA in your dog. So unless you just care about this information and have a little more money to play with, the Essential test will more than likely suit your needs.

As of the time of this writing, the Essential Breed ID Test is $79.99, while the Premium Breed ID Test is $129.99. Even if this seems pricey, note that some veterinarians may charge up to $200 for a breed ID test on your dog. So, you could potentially be saving money by ordering the DNA My Dog Test, depending on how much your vet charges. Plus, you don’t even have to leave the house to perform this test on your dog.

Both breed ID tests can be purchased directly from the DNA My Dog website, and the company also offers a Canine Allergy Test as well.

What to Expect From DNA My Dog Breed ID Test

The DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is very easy to use. Once you’ve received the product in the mail, as with anything, read the instructions first. You will be asked to return to the DNA My Dog website and register your test with the code provided on the packaging, in addition to answering a few questions about what you know about your dog.

After registering your test, you’ll use the included swab to swab the inside of your dog’s cheek to collect the DNA sample. The instructions offer information about how to best do this and when the best time to do this is. After swabbing your dog, you’ll let the swab air dry, then place the swab in the sample sleeve.

Then, you’ll place the sample sleeve in the included postage-paid return envelope and drop it in the mail. Once the company receives your sample, they’ll analyze it in their laboratory. All you have to do then is wait for the results to be emailed to you, which can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks after they receive your sample.

DNA My Dog Breed ID Test Contents

Ease of Use

One of the best things about the DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is the ease of use of both the product itself and the website. Many websites have a ton of information on the homepage and sometimes important information that you need is buried or hard to find. With DNA My Dog, the “Register Test” button is very easy to find, which makes activating your test easy.

The test itself is also easy to use, thanks to the step-by-step instructions that tell you exactly what to do. They also offer helpful tips on how to get the best test results possible, such as when to swab your dog and how long to swab your dog. If you’re more of a visual learner, there is even a helpful video you can watch on how to swab your dog here.

Affordability and Convenience

The affordability of this test is subjective, depending on your budget and how much your veterinarian would charge for the same service. However, overall, this product is very affordable considering the average price that most vets would charge for this service. If you opt for just the Essential Breed ID Test, you can learn a lot about your dog’s breed for less than $100.

Even if this test isn’t more affordable than what your vet would charge, it’s hard to argue with the convenience that this test offers. Many people’s working schedules don’t allow them to take their dogs to the vet just to have something like this performed, or it’s just not practical for whatever reason. But with the DNA My Dog test, you don’t even have to leave your home. It’s delivered straight to your door so that you can perform the test yourself and then simply place the return envelope in your own mailbox or drop it by the post office the next time you’re out.

Quality and Accuracy

To be as simple as this product is, it’s pretty good quality. The included swab is not just made out of paper and cotton like what most people think of when they think of a swab; it’s a medical grade swab, and you can tell that the company takes pride in what they do just by the quality of the product.

As for the accuracy, there’s no reason to believe that the test isn’t accurate, as they test for over 350 different breeds that they have in their database. The DNA My Dog Breed ID Test provides what percentage of different breeds your dog is, as well as compares their chronological age with their genetic age; in other words, how old your dog actually is compared to how fast your dog is aging. It’s true that a test performed by a vet may provide a more in-depth analysis, so you could always have another test done at your vet’s office if you’re doubtful and want to compare the results.

But once you see the results and the information provided about each breed, you may be able to gauge the accuracy of it just by using what you know about your dog and how it compares to the information provided about the different breeds. Overall, for the price and ease of use, the quality and accuracy of this test is pretty amazing.

Turnaround Time

The one inconsistency with the DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is the turnaround time. On the packaging, it says that the wait time for results is approximately 2 weeks after the laboratory receives your sample. However, wait times can vary between 2 weeks and 3 weeks or potentially more. It’s important to note that the company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. So if you live in the United States or somewhere a bit farther away from Ontario, it may take longer for the company to receive your sample in the first place.

If your results are taking longer than anticipated, you can always reach out to DNA My Dog’s customer service to inquire about your results if the 2 week window has passed. Otherwise, just be aware that you may have to wait longer than 2 weeks to get your results back. If it’s a matter of urgency, you might reach out to the company and have your results expedited for a fee or take your dog to the vet instead for a faster option.

Is DNA My Dog DNA Breed ID Test a Good Value?

Overall, DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is a very good value especially due to the convenience that comes along with it. However, the Essential Breed ID Test may be a better option for those with a tighter budget, since the only major difference is that the Premium Breed ID Test tests for wolf/coyote DNA as well as may provide a little more genetic information about your dog. If you don’t feel like that’s something you need and you just want to find out what breed(s) your dog is, the Essential Breed ID Test provides the best value for your money. However, it still may be worth it to you to reach out to your veterinarian to see what they are charging for this same service and what the test covers.

FAQ

Below are a few of the frequently asked questions regarding the DNA My Dog Breed ID Test. If you have other questions not listed here, we recommend reaching out to the company directly or checking out their Help Centre.

Can the test confirm that my dog is purebred?

The DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is designed to be used primarily for mixed breed dogs. That being said, you can use this test to test a dog that you believe is purebred, but the test may not confirm that your dog is purebred even if only one breed comes back in your results. You will more than likely need a pedigree to determine if your dog is purebred.

Can the test be used for puppies?

The DNA My Dog Breed ID Test can be used on dogs of any age, puppies included. However, it’s best to wait until your puppy is weaned from its mother so that your sample doesn’t accidentally include any of the mother’s DNA as well, which can interfere with the accuracy of the results.

What if the kit or swab is damaged or lost?

If your kit never makes it to your home or the kit is damaged when it arrives, please reach out to the company and they will be glad to help. If your swab is lost, also reach out to the company and they will help you replace it, potentially for a small fee, depending on how and when the swab was lost.

 

Our Experience With DNA My Dog Breed ID Test

I had the privilege of testing out the DNA My Dog Premium Breed ID Test on my almost 3-year-old Chihuahua mix, Penny. The idea of trying out this test appealed to me because we know that she is primarily a Chihuahua, and her veterinarian confirmed this, however, she is a little bit bigger than what a Chihuahua should be. But, her other potential breeds were hard to identify just by looking at her, as her characteristics are similar to many other small dog breeds.

I received the test and read the instructions, and they were very straightforward. Obviously I knew that I had to swab her mouth, but I was concerned about how she would handle it because she has trouble sitting still sometimes, so I had my husband hold her while I swabbed her mouth. This may not be necessary for every dog, but can be beneficial if you know your dog will be unhappy about the idea of being swabbed. It’s important for your dog to be as still as possible in order to get an accurate swab, so having someone help me was necessary in my case.

Once I collected the swab, I mailed it back and waited for the results, which came in about 3 weeks. The results said that Penny was 62% Chihuahua, 20% Miniature Poodle, and 18% Pekingese. I was a little surprised with the results, especially with the Miniature Poodle, because I see no Poodle characteristics in her. But the other two breeds were not surprising, and overall, I was pleased with the results. The results also gave a nice breakdown of the breed characteristics of each of these three breeds.

As far as Penny’s genetic age results, we discovered that her estimated age is 2.9, while her genetic age is 3.0. The results explained that this means Penny is aging a little bit faster than her actual age, and although it’s not a significant difference, it could be indicative of a troubled start to life or an undiagnosed health condition. While her vet has not found any obvious health conditions at her regular checkups, we do know that she was found abandoned when she was a puppy, which could explain these results, and it’s not much of a concern. However, the results pointed out that if the difference had been more significant, it might be worth looking into with our vet.

Summing Up

Overall, the DNA My Dog Breed ID Test is an affordable and convenient way to discover or confirm the breeds that make up your mixed breed dog. This test can be done completely at home without having to visit your vet, and you can have the results back in as little as a month. I had a very pleasant experience using this product, and would recommend it to anyone that is curious about their dog’s breed and wants to learn more in an easy and affordable way.