Embark Review Summary
Summary
Embark is a DNA testing company for dogs that offers options for breed and health information. It tends to be more expensive than competitor brands.
7 Facts from our Embark Review
- The world’s first company to offer a “canine relative finder,” meaning you can find and connect with your dog’s siblings, cousins, and other relatives.
- Embark compares your dog’s DNA to 350+ breeds including, street dogs, wolves, coyotes, and dingos.
- Embark uses custom canine microarrays developed by leading dog geneticists and professors at Cornell University.
- Embark gives a full breakdown of your dog’s breed makeup; you can also get a health testing kit to check for over 190 health conditions.
- It also offers package discounts for breeders. This is a convenient option for testing an entire litter or the compatibility of two dogs for breeding.
- You can also opt in to share your dogs results to help contribute to dog genetics research.
- Since you are buying a DNA test for your dog, how about sequencing your genome? Nebula Genomics offers the most affordable Whole Genome Sequencing that decodes 100% of your DNA.
This review is written with the intent to be as unbiased as possible. However, it represents the opinion of an individual reviewer and is therefore subjective. Furthermore, at Nebula Genomics we seek to educate the public about the benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing. Information about our Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test is therefore incorporated into the review.
May 23, 2022
Table of contents
Edited by Christina Swords, Ph.D.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Most comprehensive health screen for your pup on the market with 350+ Breeds Screen
- Connect with your dog’s relatives and participate in research about dogs
- Test for over 160 genetic diseases
- Easy to use
- Users receive access to raw data
- Excellent customer service and vet team to help interpret results
Cons
- Expensive
- Data can be complicated
- Some users feel that the test may be inaccurate
Embark Introduction
Embark was founded by brothers Ryan and Adam Boyko in Austin, TX, in 2015. Before starting Embark, the brothers worked on dog DNA research to determine the history of where and when dogs were first domesticated.
Embark offers two kit options, one for DNA breed identification and one for breed identification + health information. Pet owners send in a cheek swab from their dog and get results in 3-5 weeks. The data and interpretation are available in the web browser with an account.
It also allows dog owners to share DNA data from their dog’s test to be used for investigation. Along with its partners at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, research from Embark has already helped explain what genes cause blue eyes in huskies.
Review of Embark Science
Embark is an easy-to-use at-home DNA kit for your dog! The kit includes a swab and tube to collect a saliva sample from your dog. Then, the company isolates DNA and uses that to analyze your dog’s genetics.
The Embark dog DNA test uses microarray technology to find more than 200,000 genetic markers for your dog. This is the same method that many companies use to test human DNA.
Review of How Embark Works
Collecting a DNA sample is as painless and easy as getting your dog to sit, stay, and drool. Open the swab kit, and place the swab on your dog’s cheek for 30 seconds. After this, put the swab in the test tube and shake. Then you have to activate your account on embark.com and drop the package in the mail.
Dogs of the same breed will share a lot of overlap in their DNA. The company determines your dog’s makeup by comparing your dog’s results to different purebred dogs. This method is more accurate than an assessment based merely on appearance and physical examination. You can learn about your dog’s breed from German shepherds to pit bulls. And it allows you to find breeds that are even a tiny percentage of your dog’s ancestry. These results can be surprising and interesting (Hello 1% chihuahua! Didn’t see that one coming!)
Certain dog breeds are more susceptible to certain genetic diseases and problems. The Embark kit lets you pinpoint what conditions might be relevant to your dog. The health screening test identifies genetic health conditions from 16 areas, including blood, immune, eyes, skeletal, heart, kidney, bladder, brain, spinal cord, and many more. You also get information about your dog’s genetic diversity and level of inbreeding.
Embark Report Review
You can view test results for Embark’s Chief Executive Dog, Harley, on the website. You can also look through many other sample dog reports posted on the website, including purebreds, mixed breeds, and designer crosses.
Keep reading for a summary review of the Embark report sections.
Report Summary
The summary includes:
- A genetic breed results breakdown section
- Genetic stats
- Other similar dogs
- A breakdown by chromosome
This is an exciting and fun way to see your dog’s genetic makeup. You also get some examples of other dogs with similar breed mixes.
Family Tree
The family tree section estimates your dog’s family tree back to their great grandparents. Embark uses an algorithm to make this prediction. It is the best guess at dogs who share your dog’s breed ancestry.
Embark Health
The health section includes any potentially problematic variants in your dog’s DNA. It also explains what those health results might mean for your dog or their offspring, the disease, and potential actions owners can take. Someone from the Embark team will reach out to you if any frightening health issues show up.
Embark Traits
The traits section shows some genetic variants that affect your dogs appearance. These are broken down into distinct categories: base coat color, coat color modifiers, coat traits, other body features, body size, and performance.
Embark Maternal and Paternal Haplotype
A haplotype is a group of genes that create a signature that can tell us about our ancestry and how our (or our dog’s) ancestors moved throughout the world. The maternal haplotype comes only from mitochondrial DNA because all mitochondria are passed from the mother.
On the other hand, the paternal haplotype is traced on the Y-chromosome. Males can trace maternal and paternal haplotypes because they have mitochondrial DNA and a Y chromosome. Females, who have mitochondrial DNA but no Y chromosome, can trace only their maternal ancestry.
Review of Embark Products
The Breed ID kit and the Breed + Health Kit claim to break down your dog’s breed makeup percentage. The health kit gives additional results for 190 health conditions, inbreeding scores, and genetic traits.
| Features | Breed ID | Breed + Health |
| 350+ Breeds Screen | Yes | Yes |
| Family Tree | Yes | Yes |
| Relative Finder | Yes | Yes |
| Research Surveys | Yes | Yes |
| 20+ Physical Trait Reports | No | Yes |
| 190+ Genetic Health Risks | No | Yes |
| Inbreeding Score | No | Yes |
| Price | $129 | $199 |
Alternative Products
The most well-known dog DNA testing kits on the market are Wisdom Panel and Embark. They are at different price points and offer various levels of information about your pet’s DNA.
| Product | Features | Price |
| Wisdom Panel Essential Dog DNA Test | Options for breed identification and some health information. Simpler and less information in report | $100 |
| DNA My Dog Breed | Quick 2 week turnaround. Lower price point. It only gives breed results. No health screenings, and it does not break down breed by percentage | $70 |
| Orivet Dog DNA | Breed, genetic traits, common diseases, profile. Targeted to vets and breeders | Several options |
| American Kennel Club DNA Test | This test is for purebred dogs only and is used to verify parenthood. It allows AKC breeders to have DNA results registered with their dog’s lineage | $45 |
You may be interested in comparing costs to determine the best Dog DNA test kit for you!
Embark in the News
- Embark Collaborates with Puppybowl: It’s Puppy Bowl time! Can you guess the players’ breeds? (Washington Post, 2017)
- Embark releases scientific findings based on their research: Why Huskies Have Blue Eyes (US News & World Report 2018)
- The company made the first canine health discovery and found a mutation associated with breed-specific hearing loss. (Cision, March 2022)
- Embark Veterinary, Inc. announced a $75-million-venture on July 26, 2021. (Cornell Chronicle, 2021)
Other Embark Reviews
Reviews on Amazon.com: 4.7/5 with over 12,000 reviews (Currently on sale for $139, 30% Discount). Amazon reviews for Embark Breed + Health kit are mainly positive. Most reviews highlight that the kit was interesting, informative, and detailed. And the few negative reviews seem to claim that the results they obtained for their pup were inaccurate.
Nebula Genomics
At the moment, Nebula Genomics isn’t offering dog genetic testing. But why not get yourself tested at the same time as your dog! Nebula provides a secure and complete option for human genetic testing.
Nebula Genomics helps customers make sense of their data. The Nebula Research Library hosts constantly updated research that will help you understand your genetic results. We also have a host of DNA exploration tools and ancestry discovery.
Nebula puts a focus on giving you control of your DNA data. We prioritize security and let you control what happens with your data and who can access it. It is easy to download your whole genome sequence to do your own analysis, share with health care professionals, or input into other analytics systems.
For more information on genetic sequencing technology, check out our Intro to DNA Testing Methods and other articles on our blog.
But let’s come back to your pooch. Want to learn more about DNA testing for your pets? Also check out these reviews:
- Basepaws – DNA testing for your cat
- Wisdom Panel – an alternative DNA testing kit for your dog
Did you find our Embark review helpful? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.
