If you want to verify your dog’s breed and genetic makeup, we recommend Wisdom Panel 3.0 or 4.0.
If you want to screen your dog for genetic diseases, we recommend Embark.
But if you want the least-expensive, reliable dog DNA test, we recommend DNA My Dog.
This is Canadian-based pet DNA testing service sells a variety of dog DNA tests and health services.
In our dog DNA test buying guide, we weren’t big fans of DNA My Dog. We thought their breed DNA database was too small and their health testing service unhelpful.
But this service has made a few improvements since then, mostly by adding extra services to cover the missing gaps.
Today, you can get a genetic health screening package either bundled together with the breed identification test or on its own.
In this review, we are going to look at their DNA My Dog breed test package which is still the cheapest compared to Wisdom Panel and Embark.
NOTE: We are still not huge fans of this package and a quick survey of customer reviews will tell you to think twice before spending your money on this test.
How it Works
You can get the breed identification kit from either Amazon or the official website. It costs around $69 for both places.
The company will send you a kit with everything you need to take a sample plus instructions on how to do it properly.
Like other dog DNA testing kits, you just need to swab your dog’s cheek for around 30 seconds to get a good sample.
Then repackage the sample, register it on their website and send it back to their lab for analysis.
The results are usually ready in 2 weeks. You can see them online. They’ll also send you a hardcopy breed analysis certificate in your mail.
What’s In the Report?
Here’s what included with your DNA My Dog report.
1. Breed analysis
The report will tell you which breeds have been identified in your dog’s DNA.
DNA My Dog has less than 100 breeds in their database (see the full list here). That is considerably less than the number of breeds that the Embark or Wisdom Panel tests can identify.
While the list covers a lot of the common breeds found in North America, it’s nevertheless less accurate compared to other tests. It’s even less accurate if you have a dog with foreign ancestry.
This inaccuracy is something that a lot of customers have complained about.
The test has a 3/5 rating on Amazon from almost 500 reviews. Over 50% of those reviews rate the test poorly with most saying the results were so ridiculous as to be laughable.
As I’ve already mentioned, the DNA My Dog test is just not worth it if you want accurate and detailed information about your dog’s breed and ancestry.
The Wisdom Panel 4.0 kit is just $25 more expensive but is a hundred times better than what you get from DNA My Dog.
But if you still want to take advantage of their lower prices, better hope that your dog is one of the common breeds that they can easily identify.
The breed breakdown is presented in the form of levels, from level 1 to level 5.
Any breed that makes up more than 75% of your dog’s DNA is listed as level 1. In level 2 are breeds that make up 37% to 74% of the DNA, level 3 is for those breeds that are between 20% and 36% while level 4 is for breeds between 10% and 19%.
Breeds that make up less than 9% of the DNA are identified as level 5.
This is not a bad breakdown but is not as comprehensive or detailed as that from an Embark or Wisdom Panel test.
Furthermore, DNA My Dog does not include an ancestry tree which would give you a better picture of the breed make up in the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents levels.
Note: DNA My Dog also provides testing for deceased dogs. But it is in a separate package which costs $157.
2. Health concerns
This is another area where DNA My Dog leaves a lot to be desired.
The report will tell you which diseases your dog is at risk of. But I wouldn’t recommend using that information to make any health decision for your pet.
This is because the information is based on your dog’s breed makeup rather than an actual genetic health test.
In other words, they simply take generic health conditions known to affect certain breeds and list them for you.
Essentially, nothing you couldn’t have found online or from your vet.
At least Wisdom Panel tests for two potentially fatal mutations: exercise-induced collapse (EIC) and multidrug resistance (MDR1).
But it’s not all that bad. They have recently introduced a genetic health screening package which you have to order separately.
It costs $140 and includes tests for over 100 genetic health conditions including EIC and MDR1.
You can also buy a combined health and breed identification test for $190.
If their breed identification test is anything to go buy, I wouldn’t readily trust their health screening results either. For just $10 more you can get a comprehensive breed identification (over 200 breeds) and health screening (over 160 conditions) test from Embark.
3. Life plan service
DNA My Dog has also introduced another service called Life Plan. It’s provided free of charge with some of their packages including this one.
What does it involve?
It’s basically a collection of tools and resources to help you take care of your pet. If you already have a good vet, I really don’t think you’ll find it necessary.
Here are a few things included in the service.
- Vaccination guidelines.
- Nutritional advice customized to your pet including daily energy intake. Also includes a handy reference for the best foods for your dog.
- Hydration guidelines.
- Weight prediction for puppies less than a year old. Note that they don’t use a genetic test to make a weight prediction (like other services). It’s a generic weight range based on your dog’s breed.
- Common signs and symptoms to look out for.
As I said, you may not find it that necessary. But it’s free, so you might as well take advantage.
4. Certificate
After your results are ready, they will prepare a hard copy certificate and mail it to you. The certificate shows the dog’s name and the breed analysis results.
They give you the option of uploading your dog’s picture which will be added to the certificate. But you don’t have to if you’d rather not. They’ll still send you a certificate but without a picture.
It’s a nice touch, and you don’t have to pay anything extra for it. You can even frame it for hanging or safekeeping.
Pros and Cons of DNA My Dog Pet DNA Test
Pros
- Affordable.
- Includes free life plan service and hard copy certificate.
- Quick turnaround time (around two weeks).
Cons
- Lots of customer complaints about inaccurate results.
- Small breeds database.
- No genetic health screening is included in the main package. You have to purchase it separately.
- Sparse breed and ancestry information. They don’t even include a family tree.
- Doesn’t provide value for your money.
Conclusion
DNA My Dog is great for your pocket but not much else.
Sure they provide some breed information and their health concerns report can be helpful. Their free life plan service is not too bad either.
But overall you don’t get as much bang for your buck compared to other services like Wisdom Panel.
If you are on a very tight budget, you can go for it. But my recommendation is to spend just $15 more and order a Wisdom Panel 4.0 kit.
If you want both breed analysis and genetic health screening, get Embark’s $199 kit. It’s worth it.
Where to Buy
You can find the DNA My Dog test kit on Amazon or their official website.
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