Buy This, Not That: Dog DNA tests are a thing. Here’s what happened when I tried this $51 kit on my mutt

Because he’s sort of unusual looking, passersby often inquire about his breed, and I’ve grown accustomed to saying, “we’re not really sure.” But I’ve always hoped for a more concrete answer. I’d heard of people using canine DNA tests, but I’ve always been somewhat skeptical of them. They’re not cheap, I imagine swabs getting mixed up, results getting confused and I’m not sure I’m even capable of correctly collecting oral cells. But, around Gus’ 9th birthday, we figured if nothing else, doing a DNA test could be entertaining, if not enlightening. We bought a DNA My Dog kit (which is now on sale for $51 with code MARKET15). 

After twice swabbing the space between Gus’s cheek and gums for several seconds while my husband held Gus’ quivering body, I sealed the cotton stick in the included envelope and mailed it off in the self-addressed package to the DNA My Dog laboratory. Gus wasn’t thrilled by the swabbing, but it wasn’t awful and actually easier than I’d expected. After about a month, I received an email with Gus’ results — and what it revealed was not what I was expecting. 

Per DNA My Dog, Gus is a level 1 Pomeranian and a level 4 American Eskimo dog (level 1 indicates a majority of one specific breed, with level 4 representing a 10% to 25% match passed down from grandparents and even great-great grandparents). This is a combination that’s apparently known as a “Pomimo.” Upon digesting the results, my husband shrank in his seat (his preference was clearly a goldie dox), but I felt a sense of finality: Alas, complete with an official-looking certificate, a lab reference number and an explanation of the different breed determination levels, Gus’ ancestry was now at my fingertips. 

BUY NOW: DNA My Dog breed identification kit (which is now on sale for $51 with code MARKET15)

What I love about it:

• I have an answer to give people when they ask me what kind of dog Gus is.

• It’s a pretty painless process, and it doesn’t feel too invasive for the dog.

• It’s one of the least expensive dog DNA kits available. Many others are more than double the cost. 

• The Spruce Pets puts it on its list of the four best dog DNA kits, as the best budget friendly option. 

BUY NOW: DNA My Dog breed identification kit (which is now on sale for $51 with code MARKET15)

What to consider:

• It might not be that easy to get a DNA sample from your dog’s mouth. You have to swab the space between their gum and their cheek for several seconds and Gus wasn’t thrilled — it might be helpful to have an extra set of hands to help conduct the swab.

• Results say they take two weeks but it took closer to five for us to receive them.

• Their breed database is smaller than other companies who offer dog DNA tests, and it’s pretty hard for me to verify the accuracy of the results; some customers disagreed with their results.

• There are other, more highly ranked dog DNA kits, you may want to consider:
  • Embark Breed and Health Kit ($159 on Amazon) is one of the most highly ranked dog breed tests, with sites like Wirecutter and The Spruce Pets ranking it as the best.

  • Wisdom Panel Health ($149 on Chewy) is a Wirecutter and Canine Journal pick for top dog DNA test. 

Bottom line:

I like knowing what some of Gus’ DNA makeup is so that I can research common personality traits and characteristics and educate myself on how dogs like him age and what to expect in terms of breed-specific ailments. DNA My Dog is among the least expensive tests to buy at $51, which I love, though others like Embark Breed and Health Kit ($159 on Amazon) and Wisdom Panel Health ($149 on Chewy) sometimes get better reviews.

BUY NOW: DNA My Dog breed identification kit (which is now on sale for $51 with code MARKET15)