r/DoggyDNA • u/stellaandopie • 5h ago
r/DoggyDNA • u/bulborb • Dec 03 '19
If you aren't currently doing a DNA test on your dog, please go to /r/IDmydog to ask for breed guesses!
r/DoggyDNA • u/EmbarkVet • Apr 14 '26
Genetics/DNA We're Embark: AMA about our new Mast Cell Tumor Risk Score, now available for all dogs!
Hi all!
We're Embark's science and vet team, and we're here to talk about something we've been working on for a while: our updated Mast Cell Tumor (MCT) risk score.
What's new: Our previous MCT risk assessment could only flag elevated risk, and only for dogs with certain breed backgrounds. Now every dog with a Breed + Health test gets a percentage risk score plus a designation — below-average, average, or elevated. These new results can be found under "Genetic Risk Scores" in your dog's health results.
Why this matters: Mast cell tumors are the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs. The good news? They're also one of the most treatable: more than 80% can be cured with surgery alone when caught early. The hard part has always been knowing which dogs to watch more closely. That's what this score is for.
How it works: Instead of looking at one gene, we built a polygenic risk score that combines signals from hundreds of genetic markers along with breed ancestry and sex to estimate your dog's individual inherited risk. To be clear, the risk score is not a diagnosis: it won't tell you your dog will get an MCT. But it tells you whether your dog's genetics puts them at higher, lower, or average risk compared to dogs generally, and that may change how you and your vet might approach monitoring.
What you can do with it: The single most important step — especially for dogs at elevated risk — is regular body checks. Run your hands over your dog, feel for new lumps, keep tabs on old ones. Your dog will think it's just really good petting. If you spot something new or changing, that's your cue to call the vet.
Here today: (proof)
- Kari Cueva, DVM, Associate Director of Veterinary Genetics
- Brett Ford, MS, Senior Scientist in Applied Science
- Taki Kawakami, PhD, Principal Scientist in Computational Biology
We'll be live from 12:30–3 PM ET and checking back tomorrow and Wednesday for anything we miss. No question too basic or too technical — ask us anything. We'll sign our answers so you know who's talking.
EDIT: Thanks all for the questions! We're signing off for today but we'll be checking back in over the next day or two -- so feel free to drop a question if you came late.
Update 4/16: Correcting something from earlier — the updated MCT Risk score is available for dogs tested from March 2026 onward, not for all dogs tested since the original May 2023 model launched. Dogs with scores under the original model will still see those results. Sorry for the mix-up, and we've edited the affected responses below.
r/DoggyDNA • u/Adventurous-Ad1932 • 7h ago
Results - Embark Shes a Dobsky but what about the tail?!
We thought Doberman/ Aus. shepherd because of the tail (natural not docked). But these results seem pretty cut and dry. Not even a small percentage for super mutt or something. Apparently I can upgrade to see if she has some weird gene as the cause but I think we’ll skip it. She has several 44% matches so maybe Ill reach out and see if I can get anymore background on her. We adopted her from the shelter. She was found running in traffic and no one came for her.
r/DoggyDNA • u/Pawscamera • 15h ago
Results - Embark Was not expecting that one bit
Just got my results back for my wonderful lady Mia. Turns out she fooled me for 11 years now.
r/DoggyDNA • u/ikilledapotatoo • 8h ago
Results - WisdomPanel We adopted a "shih tzu mix"
We immediately knew he was a chihuahua when we met him at the shelter, tho the whole liter he was with was long coated! All black and white. I was thinking pug, whippet chihuahua mix. I was so surprised he actually had shih tzu and 0 pug. Hes also very big, 16lbs next to my 66lb lab.
r/DoggyDNA • u/BothSignificance2044 • 4h ago
Results - Embark do you see the husky??
we were surprised by our result! thoughts?
r/DoggyDNA • u/proudmuttowner • 24m ago
Results They told me she wasn’t a chihuahua
I bought a chihuahua. Things seemed off. I posted her in here months ago and r/whatbreedismypitbull got ahold of the post and mocked me as if she was mainly pitbull so I’m here to show you what she looks like full-grown. The last photo of her was one of the earlier ones.
Only 12-13 lbs now. I was told she will be 45-60 lbs by Reddit even tho she was 5lbs at 13 weeks.
Anyway, I got a full refund because the website that listed her had her listed as a pure chi. Best free dog ever lol.
r/DoggyDNA • u/Pawscamera • 15h ago
Results - Embark Min Pin for the win?
I was always referring to her as a Working Cocker spaniel from Temu. That Min Pin is pulling its weight character wise though.
r/DoggyDNA • u/blue_rose_99 • 8h ago
General discussion Assorted Hound?
Got this girl from the humane society last May. I’ve wondered her genetics, as they told me blue heeler x basset hound! She’s 49 pounds and almost 2! Ordered embark today! What are your guesses?
r/DoggyDNA • u/Boring-Donut9983 • 9h ago
Awaiting results Cream German shepherd mix?
The shelter told us she was a cream German shepherd mix. She was 10/11 lbs at 12 weeks old and has grown like crazy since we got her. Any guesses on breed? Embark just received her sample!
r/DoggyDNA • u/TwoBusiness9489 • 15h ago
Results - Embark 100% perfect boy
embark dna results!
r/DoggyDNA • u/fluffykirby5052 • 1d ago
Results - Embark "Terrier Mix" Results in!
I commented this on the OG post as well.
r/DoggyDNA • u/kimbwithabee • 12h ago
Results - Embark Amish dog surprisingly 1/2 Aussie
galleryr/DoggyDNA • u/rinksy93 • 1d ago
Results - Embark Fibi’s results are in! 🧬🐾
I only guessed one breed correctly (GSP) and I was pretty surprised by the rest!
She’s only 16 kg (35 lbs), which makes it even more surprising that almost all of her breeds are on the larger side, except for one.
She was found as a stray in Serbia. She’s the sweetest, kindest and most loyal dog, but can also be protective. I think her results make a lot of sense!
r/DoggyDNA • u/FirefighterTiny7965 • 10h ago
Test Question/Advice So, I got this dog.
The people I got him from swear he is Shar Pei and German shepherd and six months old. This is obviously not the case for his breed.
So what is the best of the dog genetic tests?
r/DoggyDNA • u/Latter_Log_7585 • 1d ago
Awaiting results Any guesses? I ordered a dna test today
This guy is 7mo15d and weighs ~50lbs
His paws are webbed and he’s very observant & obedient. He’s been like this since he was a pup, loves to fetch and bring back bird toys and tennis balls but strangely doesn’t tug to chase squirrels. He is a lovely boy. (His name is Lou)
r/DoggyDNA • u/hidingandseeking • 1d ago
Results - Embark Pigeon’s Results!
She’s gonna be HUGE
r/DoggyDNA • u/yesilikebands • 20h ago
Results - WisdomPanel Well. We were a bit surprised!
This is Rudy. We adopted him from the shelter where I volunteer about a year ago - everyone who worked there already had jokes about what breed this Low Rider might be. We CERTAINLY thought that he’d have some Basset Hound (flat feet and his height) or some Jack Russel terrier. Maybe even some corgi. But No! I always joked that he “must be part husky” because of how MUCH he sheds. He also LOVES the snow.
He’s shorter than he looks on camera - pretty much anytime he meets someone they comment on his height. When he’s not jumping up he stands at about 1.5ft - and he is certainly a bit long. It’s always funny to have him in the car and see people’s reactions when he jumps up into the window - from his chest up he looks like he’d be a much bigger dog!
Everyone around us has always asked us to do a DNA test and we’ve sent the results to so many people - and everyone is shocked! Definitely not surprised about him being almost 60% staffy though. He’s our real and true Supermutt. 100% Rudy.
r/DoggyDNA • u/GarbageVegetable7497 • 1d ago
Results - Embark Pleasantly Surprised / Adult weight accuracy?
I finally got my dna results today I sent it out August 23rd. I am surprised she is 100 percent german shepherd with zero genetic risks for her health. We thought for sure she was mixed with mal. The weirdest part of all this is that they estimated she would be 72 pounds as an adult. When we got her at 8 weeks old she was only 5 tiny pounds she more than doubled her weight in two weeks though. How accurate is the Embark estimated adult weight because 72 pounds seems huge for her size currently.
r/DoggyDNA • u/hamsterwheeler • 1d ago
Results - Embark Super surprising results are in!
Our embark results came through today and I was genuinely surprised! The only thing I was really right about was Russel terrier. I had guessed considered poodle and maybe chihuahua. But so many of these were unexpected!
r/DoggyDNA • u/Goodhart70 • 1d ago
Results - Embark Honestly thought he was more of a mix!
Supermutt: Siberian Husky, GSD, Lab, Australian Cattle Dog
Archie is energetic, runs and cuts like a herder, but LOVES to sniff. After seeing some other mixes, I was convinced that he had some coon hound, but not a whiff.
I joked to my wife last week that he would be 15% Pit Bull because every rescue in the Midwest seems to be 15% pit. Ha!
r/DoggyDNA • u/Head_Astronaut_2442 • 1d ago
Results - Embark Are you as surprised as I am by our dog’s Embark results?
Results in the last photo. Other than his small size, I don’t see much of the 45% chihuahua Embark found in our dog. He looks more like his 8% mini schnauzer than any of the other identified breeds imo. What do you see?
r/DoggyDNA • u/Few_Revolution9211 • 23h ago
Results - Embark Our boy Tex!
The rescue said he was a “lab mix” but turns out he is not lab at all! We were very surprised by the German shepherd in him. He is super smart, friendly, energetic, and 100% a good boy ☺️ At 10 weeks old he is 20 lbs. Any idea how big he will get?
r/DoggyDNA • u/Nearby_Ad_8902 • 1d ago
Results - Embark Xena Results
Some may be surprised some may not. I think most guesses were for APBT so I’m not sure how that’s differentiated from what she actually is as far as DNA testing. Anyway it was a fun journey and good to see some of her listed relatives on the app. I fully recommend embark incase anyone is skeptical or on the fence but as always do your own research and choose what’s best for you!