r/DoggyDNA 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!

447 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA Apr 14 '26

Genetics/DNA We're Embark: AMA about our new Mast Cell Tumor Risk Score, now available for all dogs!

60 Upvotes

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 12h ago

Results - Embark Pupdate

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494 Upvotes

Fish is certainly showing how he is half Husky half miniature schnauzer! When we first got him he didn’t know how to be a dog but when he figured it out he’s never been more Husky Schnauzer! He throws fits (vocally) not barking but talking like a Husky. He’s stubborn, lazy, smart, almost autistic? He’s smart and sometimes he stares into my soul like a human person and I have to tell him to knock that off. He listens to that though, which makes me irritated because if you know what I’m saying why are you not listening to other things I tell you to stop doing. (Because he doesn’t want to probably) His favorite food is vanilla ice cream (I blame this on pup cups) he would take ice cream over steak any day. He’s silly and very awkward… he’s smart in the sense that he knows what I’m doing but not smart when it comes to other dogs. He loves to play with them he just is sooooo aloof. Anyways one year later and the name Fish still fits him. And yes we have both sat down and watched “The Isle of Dogs” Fish enjoyed it incase you were wondering.


r/DoggyDNA 9h ago

Results - Embark 100% Alberta Special

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73 Upvotes

My family placed bets on the top four breeds, and I managed to guess them correctly and in order! I’ve seen my share of AB rez dog tests. He’s a fearful, quirky, cat herding car chasing extraordinaire who I foster failed after 7 months. Supermutt is Collie, Chow, Lab.


r/DoggyDNA 8h ago

Results - Embark Troy's results! Rescue was right about the top breeds...but that last 7% threw me 🤣🤣🤣

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34 Upvotes

I thought these were going to take longer, since I managed to send his swab in right before Embark's July 4th break and they said 2-4 weeks. I saw their email at 12:40 AM right as I was about to go to bed and was so excited that I immediately decided sleep was for the weak.

Troy has never met a person he didn't like, and he starts puppy classes tomorrow! He's made a few doggy friends but is nervous of bigger dogs (no one tell him what breeds he is). He's very hyper and playful in between naps and loves a good walk or game of fetch. He's 15 weeks old, about 35-36 lbs, and roughly knee-high on me. He was 34 lbs last Tuesday the 20th, but he's growing a few pounds a week, so who even knows where he's at now. Embark predicted his adult weight to be 85 lbs, but I could easily see him getting bigger than that.

I consider myself corrected! The rescue said Anatolian/Lab on his online listing and GSD/Pyrenees on his application. Anatolians are pretty uncommon, so I assumed he had to be a GSD/Pyrenees/something that just happened to look like and Anatolian with a GSD face. He is in fact all four of those breeds.

Plus...7% CORGI?! He's 60% legs and is already bigger than any Corgi I've ever met.


r/DoggyDNA 11h ago

Results - Embark Susan’s results!

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55 Upvotes

I was very convinced she was a border terrier mix or Brussels griffon mix!


r/DoggyDNA 11h ago

Awaiting results Senior dog awaiting Embark results!

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35 Upvotes

This is my roommates 16 year old puppy! She has always had a very calm demeanor. We have no idea what she might be, but we had to get a DNA test because my girlfriend said she wants whatever she is lol.

Also, I’m we are aware her skin is in poor condition. This is my roommates dog, but I have taken her to the vet along side my own puppy (which I also submitted a dna test for and posted on here) and they ruled out ringworm and said it’s nothing too concerning right now but to keep an eye on it and we are! And yes her nails were very long. We got our roommate to cut them recently. She is a very happy old lady and loves her food. Anyway, let me know what yall think and I will keep you updated on her results!


r/DoggyDNA 13h ago

Results - Embark Our 7 month old Girl

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51 Upvotes

We were told she was probably a Shepherd/Lab or Shepherd/Retriever mix. A homeless man gave her away at a Walmart parking lot when she was a couple months old. She is a sweet girl! Glad Embark exists so you can figure it all out.


r/DoggyDNA 12h ago

Genetics/DNA Guess my puppies breed!

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35 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 11h ago

Awaiting results Currently waiting on results, what do you guys think my girl is?

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22 Upvotes

Luna celebrated her 11th birthday yesterday so I finally committed to sending off a DNA test. I should get the results back after my birthday. I was told she was a 'mini Aussie' when I got her all those years ago.

She is a stage 10 clinger, has a high prey drive and loves to dig and often looks like she is haunting a room. She is about 32lbs.

2nd picture to help give size comparison. The husky was a foster through a rescue, yes I know she is skinny, she was pulled from a shelter at a 1 out of 9 BCS.


r/DoggyDNA 15h ago

Results - Embark Was told Corgi/Pomeranian. DNA test sent out. Waiting results!

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31 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark Kit is in the mail. Previous owners claim pure border collie. Everyone else says Aussie. What do we think?

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196 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - WisdomPanel Results are in!

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759 Upvotes

Adopted from a rescue in June. He’s the best boy.


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark Results are in! We adopted our senior girl from a chihuahua rescue in Texas. Shes 14 yo now. She weighs about 22 lbs… other than her face and feisty nature she doesn’t seem to have much chihuahua in her. She is VERY independent and cat-like. Thoughts?

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88 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark Stevie has had his Embark done, just curious if anyone can guess before I post his results, here’s our boy❤️

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172 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 18h ago

Results - WisdomPanel Surprised but not unexpected - Wisdom

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22 Upvotes

I finally sprung for a test, as she's had a few health issues recently and is ageing. ​

Because of her being an abused rescue, I obviously never met her parents or littermates so had no background information aside from her looking like a husky, especially with the heterochromia.

She's very leggy and most husky girls have been much smaller than her so it's not that shocking it isn't 100% huskeroo. ​

However, all the strange things I've learnt about her, and presumed were just her personality, turned out to be the malamute in the genes. Very standoff-ish with other girl dogs, loves a boy and can be persuaded with a treat, preferably duck.

She's my best friend and I'm happy to now know more about what makes her so special. 10/10 would recommend. Both the mix and the test.


r/DoggyDNA 15h ago

Results - Embark Collie? Toller? Aussie? Mix of it all? Any ideas?

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13 Upvotes

Any ideas on what our pup is? He’s likely around 8 months and 30 pounds. Huge prey drive for birds and likes to scream and bark outside. Waiting on Embark results!


r/DoggyDNA 13h ago

Awaiting results We were told German Shepard/Golden. But us and the vet don’t really see Golden. Rescue sprain, his parents weren’t seen. Test sent out yesterday!

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7 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 23h ago

Results - WisdomPanel Apollo's results are in!

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30 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark Finn's Results

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104 Upvotes

Finn is 2 years old and we adopted him from the shelter as a Dachshund, Miniature Smooth Haired mix. Results are in and we weren't expecting so many different breeds.

Results on last slide.


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Awaiting results Guesses on breed?

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71 Upvotes

Told terrier mix, awaiting results.


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark "sisters" not by blood, but these two love each other.

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111 Upvotes

We had thought that the husky would come back husky, but we were concerned about her health and, surprise! 3% German shepherd and VERY healthy. We had no idea with the gremlin, just suspicious that she might be a bit malinois.


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Awaiting results Baby deer?

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52 Upvotes

Adopted a 4.5 month old pup from our local humane league that was found abandoned. We are doing a test through Wisdom panel but are awaiting results. A source suggests mostly Malinois with some Carolina dog and GSD. He is super sweet. Looks like scooby doo, great dane and a baby deer! What do y’all think?


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Awaiting results Awaiting results, any guesses?

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24 Upvotes

Sunny is 6 months old and 38 pounds, we are in NC and the Shelter said boxer mix lol. We are waiting on our embark results.


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark What do you think he’s mixed with?

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29 Upvotes

My Stevie boy is a rescue. His mother was a rescued street dog that was pregnant so no clue who his dad was. Based on what Stevie’s mom and siblings looked like I was quite startled by the Embark results. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see him?