If you're unsure about your dog’s breed, want to check their general health, and would like to know if your pup may benefit from sensitive dog food or dog health supplements of some kind, a dog DNA test kit isn't a bad idea. The best dog DNA test kits are super simple to use; just swab the inside of your dog's cheeks, send them off and have the results delivered to your home or email inbox in a matter of weeks.
Generally, if you're unsure of your dog's breed or are curious about your pooch's genealogy, a pet DNA test will help give you some answers. It'll provide a more thorough backdrop of their ancestry and may highlight why they have some unique, quirky personality traits. Plus, most of these kits include an MDR1 test that checks for genetic variations that may result in potential health problems and medication sensitivities.
Best Black Friday deals on dog DNA tests
We interrupt the regularly scheduled content to let you know that while Black Friday is officially 29th November, the Black Friday deals have already begun, including deals on dog DNA tests. Want to grab a bargain? These are the retailers that have the best dog DNA test deals right now, or keep scrolling to continue reading our buyer’s guide.
Shop Black Friday dog DNA test deals on: Wisdom Panel
£50 off: Wisdom Panel Premium Dog DNA Test, WAS £139.99, NOW £89.59
Save £35: Wisdom Panel Essential Dog DNA Test, WAS £99.99, NOW £64.99
All in all, these handy dog DNA tests give you a full picture of your pup, and can only be beneficial to your pooch's health and well-being. If any issues are spotted through the tests, you can make changes to your doggy's lifestyle or diet to ensure good health and happiness. For example, you can invest in grain-free dog food, calming plug-ins or joint care supplements to help them out - which will improve their quality of life tenfold.
To help you find out more about your pet's DNA and their ancestors, we've rounded up the best dog DNA kits on the market, from breed discovery kits to affordable options.
Best dog DNA kits UK at a glance:
• Best dog DNA test kit overall: Wisdom Panel Premium Advanced Dog DNA Test - View on Amazon UK
• Best dog DNA test kit under £100: Wisdom Panel Essential Dog DNA Test - View on Amazon UK
• Best dog DNA test kit for breed discovery: Wisdom Panel Breed Discovery - View on Amazon UK
Best dog DNA test kits UK
Best dog DNA test under £100
Retailing at under £100, if you're after a cheap dog DNA test, this is one of the best in that price range. This Wisdom Panel Essential Dog DNA Test is perfect for uncovering your dog's breed down to one per cent. For this, Wisdom Panel dog DNA tests for over 350 breeds and varieties. Having tested over three million pooches, they have the largest doggie database. Swab your pup's cheek and send the kit off to their lab in a pre-paid envelope. With this test, they will test for medication and drug sensitivity and 30 genetic health conditions you need to know as their lucky parent, as well as their ancestry and traits, like body shape and fur colour.
When testing this kit with Cockapoo, Bella, our Senior Writer, Rosie Floyd, found that Bella had two copies of a gene for being at risk of CDDY and IVDD. It's important to remember with kits that test for medical conditions is that it's just showing your pooch is at increased risk of certain conditions and that doesn't mean that they are definitely going to get ill. Rosie appreciates that this test has made her more aware of potential problems for Bella in the future. Unlike the premium test, you don't get the option of a call with a vet to discuss the condition in more detail.
Customers online found the instructions were clear and the kit was simple to use. When we compared it to other dog DNA tests on the market, this one doesn't go as in-depth with the health information but to get a basic overview of your hound's health, it's a good value option.
Pros
- Screens for 350+ breeds and variety to find your dog's genetic matches
- Tests for medicine and drug sensitivities so you know what may cause a reaction in them in the future
Cons
- You don't get a call with a vet to discuss medical issues flagged like you do with the premium test
Best for breed discovery
If you want to know every detail of your dog’s breed mix, why not grab this Wisdom Panel Breed Discovery Dog DNA Collection Kit? With breed reporting down to one per cent and results that are over 98 per cent accurate, you can personalise your pup’s care to suit their unique needs. Find your dog's relatives and trace the family tree back three generations with this kit that screens for more than 365 breeds.
Rosie Floyd, our Senior Writer, tested this kit with her mixed-breed pooch, Gina. She liked that this test detected 11 different breeds in Gina's genetic makeup and that the website has full breed profiles for every breed detected in your pooch so you can immediately read up about them all. This test does screen for MDR1 medication sensitivities but doesn't have full health screening compared to the Premium and Essential Wisdom Panel DNA kits.
With over 3,000 reviews and an average star rating of 4.5, this Wisdom Panel dog DNA test is a popular choice, rating highly for the instruction quality and how easy it is to use. Some reviews have said that the tests can fail to get a result but the customer services were quick to send out another one. When we were testing this kit, however, we didn't have any problems at all and got the results within 16 days.
Pros
- Screen for 365 breeds to identify your dog's exact breed mix
- Allows you to better understand their ancestry with the ability to trace their family tree back three generations
Cons
- Doesn't have in-depth health testing compared to the Premium and Essential Wisdom Panel dog DNA tests
To learn more about the above three doggy DNA tests, check out our Wisdom Panel Dog DNA test reviews.
Best for making connections
Ancestry has always been one of the 'top dogs' when it comes to tracking human ancestry, and as of 2023, they've entered the doggy DNA market too! The Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry comes with a step-by-step guide, and after mailing it back in a prepaid return box, you'll receive the results a few weeks after in the form of an easy-to-read dashboard on their website. They'll test your dog's DNA against over 400 breeds, and identify genetic traits, and thanks to their extensive database, they'll be able to find close genetic matches so you can explore your dog's extended family!
Some customers reported that test results took longer to come back than expected so this is something to bear in mind if you're after quick results. Other than delays with the results, online reviewers have mostly had positive experiences with this pet DNA kit, stating the test was simple to do and they liked they could review the results online via the Ancestry website.
Pros
- Made by a reputable brand that has a good reputation for DNA matches
- Screens against 400+ breeds and 30+ traits to get the full picture of your pup's makeup
Cons
- Some customers reported that test results took longer to come back than expected
Best globally-approved dog DNA test kit
Although this is a US company, the Embark Dog DNA Test Breed Identification Kit is one of the best on the market as it comes highly rated by customers on Amazon. With excellent reviews across the globe, Embark's test allows you to trace your dog’s family tree all the way back to their great-grandparents and can even identify the breed mixes in their great-grandparents so you can see exactly what makes up your mutt. This is more than any other pet DNA test on our list, putting Embark at the top price-wise.
As the test company is based in America, you will need to pay for shipping to get the swap over to them and can’t use the pre-paid bag included to ship the sample over to them. Having to ship to America will also mean the results will be a lot longer compared to other tests with UK-based labs. Customers found the results very interesting to know their pup’s breed and the make-up of potential family relations. You can also upgrade this test to include health testing, so customers were glad to have the option to be able to add it on after taking the test.
Pros
- Tests against 350+ Breeds to discover your mutt's mix
- Can identify mixed breeds all the way back to great-grandparents
Cons
- As you need to ship to the US, you'll need to pay shipping to get the sample back to the US labs
Best dog DNA test kit for allergies
If you have a poorly pooch and are not sure what the problem is, you could test their allergies with this AffinityDNA Dog Allergy Test. Easy and affordable, this kit is designed to help you get to the bottom of your dog's food and environmental sensitivities. Luckily, the test will offer you a complete report on everything your dog may be reactive to, so you can alter their food or environmental exposure accordingly. It tests 125 food and environmental items. Unlike other pet DNA tests on our list, this one doesn't offer information about genetic makeup and breed analysis.
Reviews state it took longer than anticipated to receive the results, which many pet owners found hard because they wanted to get to the bottom of their pup's allergy issues sooner rather than later. Once results arrived, customers found the report easy to read and felt the information meant they could make more informed choices for food and treats knowing what ingredients trigger their allergies.
Pros
- Easy and affordable allergy screening
- Tests for 152 dog food and 48 non-food sensitivities to help you figure out the cause of any health problems your pooch may be experiencing related to food
Cons
- Screens for allergies only so you won't get any information about your dog's breed with this test
Best for post-test dog support
We rate the Orivet Dog Breed DNA + Health Test not just for its testing but also for its post-test support for your doggo. Testing for breed and health, the swab is screened for over 350 breeds and over 250 health risks and traits so you get thorough results for your pup. But once you receive your results, Orivet has a 'LifePlan' that provides a personalised wellness plan for your pooch based on the results.
How long the test results take to get back to them is something mentioned frequently in the customer reviews, with customers saying it took a few weeks longer than advertised so be prepared to wait a little to get the results back. That being said, the reviews from customers who had got their results back mention how pleased they were with the results and felt it was worth the wait to get a clearer picture of their pup’s health and breed.
Pros
- Personalised wellness plan based on results after your pup has taken the test
- Screens for 350+ breeds and 250+ diseases and traits so you get thorough results
Cons
- Results typically took longer than expected
How we chose the best dog DNA tests
All of these dog DNA tests have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered the accuracy, breadth of discovery and customer reviews in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching dog DNA tests to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.
FAQs: Best dog DNA test kits in the UK
How do these DNA tests work?
After registering your pet DNA kit with your service, you need to take a few swabs of the inside of your doggie’s cheek pouch. It is recommended to do this a few hours after they eat some food. After all, the goal is to get as much saliva as possible – because you want to collect a decent amount of DNA canine info for the lab.
This doesn't seem to differ much from service to service. It’s mostly cotton swabs all around.
With kits like those from Embark and Wisdom Panel, you need you set up accounts on their websites before you send the completed packs. Here, you can register as many DNA kits as you like. When your test has been completed, you can access all the data on their website. Here, you can then print it out and save it.
Are dog DNA tests accurate?
Doing a dog DNA test can provide valuable insights into your dog's breed and genetic makeup, but it's worth noting that no test is 100 per cent accurate. However, reputable tests can provide a high level of confidence in their findings, with some of the most popular brands of dog DNA tests boasting accuracy rates of around 98 per cent.
Based on the results of your dog's DNA test, you may start to look for remedies and solutions to help with potential issues flagged on the results, such as giving your dog supplements for itchy skin if the test states your dog has allergies, for example. It's always worth speaking to your vet before starting any supplements or other remedies to ensure it's appropriate for your dog's specific needs and potential health condition.
Before buying a kit, we'd also recommend reading the customer reviews; these always give a huge insight into whether other buyers found the results to be accurate or useful.
Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Take a Break, specialising in pet health. When she’s not barking about dog supplements, she’s online devouring cat content.