If you’re looking for a better way to get to know your dog, the Know Your Pet DNA kit by Ancestry can help.

Like other pet DNA products on the market, this one can unlock the mystery of your dog’s breed makeup. This kit also offers unique insights into your dog’s physical and behavioral traits as well as important health markers. Unlike other products, this one can match your dog’s DNA to that of other dogs that share a familial relationship.

That’s right, with this DNA kit, you can start building your dog’s family tree!

I had a chance to try Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry on my mystery mutt, Ragz. Below, I’ll share what I liked about this product, where I see room for improvement, and, most importantly, what insights it provided on my adopted furry family member.

Overview

Our Experience

I have wanted to use a DNA test on my mixed-breed dog, Ragz, since we first adopted her over thirteen years ago. When I got the opportunity to try out Ancestry’s Know Your Pet DNA test, I jumped on it. Not only was I excited to see her breed results, but I was interested in this test’s health insights as well.

On top of the standard offerings, I was also very curious about the DNA matching Ancestry offers for pets. I have taken an Ancestry DNA test myself and always love digging into the DNA matches they send me each week. Since Ragz came to us from another state where she was found as a stray, I was hopeful this feature could shed some light on her past.

Registering the test kit was super easy. All I had to do was scan the QR code and enter Ragz’s details and we were ready to get started.

Administering the test was nearly as easy. The testing tools come in one compact package, with the swab attached to the vile. All I had to do was swab the inside of Ragz’s cheek, then unscrew the swab and flip it around and screw it back into the vile.

After that, I popped it into the included prepaid mailer and put it in the mailbox. The actual mailing of the package took longer than any other step. But, after about a week, it arrived at the lab and just six days later, I received results.

I was updated each step of the way via email.

We adopted Ragz from a Dalmatian rescue when she was about a year old. Since then, I have been adamant that she is, in fact, a Dalmatian mix and not a Heeler mix as her spots might indicate. So you can imagine how relieved I was when I looked at the results and found Dalmatian listed among her breeds.

That part was expected. What came as a bit of a surprise was that she was mostly Labrador and had both Boxer and Cocker Spaniel in her.

Although, in hindsight, these make a lot of sense. She has a lot of Boxer personality traits and the Cocker explains her smaller stature.

Finding out her breeds was a lot of fun, but the more important insights this test provides are the health metrics. Luckily, Ragz only had one red-flag health marker and she is just a carrier for the gene and won’t be affected by it. I can see this aspect of the test being very useful for both breeders and owners of new puppies so they can take preventative measures if necessary.

Another great feature of this test that would be helpful for puppy owners is the traits aspect. The test covers dozens of physical and behavioral DNA-based traits. For the most part, these seemed accurate for Ragz. Although there were a few that didn’t quite match her personality, but this may just be the effects of nurture versus nature.

Of course, what most sets this test apart is the inclusion of DNA matches. I didn’t expect to see many matches simply because this is a newer offering and I didn’t think there would be much data to draw from. But already, Ragz has 197 matches, almost all of which come from the Labrador side of her family tree.

Overall, given how easy this test was to administer, how quickly I got the results, and how well-priced this test is for all you get, I would highly recommend it to any dog owner looking at pet DNA kits.

Pros & Cons

Key Features

Get Insights in Four Different Areas

Most pet DNA tests include insights into your dog’s breed makeup. In addition to that, this one also gives you trait insights so you can get a better understanding of the DNA that makes up your dog’s physical appearance as well as their behavioral tendencies.

This kit also provides health insights on over 200 health markers. You’ll find out if your dog carries any genes known to cause disease and whether they are likely to suffer from that disease or simply pass the genes on. This gives you valuable insights that you can use to start preventative measures or at least know what symptoms to look for.

Lastly, this test uses your dog’s DNA to find closely related dogs in their testing system. As with human DNA tests, this can help you build your dog’s family tree and may even find some closely related cousins and siblings.

Easy to Use

Getting all these insights is as simple as swabbing your dog’s cheek and dropping the return package in the mail. It took me less than five minutes to register my pup and get her DNA sample. The kit comes with clear instructions on how to collect the sample and even has links to video tutorials to ensure you do it right.

Fast Results

I received my dog’s DNA results thirteen days after I put the sample in the mail. And most of this time was spent on shipping, not analysis. Once the lab received the sample, I got my results in just six short days.

According to the website, it takes, on average, two to four weeks for DNA to be processed.

Easy to Navigate Dashboard

Ancestry makes it easy to review your dog’s results with their intuitive dashboard. You’ll see their breed results front-and-center with quick links to their traits, health information, and DNA matches. You can even quickly share your DNA results with your social media platforms from this fun and colorful dashboard.

About Ancestry

Is Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry a Good Value?

Ancestry offers two pet DNA kits, one that includes health insights on top of breeds, traits, and DNA matches, and one that does not. The kit without health is priced about even with competitors offering the same insights. The kit that includes health costs less, on average, than similar offerings, making this kit an especially good value.

How We Tested

I received the kit, followed the instructions to collect the sample (a cheek swab), and mailed it to the lab.

I also tested the user dashboard Ancestry offers by thoroughly exploring all of the features.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does it take to get results?

According to the website, it can take two to four weeks to get results once the lab receives them. It took only six days for my results to be processed.

How many breeds are tested against?

Ancestry uses the DNA knowledge of hundreds of different dog breeds around the world to identify breed traits in your dog’s DNA.

How many health markers does the test look at?

The Know Your Pet DNA kit looks at over 200 health markers.

Are the results ever updated?

Yes, you will receive notifications as new health and trait markers are identified. You will also receive continuous updates as new DNA matches are identified.

Conclusion

If you’re curious about your dog’s DNA makeup, I highly recommend checking out the Know Your Pet DNA Kit by Ancestry.

This kit not only offers insight into your dog’s breed makeup and traits but also important health insights on over 200 health markers. Uniquely, this kit also links your pet to individual dogs who share their DNA, helping you to build your pup’s family tree.

Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry is an easy-to-use and affordable option for dog owners who want to get to know their dog inside and out.