What Information Does an Embark Dog DNA Test Provide?

An Embark dog DNA test uses a cheek swab to report on your dog's breed mix, ancestry, genetic health risks, and—depending on which test you buy—behavior tendencies, relatives, and even estimated age. The exact information you get depends on the product: Breed ID covers ancestry only, Breed + Health adds health screening, and the Age Test estimates age separately. Prices on the site currently range from about $109 for Breed ID to $139 for Breed + Health.

Breed and ancestry information

The core of every Embark DNA test is a breed breakdown. According to the site, results are powered by what it describes as the world's largest dog database and report breed mix with 99% accuracy.

• Breed mix: which breeds are in your dog and roughly how much of each.
• Ancestry: how those breeds combine across your dog's family tree.
• Relatives: the Breed ID test is described as finding your dog's relatives, which is useful for rescue dogs of unknown background.

This is the information you get from the entry-level Breed ID Dog DNA Test (listed at $119, on sale for $109).

Health screening

The Breed + Health Dog DNA Test ($159, on sale for $139) is described as the bestselling, most comprehensive test. It includes everything in Breed ID plus health testing.

The Purebred Dog DNA Test ($159, on sale for $139) is aimed at purebred dogs and screens for 270+ health conditions and allergy risk across 4 categories.

So if health risk screening matters to you—for example, to discuss potential inherited conditions with your vet—you need a Health or Purebred test, not Breed ID alone.

Behavior and training insights

Embark offers a Behavior Insights upgrade, described on the site as a new behavior and training feature. The framing is "work with their instincts, not against them," meaning results are meant to translate breed and genetic tendencies into practical training guidance. This is an add-on rather than part of the base Breed ID test.

Age estimation

Age is not part of the breed or health tests. It comes from a separate Dog Age Test (from $109), which the site says uses DNA methylation science to estimate your dog's age. If you want both ancestry and age, Embark sells bundles:

The Breed + Health and Age bundle is positioned as the best choice for rescue dogs, since it covers the most ground when background is unknown.

Other products that are not DNA tests

Worth separating out, because they appear alongside the tests: Embark also sells supplements (Allergy, Joint, Gut Restore, Gut Maintenance Plus, S. Boulardii + FOS Powder) and a Gut Health Test ($135, on sale for $129) that gives diet, supplement, or lifestyle recommendations. These are not breed or ancestry tests.

How to decide

• Just want to know the breed mix and find relatives → Breed ID.
• Want breed mix plus health risk screening → Breed + Health.
• Have a purebred dog and want condition and allergy screening → Purebred test.
• Want to estimate an unknown dog's age → Dog Age Test, or a bundle if you also want DNA results.
• Want training guidance tied to breed tendencies → add Behavior Insights.

One practical note: the site lists free shipping on US orders and describes the swab as a simple cheek swab, so the sample collection itself doesn't require a vet visit. Prices shown are current sale prices and can change.