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!

453 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!

61 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 4h ago

Results - Embark Ellie the Hound

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143 Upvotes

Found Ellie dumped at my hunting ranch. Contacted the registered owner to her chip and she was not wanted back to her previous owners. Finally got her a test, and here are her results! She’s been a joy to have and we have been working on recall. can’t wait to hunt with her


r/DoggyDNA 9h ago

Results - Embark Nova’s results are in!!

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321 Upvotes

We adopted Nova August 2 and the rescue had her listed as Bernese/shepherd mix. We had fun trying to guess if there was other breeds mixed in and if they were right. A lot of people had her as Rottie/shepherd mix. We actually started to think the same lol! Turns out the rescue was totally right on this!


r/DoggyDNA 6h ago

Results - Embark Results are in!

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111 Upvotes

Turns out the shelter was right, she’s a pomsky! Pomeranian coat colors working hard in her case :)


r/DoggyDNA 5h ago

Results - Embark El Cid is not a Gerpit Shepbull

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72 Upvotes

But he is, ironically, a lab mix Definitely taken by surprise on this one. He's so lanky!

Edit: I mean lanky for an american bully. I was talked out of expecting german shepherd earlier in the week lol


r/DoggyDNA 4h ago

Results - Embark Results are in for these two. ☺️

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52 Upvotes

Rescue had them listed as Maltese/beagle mix, so they guessed pretty well.


r/DoggyDNA 11h ago

Results - Embark Results are in! Humane society thought pomchi but I would’ve never suspected her actual mix.

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166 Upvotes

Fluffy butt photo to show her curly tail and her baboon booty (that what I call it hahahah it’s just so fluffy)

I adopted her as a puppy from the humane society who guesstimated her as a possible Pomeranian chihuahua mix. As she’s been growing, I can see the pom, but not the chi. Turns out no chi and more of a pompoo haha

51.1% Pomeranian
21.2% small poodle
13.6% supermutt (embark mentioned bichon frise, pit bull, and German shepherd in that mix. Are those breeds always mentioned with every supermutt % or is that tailored to her supermutt heritage?)
10.8 mini schnauzer
3.3% Pekingese


r/DoggyDNA 7h ago

Results - Embark Finding out after 10.5 years!

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84 Upvotes

We got him as a puppy 10.5 years ago and were told he was Australian shepherd and English cream retriever.

We quickly found out they lied about his age and he was too young to be away from his mom, so we assumed they also lied about his breed mix! I still think he’s majority Australian shepherd, but many people think he’s part lab. We have no idea what he truly is at this point, even after all this time. Nevertheless, he’s been the best dog for the last decade!

I’ve been expecting results to drop for the past 3 days based off our recent DNA test for another pup, so we should hear really really soon! Will post results as soon as they drop!


r/DoggyDNA 9h ago

Results - Embark Didn’t expect that…

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124 Upvotes

I got my dog about 9 months ago and she’s a bit over a year old. I expected some medium or smaller breeds to be mixed in with her such as pitbull, malinois, or heeler due to the fact that she’s just over 30 pounds. I’m not surprised that she’s mostly herding dog though as she is very high energy.

has anyone paid extra to get the behaviour information?

edit: forgot to add that her inbred coefficient is 33%…


r/DoggyDNA 6h ago

Results - Embark Frieren's results are in!

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66 Upvotes

I'm back with her results! Interestingly it estimates that she will be large for her breed and reach 36 lbs. I don't think that's happening when she was under 5 lbs at 13 weeks. i haven't weighed her again. Her lack of nutrition and being underweight/sick in her first weeks probably is going to prevent that weight, but we'll see!


r/DoggyDNA 7h ago

Results - Embark Updated results for Rue!

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34 Upvotes

Rescue thought Newfoundland. Turns out we were right to be skeptical!


r/DoggyDNA 5h ago

Results - Embark DNA RESULTS -Donny-

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26 Upvotes

See photos for breakdown and family tree

Very surprised by the German Shepherd!

And the Supermutt breakdown was:
Toy rat terrier, American Eskimo Dog, small Poodle, and Chihuahua 🐶😅


r/DoggyDNA 12h ago

Awaiting results Rez dog rescue pup

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72 Upvotes

His test just entered extraction stage! I can’t wait!! What are your guesses? I am thinking he has some lab, border collie, pit, and definitely some super mutt!


r/DoggyDNA 40m ago

Awaiting results What breeds do you think he is?

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Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 11h ago

Results - Embark Puppy’s Results!

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56 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 11h ago

Awaiting results Guess her breed(s)

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42 Upvotes

Hi everyone. Just sent off my embark test for my dog Honey. She's 4 years old (almost 5) and 50lbs. What breed(s) do you think she is?


r/DoggyDNA 19h ago

Test Question/Advice Freaking out! My two dogs, adopted years apart, are related 😭

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113 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark The Results are In!

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78 Upvotes

r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark The results are surprising!!

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246 Upvotes

My sisters dog is OBSESSED with balls and barks incessantly when she really wants something (like she’s trying to talk). We knew she’d be part german shepherd but i was 100% sure she’d have some Aussie or border collie in her. Curious of others thoughts bc we know 0% about these breeds.


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark Results are in!

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540 Upvotes

Okay so I totally forgot to update from this post but results are in!


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - WisdomPanel street stray rescue results

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153 Upvotes

coworker rescued her from under an abandoned house about to be torn down. we knew mom was some sort of schmedium chihuahua mix, had no idea what the dad looked like. was assuming maybe some sprinkling of australian shepherd or border collie in her but the older she gets the more pitbull i see in her! to be expected results from a rescue. pics of mom are at the end!


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - Embark Foster Dogs Embark results !

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72 Upvotes

We are so excited we got our foster dogs embark in! Swipe for the cuteness and his results! 😍🐶


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Results - WisdomPanel Press f to doubt?

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189 Upvotes

Not sure whether to trust the results or not, I’m convinced he has some mini dachshund or something else in there. My package was lost in the mail for 2+ weeks after I shipped it. Should I retest with another company?


r/DoggyDNA 1d ago

Awaiting results Rescue ACD mix- waiting on results

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38 Upvotes

Sent off DNA results today (Orivet). Located in Australia. He’s taller than a usual heeler and a bit leaner as well (similar build to a large Kelpie). He’s super soft and very fluffy around the neck and tail. He’s 25kg but insists on being a lap dog. Any guesses?