If you’ve ever looked at your dog and thought, “What exactly are you?” (or even “Are you really what I think you are?”), the Embark Breed & Health Kit Dog DNA Test promises to give you answers—and then some.
I went into this test already knowing what Freya is (a Pharaoh Hound, thanks to a very well-documented breeder connection), so I wasn’t expecting any surprises on the breed front. But I still wanted to see how detailed the results would be—and more importantly, what the health and trait insights would reveal.
The Embark Breed + Health DNA Test does more than tell you your dog’s breed mix—it screens for 270+ genetic health conditions and offers detailed insights into traits, ancestry, and even potential relatives. Results are clear, thorough, and backed by veterinary research. If you want more than a fun guess at your dog’s background (and actually useful health info), this test is one of the most comprehensive options out there.
What Is the Embark Breed & Health Kit?
The Embark Breed & Health Kit is a comprehensive at-home DNA test for dogs that analyzes your dog’s genetic makeup using a simple cheek swab.
It goes far beyond just identifying breed. You’ll also get:
- Genetic health screening (including breed-specific risks)
- Trait analysis (physical and behavioral tendencies)
- Allergy and sensitivity indicators
- A personality profile
- Access to a database of potential relatives
It’s essentially a full genetic profile for your dog, not just a fun “what mix are they?” test.
Top Features at a Glance
- Tests for 400+ dog breeds (including village dogs)
- Screens for 270+ genetic health conditions
- Identifies traits tied to appearance and behavior
- Finds relatives through Embark’s dog DNA database
- Provides a detailed ancestry breakdown
- Includes allergy risk insights
- Easy at-home cheek swab process
- Results delivered through an interactive online dashboard
Pros & Cons
Quick notes on the “cons”: My results came back within 2 weeks. I also don’t have an issue with them requiring an account. It’s free with the test kit and it just means that random people can’t accidentally access your dog’s info.
Real-World Review: What It’s Actually Like to Use Embark
This is where Embark really stands out. It’s not just about sending off a swab and getting a PDF—it’s an interactive experience from start to finish.
For this review, I used Freya’s results as the main example. Since she’s a purebred, I also pulled in a few comparisons from Zola of Good Girl Zola (a mixed-breed pup with American Pit Bull Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, and “Supermutt” in her mix) courtesy of Emi, to show how the results differ when things are less straightforward. You can also see how Embark results look on the app (Zola’s) vs desktop browser (Freya’s).
Getting Started (Swab Process & Setup)
The kit itself is very straightforward. You get:
- A cheek swab
- A tube for the sample
- Clear instructions
- A prepaid return package
The actual swabbing takes maybe a minute or two. The hardest part, honestly, is convincing your dog not to treat it like a snack or a personal insult.
Once you send it off, you register your kit online and wait. Turnaround time is usually a couple of weeks and Embark keeps you updated along the way so you’re not just wondering if your dog’s DNA disappeared into the void.
The Breed Results
When Freya’s results came in, they confirmed exactly what I expected: 100% Pharaoh Hound.
That might sound a little anticlimactic, but I actually still found it reassuring. Even with strong breeder records, there’s always that tiny “what if” in the back of your mind. This just adds another layer of confirmation.
For mixed-breed dogs like Zola, though, this section becomes way more exciting. Embark breaks down breed percentages and even shows how those breeds may have combined over generations.
What Does “Supermutt” Mean?
If you’re looking at a mixed-breed result, you might see the term “Supermutt.” That’s Embark’s way of saying:
There’s a portion of your dog’s DNA that comes from multiple distant ancestors, too mixed to assign to a single breed with confidence.
It’s not a mystery in a bad way—it just means your dog has a beautifully complex genetic background (and probably a long family tree full of surprises).
Breed Overviews
If you click on the breeds that come up for your dog it’ll give you an overview. Pharaoh Hounds are tough to write about if you don’t have one because they’re not really dogs that everyone is familiar with.
Still, Embark did a great job here overall. I think the only thing that I would change is that you don’t actually have to train them to smile. They do it on their own.
Embark is 10000% correct about their prey instinct and advice to keep them on leash in unfenced areas. I also laughed at this part:
“While they are too friendly to serve as a guard dog, the Pharaoh Hound will bark to alert you to anyone or anything that seems suspicious. Unfortunately, a lot of things look suspicious to a Pharaoh Hound. They will also bark if they are left alone for too long or when they are bored, so it’s best not to leave them alone for long periods.”
SOOOO true. Freya barks when she’s bored, when she’s hungry, when she’s tired, when she sees a squirrel, when the cat looks at her funny…you get the point.
Health Screening
If I had to pick one reason to recommend Embark, this would be it.
The health section screens for over 200 genetic conditions, many of which are breed-specific. Instead of vague warnings, you get clear results like:
- Not at risk
- Carrier (important for breeding, less so for pet owners)
- At risk
For Freya, this was the most valuable part of the entire test. Even though she’s healthy, having that genetic baseline gives me peace of mind—and something concrete to share with a vet if needed.
This isn’t just interesting information, it’s useful information. Freya came back clear for everything that they test for, which was a huge relief.
Allergy Risk & Sensitivity Insights
This is one of the newer (and underrated) features.
Embark provides insights into your dog’s likelihood of certain sensitivities, which can help explain things like:
- Itchy skin
- Digestive issues
- Environmental reactions
Now, it’s not a replacement for a vet diagnosis (and I wouldn’t treat it like one), but it does give you a helpful starting point.
If you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out why your dog is suddenly itchy for no reason, you’ll appreciate having at least some genetic context.
As far as Freya’s results go, she was below average in environmental, food, and contact allergies. Environmental was actually her risk rating at 4.8%. Freya does have seasonal allergies but they’re very mild. The only thing we have found that she’s actually allergic to are cicada killer wasp stings. Thankfully, those only come out when the cicadas do in our area, like every 13 years or so.
Traits & Physical Characteristics
This section is part science, part “oh wow, that tracks.”
Embark looks at genes linked to traits like:
- Coat type and shedding
- Size and body structure
- Eye color
- Even some behavioral tendencies
For mixed-breed dogs, this section can really help explain why your dog looks or acts the way they do.
With Freya, a lot of confirmed things I already knew (long legs, athletic build, etc) but it was still fun to read. There was one trait that I found interesting (and I saw this in another DNA test, too): Freya is genetically prone to have a larger body size than the average Pharaoh Hound.
(New Feature) Personality Test & Fun Games
This must be a really brand-new feature because I didn’t see it the first time I logged in to check Freya’s results. It’s really fun, too! You answer a bunch of questions about your dog and then it gives you the results comparing your answers to others in her breed.
As expected, Freya “marches to her own beat.” She’s like me, always a little different! While she fell in line with her breed standards for most things, she doesn’t follow the “rule book” when it comes to her eagerness (she’s very much a “look at me, pick me” type of dog) as well as how scent-driven she is. She’s a sighthound so they’re usually more visual hunters. Freya absolutely fits that, but she can and will follow a scent like she’s part beagle or something.
Personalized games are another cool new feature that I just discovered. If you head to the “Care” tab you’ll find a second short quiz on a screen like this:
Embark takes your answers and builds a personalized play plan for your dog based on those answers. These are Freya’s recommendations:
Notice the one for Bathing Desensitization? They recommended that one because I mentioned that Freya doesn’t like baths. I thought that was really neat. It’s just another way that Embark adds extra value and creates an ongoing engaging experience.
Finding Your Dog’s Relatives (Yes, Really)
This might be the most unexpectedly entertaining feature.
Embark compares your dog’s DNA to others in their database and shows you:
- Close relatives (like siblings or cousins)
- Shared DNA percentages
- Where those relatives are located
For purebred dogs like Freya, this can actually be pretty meaningful, especially if you’re curious about lineage beyond what you already know.
For mixed breeds, it’s just plain fun. You might discover your dog has relatives all over the country (or even the world). Emi even took Zola to meet up with her siblings. So much fun!
Is Embark Worth It?
If you’re only interested in finding out your dog’s breed, there are cheaper options out there (including one by Embark that just covers breed identification)
But if you want a full picture—health, traits, potential risks, and even family connections—the Embark Breed & Health Kit is in a completely different category.
For me, the biggest takeaway wasn’t confirming Freya’s breed. It was everything else.
The health insights alone make it worth considering. The rest just makes it a surprisingly engaging experience you’ll probably spend way more time exploring than you expect.
The Embark Breed + Health DNA Test does more than tell you your dog’s breed mix—it screens for 270+ genetic health conditions and offers detailed insights into traits, ancestry, and even potential relatives. Results are clear, thorough, and backed by veterinary research. If you want more than a fun guess at your dog’s background (and actually useful health info), this test is one of the most comprehensive options out there.
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