This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Your dog is the best dog in the world. That's what everyone thinks about their pooch. In a way, we’re all absolutely right. All dogs are the best dog in the world.
You already know that your dog is unique, but you're probably wondering: What it is that makes them so special? Why are their eyes different colours? Why do they have spotted fur? Why do they insist on barking any time something walks past the window? All important questions in the dog-owner world. It comes down to this: genetic make-up.
You could put a picture of your dog on Twitter and have people vote on what mix of breeds that he or she is. But it would be pure guesswork. Enter dog DNA tests.
What is a dog DNA test?
Yes, dog DNA tests are a real thing, and it’s pretty much as it sounds. DNA can tell you lots about your dog's family history, their genetic makeup, and their risk of disease in the future.
For rescue dog owners, these are pretty much a must-do to finally solve your pooch's identity issues. Plus, it'll be nice to be able to give people a real answer when other dog-walkers at the park ask about their breed.
Similarly to the way human DNA tests show a pie chart of percentages from ethnic regions around the world, a dog DNA test shows you what your pooch is really made of — and maybe you'll even find out that his grandmother was a Great Dane, and that's why his ears are so pointy when you've been thinking he was all Mastiff this whole time.
How do dog DNA test kits work?
Wondering how the science works? Well, the whole thing is actually pretty similar to human DNA kits. Dogs have two copies of every gene, one inherited from the mother and one from the father. DNA genetics labs can hone in on each and trace your dog's maternal and paternal line all the way back to great grandparents. It's also important to note that puppies will randomly inherit 50 percent of each of their parents' breeds, making it very possible for puppies in the same litter to have different breed compositions. So even if you know (or think you know) what your dog's parents or siblings are, a DNA test is still super worthwhile.
What we were surprised to see is that almost all dog DNA tests offer health screenings. 23andMe is the only human DNA test that offers a health service, and it's optional. It's way better to spend the money to take precautions now instead of waiting until a problem actually arises and you end up having to break the bank on vet bills. And let's be real: Finding out if there's a problem early and possibly being able to add years to your dog's life is worth all of the money in the world.
How much does a dog DNA test kit cost?
We'll warn you now that most dog DNA kits are just as expensive (or more expensive) than DNA tests for humans. Owning a dog is never cheap, but these will set you back. Then again, most owners care about their dogs as if they were their actual children, so hell yeah, we'll fork out that money.
What is the best dog DNA test kit?
You've got plenty of options when it comes to DNA test kits for your dog, which is good and bad. It's great to have options, but it does make the decision process a little bit harder when there are so many products to consider. This is where we can help.
Time to let us take the lead, you could say. Ahem.
We've checked out everything on offer and highlighted a selection of the best DNA testing kits for dogs. There should be something for every dog and budget in this list. You just need to pick a favourite.
These are the best DNA testing kits for dogs.
