Affluent Dogs’ Embark DNA Results
If you’ve checked out my post Which Dog DNA Test Is Most Accurate then you know I chose Embark’s Breed + Health Kit for DNA testing my girls. It’s the most accurate dog DNA test your money can buy. And when it comes to my girls, I want nothing but the best for them. The Affluent Dogs Embark DNA results had lots of little surprises!
Lemon’s Embark DNA Results
When Lemon was adopted, included with her papers was a bill of a sale from a breeder. It was not a reputable breeder. Everything I could find indicates this was your stereotypical back yard breeder. So while I supposedly had a purebred Labrador on my hands, I didn’t really believe that I did. Her small ears, I thought, were a dead giveaway of some other breed mixed in.
Imagine my surprise when Lemon’s Embark DNA results came back to show she was 100% Labrador Retriever. She’s proof positive that you can adopt a purebred dog!
Olive’s Embark DNA Results
After adding Olive to the family, I began to speculate what her breed mix might be. As her coat continued to fill in, it reminded me of my Golden Retriever boys, and with her white markings, I convinced myself she was a Beagle Golden Retriever mix…a Beago! I told everyone I had a Beago. I was so…wrong!
While Olive is predominantly a Labrador, she has quite a little mix of everything! What’s a Supermutt, you ask? When mixed breed dogs descend from other mixed breed dogs, you eventually have such small contributions of DNA, it becomes difficult to discern the exact breeds. At this point, Embark makes their best educated guess at what breeds might be making up this Supermutt portion of your dog’s DNA.
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ruby’s Embark DNA Results
Ruby’s Embark DNA results may have been the biggest surprise. From the moment the rescue posted the first photo of her, I knew she was meant to join our family! I also assumed she was a Chocolate Lab. And then we met. My very first thought upon seeing her was…why in the world would someone dock a Chocolate Lab’s tail?!?
It wasn’t just Ruby’s short tail that gave me pause about her potential breed mix. So much of her overall appearance had me convinced she was not a Labrador at all, but a purebred Liver German Shorthaired Pointer. Seriously. Google image search that, and tell me you don’t see it too!
As it turns out, Ruby is predominantly the Chocolate Lab I was dreaming of after all! And her breed mix includes some of the most popular dog breeds in the US. Her Supermutt mix, however, is a bit more obscure.
A surprise in Ruby’s Embark Trait Analysis
Perhaps the most telling detail from Ruby’s Embark DNA results came not from her breed mix at all, but from her traits. With Lemon’s and Olive’s trait results, every detail was very affirmative. Details on their coat color, and coat color modifiers, were spot on. For example, when it comes to White Spotting, Olive’s ‘Ssp’ genetic result explains her having some white spotting in her coat, where Lemon’s ‘SS’ genetic result explains her having no white spots in her coat. Reading about the different gene combinations that make up the results is super interesting.
Ruby’s trait details were also very affirmative…Yep, she has dark fur, and no white spotting. And then it hit me! There, under Other Body Features, Ruby’s gene for Tail Length was noted as Short/natural bobtail! It seems Ruby comes by her short tail honestly as opposed to being a Chocolate Lab with a docked tail!
Embark’s Doggy DNA Relative Finder
One of the really cool things about Embark DNA results is their Doggy DNA Relative Finder. Similar to how AncestryDNA connects you with your own relatives through DNA analysis, Embark connects you with your dog’s relatives. As more and more dogs are tested by Embark, you’ll receive additional email updates as new relatives of your pup are discovered. This is all included in your original kit purchase, and it does not cost anything additional. If your dog is a mixed breed, you’ll also have access to Mix Match buddies who are a similar breed mix to your dog.
Lemon currently has 30 ‘Close Family’ relatives sharing the same DNA by 25-27%! These dogs are noted as being “as related as human half-siblings, aunts/uncles, and grandparents.” Olive has one dog sharing 25% DNA, noted at the same level as Lemon’s relatives. Her other “first cousins” share between 13-17% DNA. Ruby also has “first cousins” sharing between 15-17% DNA. Embark states the dogs in your dog’s relatives list are the “top dogs” in their database, based on the percentage of DNA shared.
We are family!
I know you sang that with me…
In addition to having a list of your dog’s top DNA matches, you’ll also have the ability to compare your dog directly to any one relative, Mix Match buddy, or shared doggie profile from a friend. This comparison feature is what allowed me to discover all three of the girls are actually related to one another! Lemon shares 10.6% DNA with Olive, and 10.1% DNA with Ruby! Meanwhile, Olive and Ruby share 7.9% DNA with one another. Embark states they are all ‘Extended Family’ and as related as first or second cousins. How cool is that?!!
All of this information wouldn’t have been possible without DNA testing. Needless to say, I am incredibly happy with my Embark experience! Are you ready to get your own Embark Breed + Health Kit?
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This post contains affiliate links for products I actually use and recommend. It’s not a sponsored post, but if you purchase through the provided links, I may receive a commission. All opinions are my own.
