This is Betty's post. I'm just making it for her because we had a posting problem ...



I am curious if anyone has used this company.

There was a discount for veterinarians, which I still am.
% different breeds and a slew of DNA markers for health conditions, including 6-8 for eyes, all the known
"Reasons" that a dog might "go blind".

The test requires a cheek swab and saliva collection -- my guy might not be super cooperative about that!
Some fun things are included in the test ( such as propensity for shedding)

This post is from Betty L.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

This is Betty's post. I'm just making it for her because we had a posting problem ...



I am curious if anyone has used this company.

There was a discount for veterinarians, which I still am.
% different breeds and a slew of DNA markers for health conditions, including 6-8 for eyes, all the known
"Reasons" that a dog might "go blind".

The test requires a cheek swab and saliva collection -- my guy might not be super cooperative about that!
Some fun things are included in the test ( such as propensity for shedding)

This post is from Betty L.

What I've heard from "those in the know", and what I believe as a "scientifically minded layman", is that ALL such DNA tests are mostly BS -- If you have Already gotten DNA results from the Sire & Dam, then you can Determine from the Test whether or not any given dog is THEIR offspring (a paternity / maternity test) ... But the rest of those Advertising Claims for Canines and/or Humans are pretty much "snake-oil salesmanship", IMHO

Back when this kind of DNA testing started (and at that time, it was advertised mainly as breed information for those who did not have DNA on sire and dam), that's the kind of review I read too.

The main problem was apparently a shortfall in the breeds represented in the possible results (their breed database). That is, if a significant percentage of DNA in the dog was from a breed not in the database, then the results would show only the breeds they did have in their database.

So a dog whose DNA was all from pretty common breeds would get appropriate results, while a dog whose DNA included a significant percentage from a breed not in their database would be wildly skewed.

Of course, soon thereafter, they expanded to predict illnesses, etc., based on breed DNA. But at the same time, at least some of the companies doing this kind of testing also expanded their databases.

(Obviously, I know less than zero, and this is only my understanding after reading early reviews.)

Now I see some improved reviews. In the ones I found, Embark, while maybe the priciest, does come out on top.

https://www.caninejournal.com/dog-dna-tests-reviews/

https://dogbreedidentifier.com/dog-dna-test-reviews/embark-dog-dna-test-review/



ETA
This led me into fascinating stuff in the scholarly journals!

I typed in dog dna testing, scholarly journals at Google. Then when I found an article I liked (or understood! LOL), I clicked on related articles in its Google listing.

I don't know if this is the most efficient way, but I happened on it years ago and have done it ever since.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/06/2018 01:16 PM)
Edit reason: ETA

It's been maybe 10 yrs since I talked to a woman that had her dog tested.

The dog was a "found" dog and looked "to me" as if it were a pure Mal.

The results were some sort of hound, Great Pyrenees.

The new owner didin't believe it either.

I know AKC breeders can use it for the purpose of breeding to two different males in order to see the combination results without having to wait a yr or so for a second breeding.

Obviously all three parents have to be tested then all of the pups born.

As to health issues I have no idea.

 Quote: Bob Scott

It's been maybe 10 yrs since I talked to a woman that had her dog tested.

The dog was a "found" dog and looked "to me" as if it were a pure Mal.

The results were some sort of hound, Great Pyrenees.

The new owner didin't believe it either.

I know AKC breeders can use it for the purpose of breeding to two different males in order to see the combination results without having to wait a yr or so for a second breeding.

Obviously all three parents have to be tested then all of the pups born.

As to health issues I have no idea.

YES, exactly, Bob

A legitimate use of DNA tests is to determine the Direct Parenthood between a Generation and the one Immediately preceding or following it IF you have Results for Each generation -- This works for Canines & Humans alike with 90-Something percent probability of accuracy ... It will NOT determine whether YOU are "25% Inuit, 50% Irish & 25% Indian or your DOG is 25% Dachshund, 50% Doberman & 25% Dandie Dinmont", for example

Agree!

We sent in our Pinkers DNA
There was no place to describe the dog Before testing, so it will be blind.....

Our sons are adopted. We sent in DNA to 23 and Me and found one was 8% Native American, a fact that had been told to us at the time of the adoption. We had given the company no information.

I will be interested in seeing the dog report. There are 10 markers for " eye" problems....collie eye, microopthalmia, early onset PRA, rod -cone dysplasia...I will be interested in that, for sure.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

We sent in our Pinkers DNA
There was no place to describe the dog Before testing, so it will be blind.....

Our sons are adopted. We sent in DNA to 23 and Me and found one was 8% Native American, a fact that had been told to us at the time of the adoption. We had given the company no information.

I will be interested in seeing the dog report. There are 10 markers for " eye" problems....collie eye, microopthalmia, early onset PRA, rod -cone dysplasia...I will be interested in that, for sure.

That works only IF there is a Known Marker in a certain group's GENOME such as exists for male-only Ashkenazi Jewish populations

Betty will correct me if I'm mistaken but I "believe" the markers she mentioned occur in the Australian Cattle dog (Heeler)

 Quote: Bob Scott

Betty will correct me if I'm mistaken but I "believe" the markers she mentioned occur in the Australian Cattle dog (Heeler)

But most of those Genetic eye disorders are common to MULTIPLE breeds -- "Collie Eye" just for example, is well known in many UK and Australian herding dogs, not only the ACD...