Mimi Padmabandu

Wondering if your dog may be under- or overweight? Every dog’s ideal weight is different. A body condition score is a tool that you can use in between vet visits to monitor your dog’s weight and help them stay in a healthy range. What is a body condition score in dogs? A body condition score...

Most dogs love their food. So when puppy Rave refused to eat, Liz Burke was worried. Liz has three dogs: Rave, a three-year-old Border Collie; Wasabi, a two-year-old Border Collie; and Bishop, a nine-year-old mixed-breed dog. Liz’s family includes three domestic shorthair cats: Cyril Figgis, Archer, and Owen. After years of trying new diets—none of...

This holiday season, we’re decoding Max, the beloved fictional dog from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Max joins Clifford and Scooby-Doo in our Embark Decoded series. If we ran an Embark dog DNA test on Max, what would we find? What type of dog is Max from The Grinch? Max is a true mystery mutt—no...

In 2019, Embark scientists Adam Boyko, PhD and Aaron Sams, PhD published a study in the scientific journal G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics investigating the genetic effects of inbreeding in domestic dogs. They found that runs of homozygosity (especially longer ones) are associated with higher levels of known recessive disease alleles. Genetic hallmarks of inbreeding “Inbreeding is the...

When comparing dog DNA tests, we know the choice can be overwhelming. Here, we explore some of the differences between Embark vs Wisdom Panel dog DNA tests, and explain why Embark is the best choice for your dog. Jump to: Why Embark? | For dog owners | For breeders |  For veterinarians   Embark vs...

When Julana and her husband adopted Willie Nelson, they suspected he was 100% German Shepherd Dog, due to his black and tan coat pattern. But as he got older, they noticed that his size was smaller than they expected for a German Shepherd. They decided to use an Embark dog DNA test to find out...

Can you guess the top 10 most common breeds in mixed-breed dogs? If you’ve tested your dog with Embark, you may know that breed ancestry doesn’t always dictate appearance, leading to some surprises. We often receive questions from customers about the breeds in their dog’s genetic ancestry—especially the unexpected ones.  We analyzed genetic data from...

Dogs aren’t only humankind’s best friend; they’re also a valuable model species for medical genetics research.  Led by Adam Boyko, PhD, Chief Science Officer at Embark, a team of researchers from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, China Agricultural University, and La Sierra University conducted a genetic study of over 4,200 dogs....

Known for their sunny coat and disposition, Golden Retrievers are widely recognized as one of the most popular dog breeds in America. Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers are also overrepresented for certain diseases, with more documented mortalities due to cancer than nearly any other breed (Kent et al. 2018; Dobson 2013).  The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study by...

We know it’s never easy to think about your dog getting older. You might have received Embark Age Test results for your dog that were older than you expected. Perhaps you recently adopted an older dog, and you might be wondering what type of senior dog care is appropriate for them.  Whatever the case may be,...

Though it is well accepted that dogs were the first domesticated animals, the question of where dogs came from is still a heated debate among scientists.  Over the past decade, various studies pointed to Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia as the likely origin for dogs, depending on what samples the researchers had and...

As of October 4, 2022, the Embark Dog Age Test is available to order. The Age Test uses a dog’s DNA to measure their calendar age. Specifically, it uses a type of DNA marker called methylation. Here, we explore the science behind the Age Test and explain how DNA methylation can be used to calculate...