Lisa Peterson

   It’s always fun to highlight one of the most commonly observed traits in dogs, their unique coat types, and explain the underlying science that determines the outcome. Coats come in various forms ranging from the short, hard, wiry coats of terriers to the long, silky coats of many toy dogs. Part of a dog’s...

Your dog is one-of-a-kind. But have you ever wondered what makes them that way? Embark makes it our business to know your dog down to their DNA. Our scientists unlocked a secret to understanding dogs’ roan coat patterns — and they couldn’t have done it without the help of everyday dog owners who wanted to...

Embark scientists, working in collaboration with its citizen scientist customers, made the unique genetic discovery that the uniquely patterned coat of Cattle Dogs, Pointers, and other breeds known as “roaning” is strongly associated with a genomic region on chromosome 38 and likely regulated by the usherin gene (USH2A). Embark’s study R-locus for roaned coat is...

The Past DNA testing and profiling came of age less than 50 years ago – providing for a myriad of opportunities, including forensics, screening for predisposition to disease, and paternity testing. Paternity testing, by common definition: Typically, a DNA-based test to determine whether a given male could be the biological parent of a given offspring....

Embark for Breeders Dog DNA test includes a variant in the HPS3 gene that causes a coat color referred to as “cocoa.” What Does Cocoa Look Like Phenotypically? This variant causes dogs that would otherwise produce black pigment to produce dark brown pigment in their skin and hair. Dogs must have two copies of the...

Veterans Day is a federal holiday meant to honor those who have served in the military. In celebration of Veterans Day, we sat down with Francess “Myrph” McMahon of Stand With Me, a nonprofit organization that places service dogs with veterans. Stand With Me takes a unique approach by teaching veterans to train their own...

Does your dog have serious dandruff, excessive scaling, or cracked skin? It may be due to a skin disorder called canine ichthyosis. While ichthyosis in dogs may be cosmetically unappealing, it may also cause considerable discomfort and lead to other systemic concerns. There is considerable ongoing research into skin disorders with both known and unknown...

You’ve tested and verified your dog’s genetic health with an Embark for Breeders Dog DNA test; now set them apart for everyone to see with a “Tested by Embark” logo. DNA testing for genetic health conditions and managing diversity are two of the many important steps breeders take to manage and improve the overall health...

Bleeding abnormalities  (coagulopathies) in dogs can occur for a variety of reasons: Infection, organ failure, toxins—or they can be caused by an inherited abnormality in the coagulation pathway. Although some breeds are known to have a higher incidence of blood disorders, coagulopathies can affect breeds of all types and sizes—from Doberman Pinschers to Shetland Sheepdogs,...

At Embark, we strive to provide the most comprehensive testing service available, continually conducting research and collaborating with leaders in the field to add new health conditions and traits tests to our Embark for Breeders suite of products. This process includes adding new probes to the research-grade microarray we use to test each dog’s DNA...

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundations for Animals (OFA) published the Review of the Current State of Genetic Testing – A Living Resource in 2020. It is an extremely useful guide for both novice and long-time breeders. Not only does it provide practical explanations of genetics and scientific testing methods...

A webinar presented by The Westminster Kennel Club and Embark Vet. Embark Veterinary and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are pleased to present an informative panel discussion featuring three experts in purebred dog breeding, showing, and canine genetics. Watch this live video event to hear practical guidance and expert perspective relevant to all dog...