For Breeders

Learn how to factor genetic health results into breeding decisions in this introductory video with Dr. Adam Boyko. How should I factor my dog’s health results into my breeding decisions? Many breeders receive their dog’s Embark results and discover that their dog is a carrier or at-risk for a genetic health condition. This prompts a...

Genetic health testing is growing among breeders who see the benefits of informed breeding decisions and healthier litters. We asked Embark’s experts to weigh in on common questions. Q: What is genetic health screening? A: A genetic health screen provides extremely detailed information that can be used to improve your dog’s health, optimize breeding pairs, improve litter outcomes, and...

A common and important question – why does Embark test for health conditions that are not known to impact my breed? First, it is essential to know that Embark prioritizes health conditions that are known to impact your breed.  Embark clearly highlights these breed-relevant genetic health conditions at the top of the health summary on each dog’s...

Embark was founded with the mission to end preventable diseases in dogs. To help achieve this, Embark’s dog DNA tests use a research-grade microarray. This allows us to provide the most accurate and comprehensive results on the market, as well as to conduct ongoing research and make new genetic discoveries to further canine health. Meet...

DNA testing can help improve your dog’s life and your breeding program. But did you know it can also help improve the vitality of the breed itself? Breeders who use Embark don’t just get a DNA report. They get their dog’s genetic raw data to share with researchers, health organizations, breed clubs, and others working...

You’ve Embark-tested your dog and received the most informative DNA results available. Now, how do you use those results to help find potential mates to complement your breeding goals? Enter Matchmaker Embark’s advanced, custom breeding tool that makes it easy to assess inherited disease mutations in potential mates and view predicted average litter COI. Discover all...

Embark’s Professional Team strives to provide you with the most useful, most actionable test results. To best leverage these results, it’s useful to understand the basics of genetics and what factors need to be considered when applying test results to a breeding program. Genetics can be simple or complex, and both are actual scientific terms...

It is well-established that genetic diversity has been declining in many dog breeds over the past two centuries, as a result of strong selection on a number of specific traits, combined in some cases with reductions in breed population sizes at certain points in history as well as popular sire effects. This is not only...

As a responsible breeder, you’re already invested in the health of your dogs: You’ve DNA-tested your breeding stock, received expert consultations on results, and made adjustments. So when your next litter arrives, you may wonder, why test all the puppies? At Embark, we understand the cost of testing an entire litter may seem challenging, especially...

Dog breeders often ask, why are the risks for some health conditions difficult to detect with genetic testing? The short answer is: genetics can be simple or complex—scientific terms that mainly refer to patterns of inheritance or transmission of a disease-causing mutation. Some health issues currently have a DNA test available to see if your...

Merle coat pattern testing is included in the Embark for Breeders DNA Kits by testing for the M Locus. Merle coat pattern is common to several dog breeds, including the Australian Shepherd, Catahoula Leopard Dog, and Shetland Sheepdog, among many others. In Dachshunds, this color pattern is known as “dapple.” A tricolor merle Australian Shepherd....

Many dog breeders have reached out to us to ask “What makes Embark’s test better for maintaining diversity and lowering disease risk in my breed?” Specifically, they are often interested in how Embark compares to other diversity management products that use a very small number of genetic markers to make breeding recommendations. In short, you...