Insights

Almost everyone knows Clifford, the Big Red Dog. He’s the huge, lovable pup from children’s literature and the star of a new movie. If we ran an Embark DNA test on Clifford, what would we find? A gene that gives him his red coat? Maybe a new mutation that causes supersized dogs? Of course, Clifford...

The Pilgrims weren’t the only ones who arrived at Plymouth in 1620. They brought dogs on the Mayflower with them. These Pilgrim pups might have been present at the first Thanksgiving. How do we know there were dogs on the Mayflower? Thanks to journals the Pilgrims kept, we know that there were at least two...

The pandemic has been scary enough already, so this year we’re replacing the fear with cheer and celebrating Wagoween! We partnered with professional dog trainer, Erika Gonzalez, over at From Dusk Till Dog to give pet parents tips on conquering common dog fears. Does your dog run from the vacuum? Does your pup hide during...

Did you know that we can trace dogs and Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, all the way back to ancient civilizations? Day of the Dead has roots in Aztec and Maya traditions. Today, it’s an important part of Mexican culture. Modern Día de los Muertos takes place on November 1–2. It...

DNA is just one of the things that makes every dog unique. Dog behaviors can be as diverse as their breed mix. We know that our dogs can be a combination of a little mischievous and very sweet—and we love them for it! We surveyed over 176,000 Embark dogs to learn about their behavior at...

We only need to watch our dogs while they sleep, to see their little, running paws or hear their muffled barks to recognize when they are dreaming. Scientists studying dogs and dog dreams have recently confirmed floating theories on a dog’s sleeping reveries. Dr. Stanley Coren, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the...

What’s better than unwrapping a holiday gift to find out it’s a dog DNA test for your beloved pup? Finding out you already have your dog’s DNA answers and can start exploring their breed mix, health results, and relatives! This year, take the waiting period out of the process with a Swab Surprise. Give the...

Every dog mom knows the joy and happiness that comes from sharing their life with a four-legged friend. Their wagging tails, wet noses, and unconditional love make every day a little bit brighter. But when a special occasion rolls around, finding the right gift for your favorite dog mom can be a challenge.  In this...

100% of online guesses got this wrong! As his Instagram handle suggests, Bernyk looks like a Yellow Labrador or Golden Retriever. Are you surprised to find out that, genetically, he is 50% Poodle? So are we! Bernyk’s dominant breed is 50.0% Poodle, followed by 39.6% Labrador Retriever and 10.4% Golden Retriever. That means that one...

Calling all canine companions! National Dog Day is an all-around celebration of dogs. It’s a way to thank our canines for all of the ways they improve our lives, share this appreciation with other dog-loving people, and raise awareness about all of the adoptable dogs currently waiting in a shelter for some loving soul to...

When Winston came home to his new pet parents Griff and Laurel, he was a 50-pound bundle of sweetness and energy. A one-year-old rescue dog from Tennessee, Winston’s personality was immediately apparent—but wasn’t as clear as his breed, his background, and his health profile. That’s why Griff and Laurel turned to Embark. Earlier this year,...

Meet Taco 🐾 What’s his adoption story? He was adopted in March of this year from Saving Hope Rescue when he was just 3 months old. What does Taco like to do? Taco enjoys going for walks with his older brother, Shugart, and lounging on the back of the couch like a cat 🐈 Were...