When Carly adopted her dog Koa from a Southern California shelter in 2019, she didn’t know much about his past. He’d been found as a stray. Labelled a “terrier mix.” And like many rescue dogs, his story before that point was mostly a mystery.
What Carly didn’t expect? That a simple DNA test would one day lead her to Koa’s brother. Because when dogs get Embarked, pet parents don’t just learn about their breed mix, they can also discover family — through Embark’s dog DNA Relative Finder feature.
A dog who needed a little extra love
But back to Koa. Carly describes him in one word: resilient. “He had a very hard time when he came home,” she says. “He wasn’t able to tolerate being around other people or animals once he built an attachment to me.”
But Carly was all in. With support from her vet and trainers, she helped Koa slowly build confidence. Over time, he began to open up — forming a close bind with Carly’s other dog, Sulley, and learning to navigate the world a little more comfortably.
“I instantly fell in love with him,” Carly says. “I was very determined to give him all the extra love and support he needed to thrive.”
A test taken “just for fun”
Like many dog parents, Carly decided to DNA test Koa. “I was just curious about his breeds. I never thought about the relative component of it,” says Carly.
When Koa’s results came back, the breed insights were interesting, but it was the Relatives tab on Koa’s profile that stuck with her. At first, most matches were distant. But then one day, everything changed.
A surprising match — and a moment of disbelief
Five years after Carly tested Koa, a dog named Ornament (‘Ornie’, for short), was tested in Northern California. The results were striking: Koa and Ornament shared 63% of their DNA.
Han, Ornament’s parent, reached out to Carly, and they began texting—swapping photos, comparing details, noticing similarities. The same coloring. The same ears. They way they rolled onto their backs. And both pups shared the same anxiety around other dogs.
Then came the breakthrough moment.
Han shared a video from the shelter, taken the day Ornament was pulled for rescue. Carly went back and found Koa’s intake video. As they watched, “Han said, ‘wait…is that Ornament next to Koa?’” Carly said, “THAT”S HIM!”
The texts that followed captured the moment perfectly:
“OMGGGGGGG…I’m screaming RN.”
“ME TOO!”
“They have to be littermates!”
The two dogs hadn’t just shared DNA. They had shared a moment in time, side by side, until their lives took different paths. Yet somehow, both dogs had ended up living in Los Angeles — just miles apart.
Carly and Han planned a meetup at a Sniffspot, halfway between them.
The reunion
When Koa and Ornie finally met, the visit was quiet, gentle, and full of meaning. “I think maybe they did recognize each other,” Carly says. There was lots of sniffing. A little cautious curiosity. And calm exploration.
The two dogs — both naturally anxious — were given space to adjust. But what stood out to both pet parents wasn’t the instant play, it was how easily they settled into each other’s presence. “It was amazing to see how well they tolerated each other,” Carly says.
A story Carly will never stop telling
“This is my favorite story of Koa’s entire life,” Carly says. “I have literally told everyone I know about our dogs.”
Meeting Ornament didn’t just confirm a genetic connection — it gave Carly a new way to understand Koa. Their shared sensitivity, Their similar anxieties. Even their small quirks suddenly felt less mysterious. It’s a reminder that knowing your dog’s breed mix isn’t the only thing that helps you know them better. Meeting the fam helps, too.
Discover your dog’s family story
Embark’s Relative Finder compares your dog’s DNA to others in our database to uncover relatives — and helps you connect with the humans who love them. Sometimes that leads to helpful insights. Sometimes it leads to new friendships. And sometimes, as with Koa and Ornament, it leads to a reunion you never saw coming.
Interested in more relative reunions?
Check out stories about other Embark dogs who’ve been reunited with their relatives, like Ziggy & Rufus, Murphy and Maggie, Vardis and Brunch, Rowan and Milo, and Diego and Dixie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Embark’s Relative Finder for dogs?
A: Embark’s Relative Finder is the first dog DNA feature that identifies your dog’s relatives — like siblings, parents and cousins — by analyzing shared DNA from the Embark database. It also allows dog parents to connect and learn more about their pets’ family history. The Relative Finder Feature is included with Embark Breed + Health and Breed ID kits.
Q: Can Dog DNA tests really find siblings?
A: Yes. Embark’s Breed + Health Test Purebred Dog DNA test, and Breed ID test kits are also dog DNA relative finders: They can identify close relatives by measuring how much DNA two dogs share. Dogs who share about 50% or more DNA are often siblings or parent/child pairs.
Q: Why would I want to find my dog’s relatives?
A: Meeting your dog’s relatives can help you better understand their personality, behavior and health. Many pet parents also like forming connections with other dog families, and sometimes even arranging reunions or playdates, like Rowan and Milo, Ziggy & Rufus, and Murphy and Maggie.
