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When my husband and I adopted our dog Sally in 2017, we were extremely curious about her dog breed makeup. We suspected she was hound of some sort but were uncertain of what type or anything else beyond that.
We decided to take a dog DNA test to learn more. We completed a Wisdom Panel breed detection test for her and in less than two weeks, we had the results. What we discovered in the results was completely surprising to us.
Article Overview
- Pros & Cons
- Key Features
- Pricing
- Personal Experience
- What Do Customers Think?
- How To Get A Good Swab (Video)
- Learn More About Genetic Makeup Or Health
Wisdom Panel Review
Pros
- Affordable
- Test covers 99% of 180 AKC-recognized breeds
- Comes with 2 swabs, and they’ll replace for free if damaged
- 75% of Amazon reviewers give Wisdom Panel 5 stars
- Phone, email customer service for any questions
- Good website resources about canine DNA testing
Cons
- Only offers genetic mutation testing for two inherited health conditions
- No mention on website about charitable work
- Allows 2 to 3 weeks for results (but often on the shorter end)
Thanks to the DNA test, we were able to learn more about Sally’s genetic makeup as well as the different traits that each breed shows. For example, she has some German Shepherd in her, and she is definitely loves to herd. It was fun to connect the dots and understand our pup even more. Read more about Wisdom Panel and see if you should get a DNA test for your dog!
Key Features
- Fast results compared to others
- Simple instructions
- Distinguishes the breed makeup of your dog
- User-friendly website
Price
Coupon
Wisdom Panel is often offered at a discount from the MSRP price on Amazon.
My Experience With Wisdom Panel
I had a great experience with Wisdom Panel. In fact, you can read about my hands-on testing in comparison to Embark DNA in this article. To summarize, the instructions were easy to follow. I liked that the packaging was simple because it didn’t complicate things. The swab used to collect the DNA sample was similar to a mascara wand, which I wasn’t expecting but it didn’t affect the way I used it.
I received my results within a couple of weeks and was able to read up on the different breeds that make up my dog. Overall, it was a fun experience, and I learned a lot. The only downside was that it didn’t offer more information regarding her health.
Sally’s DNA Results
Are you curious about our dog’s DNA results? The Wisdom Panel test said Sally was the following:
- 37.5% Treeing Walker Coonhound
- 25% Mastiff
- 25% Beagle
- 12.5% German Shepherd Dog
The Coonhound in her is pretty obvious but seeing Mastiff on the results was entirely unexpected. She’s about 50 pounds, so she’s definitely not the size of a Mastiff. However, the brindle coloring in her face and paws, as well as the white patch on her chest, have Mastiff written all over her.
I’m not the only one who was surprised with my dog’s DNA test results. Read some of the whackiest results we found while conducting research for this article.
What Do Customers Think Of Wisdom Panel?
Read about what other Wisdom Panel users have to say about the DNA test below.
Positive Reviews
This is awesome! We adopted a puppy and we’re curious as to his genes. I feel the results are spot on. I can see all the specific traits in him. We enjoyed this so much, we purchased one for my parents to use for their adopted fur baby! Still awaiting results. I would definitely recommend this. I did shop around, this is the cheapest. – Howieboy, Chewy 5/10/2017
We just received this kit, so far it has been super easy to use! you just swab the inside of the dogs cheek, let it dry and mail it back in the box they provide! I would highly suggest it. – Sheena D., Influenster 5/20/2016
Negative Reviews
Our mixed breed puppy came back with so many possibilities and “mixed breed” was one of them. The only one that made any sense was “a little bit of Shar Pei”. We could see that for ourselves with the wrinkles on her head and neck. Of course, Wisdom didn’t get to see her or her webbed feet. No Labrador found by them and that is predominately what she looks like to so many other Lab owners. Truly A WASTE of our MONEY. – Sarah, Chewy 4/7/2017
So I haven’t used this particular kit but a friend of mine had a DNA test done by her vet and it’s done through the same company – Wisdom Panel. When they go through a doctor they require a blood sample, to me this makes me feel that it would be more accurate versus saliva. Her results came in and we were both completely disappointed. See, her dog has very long hair like a border collie and about the size of a boarder collie (maybe a tiny bit smaller) but she’s a very light tan and white. Her results said staffer terrier, rottweiler, German Sheppard and Shar Pei. Needless to say we didn’t see the resemblance! – Brittney S., Influenster 12/22/2016
How To Get A Good Swab
When I swabbed my dog Sally’s cheek, I was worried I wasn’t going to do it correctly. Before using a DNA test kit, watch this 30-second video on how to get a good swab the first time.
Want To Learn About Genetic Makeup Or Health?
Depending on your preference on what details you want to discover about your dog, you may want to buy Wisdom Panel or a different type of DNA test. We recommend Wisdom Panel to those of you wanting to learn more about your dog’s breed and behaviors.
However, if you want to learn more about your dog’s potential health risks, you may want to choose another DNA test. You can learn about Wisdom Panel’s competitors and see how Wisdom Panel compares to other dog DNA tests by reading our comparison article.
Would you ever do a DNA test on your dog?
As the DNA database gets larger, the results will get more specific. It works the same way with DNA testing for humans – the ethnicities change as the size of the database gets larger and the matching algorithms get more accurate.