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General FAQ | Science FAQ | Status FAQ

How much does the Canine Heritage Breed Test cost?
119.95 per dog which includes all laboratory processing and a Certificate of DNA Breed Analysis.

Are you still offering the 38 breed version of the Canine Heritage Breed Test?
At this time we have discontinued the 38 breed version of the Canine Heritage Breed Test. Any outstanding tests will be accepted and processed as normal. If you have recently purchased the Canine Heritage Breed Test and not yet received your results, you will receive a special offer to upgrade to the Canine Heritage XL Breed Test.

How do I purchase a Canine Heritage Breed Test kit?
Test kits can be purchased on-line or by contacting MMI Genomics Canine Heritage Customer Support, toll-free, at 800.DNA.DOGG (800-362-3644)

How long will it take for me to receive my testing kit?
Once ordered, your Canine Heritage testing kit will be sent via USPS from our California fulfillment center.  Depending on where you live, you should receive your testing kit in 3-7 days.

What type of sample is required for testing?
Testing is performed on cheek cells collected with a soft-bristled nylon brush.  Our K9CheekSwab DNA Collection method is specifically designed to be non-invasive and painless for your pet. At this time, we do not accept any other type of sample for testing.

Do I need the help of a veterinarian to take the DNA sample?
No, the swabbing procedure is easy and completely non-invasive. No blood, hair, or tissue is collected. Swabbing is done easily and comfortably by the pet owner, avoiding the trauma and expense of other sampling methods. A video demonstration of the entire process is available here.

How long does it take to get my results?
Results are usually available within 4-6 weeks from receipt of each sample.

How do I send my K9CheekSwab DNA Collection Brush back to MMI Genomics, Inc. for testing?
Once you’ve collected your DNA sample, simply place the K9CheekSwab DNA Collection Brush into the provided pre-paid mailer and drop in a mailbox - No postage is required.

How do I submit a photo of my pet?
Prior to mailing in your test kit, go to our photo submission page for detailed instructions on how to submit a photo.

How are my results reported?
Your results are printed on a frame quality Certificate of DNA Breed Analysis that will display your pet’s breed composition. If you provide a digital photo of your pet, it will also be printed on the certificate at no extra charge. Visit our photo submission to learn how to submit a photo.

How do I interpret my dog’s results on the Certificate of DNA Breed Analysis?
Primary – This category is intended to help owners recognize when their pet’s DNA contains a majority of a specific breed (i.e. 50% or greater). If your dog has a strong match to one of our validated breeds, then it is categorized as primary.  Most mixed breed dogs will not usually have a breed in this category unless one or both of their parents are purebred.
Secondary – This category reports breeds that are easily recognizable within your dog.  While these breeds may have a strong influence on your pet, each breed listed makes up less than the majority of your dog’s DNA. 
In the Mix – This final category identifies breeds that have the least amount of influence on your pet’s composition, however, they still appear, at a low and measurable amount, in your pet’s DNA. 

What happens if my sample fails testing?
Unfortunately, a small percentage of samples do not contain enough cheek cells to complete the test. If this occurs, you will be contacted to resubmit another sample at no charge. Therefore, getting a good sample is important to minimize turn-around time, please carefully review the included K9CheekSwab™ DNA collection instructions.

What happens if my dog is composed of non-validated breed(s)?
The Canine Heritage Breed Test can only determine if any of the validated breeds make-up your pet’s breed composition.  If your pet’s composition contains non-validated breed(s), the test may identify a breed earlier in your dog’s ancestry.  This may cause identification of apparent unlikely breeds for your animal’s composition.

Does the Canine Heritage Breed Test work on dogs from outside the U.S. ?
The Canine Heritage Breed Test was developed using a population of breeds common to North America.  Although we have plans on validating the test internationally, the current product has not been tested on populations of dogs in regions outside of North America which may cause results to vary.

Can the Canine Heritage Breed Test be used to determine if my dog is purebred?
The Canine Heritage Breed Test is not designed for use as a purebred or paternity verification test and is not an established legal tool. A kennel or breed club certifies a dog’s breed based on pedigree documentation. If necessary, kennel and breed clubs use legally recognized DNA paternity testing to verify relationship. These tests use a different type of DNA analysis than the Canine Heritage Breed Test. For a fee, MMI Genomics, Inc. offers canine DNA paternity testing that will provide legally defensible verification of both sire and dam of a particular offspring. To learn more about paternity testing, please click here

Will you be validating more breeds? If so, what breeds?
We believe a very large percentage of the mixed breed population is covered by our current list of validated breeds. We expect to continue to validate more breeds in the future


How successful is the test in finding unique DNA breed identifiers in a dog?
In a blind study using thousands of dogs that have been verified to be purebred by AKC certification, the Canine Heritage Breed Test is able to successfully assign the correct breed over 99% of the time when testing purebred dogs that are among our identifiable breeds.


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