FAQ

Q: What all does the What's Your Mutt DNA kit test for?

A: What's Your Mutt offers four kit options so that you can choose which one will best fit you and your dog's needs. You can learn more about our kits simply by clicking this Get Started link.

 

Q: What breeds can What's Your Mutt test for?

A: What's Your Mutt can test your dog for 164 breeds, 157 of which are recognized by the American Kennel Club. A full list of breeds we test for can be found easily by clicking our Breed Testing link.

 

Q: What diseases/ health conditions can What's Your Mutt test for?

A: What's Your Mutt's full health panel (included in 2 of our 4 kits) tests your dog for 322 genetic markers that are associated with 183 health conditions. Our smaller panel that is included with our Breed, Behavior, and Health Analysis Kit tests your dog for 75 genetic markers associated with 32 of the most common canine health conditions. You can see the health conditions covered by each panel easily by clicking our Health Screening link.

 

Q: What traits can What's Your Mutt predict?

A: What's Your Mutt can predict the likelihood of your dog displaying 19 behavioral traits. A full list of these traits can be found easily by clicking our Behavior Analysis link.

 

Q: How is the What's Your Mutt DNA collected?

A: The What's Your Mutt kit includes swabs so you can collect your dog’s cheek cells. This is a quick, easy, pain-free process that does not require you to take your dog to a vet for DNA collection. If you have any questions about the process, you can view the collection instruction easily by clicking our guide here.

 

Q: How long do I have to wait after my dog eats to swab them?

A: For the best results, wait 2 or more hours after your dog has eaten before swabbing them. Water will not effect the What's Your Mutt DNA results like food, so you don’t have to wait at all after they take a drink.

 

Q: What happens if a swab gets lost/ contaminated/ destroyed?

A: In order to provide you with the most accurate results possible, What's Your Mutt will need both uncontaminated swabs. If something happens to one or both of your swabs, contact us at [email protected] so that we can send you a new kit.

 

Q: How do I know if I got enough DNA on the swab?

A: You won’t be able to see the cheek cells on the swab, but as long as you follow the instructions included with your What's Your Mutt DNA kit, you should be good to go! If you lost your instructions, you can find them easily online here.

 

Q: Will leaving the completed kit in a hot mailbox all weekend destroy the DNA?

A: No. The solution in the tube will protect the DNA from the saliva for up to a few weeks.

 

Q: How long will it take after I send my What's Your Mutt kit back to get my results?

Typically, What's Your Mutt tests will take about a month to a month and a half before results are sent. (Please note: Due to COVID, results may take longer to arrive. Rest assured, What's Your Mutt is doing all we can to get you your results as fast as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience.)

 

Q: What should I do if I never got my What's Your Mutt kit or results in the mail?

A: Contact us at [email protected] and we will sort out the problem.

 

Q: Does What's Your Mutt have customer service if I have questions about my results?

A: Yes, you can contact our customer service at [email protected].

 

Q: Will What's Your Mutt DNA send a physical copy of my dog’s report?

A: No. What's Your Mutt will email you a copy of your dog’s report as soon as we have completed their results. If you would like a physical copy, the version we send is printer-friendly and can be printed from home.

 

Q: How do the What's Your Mutt DNA tests actually work?

A: For a full description of how we use your dog’s DNA to determine results, please see How It Works.

 

Q: Are the disease results a diagnosis?

A: No, What's Your Mutt DNA can only test your dog’s susceptibility to a disease. We test your dog for genetic markers that have been shown to be associated with certain health conditions. However, just because we determine your dog is susceptible to a health condition does not necessarily mean that they will develop it; but it does mean that they possess markers in their DNA that have been shown to be associated with that condition. If we determine your dog is not susceptible to a health condition, that does not necessarily mean that they are safe from developing it, but it does mean that we did not find any markers from our database in your dog’s DNA that have been shown to be associated with that condition. See Understanding Your Results for more information. We recommend discussing your results with your veterinarian to determine the best plan moving forward for your dog.

 

Q: My dog doesn’t look like any of the breeds listed. Does this mean the test is wrong?

A: No, the test is likely not wrong. The way that genes interact is very complicated, and it is possible that your dog might not look like an average of all of the breeds present in them. Have you ever seen a person with green eyes whose parents had blue and brown eyes? That is because there are many genes that code for eye color and they interact in ways that are not intuitive. Sometimes the presence of one copy of a gene can actually impact the way a completely different gene is expressed. See Understanding Your Results for more information.