It's Dog or Nothing

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Embark DNA Test: What’s Kiska?

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We tried the Embark DNA test to determine Kiska's breed(s)!

“What breed is she?”

This is a question I’ve been asked every day since this tiny, flea-ridden floof came into my life. I used to always very confidently respond, “She’s a Great Pyrenees!” She looks the part and has double dew claws, so of course, she’s a Great Pyrenees.

 

Related: Kiska: Great Pyrenees 8 Weeks

 

As Kiska grew, I started to wonder if she was mixed with something. At just over a year old, she’s a petite 75 pounds with a smooth and sleek coat. 

Then, the comments changed from, “What breed is she?” to “There’s no way she’s full pyr. She HAS to be a mix!”

We tried the Embark DNA test to determine Kiska's breed(s)!

I started to get annoyed. Does it matter if she’s full pyr?

Absolutely not.

I just needed to satisfy my curiosity so I could answer the question confidently. Plus, I wanted to know more about her history. So, I started researching DNA test options.

Although a bit more expensive than other options, I decided to order the Embark DNA test. Embark does more than test DNA. It tests for over 160 health conditions, which was very important for me since I don’t know Kiska’s history.

As soon as the test arrived, I eagerly ripped open the box and started reading the directions. I thought getting a cheek swab was going to be a bit of a pain, but the process they outlined is super simple.

We tried the Embark DNA test to determine Kiska's breed(s)!

I packed everything up and it was back in the mail the same day.

It was torture waiting for the results, and I was pretty much glued to my email just waiting for an update. Embark does a great job at keeping you in the loop throughout the process. I received updates when they got Kiska’s swab and as it went through the testing process.

 

Related: What’s Next for Kiska?

 

I squealed when I received the email that said the results were in, and spent the next 30 minutes reading the report. It was fascinating. I know Mauja and Atka are pure Pyrenees, but I’m going to test them as well to see what else I can learn.

We tried the Embark DNA test to determine Kiska's breed(s)!

I am so excited for the secret to be out! Enter below to guess what breed(s) do you think Kiska is? Is she a purebred Great Pyrenees? Is she a pyr mix? Is there actually any pyr in her at all?

I listed the most common breed guesses, but if you have another idea, enter it in the ‘other’ spot!

And since I’m so excited about this, let’s do a giveaway! How about a $50 Amazon gift card? If you guess the correct breed(s)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

We tried the Embark DNA test to determine Kiska's breed(s)!
We tried the Embark DNA test to determine Kiska's breed(s)!
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Comments

  3. Pyrador.
    Mom is a GP. Dad is a blonde lab or a blonde Lab and Great Pyr mixed.
    I am the Mom of two pyradors. One looks like yours and one like a black GP

    Reply

  12. I registered and tried to enter but it never let me enter a guess. Oh well. I’m going to say Maremma/pyr mix.

    Reply

  13. I’ve always wondered how detailed these tests are… like, how many generations does it go back? Because technically, all dog breeds now were created from other breeds a long time ago. Did the test show what kind of dogs were bred to make the first Pyrenees? Or does it just go back a few generations?

    I think if it’s just a few generations, there is a high chance of her being full Pyrenees!

    Reply

    • Not as much as I wished. I did that test for my dog knowing that he is American Eskimo Mix and the results was… That he is 62.5% American Eskimo and 37.5% Mixed Breed Groups dog from Asia and could be one of these breeds: Akita, Canadian Eskimo Dog, Japanese Shiba Inu, Siberian Husky, Alaskan Klee Kai, Chinese Shar-Pei, Korean Jindo, Tibetan Mastiff, Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, Samoyed. Only 11 dog breads to guess 😉 I was suspecting that he is in some % Husky without that test 🙂

      So from my experience with Embark DNA test Kiska could be:
      a) pure Great Pyrenees
      b) Great Pyrenees and Labrador mix
      c) Great Pyrenees and MIx Dog Breed such as..(and here will be about 11 dog breeds to guess)
      Anyway she is lovely as my Buddy and it doesn’t matter 🙂

      Reply

  15. She is smaller than my “MiniPyr” is at 85 lbs. It is difficult to tell from the photo, but her ears look a little small and higher on the head than most Pyrs. Also her fur seems slightly less fluffy than most shedding king and queen Pyrs, so I am thinking that she might well be full Pyr (she has double dew claws), but I am going to guess Pyr/Lab cross. No matter what the test says she looks very sweet.

    Reply

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