DNA tests allow you to better understand your dog’s genetics. These types of tests can tell you if your dog is likely to be affected by specific conditions or whether they may pass on the genes associated with these conditions if they’re bred from.
Why DNA test your dog?
Understanding your dog’s genetics will give you the information you need to prepare for your dog’s future. Knowing in advance what diseases your dog may develop allows you to you to take preventative steps to support their health and potentially avoid costly vet bills to cover diagnostic tests and treatments later on.
If you’re thinking of breeding from your dog, then knowing more about their genetics can help you reduce the risk of producing puppies affected by inherited conditions. Understanding whether your dog carries a particular disease-causing gene can help you know what to look for in a similarly DNA-tested mate.
Which DNA tests are recommended and available for my dog’s breed
Find out which health tests and screening schemes are relevant to your breed on our Breeds A to Z. Alternatively speak to your local breed club or dog breeder.
Test your dog with The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services
The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services offers a simple and cost-effective way to DNA test your dog for the priority DNA tests for their breed. By choosing our breed-specific packages, you can check your dog for several different genetic mutations all at the same time, making health testing easy and saving you from organizing individual tests from several different laboratories.
How to DNA test your dog
Our DNA testing service and most others require you to take a simple mouth swab from inside your dog’s mouth (usually from their cheek). Some laboratories and DNA tests may require a qualified person to take a blood sample from your dog, but these are rare.
Submitting your results
What we require on the results certificate
Which DNA tests do The Kennel Club record?
| DNA TEST | MODE OF INHERITANCE | BREEDS |
|---|---|---|
| AI/FEH (Amelogenesis Imperfecta/Familial Enamel Hypoplasia) | Autosomal recessive | Japanese Akita Inu |
| AMPN (Alaskan Malamute polyneuropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Alaskan Malamute |
| AMS (Acral mutilation syndrome) | Autosomal recessive | Cocker Spaniel English Springer Spaniel |
| AON (Adult onset neuropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Cocker Spaniel |
| BBS2-PRA (Progressive retinal atrophy) |
Autosomal recessive | Shetland Sheepdog |
| CA (Cerebellar ataxia) | Autosomal recessive (linkage test) | Italian Spinone |
| CC/DE (Curly coat/Dry eye) | Autosomal recessive | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| CDSL (Chondrodysplasia) | Autosomal recessive | Norwegian Elkhound |
| CEA/CH (Collie eye anomaly/Choroidal hypoplasia) | Autosomal recessive | Australian Shepherd Bearded Collie Border Collie Lancashire Heeler Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Rough Collie Shetland Sheepdog Smooth Collie |
| CHG (Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter) | Autosomal recessive | Spanish Water Dog |
| CLAD (Canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency) | Autosomal recessive | Irish Red and White Setter Irish Setter |
| CNGA1-PRA (Progressive retinal atrophy) |
Autosomal recessive | Shetland Sheepdog |
| CNM (Centronuclear myopathy) | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Retriever |
| COMMD1 (Copper toxicosis) | Autosomal recessive | Bedlington Terrier |
| Cone degeneration | Autosomal recessive | Alaskan Malamute |
| Copper toxicosis | Autosomal recessive (linkage test) | Bedlington Terrier |
| CSNB (Congenital stationary night blindness) | Autosomal recessive | Briard |
| CU (Cystinuria) | Autosomal recessive | Newfoundland |
| DCM (Dilated cardiomyopathy) | Autosomal recessive | Giant Schnauzer Schnauzer |
| DE (Degenerative encephalopathy) | Autosomal recessive | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever |
| DM (Degenerative myelopathy) | Autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance (risk based DNA test) | Chesapeake Bay Retriever French Bulldog Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Rough Collie Smooth Collie |
| DP-LHX3 (pituitary dwarfism) |
Autosomal recessive | Tibetan Terrier |
| EF (Episodic falling) | Autosomal recessive | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| EIC (Exercise-induced collapse) | Autosomal recessive for most breeds but incomplete penetrance for Curly Coated Retrievers | Clumber Spaniel Curly Coated Retriever Labrador Retriever Smooth Collie |
| ENM (Hereditary necrotising myelopathy) | Autosomal recessive | Kooikerhondje |
| FN (Familial nephropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Cocker Spaniel |
| EOPRA (early oneset progressive retinal atrophy) | Autsomal recessive | Portuguese Water Dog |
| Fuco. (Fucosidosis) | Autosomal recessive | English Springer Spaniel |
| FVIID (Factor VII deficiency) | Autosomal recessive | Beagle |
| Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia | Autosomal recessive | Otterhound |
| GM1 (Gangliosidosis) | Autosomal recessive | Portuguese Water Dog |
| GN (Greyhound neuropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Greyhound |
| Gonio (Severe goniodysgenesis and glaucoma risk) | Autosomal recessive | Border Collie |
| GR-PRA1 (Golden Retriever progressive retinal atrophy 1) | Autosomal recessive | Golden Retriever |
| GR-PRA2 (Golden Retriever progressive retinal atrophy 2) | Autosomal recessive | Golden Retriever |
| GSDII (Glycogen storage disease type II (Pompe’s disease)) | Autosomal recessive | Finnish Lapphund |
| HC-HSF4 (Hereditary cataracts) | Autosomal recessive/ Autosomal dominant | Australian Shepherd Boston Terrier French Bulldog Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
| HCA (Hereditary cerebellar ataxia) | Autosomal recessive | Norwegian Buhund |
| HFH (Hereditary footpad hyperkeratosis) | Autosomal recessive | Irish Terrier |
| HNPK (Hereditary nasal parakeratosis) | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Retriever |
| HUU (Hyperuricosuria) | Autosomal recessive | Bulldog Dalmatian Hungarian Wire Haire Vizsla Large Munsterlander Russian Black Terrier |
| ICT-A (Ichthyosis) | Autosomal recessive | Golden Retriever |
| IGS (Imerslun-Gräsbeck syndrome/Cobalamin malabsorption) | Autosomal recessive | Beagle Border Collie |
| IMGD (Inherited myopathy of Great Danes) | Autosomal recessive | Great Dane |
| JADD (Juvenile Addison’s disease) | Autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance (risk based DNA test) | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever |
| JE (Juvenile epilepsy) | Autosomal recessive | Lagotto Romagnolo |
| JLPP (Juvenile laryngeal paralysis & Polyneuropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Rottweiler Russian Black Terrier |
| JME (Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) | Autosomal recessive | Rhodesian Ridgeback |
| L-2HGA (L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria) | Autosomal recessive | Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
| Lafora’s disease | Autosomal recessive | Basset Hound Beagle Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) |
| LEMP (Leukoencephalomyelopathy) | Autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance |
Leonberger |
| LEMP-2 (Leukoencephalomyelopathy) | Autosomal recessive | Rottweiler |
| LOA (Late onset ataxia) | Autosomal recessive | Jack Russell Terrier Parsons Russell Terrier |
| LPN1 (Leonberger polyneuropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Leonberger |
| LPN2 (Leonberger polyneuropathy) | Autosomal dominant | Leonberger |
| LSD (Lysosomal storage disease) | Autosomal recessive | Lagotto Romagnolo |
| MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) | Autosomal recessive | Miniature Schnauzer |
| MCD (Macular corneal dystrophy) |
Autosomal recessive | Labrador Retriever |
| MDR1 (Multiple drug sensitivity) | Autosomal recessive | Australian Shepherd Border Collie Old English Sheepdog Rough Collie Shetland Sheepdog Smooth Collie |
| MLS (Musladin-Leuke syndrome) | Autosomal recessive | Beagle |
| MPSIIIB (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIB) | Autosomal recessive | Schipperke |
| NAD (Neuroaxonal dystrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Papillon Spanish Water Dog |
| NCCD (Neonatal cerebellar cortical degeneration) | Autosomal recessive | Beagle |
| NCL5 (Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) | Autosomal recessive | Border Collie |
| NCL8 (Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) | Autosomal recessive | English Setter |
| NCL12 (Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) | Autosomal recessive | Tibetan Terrier |
| OC (Osteochondrodysplasia) | Autosomal recessive | Miniature Poodle |
| Pap-PRA1 (Progressive retinal atrophy – Papillons) | Autosomal recessive | Papillon |
| PCD (Primary ciliary syskinesia) | Autosomal recessive | Old English Sheepdog |
| PDE (Pug Dog Encephalitis) | Autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance (Risk Based DNA test) | Pug |
| PDP-1 (Pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate 1 deficiency) | Autosomal recessive | Clumber Spaniel Smooth Collie |
| PFK (Phosphofructokinase deficiency) | Autosomal recessive | American Cocker English Springer Spaniel |
| PHPT (Primary hyperparathyroidism) | Autosomal dominant | Keeshond |
| PLL (Primary lens luxation) | Autosomal recessive | Australian Cattle Dog Bull Terrier Bull Terrier (miniature) Chinese Crested Jack Russell Terrier Lancashire Heeler Parsons Russell Terrier Sealyham Terrier Tibetan Terrier Welsh Terrier |
| POAG (Primary open angle glaucoma) | Autosomal recessive | Basset Hound Norwegian Elkhound Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Shar Pei |
| POAG/PLL (Primary open angle glaucoma / Primary lens luxation) | Autosomal recessive | Shar Pei |
| PRA (cord1) (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) English Springer Spaniel |
| PRA (crd3) (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Glen of Imaal Terrier |
| PRA (rcd1) (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Irish Setter |
| PRA (rcd2) (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Rough Collie Smooth Collie |
| PRA (rcd3) (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Welsh Cardigan Corgi |
| PRA (rcd4) (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | English Setter Gordon Setter Irish Setter Standard Poodle Tibetan Terrier |
| PRA3 (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier |
| PRA4 (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Lhasa Apso |
| PRA5 (Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | Giant Schnauzer |
| prcd-PRA (Progressive rod cone degeneration – Progressive retinal atrophy) | Autosomal recessive | American Cocker Spaniel Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd Barbet Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chinese Crested Cocker Spaniel Entlebucher Mountain Dog Finnish Lapphund Giant Schnauzer Labrador Retriever Norwegian Elkhound Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Poodle (Miniature) Poodle (Standard) Poodle (Toy) Portuguese Water Dog Spanish Water Dog |
| Raine’s synd | Autosomal recessive | Border Collie |
| Retinopathy | Autosomal recessive | Swedish Vallhund |
| Sal-NCL (Saluki Neruronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) | Autosomal recessive | Saluki |
| SCA (Spinocerebellar ataxia) | Autosomal recessive | Jack Russell Terrier Parsons Russell Terrier |
| SD2 (Skeletal dysplasia 2) | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Retriever |
| SLEM (Spongiform leuco-encephalo-myelopathy) | Autosomal recessive | Border Terrier |
| SN (Sensory neuropathy) | Autosomal recessive | Border Collie |
| STGD (Stargardt disease) |
Autosomal recessive | Labrador Retriever |
| TNS (Trapped neutrophil syndrome) | Autosomal recessive | Border Collie |
| vWD type I (von Willebrand disease) | Autosomal recessive | Dobermann Manchester Terrier Papillon Poodle (Standard) |
| vWD type II (von Willebrand disease) | Autosomal recessive | German Wirehaired Pointer |
| vWD type III (von Willebrand disease) | Autosomal recessive | Kooikerhondje Shetland Sheepdog |
| XLHN (X-linked hereditary nephritis | X-linked | Samoyed |
| XLPRA (X-linked progressive retinal atrophy type 1) | X-linked | Samoyed |
Breeding advice and understanding what your dog’s results mean
Find a dog’s DNA test results
Our Health Test Results Finder can help you find the results for any dog on our records that has been screened for the DNA tests and screening schemes that we record.
Lists of dogs with clear, carrier or affected status can be found under the health section of each breed entry on our Breeds A to Z.
Collective results for activity dogs can be found below.
Breed-specific DNA test results statistics
Statistics on the number of dogs scored by a DNA test and their results can be accessed in our DNA testing breed-specific information.
What is a DNA Profile?
A DNA profile gives you a unique genetic code for your dog – a little like your dog’s very own genetic fingerprint. This allows your dog’s DNA to be accurately identified and can be used for parentage analysis. Unlike other types of identification, a DNA profile stays the same throughout your dog’s entire life and cannot be lost, manipulated or destroyed.
Due to our laboratory’s cutting-edge technology, The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services offers the industry’s gold-standard SNP DNA profile.
How we record DNA tests
Recording results for a DNA test is a collaboration between us, the breed clubs and the DNA testing facility. For each of the DNA tests that we record, the breeder/owner agrees for the result of their tested dog to be sent independently to us by the testing laboratory. We then record the result on our registration database, and these are published:
- In the next available Breed Records Supplement
- On our Health Test Results Finder
Laboratories we record and publish the results from
We strongly advise that customers ensure their chosen laboratory is included on our list below if they wish for us to record and publish the results. Results from laboratories not included on this list will not be recorded.
Read the full list of UK laboratories
- Animal DNA Diagnostics (UK)
- Animal Genetics (UK)
- Canine Genetic Testing (UK)
- Laboklin (UK)
- Pinmoore Animal Laboratory Services (UK)
- The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services (UK)
Read the full list of overseas laboratories
- Alfort School of Veterinary Medicine(France)
- Antagene(France)
- Auburn University(USA)
- Bochum University(Germany)
- Cornell University(USA)
- Embark(USA)
- FERAGEN Genetic Laboratory(Austria and Germany)
- Genetic Technologies Ltd (Animal Network)- Australia
- Genindexe(France)
- Genomia(Czech Republic)
- HealthGene(Canada)
- Hospital for Sick Children(Canada)
- Michigan State University(USA)
- MyDogDNA(Finland)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals(USA)
- Paw Print Genetics(USA)
- PennGEN Laboratories(USA)
- University College, Dublin(Ireland)
- University of Bern(Switzerland)
- University of California – Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory(USA)
- University of Minnesota – Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory(USA)
- University of New South Wales(Australia)
- University of Pennsylvania(USA)
- University of Utrecht(Holland)
- Van Haeringen(Holland)
- Veterinary Diagnostics Centre (DDC)(USA)
- VetGen (Paw Print Genetics)(USA)
How we recognize new DNA tests
We’re happy to consider a breed club’s request to add a new DNA test to our list of recommended tests or tests available and would normally need a formal request from the relevant breed health coordinator, or a majority request from the breed clubs. In most cases, the test would need to be run by a laboratory already recognized by us. All DNA tests must be able to record a definitive result for an individual dog, and must be based on robust science. We continue to work alongside breed clubs, breed health coordinators and canine health professionals in a collaborative effort to improve the health of pedigree dogs.