FAQ
Questions, answered honestly.
What's actually in the kit, how the science works, and where we draw lines around your dog's data.
The kit & the swab
- What's in the box?
- A sealed sterile cheek swab, a stabilization tube, a prepaid return mailer, and a single-use activation card with your kit's barcode. Premium kraft packaging, entirely recyclable.
- How do I take the sample?
- Wait 30 minutes after your dog has eaten or had water, then rub the soft-tip swab inside one cheek for 20 seconds, rotating as you go. Return it to the tube, seal it in the included biosafe bag, and pop everything into the prepaid mailer. The whole thing takes under two minutes once you start.
- Is the swab safe? Does it hurt?
- It's a soft-tip foam swab, gentle, painless, and lab-standard. There's no needle, no blood, no fasting. Most dogs treat it like a brief, slightly weird cuddle.
- How long does it take to get results?
- Processing usually takes about 4–5 weeks. Delivery and return transit are separate, and exact timing can vary a little. We'll email you when we receive your sample and again when your results are ready.
- What age does my dog need to be?
- Any age, breed and genetic markers are set from birth, so the read is good for life. For the cleanest swab, we just suggest waiting until a puppy is fully weaned and doing the swab before a meal rather than right after.
The science
- How accurate is the breed read?
- We estimate your dog's breed mix by comparing their DNA with reference data. There isn't one universal accuracy number that applies to every company or every mixed-breed dog. Closely related breeds, small ancestry contributions, and limited reference data can be harder to separate, so we report estimated percentages rather than treating the result like a pedigree certificate. The underlying research is on The Science page.
- What are the 55 genetic-health markers?
- Our panel looks at 55 genetic variants across twelve categories, including coat and appearance, metabolic, neuromuscular, and sensory traits. Some markers tell us more than others because the evidence, inheritance pattern, breed relevance, and predictive value vary. Every result applies only to the position screened and gives you wellness context, not a diagnosis.
- What's the inbreeding (COI) read?
- The coefficient of inbreeding measures how closely related your dog's parents are, relative to the wider population, reported as a percentile. A higher percentile means a more concentrated lineage (common in tightly-bred lines); a lower one, a more genetically diverse background. It's context for your dog's story, not a verdict, and never a diagnosis.
- Is this a diagnostic test?
- No. Our reports are wellness reads, they surface genetic signals (breed, marker tendencies, and lineage) and translate them into everyday care context. They're not designed to diagnose disease, and they don't replace your veterinarian for anything symptomatic.
- Does my dog's result ever change?
- Your dog's inherited DNA does not change as they grow. Breed estimates or marker interpretations can still be updated as reference data, panels, or models improve, so the report may evolve even though your dog's DNA has not.
Reports
- What do I actually get back?
- A digital report with estimated breed percentages, findings across a 55-marker genetic-health panel, and a lineage (inbreeding/COI) read. Each section pairs the result with plain-language care context, built around who your dog actually is.
- What if my dog already has a condition?
- Our protocols stay in lifestyle/wellness territory. We don't pretend to treat anything diagnosed, that's your veterinarian's domain, and we're built to complement that relationship, not compete with it.
Privacy & data
- What happens to my dog's DNA sample?
- PuppyGenes uses a U.S. lab partner. We do not promise destruction of the physical sample on a fixed schedule, but you can ask us to forward a destruction request once processing is complete. We keep the report data needed to generate and update your results.
- Who processes the sample, and where does the data live?
- PuppyGenes uses a U.S. lab partner. The report data we receive is stored in our Canadian database and handled in line with PIPEDA.
- Will you sell or share my dog's genetic data?
- We don't sell, license, or rent individual-level genetic data, and we won't share it with insurers or advertisers. We share it with research partners only with your explicit opt-in, and only in de-identified form. We may disclose information where required by law. You can ask us to close your account and delete information we no longer need.
- How do I delete my account and data?
- Email support@puppygenes.com from the address on your account. After we verify your request, we normally remove information we no longer need from active systems within 30 days. Some records may need to stay longer for legal reasons. Backup copies age out on their normal retention cycle.
Refunds & support
- What's your refund policy?
- Unused kits can be returned within 30 days after delivery, and opening the outer box to read the instructions is fine. Once the lab starts work, a change-of-mind refund is generally not available. If something is wrong with the product or service, your legal rights are unaffected. See our Refund Policy for details.
- I have a question that's not here.
- Write to support@puppygenes.com. A real person reads every email and gets back to you.
Still have questions?
A real person reads every email. Or jump straight to the science.