Last February, I invested in my second Embark DNA test kit to find out more about Scarlet’s genetic makeup and overall health. It’s a fun and interesting option if you adopted your dog or got your dog without any paperwork to tell you where they’re from or who their parents are.

I used the first kit in 2023 when I wanted to find out more about Sappho. Boy, was I surprised to find out she was 91.5% American Cocker and 5% ‘unresolved’. That 5% consists of two possible breeds—Toy Poodle and English Cocker.

Unfortunately these kits are expensive, but Embark does run sales from time to time, so I recommend waiting for a good sale to start before getting your dog’s DNA kit.

I took Scarlet’s DNA sample that morning in Feb, and sent the packet through the Philippine Postal office. They’ll deliver it all the way to Embark’s lab in the United States.

After several weeks of waiting, I got the first email that they received the sample. Several updates later, I saw the announcement that they’re ready to reveal the results! I couldn’t focus on work, so I dropped everything, logged into my Embark account, and saw this:

I couldn’t contain my surprise. C and N were nearby playing Minecraft on the PC when I gasped at 17.3% Dalmatian and 8.5% GSD.

I can’t believe how diverse my Scarlet turned out to be! All this time, I thought she was a purebred Dobie, only to be completely wrong about her genes and lineage.

It’s also crazy how this came about because I did think about life with a Dalmatian in the past. I watched both 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians as a kid, and I was completely enamored by this spotted dog. I did, however, do my research and knew this was a dog I likely couldn’t handle, so I avoided asking for a Dalmatian.

Well, this confirms that whoever we got our puppy from ‘scammed’ us for nine whole years. 😂

Kidding aside, I wouldn’t trade Scarlet for anything or any other dog. I feel even more joy and love for her after learning who she is and how she was lovingly made. She’ll always be my Doberman with bat ears that stood up on their own, who loves to snuggle under my armpit, enjoys playing fetch and tug, and will wolf down any kind of food I give her.

If you’ve used an Embark DNA test kit too, what’s your dog’s breed(s)? Was it exactly what you expected, or were you completely surprised by their results?