Obviously I have too much time on my hands today but I ran across this article while checking up on the news.

I've run the DNA test on myself for genealogy research and don't think it's all it's hyped up to be but of all the mentions in the article about doggy DNA the one thing I missed seeing is the ability to "proof" a dog.  For example, is this dog a Black Lab or is it a mutt?  Now, I don't expect any dog to be 110% purebred, but the ability to trace their DNA and breed back 4 - 5 - 6 generations and say that some dog is genetically a specific breed (within acceptable limits of ancient mixes) would seem to me to be one of the favourable expectations.

Embark and Wisdom have massive databases that they amassed through careful selection working with vets and breeders. The results do change as the database grows. If your dog comes back as a mix the percentages could move as the database expands. They don't usually completely change. I've not seen them say a dog that is half collie and half st bernard suddenly has a smidge of boxer in there. They are also working toward being able to identify other health genetics that may show up. Hip Dysplasia is one. When you activate your kit you go through a series of questions about your dog. Such as what you think their breed is, you can upload a picture, list any illnesses that your animal has been diagnosed with. Having certain things already diagnosed helps them compare your dogs to others confirmed to have same ailments so they can better look for genetic markers. From what I can see and have experienced, the dog DNA tests seem more accurate than the human ones right now.

We did embark with squirt and spider and found out spider was misrepresented on the wolf side. Was expecting to see sibe/grey wolf and as it turned out she is more arctic then grey or sibe. And i have her wolf family tree now verified the wolf/husky tree is another story I would really like to run one on shadow my gsd for genetic defects since last year he was diagnosed with pra ( and lost status as a breeding quality german sv registered dog) and im now worried about other genetic things. I find dna fascinating bus also kinda of big brotherish

I won't do the human dna tests. We got my mom the Family Tree DNA test. It's affiliated with Nat Geo and supposedly they don't sell their info to big pharma, but it really didn't tell us much about her.

The dogs I am less concerned about except if they come back wolf since then it would be on record where I would have to fool with potential permits and elevated insurance rates.

I do the DNA test for genealogical reasons. I'm seeing way too many people say that since we match on "this and that" then we must be cousins / <pick your poison>

We did recently locate a previously unknown fellow who turns out to be an uncle of mine. But he was less than impressed with what he found - my grandfather had spent some time in prison and he was born after gramps release.

As I told him, if you look far enough back in your family tree you're going to find preachers and politicians, horse thieves and whores ... if you're surprised at what is found then you've got a problem!

I seem to have gotten most of my healthy DNA from my mother since they're a healthy, long lived group of people while my fathers side has a few quirks (mostly heart related.) I've thought about investing in the DNA tests that emphasize health issues but I'm not sure that I really want to push my luck. At 72, I'm not sure I want someone to tell me that genetically I'm predisposed to 'abrupt heart failure' Like the Energizer (or is that Duracell) Bunny, it just keeps on ticking and I don't worry about it ...

Colorado is mostly but not completely wolf friendly. Also statefarm gave me more issues with my gsd who bites then spider. Every 30 ft on the property line and on the front door they required dangerous dog on premises signs  The plus side is it keeps hunters off my property.
Family trees... my moms mothers family was featured on a pbs series that was NOTHING to be proud of (unless your an alcoholic then youd think my great grandfather was a hero)didn't need a dna test for that but my mom and my sister jumped on the ancestry bandwagon and they have been meeting alot of distant relatives. I realized when they tryed to get me to jump on the bandwagon that i dont even have anything to do with most of my known relatives why do i need to find more of them. One thing i have considered for me is genetic testing because i have autoimmune issues and now am getting weird tumors on my nerves but i have yet to find a company with a halfway decent privacy protection