Wisdom Panel Review (2024)
Updated on March 26, 2024
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Dog Testing
Wisdom Panel Review (2024)

Our verdict: Wisdom Panel is a great choice when it comes to DNA tests for dogs.

Wisdom Panel has handled millions of dog DNA tests over the years and has a comprehensive understanding of the genetic markers to look out for when testing your best friend.

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Before you trust your dogโ€™s health and identity to any DNA testing company, you want to make sure itโ€™s a company you can trust. So, we put Wisdom Panel to the test.

Quick Facts:

Sample CollectionCheek Swab
DNA Testing TypeAutosomal DNA
Speed2-3 weeks
Privacy ProtectionStrong

Wisdom Panel Review Summary

Wisdom Panel Does exactly what it promisesโ€”and it does it well. We looked at several reviews of Wisdom Panel and found the following pros and cons were pretty similar across the board.

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Pros

  • Many users like that they test for over 350 breeds with a high level of accuracy
  • They offer over 200 health tests to check for conditions like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Cystic Renal Dysplasia
  • Users received actionable results that you can discuss with your vet
  • They were able to learn more about medication effects, vision problems, and eating issues
  • They were able to check the carrier status of certain health conditions that have the potential to affect your dogโ€™s puppies
  • They could check genetic traits like tail length, coat type, muzzle shape, and more
  • They were able to screen for over 25 health conditions that could cause problems during standard procedures such as spaying and neutering

Cons

  • Some thought the two-to-three-week turnaround time for DNA results took too long
  • More expensive than some competing dog DNA test kits
  • The accuracy of the test results is largely dependent on the quality of the DNA sample youโ€™re able to get (some users had a difficult time getting good samples)

The DNA testing companyโ€™s massive database ensures that they can accurately identify any one of over 350 breeds.

Additionally, Wisdom Panel Health will give you tons of useful test results to help you take control of your best friendโ€™s health. Youโ€™ll even get to learn a bit about your petโ€™s ancestry and know more about their genetic makeup.

While the DNA results arenโ€™t always perfect, they're still pretty darn good, with an accuracy level of over 90%.

And learning more about your furry friendโ€™s genetic makeup could benefit them. This test is a great way to improve your dog's care, from the food they eat to looking out for certain health conditions.

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How Much Does Wisdom Panel DNA Testing Kits Cost?

Here are the different testing kits from Wisdom Panel:

  • Breed Discovery โ€“ $84.99
  • Essential โ€“ $104.99
  • Premium โ€“ $159.99
  • Optimal Selection Canine (For Dog Breeders) โ€“ $129.99

What Is in the Box?

When you order your Wisdom Panel DNA testing kit for your dog, your box includes:

  • Two cheek swabs for collecting DNA
  • Protective sleeve for returning swabs
  • Carton for returning samples
  • Sample ID stickers
  • Prepaid shipping label

Send-in Steps

DNA testing your dog with Wisdom Panel only requires eight easy steps:

  1. Open the 1โ€ swab sleeve while not touching the bristles and set the sleeve aside for later.
  2. Rub the swab firmly between your dogโ€™s cheeks and gums. Do this for 15 seconds.
  3. Place the swab into the carton hole and let it dry for 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 with the second swab.
  5. Activate your kit and fill in all the necessary information. Write your activation code on the backside of your Sample ID Sticker.
  6. Place both now dry swabs back into their original protective sleeves. Do not reseal the sleeves.
  7. Place your samples back into the return carton and seal it. 
  8. There should be a prepaid shipping label affixed to the carton. Ship it back to Wisdom Panel and wait 2-3 weeks for results.

Privacy Policy of Wisdom Panel

According to Wisdom Panelโ€™s customer service, the company will keep your dogโ€™s information private.

They will not share your DNA test results with any other person or organization unless they are listed on your account. The only way your information will be shared is if Wisdom Panel receives the written consent of the owner thatโ€™s listed in the companyโ€™s records.

Wisdom Panel Competitors

While not quite as large as the human DNA testing market, DNA testing for dogs has grown in popularity over the years. While Wisdom Panel is one of the biggest names for DNA testing your pooch, there are some worthy competitors out there as well.

Below are some other popular DNA testing kits for your doggo:

  • Embark Dog DNA Test Kit ($129-$199) - Great for accurately testing your dogโ€™s breed and checking for health issues
  • DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test ($68.98) - Doesnโ€™t have the greatest reviews, but itโ€™s cheaper than most other tests
  • DNAffirm DNA Dog Breed Test ($70.00-$85.00) - Poorly reviewed test for checking a dogโ€™s breed

As you can see, in the world of doggy DNA testing, youโ€™ve got options. Unfortunately, many of the competing tests donโ€™t have the greatest reviews. There is a reason that Wisdom Panel is so much more popular after all. 

DNA Results

With Wisdom Panel, your dogโ€™s DNA results will include information about its breed identification and physical features and give you loads of useful data on its health.

This will help you get in front of any potential future health conditions before they hurt your good boy or girl.

The test results are broken up into a few main categories. Weโ€™ll cover each of these in-depth below.

Health Results

Wisdom Panel Health offers test results covering more than 200 potential health conditions. This makes them one of the best dog DNA tests available for staying on top of your petโ€™s health.

Through genetic testing, you can learn about your dogโ€™s:

  • Notable eating behaviors
  • Medication side effects
  • Vision problems
  • Carrier status
  • Ideal weight range
  • Mobility issues

The DNA results even offer actionable advice and suggestions on how to talk with your veterinarian.

They also screen for 25+ health conditions that could cause your pup problems during routine procedures.

On top of this, Wisdom Panel is the only licensed commercial provider of the MDR1 drug-sensitivity test. So, if youโ€™re interested in learning more about your dogโ€™s health, Wisdom Panel Health should be your first choice.

Physical Traits

From American Staffordshire Terriers to German Shepherds or mixed-breed dogs, your petโ€™s traits can vary wildly depending on your dogโ€™s genetics.

With Wisdom Panel, you can learn more about these traits, like what breed your pooch inherited its wiry hair from.

Traits include any of your dogโ€™s distinguishing attributes or characteristics, such as its head shape, tail type, hair length, coat color, and muzzle build. And just because your dog inherited traits that are normally associated with certain breed groups doesnโ€™t mean it has any of that breed in its genetic makeup.

The only way to truly identify where your pet inherited its traits is through testing its genetic markers.

Breed Detection

Accurately identifying the breed groups that are in your mixed-breed dog is all but impossible without the use of genetic testing. But with Wisdom Panel, breed detection is easy.

The company can accurately identify over 350 breedsโ€”all from a simple cheek swab.

In your dogโ€™s DNA test results, Wisdom Panel will map your dogโ€™s ancestry, offering a complete breed breakdown in addition to a multi-generational family tree.

After 15 years of dog DNA tests, Wisdom Panel has built a massive DNA database (with over one million pups) to accurately identify your dogโ€™s breed much better than the competition.

Family Tree

With their advanced algorithm, Wisdom Panel will compare your dogโ€™s genetic makeup with over 17 million possible family trees.

This allows you to learn the most likely breed background for your four-legged friend. You can even map your dogโ€™s genetics all the way back to their great-grandparents.

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How Accurate Are Wisdom Panelโ€™s DNA Testing Kits?

According to Wisdom Panel, the accuracy of their dog DNA test kits is largely dependent on the quality of the DNA sample that you submit.

Due to this, itโ€™s difficult for the company to gauge exactly how accurate your test results will be.

That being said, when independently studied, the company had an accuracy level that exceeded 90% on more than 200 tests of mixed-breed dogs.

The company can provide such outstanding results due to years of studying the genetic makeup of canines.

Wisdom Panel has completed over 19 million genetic marker analyses on more than 13,000 dogs.

Due to this, Wisdom Panel has found over 1,800 genetic markers unique to different breed groups that theyโ€™re able to check in their genetic testing.

Thanks to Wisdom Panelโ€™s advanced computer program and algorithm, the company can quickly analyze your petโ€™s unique genetic markers pretty accurately. It can give you breed identification information and data on health conditions that you can count on.

About the Company

In 2013, Wisdom Panel introduced the Wisdom Panel 2.0 Test, which marked a significant milestone in the world of at-home DNA testing for dogs.

With a commitment to canine genetics, the company spent 15 years developing DNA test kits for dogs.

Their precision and reliability can be seen in their thorough examination of over 4,600 SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) spanning the entire canine autosomal genome.

They researched heavily into the genes of over 3,200 dogs, checking out more than 4,600 markers across the entire doggy genome.

They aimed to identify the most effective and reliable genetic markers for dogs.

Using autosomal DNA markers, Wisdom Panel promises a comprehensive and accurate assessment of your pet's genetic makeup.

Commonly Asked Questions

How long does it take to receive Wisdom Panelโ€™s test results?

Test results will usually be available within two to three weeks.

How accurate are Wisdom Panelโ€™s dog DNA tests?

According to independent studies across 200 different tests of mixed-breed dogs, Wisdom Panel consistently provided test results with an accuracy level of over 90%.

What breeds does Wisdom Panel test for?

From German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, to Staffordshire Terriers, Wisdom Panel can test for all well-known and most lesser-known breeds. The company can accurately identify over 350 different breeds at this time.

Whatโ€™s better: Wisdom Panel or Embark?

Both tests cover breed identification, family tree, health conditions, etc.

However, Embark tests for over 190 genetic diseases compared to Wisdom Panelโ€™s 200+ health conditions.

Wisdom Panel is slightly cheaper too, but the price difference isnโ€™t huge. Wisdom Panel provides results slightly quicker as well.

Is Wisdom Panel ever wrong?

According to the company, the accuracy of your test is largely dependent on the quality of the sample that you submit.

That being said, Wisdom Panelโ€™s test results have proven to have over a 90% accuracy level.

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Updated on March 26, 2024
Katrina Canlas
Katrina Canlas
Content Contributor
KC Canlas is an experienced content writer for Know Your DNA. She combines her passion for storytelling with a deep understanding of DNA and genetics. She creates engaging content that can empower readers with knowledge about their genetic makeup, promoting a greater understanding of the role DNA plays in their lives.