DNA testing four dogs with one provider

Testing four dogs at once is actually a really smart move — using the same provider means you get results in the same format, the same breed percentage methodology, and comparable health markers across all of them, which makes the results far more useful to discuss with your vet. DNA tests for dogs have come a long way: breed composition is genuinely reliable now, and health screening has improved too, though it varies significantly between providers and doesn't replace proper vet diagnostics. Before I point you in a clear direction — are your four dogs mixed breeds, knowns, or a mix of both? And is your priority breed information, health screening, or both?

That's a great mix of use cases and it actually makes the provider choice straightforward. For the unknowns, you want the largest breed reference database available — that's where accuracy really matters. For the greyhound, breed confirmation is simple, but health markers could flag things like drug sensitivity (MDR1) which is relevant for sighthounds. For the border collie cross, health markers like MDR1 and exercise-induced collapse are worth knowing. Can I ask — are you looking to do all four at the same time, and is budget a factor in whether you buy them together or stagger them?

In that case I'd go with Embark for all four. It's the most consistently recommended provider for both breed accuracy and health screening — it tests for over 230 health conditions and uses a genuinely large reference panel, which matters most for your two unknowns. The results come back in a clear dashboard format that's the same for every dog, so comparing across your four is easy. They sell multi-packs on Amazon UK which bring the per-dog cost down noticeably compared to buying individually — the Embark Breed + Health kit is the one to go for rather than the breed-only version, so you get the health markers for the greyhound and the collie cross too. It's not the cheapest option out there, but for four dogs where you actually want to trust the results, it's the one I'd pick without hesitation.

Good question. Embark will confirm greyhound breed composition easily, and it does test for some conditions relevant to sighthounds. What it won't do is replace a pre-anaesthetic blood panel or cardiac screening — greyhounds have some specific quirks like naturally low thyroid levels that look abnormal on standard panels, and those need a vet who knows sighthounds to interpret properly. For the unknowns, Embark is excellent at identifying breed mixes but occasionally struggles to distinguish between very closely related breeds — so if it says 'terrier mix' without being more specific, that's a genuine limitation of the science, not just Embark. Health markers are genetic flags, not diagnoses — worth sharing with your vet but not a reason to skip routine checks.

Exactly — look for the Embark Breed + Health kits on Amazon UK, and check whether the two-pack or four-pack is in stock as the multi-pack pricing is noticeably better. If only individual kits are available, it's still the right product, just order four. Register all the kits together on the Embark app once they arrive and you'll be able to see all four dogs' results side by side. It typically takes three to five weeks from swab return to results. For a household with four dogs of different backgrounds, having consistent, comparable data in one place is genuinely useful — especially if any health flags come up that you want to discuss with a vet.