New breeding tools from Wisdom Panel and Embark

Wisdom Panel and Embark have new features in their tests that may be of interest to dog breeders and owners:

Wisdom Panel’s new Behaviors feature

Wisdom Panel Premium test has a new feature called Behaviors. The feature includes these 15 analyses related to dog behavior:

• Nesting
• Crossing paws
• General fear and anxiety
• Splooting
• Propensity to gain weight
• Pointing
• Avoids getting wet
• Friendly towards strangers
• Hesitant toward strangers
• Anal sacs need expression
• Reverse sneezing
• Motion sickness
• Panting
• Sleeps on back
• Separation anxiety

Behavioral traits are complex, with hundreds of gene variants at play, as well as the environment that further shapes the traits. That is why Wisdom Health's Behaviors feature uses complex statistical models to analyse hundreds of genetic variants, rather than just one, as most disease tests do.

With this new feature, dog owners will be able to better understand their dogs and help them grow and develop into the most balanced adults possible.

For example, if a dog has a genetic likelihood of developing separation anxiety, the owner can take proactive steps to help the dog feel calm and confident when left home alone. Or if a dog has a genetic likelihood of being anxious, the owner can focus on socialising the puppy carefully so that the puppy grows up to be as confident and fearless as possible.

Read more about the Behaviors feature here >>.

New Embark for Breeders Pair Predictor Tool

Embark has a new, automated Punnett Square calculator called Pair Predictor that helps breeders understand the potential health risks for puppies produced by a particular sire and dam.

Using Pair Predictor, breeders can compare the genetic health results of a potential sire and dam, which have Embark test results. After choosing the mating, Pair Predictor will show the probabilities of producing at-risk, carrier, and/or clear puppies for each genetic condition.

In addition to the potential genetic health risks for each litter, Pair Predictor includes the genetic eCOI for a planned litter, and the coat colour predictions for litters. 

Pair Predictor works with all breeds and all breed mixes.

Read more about the Pair Predictor here >>. 

Additional Genetic Testing Resources

IPFD's Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) resources include a searchable database of Genetic Test Providers (labs); genetic tests, and tests by breed, along with Genetic Counselling resources.