It’s a very important part of our
breeding program and the health of
our pets. Dr Jenna Dockweiler, with
Embark, has taken the time to give
us an insight into their company, her
story, and the subject of genetics.
Collaboration of: Dr. Dockweiler & The Dog Journal
TDJ: Dr Dockweiler, thanks for taking the time for this. Why don’t you start this off by telling us a bit more about yourself, your history, and your position within Embark.
DD: Yes, absolutely! I graduated from Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014, then completed a small animal rotating internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in 2015. I then completed my comparative theriogenology residency at Cornell University in 2017 and became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (a specialist in animal reproduction) that year. I practiced small animal theriogenology and general practice for four years prior to becoming a veterinary geneticist with Embark.
As a veterinary geneticist at Embark, my main role is genetic counseling. This means helping veterinarians, breeders, and pet owners understand their genetic results. Our team also works closely with our scientists to help make new genetic discoveries. I also educate all our customer segments about genetics and genetic testing through written pieces, lectures, and interviews.
TDJ: Cool! And can you also give us a little history on Embark, and why they exist?
DD: Embark is a Boston-based company founded by dog-loving scientists and veterinarians. We only focus on one thing: canine health. Our founders, Ryan and Dr. Adam Boyko, spent years traveling the world and swabbing dogs in remote areas of Europe, Asia, and South America. But they knew there was more they could do to support all dogs. The Boykos launched Embark with the mission of improving the lives of all dogs through science and technology. This is why Embark is the only canine genetics company that uses a research-grade DNA genotyping platform, which our industry-leading scientists spent years developing at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. That not only means that we can give you the most accurate results, but it gives us the greatest potential to make future genetic discoveries.
TDJ: The term “Ancestry Testing” has been the buzz lately. Can you tell us a bit more about what that is, and how it would be different from, let’s say, genetic disease testing?
DD: Testing for known genetic diseases involves screening a dog’s DNA for known genetic mutations, or variants, that are associated with disease. These are usually a variant in a single gene that can lead to a wide variety of different genetic diseases. Ancestry testing is a bit different. We analyze a dog’s breed ancestry by comparing their DNA to our reference database of dog DNA from over 350 breeds, types, and varieties. Our algorithms match segments of shared DNA against dogs in our reference panel. These matching segments indicate that the DNA came from a shared ancestor of a particular breed. Scientists call this identical by descent. For dogs that are several generations removed from their purebred ancestors, some portion of those DNA match segments become too short for us to attribute to any one breed. That percentage of DNA will show up as “Supermutt” in a dog’s Embark results.
TDJ: Ok, so you’re saying it’s essentially the same thing as what humans have been doing. Humans do this so that they can figure out who their ancestors are, where they live etc., right?
DD: That’s right, dog ancestry testing is similar to human ancestry testing!
TDJ: How has the single pet parent taken this idea of learning more about their pets’ ancestors? Generally speaking, are people fired up about that?
DD: People are very curious about their pets’ breed mix! Breed ancestry can be very difficult to determine based on looks alone, so sometimes our results can be a surprise. However, knowing exactly which breeds make up your dog’s mix can help personalize their care and training.
TDJ: So, what can we as dog breeders do to also embrace this trend, and make sure that we utilize this concept in a good way, rather than have it harm us?
DD: It’s important to keep in mind a DNA test result is not an indication of purebred status. This is because purebred status is not a scientific designation. It includes humandefined registration status and pedigree records indicating all of a dog’s ancestors were of the same breed but does not require an examination of their genetic material. Consequently, individual dogs registered as purebreds can (and sometimes do) display ancestry from a few different breeds. Importantly, these genetic results do not affect registration status in any way. Surprising as it may be, genetic ancestry and purebred status are 2 separate considerations.
TDJ: Who is your primary customer, breeders or consumers?
DD: We have dog owners, breeders, and veterinarians as customers and we are deeply invested in ensuring each audience has a positive experience with dog DNA testing. Dog
owners utilize our Breed ID, Breed + Health, or Purebred products to identify their dog’s breed and ancestry, and or determine any genetic health conditions their dog may be predisposed to. We also offer Embark for Veterinarians, which allows veterinarians to use genetic testing to personalize the care they provide to patients. And, of course, Embark for Breeders offers exclusive tools that help breeders manage their pairings and litters.
TDJ: Ok, so the Embark for Breeders, what does that entail?
DD: Sure! In addition to determining if a dog is at risk for over 250 known inherited health conditions, Embark testing can also determine carrier status. Dogs that are carriers of recessive diseases (meaning they have one copy of a genetic variant when two copies are required to show symptoms of disease) do not show signs of disease themselves, but generally should not be bred to other carriers to avoid producing atrisk puppies.
We also offer testing for over 35 physical traits, including coat color, coat type and length, and estimated body size. If a breeder is, for example, looking to produce a specific color, our testing can be used to breed toward that goal.
We’ve also developed unique tools for breeders that allow them to make more informed decisions about pairings without having to rely on pedigree alone. Embark calculates an expected Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) between breeding pairs, which can help keep breeding lines genetically diverse. Decreasing diversity within a population results in shortened lifespan and decreased litter size, so COI is of paramount importance when deciding on a breeding pair.
Additionally, we offer Pair Predictor and Matchmaker services to help breeders make smart pairings to avoid producing puppies that are at risk for known genetic diseases.
TDJ: Wow! That’s so much to think through! In terms of genetic or ancestry testing, is there anything new and exciting coming up in the near future?
DD: Embark recently launched a Mast Cell Tumor (MCT) risk score in certain breeds. MCT is the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs. We know from the literature that certain breeds have an increased risk of developing MCT, and Embark has identified numerous specific genetic variants associated with the disease. We combine ancestry percentage and genetic variant data with additional information that may influence the probability of disease, like sex, to develop an algorithm that estimates an individualized risk score for a particular dog. This is called an ancestry-based risk assessment, and it is the first test of its kind in the industry. We hope to develop similar ancestry-based risk models for other diseases through our ongoing research.
Currently, we do not recommend using ancestry-based risk assessments like this as the sole factor in your decision-making as a breeder. MCT is not a monogenic condition (where a single genetic mutation leads to the condition) so it is unlikely to follow typical inheritance patterns. While this testing model looks at multiple genetic markers, it represents only a portion of risk within a breed and there
are other genetic and non-genetic risk factors that our current algorithm cannot capture but that should be considered.
TDJ: Any advice, outside of simply testing for genetic diseases and traits, for dog breeders out there looking to raise really well-bred puppies?
DD: There are many factors to consider when selecting a breeding pair and when raising puppies to ensure a breeder is creating well-adjusted dogs. Some of the hallmarks of responsible breeding are:
Full health testing of all breeding dogs – health testing goes beyond DNA testing for known genetic diseases. Depending on the breed, hip and elbow x-rays, thyroid bloodwork, eye tests, or other physical tests may be recommended. The best place to learn about the recommended health tests for a specific breed are the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website or that breed’s national parent club website. It’s worth pointing out that the OFA and parent club recommendations tend to be for only the most common conditions and that there may be many other health tests available for less common or less recognized conditions that may affect some lines.
Each generation should be improving upon the last – this means a breeder should have a goal in mind when deciding which dogs to pair for breeding. This goal may be to produce show dogs, to produce dogs to compete in a specific sport or perform a specific job, or to produce companions.
Temperament is also a vitally important aspect to consider – of course, the desired temperament of the breed and the intended purpose for the puppies should be considered; while some dogs may be destined for specific dogs, almost all puppies will become house pets. Breeding for a temperament that is easy for people to live with is therefore ideal.
Spay or neuter of pet-quality offspring should be mandated to avoid unwanted litters. All breeding dogs should be tested for brucellosis, which is a bacteria that is commonly passed through breeding. This is important because it can infect humans as well. Puppies should be provided with early socialization and novel experiences. There are a few commercial programs that accomplish these goals, or breeders can create their own plan. Puppies need to be exposed to new sights, sounds, and smells early on in life in a controlled fashion. This equips them to better respond to new experiences later in life. Lastly, puppies should be placed with a contract, so both the breeder and buyer have set clear expectations for one another. Breeders should remain responsible for the puppy throughout its lifetime, and provide support for the buyer as well as a home in case the buyer’s circumstances change. This prevents well-bred puppies from entering the shelter system.
TDJ: So, Dr Dockweiler, if you could narrow it down to one or two things, what do you most enjoy about being where you are?
DD: I love that I am able to help all dog lovers through my role here at Embark. Whether that means counseling a pet parent on what an at-risk result for a disease may mean for their dog, assisting a fellow veterinarian in crafting a personalized care plan for their patient, or advising a breeder on which dogs should or should not be bred to one another, I feel I am able to make a real difference in the lives of all dogs and their people. If anyone wants to learn more about Embark, please visit our website at www.embarkvet.com. Additionally, we welcome questions and feedback via our Embark for Breeders email address ([email protected]).
Today we sit down with Jonathan Lawler, also known as The Punk Rock Farmer, to talk about the documentary he’s producing called “Puppy Mill” This documentary is almost completed, and hopefully by the time this is printed, will be out there and available.
The Dog Journal Canine Care: Part Three Hello from Perfect Match Poodles. This is the story of our experience with the Canine Care Certified program.
The group at PAWS has officially launched the long awaited and worked on Kennel Assistance Program, also known as K.A.P. This program was designed for breeders by breeders, for the simple mission of helping each other improve the industry and public perception of dog breeding one breeder at a time. Here’s the cool part, it doesn’t cost you as a breeder anything to participate, and you don’t even need to be a PAWS member.
over the course of the past few months we’re hearing the words
Canine Care come up frequently,
