What is DNA testing for?

Breeders use DNA testing to make sure that known genetic conditions are not passed down to puppies. I use the Embark company for my DNA testing. They test for 270+ different conditions. The science of dog DNA is still developing, but we test for as many conditions as possible. Some genes are known to be dominant which means that one copy of the gene will result in the dog developing a condition. Other genes are known to be recessive which means that a dog needs 2 copies of the gene (one from each parent) to develop a condition. When a breeder gets the DNA report from Embark it will show if the breeding pair is all clear to have puppies who will be free of the genetic problems we are able to avoid. Two dogs who are healthy can be carriers of those recessive conditions. It is very important to check the DNA even of healthy dogs to make sure they are compatible. If the two dogs are carriers of the same bad genetic condition they simply should not be bred.