Every dog, just like humans and all other living things, is born with a genetic blueprint: its DNA. This blueprint is made of four building blocks—adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). The sequence of those bases makes every dog's code unique, like a genetic fingerprint.
But DNA alone doesn't fully explain how dogs age. Epigenetics, the study of how external factors affect gene activity, plays a major role. Think of DNA as the hardware of a computer: unchanging and baked in from birth. Epigenetics acts like the software, telling the hardware when to run, what to run, and how much energy to put into it.
One of the key ways the software runs is called DNA methylation. This is when small chemical tags, called methyl groups, attach to DNA at certain spots—often at regions where a cytosine (C) sits next to a guanine (G). In scientific terms, these spots are called Cytosine-Guanine sites, or CpG sites. These tags don't change the DNA itself; they modulate gene activity. In simple terms, methylation works like a dimmer switch. It doesn't replace the wiring in your house (your DNA), but it does control how brightly or dimly the lights shine.
As dogs get older, their methylation patterns change in ways that researchers can track. Some genes slowly get silenced, others become more active, and these shifts happen in a predictable rhythm. By analyzing thousands of these chemical tags across the genome, scientists can estimate a dog's biological age, more precisely called their epigenetic age. Epigenetic age is a measurement of how quickly or slowly their body is actually aging according to methylation analysis.
This idea is often called an epigenetic clock, because it ticks along at a pace that reflects real-time cellular wear and tear. While calendar age just counts years, epigenetic age reveals whether your dog is aging faster, slower, or right on track. Two dogs of the same breed and birthday might show very different epigenetic ages, which explains why one still bolts to the door for walks while the other prefers long naps.
The exciting part for dog owners is that epigenetic age isn't entirely fixed. Lifestyle and environment can influence methylation, which means choices about diet, exercise, sleep, and exposure to toxins can shift how fast your dog's internal clock ticks.
myDogDNAge scans thousands of methylation sites in your dog's genome to provide an estimate of epigenetic age. Knowing your dog's epigenetic age can guide how you care for them; it can influence vet visits, preventive care, inform lifestyle adjustments, and help you understand how well your pup is responding to changes in routine. Just as importantly, it highlights how dynamic aging really is—your dog's long-term health isn't solely written in their genes, but is also shaped by daily life. By supporting healthy habits, you may help slow your dog's aging.
Our testing protocols are developed in collaboration with expert geneticists to ensure accuracy and real-world usefulness.
Our testing protocols are developed in collaboration with expert geneticists to ensure accuracy and real-world usefulness.
We use validated laboratory processes and peer-reviewed science to deliver results you can trust.
We use validated laboratory processes and peer-reviewed science to deliver results you can trust.
Your dog’s results come with tailored recommendations—making it easy to translate science into daily care that improves health and longevity.
Your dog’s results come with tailored recommendations—making it easy to translate science into daily care that improves health and longevity.
