Dogs were the first domesticated animal species and have lived and worked alongside humans for over 15,000 years. Our canine friends are diagnosed with many of the same diseases as people and share our home and environment, making them a particularly valuable model species for understanding cancer, immune disorders, behavior, and aging. In many cases, studying dogs has led to medical breakthroughs in people. Developing platforms that allow owners to become involved in canine genetic research with their own pets---by sending in DNA and information about their dog---holds great promise for taking science outside the lab to make discoveries that impact canine, and likely human, health.