Testing Golden Retrievers Before Breeding

Posted on April 17, 2024April 18, 2024 by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, M.S.

Dogs that are “only” family pets do not need OFA testing, but all dogs who are being considered for breeding need “all” OFA testing. Even pets may benefit from OFA testing, so if you’re curious about it, ask your vet if extra testing is recommended.

In the case of this breeding pair (Dixie Rose x Sir Reddington), both dogs have earned CHIC numbers, which indicates they have both undergone “all” testing. This is the most extensive screening available. Pursuing a CHIC number is a long and expensive process that could disqualify a healthy dog at any point. Making it through all the tests ensures, to the best of our ability, that our dogs do not knowingly pass along the congenital conditions most common in this breed.

While not 100% guaranteed that a pup’s offspring won’t develop a condition later in life, we can confidently say that both dogs passed their OFA tests with flying colors!

Recommendations for the Golden Retriever

Recommended Tests

CHIC Program Requirements

Working with the breed’s parent club, the OFA recommends the following basic health screening tests for all breeding stock. Dogs meeting these basic health screening requirements will be issued Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) numbers. For CHIC certification, all results do not need to be normal, but they must all be in the public domain so responsible breeders can make more informed breeding decisions.

For potential puppy buyers, CHIC certification indicates that the breeder responsibly factors good health into their selection criteria.

The breed-specific list below represents the basic health screening recommendations.

Screening	Testing options	Dixie Rose	Sir Reddington
Hip Dysplasia	One of the following: OFA Radiographic Hip Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation (At least 4 months of age)	OFA	OFA
Elbow Dysplasia	OFA Radiographic Elbow Evaluation	OFA	OFA
ACVO Eye Exam	Annual Eye Examinations. Results registered with OFA	OFA	OFA
Cardiac Evaluation	One of the following: Congenital Cardiac Exam at 12 months or older, with exam by cardiologist Advanced Cardiac Exam Basic Cardiac Exam at 12 months or older, with exam by cardiologist	Advanced	Advanced

2024

CHIC Number!

Posted on March 13, 2024April 18, 2024 by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, M.S.

All testing and Dixie Rose’s health clearances are complete and after extensive rounds of testing, she has met every standard and issued her CHIC number! We are so proud! There is no better way to celebrate than with about 1,000 rounds of fetch. (read more about CHIC below)

CHIC# 193071

A CHIC number is issued when test results are entered into the database satisfying each breed-specific requirement and when the dog’s owner has opted to release the results into the public domain.

Dixie Rose’s results are public record. While our record is positive, it’s important to note that had she failed her test, that would have been public record too. I strongly believe that ethical breeding includes transparency of information and that it demonstrates our integrity and commitment to ethical breeding practices.

Permanent Identification
Regardless of breed, each dog must be permanently identified in order to have test results included in CHIC. Permanent identification may be in the form of a microchip or tattoo.

Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

Database

The Canine Health Information Center, also known as CHIC, is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). CHIC, working with participating parent clubs, provides a resource for breeders and owners of purebred dogs to research and maintain information on the health issues prevalent in specific breeds.

Browse by breed to see if your dog breed is currently enrolled in the CHIC program and what tests are required to obtain a CHIC number.

To find a dog already in the CHIC Database, search here.

For more information about CHIC eligibility, obtaining a CHIC number, fees, and how to enroll a breed in the CHIC program read the CHIC Frequently Asked Questions.

OFA 1st Screening

Posted on August 24, 2022April 18, 2024 by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, M.S.

We just celebrated Dixie Rose’s 1 year birthday, and that means it’s time for her first full OFA Health Screening. Our veterinarian will administer her essential Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) health tests. While this is always important before breeding a dog, having this valuable information early in your dog’s life can give you information to help your dog live its best life because you have knowledge early on.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is a nonprofit organization based in Columbia, Missouri, that aims to research and prevent orthopedic and hereditary diseases in companion animals.

OFA tests are voluntary, become public record, and quite expensive. When an owner has these tests done, it makes a statement about their commitment responsible dog ownership and quality of the breed. OFA testing has nothing to do with being a “show dog” but owners of registered dogs add their dogs to the OFA database for the good of the entire breed. It allows all of us to trace a dog’s health for many generations. It also allows the tracing of diseases.

After a dog has completed these tests, the results are recorded in a database that’s easily accessible to everyone. It’s important to remember that having the possibility of diseases like hip dysplasia or eye issues doesn’t diminish your pup’s lovability; it’s simply information that can help inform health management and breeding choices. Being a responsible dog owner means making sure we don’t breed dogs with health issues, and registering all dogs in the database is a positive step for the well-being of our dogs and the wider community.