Health Testing

We treat our dogs as family members, not just pets. That’s why we invest time and effort to ensure your new four-legged family member will be healthy for the long run. Although we can’t promise perfection, our deep dive into genetic studies and screening allows us to confidently offer a warranty against genetic conditions. We’re continually exploring new ways to enhance the health and longevity of our dogs.

Why don’t all breeders screen their dogs for genetic health?  The tests are expensive and can exclude otherwise fabulous dogs from a breeding program.

Genetic Diseases We Test For

In collaboration with Paw Print Genetics, a trusted laboratory, we stay updated with the latest advancements in genetic testing. They continuously refine our panel to ensure its relevance, removing unnecessary tests and adding new ones as needed.

These tests are our minimum. In cases where we have introduced new parent breeds, we extend our testing to include breed-specific panels such as those for Standard Poodles or Labrador Retrievers.

• Degenerative Myelopathy (Aliases: Canine degenerative myelopathy, DM)
• Exercise-Induced Collapse (Aliases: EIC)
• *Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (Aliases: HNPK)
• *Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (Aliases: NEWS)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cone-Rod Dystrophy 4 (Aliases: Progressive retinal atrophy – cord1, Progressive retinal atrophy – crd4, Progressive retinal atrophy – crd4/cord1, PRA-cord1, PRA-crd4, PRA-crd4/cord1)
• *Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (Aliases: PRA-PRCD, PRCD)
• *Von Willebrand Disease I (Aliases: Pseudohemophilia, Vascular hemophilia, von Willebrand disease type 1, von Willebrand’s disease, VWDI)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Rod-Cone Dysplasia 4 (Aliases: PRA-rcd4)
• Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 1 (Aliases: Dwarfism with retinal dysplasia 1, Inherited retinal dysplasia, Oculoskeletal dysplasia 1, Retinal dysplasia, DRD1, OSD1, RD, RD/OSD)

Physical Genetic Disorders We Test For

Eyes

All our breeding dogs pass OFA CAER eye exams and are re-tested every 18 months. These tests are done by certified veterinary ophthalmologists to check for heritable eye diseases.

Hips

Our breeding dogs have hip ratings that fall under Excellent, Good, or Fair categories. These dogs undergo X-rays for both hip and elbow joints. While we aim to breed dogs with excellent joints, we also consider genetic diversity. According to OFA data, breeding outcomes can vary but often don’t cause noticeable issues until the dog’s senior years.

Elbows

Elbow ratings are simpler — either ‘Normal’ or varying degrees of dysplastic. We only breed dogs with a ‘Normal’ elbow rating.

Note: Breeding is complex, involving multiple genes and environmental factors. The quality of joints in a dog’s family can also be important. We strive for the best while maintaining genetic diversity.

Breeding Australian Labradoodles, or any dog breed, is a complex balance of maintaining and improving genetic lines. As breeders, our primary goal is to ensure the health and quality of our Australian Labradoodles, improving the breed with each litter. Meticulous in our approach, we breed with an eye on lineage to prevent narrowing the genetic pool, a challenge that can heighten health risks more than any single inheritable condition.

Our breeding decisions are informed by large-scale studies encompassing diverse dog breeds, providing us with a robust data set that guides our selection process. We understand the difference between ‘clinical’ dysplasia, which affects a dog’s mobility, and ‘sub-clinical’ dysplasia, detected through x-rays without impacting the dog’s quality of life. Our health guarantees are therefore focused on clinical conditions, ensuring that every puppy we place is primed for a full and active life.

Choose a Breeder Who’s Committed to Health and Ethics

Be part of the solution in the fight against poor breeding practices that cause unnecessary suffering for puppies and dogs. Choose a breeder like us, committed to investing both time and resources in comprehensive health tests for all breeding dogs. Your choice makes a difference!