Canyon Edge Acres
AKC Golden Retrievers
Health Testing
Please go to the tab labeled “Our Dogs” to view each dogs individual health tests, AKC titles & pedigrees.
What makes us stand out from other breeding programs?
Health testing is extremely important to us, and we take pride in the extensive health testing we do for all our breeding dogs.
We are recognized by Good Dog for our responsible and ethical breeding practices. We are rated EXCELLENT for our health testing practices of Golden Retrievers.
We genetic test all our dogs through Embark Genetics and we OFA and PennHIP test all our dogs as well to make sure you’re getting the healthiest puppy possible who will live a long and happy life!
We also do ENS, ESI, and follow the Puppy Culture Curriculum with all our litters!
What is health testing, and why is it important?
Health testing breeding dogs is of the utmost importance.
First, we start out by genetic testing our dogs with Embark Vet. Their DNA is evaluated and when we get the results, it can tell us what breed the dog is, if they have any genetic disorders, or what colors they carry. Determining whether or not a dog carries or has a genetic disorder is very important so that we don’t pass any unwanted genetic conditions down to the puppies that we breed.
Next we do OFA and PennHIP testing on them. OFA stands for Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. We OFA test them for hips, elbows, heart, eyes and patella. For OFA hips, elbows and PennHIP, a dog need to have x-rays of those joints taken and sent in to be graded by a radiologist. OFA rates hips as Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild Dysplasia, Moderate Dysplasia, and Severe Dysplasia, elbows are graded Normal, Grade 1 dysplasia, Grade 2 dysplasia & Grade 3 dysplasia. PennHIP is graded on a number scale from 0-1. The average PennHIP score for a Golden Retriever is 0.53. A lower score is best when grading PennHIP.
We will only breed dogs who pass with Good or Excellent hips, normal elbows, patella, cardiac and eyes, and PennHIP scores better than the average 0.53, because our goal is to ultimately better the breed. Since Golden Retrievers are at a higher risk of developing hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, and blindness, it is crucial that all Golden Retriever breeders have their dogs OFA certification done.
