Health Testing

Please go to the tab labeled “Our Dogs” to view each dogs individual health tests, AKC titles & pedigrees.

At Canyon Edge Acres, health testing is one of the foundations of our program.

Golden Retrievers are predisposed to several health conditions. While no breeder can guarantee a puppy will never develop a health problem, comprehensive testing and thoughtful breeding decisions can help reduce that risk.

We believe that responsible breeding means evaluating the WHOLE dog. Health clearances are essential, but we also consider temperament, structure, working ability, titles, pedigree, genetic diversity, longevity, and how the two dogs compliment one another.

So what health testing is done on our dogs?

OFA hips

Final hip radiographs are evaluated after the appropriate age. Passing OFA ratings are Fair, Good and Excellent. We consider the result alongside the pedigree, family history, structure, PennHIP results when available and the orthopedic health of the proposed pairing.

PennHIP

We utilize PennHIP on all of our dogs in addition to OFA. PennHIP measures hip joint laxity using Distraction Index (DI), with lower numbers indicating tighter hips. Results are considered in context of current breed data and the dog’s complete orthopedic picture.

OFA Elbows

Our breeding dogs receive elbow radiographs to screen for evidence of elbow dysplasia.

OFA Cardiac

Our dogs receive cardiac screening appropriate for the breed, including echocardiograms performed by a veterinary cardiologist.

Annual OFA CAER Eyes

Eye examinations are repeated regularly by a veterinary ophthalmologist because some inherited eye conditions can develop later in life.

Genetic Testing

Our dogs receive breed relevant DNA testing for known genetic conditions affecting Golden Retrievers.

A carrier of a recessive condition is not an affected dog. When appropriate, a healthy carrier may be responsibly bred to a genetically clear mate so affected puppies are not produced. Genetic testing is a tool for making informed pairings, not simply a pass/fail measure of a dog’s overall quality.

We may also perform additional testing, including patella or thyroid evaluations when appropriate.

More Than A Checklist

Health testing is extremely important, but responsible breeding involves more than producing perfect test scores.

We believe breeding dogs should also be proven outside of health testing. Our dogs participate conformation, field, performance and other activities.

Transparency Matters

We publish our dog’s health results and encourage puppy families to verify testing through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

There is no genetically perfect dog and no breeding carries zero risk. Health testing gives us information to identify potential concerns, evaluate pedigrees and make educated breeding decisions.