Health Testing

Our goal is to better the golden retriever breed as a whole and improve each generation we produce, in order to do this, we health test our breeding dogs according to the Golden Retriever Club of America's written Code of Ethics.

Our Health Testing Goal is to earn CHIC numbers for each of our breeding dogs!

According to the OFA, this means, "A dog achieves CHIC Certification if it has been screened for every disease recommended by the parent club for that breed and those results are publicly available in the database."

For Golden Retrievers, in order to earn a CHIC number, dogs must have the following tests preformed

- Hip Dysplasia OFA or Pennhip

- Elbow Dysplasia OFA

- AVCO Eye Exam by opthamologist

- Cardiac Exam by cardiologist

In addition to these 4 tests we also run full genetic inheritable disease panels ( either Embark or Animal Genetics) on our dogs, as well as OFA patella (knees), OFA detention ( teeth) and OFA Thyroid.

Vist OFA.org

How Genetic Diseases are Inherited

We own several dogs who are carriers of genetic diseases, and therefore will only be bred to clear individuals. We will also use stud dogs who are carriers for our clear females, but will NEVER breed two carriers together or produce any puppies who are at risk of being AFFECTED by a genetic inheritable disease. We use Embark, UC Davis and Animal Genetics Lab to screen our dogs for genetic diseases.

*Graph produced by Audrey Montgomery of Canyon Edge Acres and used with permission*