DOG BREED HEALTH TESTS : PLEASE CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY

 

a healthy puppy enjoying off lead exercise

To ensure you buy the healthiest puppy possible, and to ensure you are not funding unscrupulous and uncaring breeders, please read on.

A responsible breeder will have carried out relevant breed health checks on parents before breeding.  You can check the puppy parents’ health testing results via the Kennel Club if they are Kennel Club registered and have had the recommended tests done.  You will need to ask the breeder for the parents’ Registered Name or Registration/Studbook Number and check online at the Kennel Club:

Health Test Results Finder | The Kennel Club

A note on buying cross-breeds

Even when buying a cross-breed puppy, their parents should have been health-checked and if the parents are KC registered they can also put the results on the Health Test Results (as above).  This is however quite rare but failing that, the breeder should still show you the original veterinary certificates – see also advice from The Doodle Trust below and link to further information on their site:

Buying a Doodle Puppy - Doodle Trust

Do your breeder research and it can save you £000s in the future

I wrote this article several years ago but was reminded recently (2025) when I met a young Cockapoo who had been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes at 6 months old – the cost was £8,000 and not covered by insurance as the insurance company said they did not cover ‘congenital’ conditions.   Miniature Schnauzers are a breed which is more likely to have Congenital Hereditary Cataracts (CHA) and until DNA tests are available to help eradicate these conditions from the breed, caring breeders should:

  • Eye-test for CHC any dog or bitch used in a breeding programme
  • Screen for CHC every litter (between 5 – 8 weeks old)

When looking to buy a puppy, any caring and responsible breeder will be happy to show you Eye Test Certificates of the mother (dam) and the sire (father) confirming they are ‘clinically unaffected’ (and eye tested within the previous 12 months). You would also see the Litter Screening Form (LTS) proving that the litter is clear of CHC at the time you collect your puppy.  For example, please see link to full article:  
http://www.theminiatureschnauzerclub.co.uk/health/hereditary-eye-problems

Further Breed Health Information

You can find more information on health testing from the Kennel Club
Search health testing & screening | The Kennel Club ; and

Also by contacting your preferred breed Council or Club (google your preferred breed) to find out more.

Please buy responsibly:

* Stop puppy farming
* Reduce dog theft for commercial breeding
* Stop breeders who put money above animal welfare

Also please remember to consider giving a rescue dog a good home - there are lots of lovely ones out there - thank you.

© Sally Bartlett
www.co-operativecanines.co.uk
07752 427804



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