Health Testing in Our Breeding Program
Oregon’s Legendary Goldendoodles
At Oregon's Legendary Goldendoodles, responsible breeding begins long before puppies are born.
Every breeding decision we make starts with evaluating the health, temperament, structure, and overall suitability of the dogs in our program. Health testing is one of the most important tools we use to help reduce risk, make informed breeding decisions, and support the long-term health and well-being of the puppies we produce.
While no breeder can guarantee perfect health, comprehensive health testing helps identify potential concerns, supports responsible pairing decisions, and provides valuable information about inherited conditions that may affect future generations.
Our program incorporates orthopedic evaluations, cardiac screening, eye examinations, genetic testing, structural assessment, pedigree evaluation, and temperament testing. Together, these tools help us work toward producing healthy, capable companions that are well-suited for family life, therapy work, service work, sporting activities, and active lifestyles.
Health testing is not a marketing checkbox.
It is one part of a larger commitment to producing physically sound, mentally stable, and well-rounded dogs.
Families can explore how this comes together in Our Program page.
We utilize trusted organizations and platforms including OFA, PennHIP, Embark, and Animal Genetics as part of our comprehensive evaluation process.
Why Health Testing Matters
A dog's long-term health is influenced by many factors including genetics, structure, nutrition, environment, exercise, and lifelong care.
Health testing cannot eliminate every risk, but it provides valuable information that helps breeders make thoughtful decisions before a litter is ever planned.
Orthopedic Health
Healthy joints are important for mobility, comfort, and overall quality of life.
Hip and elbow evaluations help identify dogs with sound orthopedic structure and reduce the risk of passing significant joint concerns to future generations.
This becomes especially important for active family companions, sporting dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs that may place greater demands on their bodies throughout their lives.
Cardiac Health
Heart health plays an important role in long-term wellness.
Cardiac evaluations help screen for inherited heart conditions and provide another piece of information that breeders can use when evaluating breeding candidates.
Eye Health
Vision is critical to a dog's ability to navigate the world confidently and comfortably.
Routine eye examinations help identify inherited eye conditions and support ongoing breeding program evaluation.
Genetic Health
DNA testing helps identify inherited mutations associated with specific diseases and traits.
Understanding genetic status allows breeders to make informed pairing decisions designed to reduce the likelihood of producing affected puppies.
Coat genetics are another important part of responsible breeding. Understanding furnishings, curl genetics, shedding traits, and how they relate to allergies helps breeders make more informed decisions and helps families better understand what to expect from their puppy's coat.
→ Read our Complete Guide to Goldendoodle Coat Genetics, Shedding & Allergies
Soundness and Longevity
Our goal extends beyond producing healthy puppies.
We want to produce dogs that remain healthy, active, comfortable, and capable throughout their lives.
Health testing helps support that goal.
What Health Testing Means (And What It Doesn't)
One of the most common misconceptions in dog breeding is that "health tested" always means the same thing.
In reality, health testing can range from a simple DNA panel to a comprehensive evaluation program involving orthopedic, cardiac, eye, and structural assessments.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing identifies specific inherited mutations associated with certain diseases or traits.
Examples may include:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Ichthyosis
Other breed-relevant inherited conditions
Genetic testing is an important tool.
However, genetic testing alone does not evaluate:
Hip quality
Elbow quality
Joint stability
Heart health
Eye health
Physical structure
Movement
Overall soundness
A dog can be genetically clear on every DNA panel and still have orthopedic or structural concerns.
OFA Testing
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) provides standardized evaluations for several aspects of canine health.
Depending on the breed and testing performed, OFA evaluations may include:
Hips
Elbows
Cardiac examinations
Eye examinations
Additional breed-specific testing
PennHIP
PennHIP evaluates hip laxity and joint looseness using a different methodology than OFA.
Many breeders utilize PennHIP because it provides additional information about hip stability and long-term joint health.
Cardiac and Eye Examinations
Heart and eye health cannot be evaluated through DNA testing alone.
These examinations provide valuable information that genetic screening cannot.
Comprehensive health testing means evaluating the whole dog—not simply running a genetic panel.
Not all "health tested" claims mean the same thing.
In some cases, a breeder may describe their dogs as health tested based solely on DNA screening. While genetic testing is an important tool, comprehensive health testing typically includes orthopedic evaluations, cardiac screening, eye examinations, and other breed-relevant assessments in addition to genetic testing.
The Health Testing We Prioritize
Hip Evaluations
Healthy hips are important for long-term mobility, comfort, and physical capability.
Our program utilizes OFA hip evaluations, PennHIP evaluations, or both depending on the individual dog and available testing.
OFA hip evaluations may receive ratings such as:
Excellent
Good
Fair
These ratings help breeders assess hip quality and make informed breeding decisions.
PennHIP Evaluations
PennHIP measures hip laxity using a specialized distraction index.
Rather than assigning a rating such as Excellent or Good, PennHIP evaluates how tightly the hip joint fits together.
This information helps predict future hip health and provides another valuable tool for evaluating breeding candidates.
Elbow Evaluations
Elbow health is another important consideration for physically active dogs.
OFA elbow evaluations help identify structural concerns that may affect long-term comfort, mobility, and soundness.
Cardiac Evaluations
Heart health is an important component of responsible breeding.
Cardiac examinations help identify certain inherited heart conditions and provide additional information when evaluating breeding dogs.
Eye Examinations (CAER)
Eye examinations help identify inherited eye diseases and support ongoing health monitoring.
Because some eye conditions can develop over time, regular examinations remain valuable throughout a breeding dog's career.
Genetic Testing
Our program utilizes advanced genetic testing through trusted laboratories such as Embark and Animal Genetics.
Genetic testing helps evaluate inherited disease risk while also providing information regarding traits such as coat characteristics, furnishing status, and shedding genetics.
While valuable, genetic testing remains only one part of a complete health evaluation program.
Do Goldendoodles, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles Require Different Health Testing?
Yes.
While there is significant overlap, each breed has specific health testing recommendations based on known inherited risks.
Golden Retrievers
Common health testing recommendations include:
OFA Hips
OFA Elbows
Cardiac Evaluation
Annual Eye Examination
Breed-specific DNA screening
Poodles
Common health testing recommendations include:
OFA Hips
Eye Examination
Cardiac Evaluation when appropriate
Breed-specific DNA screening
Goldendoodles
Responsible Goldendoodle breeding often incorporates testing commonly recommended for both parent breeds.
This may include:
Hips
Elbows
Cardiac Evaluations
Eye Examinations
Genetic Testing
Because Goldendoodles inherit genetics from both Golden Retrievers and Poodles, thoughtful health testing should consider health concerns associated with both breeds.
Understanding OFA and CHIC Numbers
What Is OFA?
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is one of the most widely recognized canine health databases in North America.
OFA provides public records that allow breeders, puppy buyers, and researchers to verify health testing results.
Public databases promote transparency and accountability throughout the breeding community.
What Is a CHIC Number?
CHIC stands for Canine Health Information Center.
A CHIC number indicates that a dog has completed the health testing recommended for its breed and that those results have been publicly submitted.
A CHIC number does not necessarily mean every result is perfect.
Instead, it means the testing has been completed and disclosed publicly.
This transparency allows families to verify information independently.
Why We Make Health Testing Public
We believe health testing should be verifiable—not simply claimed.
Whenever possible, we encourage families to review publicly available health testing records and ask questions about the testing performed on breeding dogs.
Transparency helps build trust.
It also allows puppy buyers to make informed decisions based on documented information rather than marketing claims.
OFA Preliminary vs Final Certifications
Many breeders utilize OFA preliminary evaluations before a dog reaches 24 months of age. Understanding the difference between preliminary and final certifications can help families better interpret health testing results.
OFA Preliminary Evaluations
OFA preliminary evaluations are performed before a dog reaches 24 months of age. These evaluations are commonly used by breeders to assess hip and elbow quality while making long-term breeding and program planning decisions.
While preliminary evaluations are not considered permanent certifications, research published by OFA has shown that they are generally highly predictive of final outcomes.
According to an OFA-published veterinary study, there was:
100% reliability for dogs receiving a preliminary Excellent rating remaining normal at two years of age
97.9% reliability for dogs receiving a preliminary Good rating remaining normal at two years of age
76.9% reliability for dogs receiving a preliminary Fair rating remaining normal at two years of age
The study also found that reliability increased as dogs approached maturity. Dogs evaluated between 13 and 18 months of age showed over 95% reliability for normal hip evaluations remaining normal at final certification.
These findings suggest that preliminary hip evaluations can provide valuable information when interpreted appropriately.
OFA Final Certifications
OFA final certifications are issued after a dog reaches 24 months of age.
Because the dog has reached skeletal maturity, these evaluations become the permanent orthopedic certification recognized by OFA.
Final certifications remain an important part of long-term health evaluation and provide the most complete assessment of mature hip and elbow status.
Why Both Matter
Both preliminary and final evaluations serve important purposes.
Because PennHIP can be performed at a younger age than final OFA certifications and because OFA preliminary evaluations have been shown to be highly predictive of final outcomes, we may utilize a combination of OFA preliminary evaluations and PennHIP assessments when evaluating young breeding candidates.
This allows us to gather meaningful orthopedic information while continuing to monitor dogs as they mature.
As dogs age and complete additional health testing, final certifications provide another valuable layer of information.
Rather than viewing preliminary evaluations and final certifications as competing tools, we view them as complementary pieces of a larger health evaluation process that helps guide thoughtful breeding decisions.
Corley EA, Keller GG, Rendano VT, et al. Reliability of Early Radiographic Evaluation for Canine Hip Dysplasia Obtained from the Standard Ventrodorsal Radiographic Projection. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1997.
PennHIP vs OFA
Both OFA and PennHIP are valuable tools.
They simply evaluate hips differently.
OFA
Evaluates hip conformation and joint structure
Results are reported as ratings such as Excellent, Good, or Fair
Widely used by breeders for orthopedic evaluation
Focuses on overall hip quality
PennHIP
Measures hip laxity (joint looseness)
Reports a Distraction Index rather than a rating
Can be performed at a younger age
Helps assess future risk of hip degeneration
Focuses on joint stability
Both OFA and PennHIP provide valuable information. They simply evaluate different aspects of hip health. Many breeders utilize one system, while others use both as part of a comprehensive orthopedic evaluation program.
Many breeders utilize one system.
Some utilize both.
Neither approach automatically determines breeding quality in isolation.
Can Health Testing Guarantee a Healthy Puppy?
No.
No breeder can guarantee perfect health.
Health testing helps reduce risk, but genetics are complex and many factors influence a dog's long-term health.
These factors may include:
Genetics
Nutrition
Exercise
Environment
Injury
Age-related changes
Responsible breeding focuses on reducing risk through thoughtful evaluation rather than making unrealistic promises.
Health Testing and Service Dog Potential
Physical soundness is especially important when evaluating advanced working prospects.
Service dogs often perform demanding tasks that require physical durability, structural soundness, and long-term comfort.
Some puppies from our Standard Goldendoodle lines may be suitable for:
Mobility-related service work
Psychiatric service work
Autism support work
Medical response work
Therapy work
Facility work
Suitability depends on many factors including temperament, health testing, structure, size, trainability, and the specific needs of the handler.
Health and temperament work together when evaluating working dog potential.
Learn more on our Service Dog Prospect page.
Verified Health Testing in Our Program
Transparency matters.
Whenever possible, families can review health testing records, OFA information, genetic testing results, and supporting documentation associated with our breeding dogs.
We believe informed families make better decisions.
Our parent dogs are evaluated through a combination of orthopedic testing, cardiac screening, eye examinations, genetic testing, structural assessment, and temperament evaluation before contributing to our breeding program.
Proven Structure Through Titles
Health testing evaluates one aspect of a dog's potential.
Structure and movement matter as well.
Several dogs within our program have earned conformation and performance titles demonstrating their ability to meet established standards for movement, balance, athleticism, and physical capability.
These accomplishments provide real-world validation that complements formal health testing.
Temperament and Health Are Connected
We believe health and temperament are inseparable.
A physically healthy dog must also possess the stability, confidence, and adaptability necessary to thrive in everyday life.
Each puppy receives temperament evaluation to help us better understand:
Confidence
Human focus
Recovery from stress
Social engagement
Energy level
Workability
These evaluations help support successful placements for family companions, therapy dogs, and service dog prospects.
Our Commitment to Responsible Breeding
Every breeding decision involves balancing multiple factors.
Health matters.
Temperament matters.
Structure matters.
Genetic diversity matters.
No single test determines a breeding decision in isolation.
Our goal is to produce healthy, sound, stable dogs capable of thriving in a variety of homes and lifestyles.
Our Health Guarantee
Every puppy produced through our program is backed by our written health guarantee.
This guarantee reflects the confidence we have in our breeding decisions and the extensive evaluation process used throughout our program.
We encourage all prospective families to review our Puppy Purchase Agreement and Health Guarantee for complete details.
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The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is a public database and health testing organization that records and publishes canine health testing results.
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CHIC stands for Canine Health Information Center.
The CHIC program was developed through a partnership between the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and participating breed clubs to encourage comprehensive health testing and public disclosure of results.
A CHIC number indicates that a dog has completed the health testing recommended for its breed and that those results have been submitted to the public OFA database.
Importantly, a CHIC number does not automatically mean every test result is perfect.
Instead, it means the required testing has been completed and publicly disclosed, allowing breeders and puppy buyers to review the information themselves.
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No.
Because Goldendoodles are not currently a recognized breed with an established CHIC program, Goldendoodles themselves are not eligible to receive CHIC numbers.
However, the purebred Golden Retrievers and Poodles used in responsible Goldendoodle breeding programs may be eligible for CHIC certification if they complete the recommended health testing for their respective breeds.
For that reason, many Goldendoodle breeders—including our program—look closely at the health testing performed on the Golden Retriever and Poodle parents that contribute to future generations.
Whether a dog has a CHIC number or not, we believe the most important consideration is the quality, completeness, and transparency of the health testing performed.
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Item descriNo.
Genetic testing is an important part of responsible breeding, but it is only one piece of a complete health testing program.
DNA testing helps identify specific inherited mutations associated with certain diseases and traits. This information can be valuable when making breeding decisions and reducing the risk of producing affected puppies.
However, genetic testing does not evaluate:
Hip quality
Elbow quality
Joint stability
Cardiac health
Eye health
Physical structure
Movement
Overall orthopedic soundness
A dog can be genetically clear on every DNA test available and still have orthopedic, cardiac, eye, or structural concerns that would never appear on a DNA panel.
Unfortunately, some breeders advertise their dogs as "health tested" when the only testing performed was a genetic screening panel. While genetic testing is valuable, most breed clubs, veterinary specialists, and responsible breeding programs consider comprehensive health testing to include additional evaluations such as OFA, PennHIP, cardiac examinations, eye examinations, and other breed-relevant assessments.
When researching a breeder, families should ask not only whether a dog is health tested, but what specific health testing has actually been completed.ption
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PennHIP is a hip evaluation method that measures hip laxity and joint stability, helping breeders assess future hip health risk.
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Preliminary evaluations allow breeders to gather orthopedic information before a dog reaches 24 months of age. OFA research has shown that many preliminary evaluations are highly predictive of final results.
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No. Health testing helps reduce risk but cannot eliminate every possible health concern.
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Goldendoodles inherit genetics from both Golden Retrievers and Poodles. Comprehensive health testing helps breeders make informed decisions that support long-term health and soundness.
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Yes. While there is overlap, each breed has specific health testing recommendations based on known inherited health concerns.
Have Questions About Health Testing?
We believe informed families make the best long-term decisions.
If you have questions about health testing, OFA evaluations, PennHIP assessments, genetic screening, or the dogs in our program, we're always happy to discuss our approach and provide additional information.
Learn More About Our Program
Families researching our program often continue exploring:
Goldendoodle Program
We believe educated families make the best long-term decisions for both themselves and their future puppy.