Key to official health screening schemes, DNA tests, breed club and other schemes
The Kennel Club Assured Breeders must participate in any breed health survey or reasonable health initiative in their breed(s).
What is a requirement?
- Requirements are restricted to tests where an official Kennel Club scheme is in operation and the results are already recorded by Kennel Club systems and published online on our Health Test Results Finder
- Automated checks on both dam and sire are performed using Kennel Club records at the time of an assured breeder litter registration application and all health requirements must be fulfilled before any litter registrations can proceed
What is a recommendation?
- Recommendations from our Assured Breeders scheme are expected to be conducted or followed and compliance will be checked by your assessor at the time of a visit and as necessary thereafter
- Recommendations can include anything that impacts the health or welfare of the breeding dogs or subsequent puppies
- Recommendations do not have to be part of official Kennel Club schemes
Why can I not find my breed on this list?
Any breed that does not appear on the list currently has no breed-specific health screening requirements or recommendations within our Assured Breeders scheme.
Do these requirements and recommendations only apply to the dog I own?
No, these apply to both dam and sire for every litter bred.
Where can I find out more about testing and screening schemes for my breeds?
For more information, please visit our Breeds A to Z.
Who can I talk to about changing my breed's requirements and recommendations?
Requirements and recommendations are added at the request of a breed club or clubs. Current contact details for all breed club secretaries are listed on Find a Club.
Who can I contact for general enquiries about our Assured Breeders scheme?
Further information can be obtained via email or by calling 01296 318 540.
Important information for all breeds
These health tests must be completed prior to mating
- Hip scoring: should be conducted under the hip dysplasia screening scheme
- Elbow grading: should be conducted under the elbow dysplasia screening scheme
- Eye testing: should be carried out before breeding under the eye screening scheme or the ECVO scheme. Eye examinations should be within 12 months prior to the date of mating. Gonioscopy is a separate eye test (for predisposition to glaucoma) and, where relevant, should be repeated every three years and, for litter registration purposes, must be within three years prior to the date of mating
- DNA tests: there are various official DNA testing schemes depending on the condition concerned. Where a DNA test is a requirement for a breed, both parents must have either been tested, or have proven hereditary clear status, with at least one parent being clear of the relevant condition
- BAER testing: BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing is most commonly conducted on litters aged between 5½ and 6½ weeks, but can also be conducted on adults. It provides an accurate indication of the hearing status of the individual dog, which can be either bilaterally deaf (hearing impaired in both ears), unilaterally deaf (hearing impaired in one ear) or unaffected (normal hearing in both ears). Individual dogs must be microchipped and Kennel Club registered prior to testing. View a list of BAER testing centres in the UK
- The Kennel Club and University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading Scheme: the scheme tests for breathing ability (BOAS) and should be used for all breeding stock over the age of 12 months, and repeated every two years, for as long as the dog is being used for breeding. View a list of regional assessors for the scheme
DNA testing
Breeders should never knowingly conduct matings that may produce puppies affected by a genetic condition which has a negative impact on health or welfare. Therefore, any dog or bitch which has an abnormal result (i.e. “affected” or “carrier”) for any DNA test should only be mated to an individual which is known to be clear from that condition, either through genetic testing or by descent.
Coefficients of Inbreeding
All assured breeders should refer to inbreeding coefficient calculators to assist them in making balanced breeding decisions. Breeders can use The Kennel Club’s Inbreeding Coefficient, or, if available, another database which contains more pedigree information. The inbreeding coefficient of the potential litter should be considered, rather than that of each individual parent. Current guidance is that, where possible, breeders should breed at or below the breed average inbreeding coefficient. Breeders should always take into consideration the number of generations used to produce the calculation and the number of offspring already sired by the male.
Requirements and recommendations for health screening breeding stock
Both the sire and dam of any litter registered by an assured breeder should have been screened as per the requirements column in the tables below.
* Breeds marked with an asterisk are new additions to this list or have had a recent change to their requirements and/or recommendations. Existing assured breeders have a six-month period of grace before compliance with new requirements and/or recommendations comes into effect.
* Breeds marked with an asterisk are new additions to this list or have had a recent change to their requirements and/or recommendations. Existing assured breeders have a six-month period of grace before compliance with new requirements and/or recommendations comes into effect.
Breeds A to C
| Breeds | Requirements for health screening of breeding stock | Recommendations for health screening of breeding stock |
|---|---|---|
| Affenpinscher | None | Patella testing - breed club scheme |
| Afghan Hound* | None | Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Airedale Terrier | Hip scoring | Bitches under two years not to be mated |
| Akita | Hip scoring | Eye testing |
| Alaskan Malamute | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
1. Bitches not to be mated before third season 2. Bitches under two years not to produce a litter 3. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period 4. DNA test - Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropathy (AMPN) 5. DNA test - Cone degeneration |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dog | Hip scoring | None |
| Australian Cattle Dog* | 1. DNA test - prcd-PRA 2. Eye testing |
1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading 3. BAER testing (deafness) |
| Australian Shepherd | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - HC-HSF4 3. Eye testing |
1. Elbow grading 2. DNA test - CEA/CH 3. DNA test - MDR1 4. DNA test - prcd-PRA 5. DNA test - Cobalamin Malabsorption 6. Blood test for Pelger-Huet Anomaly |
| Basenji | None | Eye testing |
| Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)* | 1. DNA test - Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Basset Hound* | 1. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) 2. Eye testing | 1. Elbow grading 2. Participation in the Basset Hound Health Group Health Certificate to at least silver level |
| Bavarian Mountain Hound (Imp) | Hip scoring | 1. Breed club aptitude test 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Beagle* | 1. DNA test - Musladin-Lueke syndrome 2. DNA test - Lafora’s disease |
1. DNA test - NCCD 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Bearded Collie | Hip scoring | 1. DNA test - CEA 2. Eye testing |
| Beauceron (Imp) | Hip scoring | 1. Eye testing 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period 3. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 4. No puppy to leave the breeder before eight weeks |
| Bedlington Terrier* | Eye testing | DNA test - CT |
| Belgian Shepherd Dog | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading |
Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Bichon Frise | Eye testing | None |
| Border Collie | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
1. DNA test - CEA 2. DNA test - CL 3. DNA test - TNS 4. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) |
| Border Terrier | None | DNA test - SLEM |
| Boston Terrier | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - HC-HSF4 |
None |
| Boxer | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Breed club - heart testing (aortic stenosis) |
| Bracco Italiano | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading 3. Eye Testing |
| Braque D’Auvergne (IMP)* | Hip scoring | 1. Eye testing 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Briard* | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - CSNB 3. Eye testing |
None |
| Brittany | Hip scoring | None |
| Bull Terrier (Miniature)* | 1. DNA test - PLL 2. Eye testing |
1. Breed club - heart testing 2. Breed club - kidney testing |
| Bull Terrier | None | 1. BAER testing 2. Breed club - heart testing 3. Breed club kidney testing |
| Bulldog | Respiratory Function Grading Scheme | 1. Bulldog Breed Council Health Scheme to at least bronze level 2. DNA test - HUU |
| Bullmastiff* | Hip scoring | Elbow grading |
| Cairn Terrier | None | 1. Eye testing 2. Bile acid testing of puppies |
| Canaan Dog | None | 1. Eye testing 2. Hip scoring 3. Patella testing - breed club scheme 4. Check for cryptorchidism |
| Catalan Sheepdog | Hip scoring | Eye testing |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - EF 3. DNA test - CC/DE |
1. Breed club - heart testing (mitral valve dysplasia) 2. BVA/KC CM/SM Syringomyelia test |
| Cesky Terrier | None | Eye testing |
| Chinese Crested | None | 1. DNA test - PLL 2. DNA test - prcd-PRA |
| Chow Chow | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading 3. Eye testing 4. Chow Chow Breed Council bronze health assessment |
| Cirneco dell’Etna | None | 1. No stud dog to be used under 18 months of age 2. No stud dog to be used on a bitch of less than 2 years of age 3. Bitches under 2 years not to be mated |
| Collie (Rough) | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
1. DNA test - CEA 2. DNA test - MDR1 |
| Collie (Smooth) | Eye testing | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - CEA 3. DNA test - MDR1 4. Litter screening for CEA |
Breeds D to G
| Breeds | Requirements for health screening of breeding stock | Recommendations for health screening of breeding stock |
|---|---|---|
| Dachshund (Miniature Long-haired)* | 1. DNA test - GPRA (cord 1) 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Dachshund (Miniature Smooth-haired) | DNA test - GPRA (cord 1) | None |
| Dachshund (Miniature Wire-haired) | 1. DNA test - GPRA (cord 1) 2. DNA test - Lafora’s disease |
None |
| Dalmatian | BAER testing (deafness) | 1. Hip scoring 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 3. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier* | Eye testing | None |
| Deerhound | None | Litters to be screened for liver shunt prior to being sold |
| Dobermann* | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - vWD 3. Eye testing |
None |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | Hip scoring | None |
| English Setter* | Hip scoring | Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) | None | 1. Breed club - patella luxation 2. BAER testing (deafness) |
| Estrela Mountain Dog | Hip scoring | None |
| Eurasier | Hip scoring | 1. Elbow grading 2. Patella testing - breed club scheme |
| Fox Terrier (Smooth)* | Eye testing | None |
| Fox Terrier (Wire)* | Eye testing | None |
| Finnish Lapphund | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
DNA test - prcd-PRA |
| French Bulldog* | 1. Respiratory Function Grading Scheme 2. Eye testing |
1. DNA test - HC-HSF4 2. Participation in French Bulldog Health Scheme 3. DNA test - Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) |
| German Shepherd Dog* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
1. Elbow grading 2. Breed club - haemophilia testing for males 3. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 4. No stud dog to be used under 18 months of age 5. DNA test - DM (CDRM) |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | Hip scoring | Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| German Spitz (Klein) | None | Eye testing |
| German Spitz (Mittel) | None | Eye testing |
| German Wirehaired Pointer | 1. Hip scoring 2. Genetic status of breeding stock with respect to vWD should be known, either by direct DNA testing or by inference from parental DNA test results |
None |
| Giant Schnauzer | Eye testing | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing (litter screening) |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier* | 1. DNA test - PRA (crd3) 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Gordon Setter* | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - PRA (rcd4) 3. Eye testing |
Bitches under 21 months not to produce a litter |
| Great Dane | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Breed club - heart testing (cardiomyopathy) 3. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
Breeds H to P
| Breeds | Requirements for health screening of breeding stock | Recommendations for health screening of breeding stock |
|---|---|---|
| Hamiltonstovare | None | 1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Hovawart | Hip scoring | Breed club - thyroid function test |
| Hungarian Puli* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
Bitches under 18 months not to be mated |
| Hungarian Vizsla* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla | Hip scoring | 1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Irish Red & White Setter | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - CLAD 3. DNA test - vWD |
Hip scoring |
| Irish Setter* | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - CLAD 3. DNA test - PRA (rcd1) 4. DNA test - PRA (rcd4) 5. Eye testing |
Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Irish Wolfhound* | Eye testing | 1. Breed club - liver shunt testing of all puppies prior to being sold 2. All hounds used for breeding take part annually in a heart testing scheme approved by the Irish Wolfhound Club: the minimum requirement being examination by stethoscope, ECG and ultrasound scan 3. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 4. Bitches over 6 years not to produce a litter 5. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Italian Spinone | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA (linkage) test - CA |
Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Jack Russell Terrier | None | 1. DNA test - LOA 2. DNA test - PLL 3. DNA test - SCA 4. Eye testing |
| Japanese Shiba Inu* | 1. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) 2. Eye testing | None |
| Keeshond | DNA test - PHPT | None |
| Korthals Griffon (Imp) | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading |
| Lagotto Romagnolo | DNA test - Juvenile Epilepsy (JE) | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading 3. DNA test - Lysosomal Storage Disease (LSD) 4. Eye testing |
| Lancashire Heeler | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - PLL |
DNA test - CEA |
| Large Munsterlander | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Leonberger | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing 3. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) 4. Elbow grading |
1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. DNA test - LPN1 3. DNA test - LPN2 4. DNA test - LEMP |
| Lhasa Apso* | 1. DNA test - PRA4 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Manchester Terrier | DNA test - vWD | None |
| Maremma Sheepdog | Hip scoring | None |
| Mastiff | Hip scoring | 1. Elbow grading 2. Bitches under 20 months not to produce a litter 3. Bitches over 6 years not to produce a litter |
| Miniature Schnauzer* | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - MAC |
Eye testing (litter screening) |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing 3. Seek breed club advice on heart testing |
| Newfoundland | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - Cystinuria (CU) 3. Elbow grading |
1. Breed club - heart testing 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 3. Bitches over 7 years not to produce a litter |
| Norwegian Buhund | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Norwegian Elkhound* | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - prcd-PRA 3. Eye testing |
None |
| Old English Sheepdog | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
DNA test - PCD |
| Otterhound | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading |
Breed club - advice on epilepsy/fitting |
| Papillon* | 1. DNA test - pap-PRA1 2. Eye testing |
Patella testing - breed club scheme |
| Parson Russell Terrier* | 1. DNA test - PLL 2. DNA test - Late Onset Ataxia (LOA) 3. DNA test - Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) 4. Eye testing |
None |
| Pharaoh Hound | None | Patella testing under breed club scheme |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Hip scoring | None |
| Poodle (Miniature)* | 1. DNA test - prcd-PRA 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Poodle (Standard) | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
Breed club - sebaceous adenitis testing |
| Poodle (Toy)* | 1. DNA test - prcd-PRA 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Pug* | Respiratory Function Grading Scheme | 1. Hemivertibrae (HV) checking of parents by x-ray after 12 months of age 2. Patella testing - breed club scheme 3. Participation in the Five Star Health Scheme or National Pug Health Scheme |
| Pyrenean Mastiff | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
| Pyrenean Mountain Dog | Hip scoring | None |
| Pyrenean Sheepdog | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Breed club - heart testing (puppies) for Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) |
Breeds R to W
| Breeds | Requirements for health screening of breeding stock | Recommendations for health screening of breeding stock |
|---|---|---|
| Retriever (Chesapeake Bay) | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
DNA test - prcd-PRA |
| Retriever (Curly Coated) | Hip scoring | None |
| Retriever (Flat Coated)* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye Testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) 3. Eye testing |
1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than three litters in their lifetime 3. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Retriever (Golden)* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing 3. Elbow grading |
1. Bitches under 18 months not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Retriever (Labrador)* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing 3. Elbow grading |
DNA test - prcd-PRA |
| Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)* | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - prcd-PRA 3. DNA test - CEA 4. DNA test - Degenerative Encephalopathy (DE) 5. Eye testing |
1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period 3. Dogs under 2 years not to be used at stud 4. DNA test - Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | Hip scoring | 1. Breed club - dermoid sinus check (puppies) 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 3. Bitches not to produce more than three litters in their lifetime 4. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period 5. Elbow grading |
| Rottweiler* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading 3. Eye testing |
1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Russian Black Terrier | 1. Elbow grading 2. Hip scoring |
1. Breeders should issue grooming advice 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 3. DNA test - HUU |
| Saluki* | None | DNA test - Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) |
| Samoyed | Hip scoring | 1. Eye Testing 2. Breeders should issue grooming advice |
| Schipperke | None | DNA test - MPS IIIB |
| Sealyham Terrier* | 1. DNA test - PLL 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Shar Pei* | Eye testing | 1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. DNA test - POAG/PLL |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Eye testing | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - CEA |
| Siberian Husky | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing 3. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) |
Breed club - Eye testing |
| Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer (Imp) | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier | None | 1. Hip scoring 2. Breed club - kidney function test 3. Eye testing 4. Bitches under 2 years not to be mated |
| Spaniel (American Cocker) | 1. Eye testing 2. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) |
DNA test - prcd-PRA |
| Spaniel (Clumber) | 1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - EIC |
1. DNA test - PDP1 2. Eye testing |
| Spaniel (Cocker)* | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - prcd-PRA 3. DNA test - FN 4. DNA test - AMS |
1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing - (PLA) Gonioscopy 3. DNA test - AON |
| Spaniel (English Springer) | 1. DNA test - PRA (cord 1) 2. Eye testing 3. EyetTesting - PLA (Gonioscopy) 4. DNA test - Fuco |
1. Hip scoring 2. DNA test - PFK 3. Bitches under 20 months not to produce a litter 4. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Spaniel (Field) | Hip scoring | 1. Eye testing 2. Bitches under 18 months not to produce a litter 3. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period 4. No stud dog to be used under 12 months of age 5. DNA of breeding stock to be held at the Animal Health Trust |
| Spaniel (Irish Water)* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Elbow grading |
Eye testing |
| Spaniel (Sussex) | None | Hip scoring |
| Spaniel (Welsh Springer)* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) 3. Eye testing |
None |
| Spanish Water Dog* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing - PLA (Gonioscopy) 3. DNA test - prcd-PRA 4. Eye testing |
1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| St Bernard | Hip scoring | Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 1. Eye testing 2. DNA test - HC-HSF4 3. DNA test - L2-HGA |
Litter eye screening for PHPV |
| Swedish Vallhund* | 1. Hip scoring 2. Eye testing |
DNA test - Retinopathy |
| Tibetan Mastiff | Hip scoring | Elbow grading |
| Tibetan Spaniel | Eye testing | Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Tibetan Terrier | 1. Eye testing 2. Hip scoring 3. DNA test - PLL 4. DNA test - NCL 5. DNA test - PRA (rcd4) 6. DNA test - PRA3 |
None |
| Weimaraner | Hip scoring | 1. Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter 2. Bitches not to produce more than one litter within a 12-month period |
| Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)* | 1. DNA test - PRA (rcd3) 2. Eye testing |
None |
| Welsh Terrier | None | DNA test - PLL |