Inherited Problems

Healthy dogs are the result of careful breeding

Different breeds of dog are affected by different problems, some of these problems may be acquired, others may be hereditary. If a problem is hereditary a dog or bitch may pass these health problems on to their puppies. For this reason a bitch should be checked for problems know to affect her particular breed before she is mated. Similarly the stud dog should also have been checked before he is offered at stud.
The most serious health problems are checked by specialist vets who are trained and approved by the BVA (British Veterinary Association) to recognise specific problems and who are authorised by the BVA to issue an official certificate stating the results of their tests.

Border Collie puppies must be eye tested before 12 weeks of age

Tests currently recomended for Golden Retrievers are ,

Eye tests (before 12 weeks of age) carried out by a specialist member of the BVA Eye Test Panel on the whole litter.
Eye tests carried out on breeding dogs and bitches annually every year for the dogs lifetime.
Hip scoring must be carried out once during the dog's life time when the dog is over 1 year of age.

Adult Golden Retrievers must be eye tested annually

For all the above tests Formal Certificates are issued to the breeder, when a dog is used at stud the owner of the bitch will be given copies of the stud dog' s certificates to show to prospective puppy buyers.

An example of a Hip Certificate, the score is 3+3=6 an excellent result

A responsible breeder will be ready to show you and explain the relevance of, the health certificates relating to both the parents of the litter and the puppies themselves, if these certificates are not volunteered you should ask to see them, verbal assurances are all well and good provided that the documentary evidence is offered to sustantiate them. Any reluctance to volunteer such documentation should be regarded with concern.