So do all animals need to be tested before breeding? Really, the answer is YES! I respect that some people have never had problems, and I agree that this is sure better than breeding animals with known problems, but there is a risk involved with making breeding decisions based on phenotype (outward appearance) alone. Many problems are not black and white, but instead represent a spectrum of malfunction that may not be obvious until later in life, or at all, even in affected animals. Thus, their phenotype (outward appearance) may suggest a healthy animal. However, their genotype (the genetic blueprint for a particular trait) may be faulty and when bred with another animal, who again, may appear normal, we may find ourselves introducing or enhancing disease in the offspring.

Sometimes this is unavoidable. If two healthy dogs are bred and have a puppy who ends up with genetic or jeuvenile cataracts in the lens of the eyes, this is hardly the result of poor breeding.... the first time. Such problems are often silent or phenotypically normal, although obviously the parents were genotypically flawed. The solution?... remove these animals from the breeding program. Other times, however, genetic testing is available to predict or identify problems in animals so that the poor breeding never occurs in the first place. Having these tests performed does several things. Obviously the goal of preventing the perpetuation of genetic disease in the breed we love is important of itself. Also, by being able to demonstrate to families that these dogs have been tested, we not only give some insight to the dedication we have, but to the quality of friend we are endeavoring to send home with the new family. Sadly, these tests are not guarantees that there are no genetic problems. Some problems don't show up until later in life and thus test results during youth may be normal. But if a kennel has a program of regularly testing breeding animals for problems, the index of confidence grows, and the risk of producing a poodle with a health problem becomes progressively smaller. If all breeders were strict in their selection of breeding stock, the incidence of these health problems would decrease and potentially become all but a memory. Understanding this is not only important for people who are going to breed their dogs, but for people who are simply buying pets. If we support kennels who are not looking out for the best interest in the breed, we find ourselves supporting poor breeding practices. It's not that every randomly bred, unscreened set of parents is producing bad puppies, but we must accept that as we support untested breeding, we take risks for ourselves as consumers as well as for the whole breed. Tara and I have personally witnessed literally hundreds of families through the years, griefstricken because an animal they bought and fell in love with ended up with a genetic problem that caused pain and cost money and in many cases resulted in premature loss of life. I'd like to think that if I could show a puppy mill owner or a back yard breeder the tears of a child as they lose the friend they purchased at such a breeder, or through a broker, or at a pet store, they'd stop their poor breeding practices... but I have come to believe that most of these sad cases are not produced out of ignorance, but out of a lack of concern for the well being of either animal or the humans whom they profit from.

Hip Dysplasia

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

von Willebrand's Disease (vWD)

Sebaceous Adenitis

Addison's Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism)

Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (Torsion/Bloat)

This is not intended to be an all inclusive list of genetic problems a Standard Poodle might deal with. Cryptorchidism (failure of a testicle to decend), hernias, eyelid deformities, congenital heart disease, congenital cataracts, etc... all occur in Poodles as well as many other breeds and a dog with any such problem should absolutely not be bred. If you have questions about any health issue in your poodle, don't hesitate to "contact us!"