Breeding suitability guide — American Cocker Spaniel
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Recommended health standard for parents
These tests make up the recommended health standard for the American Cocker Spaniel — the baseline of any careful breeding program. They should be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | — |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–C | Polygenic | — |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Ectropion / Entropion
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Hip dysplasia (HD)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
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4. HonestDog verification
- Upload a legible certificate (PDF or photo) per test in the breeder dashboard
- Certificate must show date, examining vet, and FCI/VDH logo
- Certificates older than 36 months are flagged as stale
- We extract the results from each upload using AI and check them for consistency with the dog's profile — the profile tile then shows 'verified'