Breeding suitability guide — Australian Cattle Dog
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Core standard for parents
Tests marked “Club standard” are required by Australian Cattle Dog Club Deutschland e.V. (ACDCD) for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal. The others are part of the recommended health standard and should be on file as well.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD-PRA) (PRA-prcd) Club standard | — | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Australian Cattle Dog Club Deutschland e.V. (ACDCD) |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | — |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) Club standard | X-ray | HD A–C (C only with conditions) | Polygenic | Australian Cattle Dog Club Deutschland e.V. (ACDCD) |
| MDR1 gene mutation (drug sensitivity) (MDR1) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) Club standard | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Australian Cattle Dog Club Deutschland e.V. (ACDCD) |
| Deafness Club standard | Hearing test | hearing in both ears | Complex | Australian Cattle Dog Club Deutschland e.V. (ACDCD) |
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.
Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
MDR1 gene mutation (drug sensitivity) (MDR1)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Australian Cattle Dog Club Deutschland e.V. (ACDCD)3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Dermatomyositis (DMS) | Skin test | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Congenital deafness (CHSD) | Physical examination | hearing in both ears | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Portosystemic hepatic encephalopathy (PSS) | — | normal | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
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'