Breeding suitability guide — Australian Shepherd
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) requires these tests for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNA-Identitätsnachweis | Blutprobe (DNA-Profil) | Welpe muss gechipt sein | — | Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) |
| Wesensbeurteilung | Verhaltenstest | Erfolgreiche Teilnahme | — | Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) |
| Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) |
| MDR1 gene mutation (drug sensitivity) (MDR1) | — | result on file | Autosomal recessive | Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD) |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Club für Australian Shepherd Deutschland e.V. (CASD)Cataract (HC)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Patellar Luxation (PL)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Merle coat pattern (M)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Heart disease
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congenital malformations | Physical examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Collie eye anomaly (CEA) (CEA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | result on file | Complex | — |
| Microphthalmia | — | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Pannus (Chronic Superficial Keratitis) (CSK) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Patellar Luxation (PL) | Physical examination | PL 0–1 | Polygenic | — |
| Merle coat pattern (M) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal dominant | — |
| Heart disease | Physical examination | normal | Complex | — |
| Congenital deafness (CHSD) | Physical examination | hearing in both ears | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | AI-Vet |
| Epilepsy (IE) | Physical examination | {"resultNotOk": "Disease present"} | Complex | — |
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'