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Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Pyrenean Shepherd we've compiled 3 core tests (2 of them required by Club Berger des Pyrenees e.V. (cbp)) and 1 additionally recommended test, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
View verified breedersWhat this grade means
The Berger des Pyrenees is considered a very robust breed; nevertheless, orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia (HD) and patellar luxation (PL), as well as tail anomalies and the eye disease progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), can occur. Reputable breed clubs such as the Club Berger des Pyrenees e.V. (cbp) mandate radiographic screenings for hip dysplasia (HD) with threshold values from HD A to C (C only mated with A or B) and checks for tail anomalies, while internationally patellar luxation (PL 0) is also required. Health-conscious breeders additionally test for progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) via genetic testing. Before buying a puppy, have the breeder show you the official certificates for HD, PL, and proof that for prcd-PRA, carriers were mated exclusively with clear partners.
Every breed is susceptible to certain inherited conditions. Just like humans, dogs inherit predispositions from their parents. Responsible breeders screen their breeding dogs for these conditions and make informed mating decisions to reduce the risk passed on to puppies.
No — but it's the strongest tool we have. Diet, exercise, environment, and genetics all contribute to whether a dog develops a condition. When breeders use the right tests to identify risk in potential parents, the likelihood of many conditions appearing in the puppies drops significantly.
There's no one-size-fits-all here. The core standard for the Pyrenean Shepherd covers 3 tests, 2 of them required by Club Berger des Pyrenees e.V. (cbp), plus 1 additional recommended test. The specific tests and passing thresholds are detailed further below.
Keep in mind
Reliable screening tests still don't exist for many hereditary conditions, and tests for complex polygenic conditions don't always predict severity in the puppies. Even so, they're a powerful tool of responsible breeding.
There are two main types of health tests:
Screen the dog's DNA for known disease-causing mutations. Can be performed from puppyhood and give a binary result (clear / carrier / affected).
Clinical and imaging exams like X-ray, ultrasound, or ophthalmoscopy. They show how a predisposition actually manifests — usually only conclusive after 12–18 months.
We group breeding programs into three levels based on testing depth. Ask your breeder directly which level they meet.
A breeder at the Great level meets the Good level and performs 1 additional clinically recommended screening that reduces risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA)(PRA)
Augen
Progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd-PRA) is an inherited eye disease that causes the light-sensitive cells in the retina, which lines the back of the eye, to gradually break down and die. This degeneration affects both eyes and eventually leads to complete blindness. Because the retina cannot process light properly, the dog's brain stops receiving visual information.
Passing: clear or carrier
These levels are a comparison framework, not an official certification. They help compare breeding programs at a glance.
A complete checklist with every core-standard and additionally recommended test, plus identity and rearing questions — take it with you.
Open the full checklistFor breeders
Machine-readable mating rules, minimum ages, scoring schemes, and what's required for HonestDog verification — as a printable guide.
Example rule — Hip dysplasia
Both parents must be HD A–C (C only with A/B) or better.
We take mandatory tests from official breed regulations, build the recommended health standard from veterinary databases — and cross-check every uploaded certificate against the dog's profile using AI.
L1 = core standard: the club's required tests where its rules set them, otherwise the recommended health standard for the breed. L2 = additionally recommended or clinically indicated. L3 = lower prevalence. Every assignment carries a source and confidence rating.
VDH breeding regulations, CIDD (University of PEI), OMIA (University of Sydney), curated veterinary input.
Uploaded certificates are read by AI and checked for date, result, and consistency with the dog's profile — our team reviews anything inconclusive.
Not across the board. But these traits can play a role in the Pyrenean Shepherd: Merle & double merle. Depending on the line, color or pairing, that is an extreme-breeding risk – what to look out for is explained on the linked pages.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Pyrenean Shepherd fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.
See breeders who have already uploaded their health test results for verification.
View verified breeders