Breeding suitability guide — Border Terrier
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 Border Terrier — the baseline of any careful breeding program. They should be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cesarean section | Physical examination | max. 2 caesarean sections | Complex | — |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | — |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Lens luxation (PLL) | Eye examination | clear | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) | Eye examination | clear | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Retinal Dysplasia (RD) | Eye examination | result on file | Complex | — |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | Curated by HonestDog |
| Patellar Luxation (PL) | Physical examination | PL 0 | Polygenic | Curated by HonestDog |
| Spongiform Leukoencephalomyelopathy (SLEM) | X-ray | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Ectropion / Entropion
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Cataract (HC)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Lens luxation (PLL)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Retinal Dysplasia (RD)
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 heart defect | — | normal | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
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'