Breeding suitability guide — Bouvier des Flandres
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 Bouvier des Flandres — 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 | — |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | — |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
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.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megaesophagus (ME) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Laryngeal Paralysis (LP) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) | Eye examination | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Aortic valve stenosis (AS) | — | normal | Complex | AI-Vet |
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'