Breeding suitability guide — English Springer Spaniel
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
These tests must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Approved from | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocular anomalies | Physical examination | clear | Complex | Legacy |
| Pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Legacy |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | CIDD |
| Fucosidosis (FUCO) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Legacy |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Ocular anomalies
Polygenisch — beide Elterntiere sollten das Ergebnis „frei“ erreichen. Tiere aus belasteten Linien sollten nicht für die Zucht eingesetzt werden.
LegacyPectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD)
Polygenisch — beide Elterntiere sollten das Ergebnis „frei“ erreichen. Tiere aus belasteten Linien sollten nicht für die Zucht eingesetzt werden.
LegacyFucosidosis (FUCO)
Autosomal rezessiv: Zwei Träger dürfen nicht miteinander verpaart werden — 25% der Welpen wären betroffen. Betroffene Hunde sollten gar nicht in der Zucht eingesetzt werden.
Legacy3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Approved from | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) (IMHA) | Body-fluid analysis | clear | Complex | CIDD |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | CIDD |
| Corneal dystrophy (CD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD |
| Retinal Dysplasia (RD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD |
| Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS) | DNA test | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD |
| Fold dermatitis/pyoderma | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD |
| Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Cutaneous asthenia) (EDS) | Skin test | clear | Autosomal dominant | CIDD |
| Psoriasiform-lichenoid dermatosis | Body-fluid analysis | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (PDA) | Ultrasound | normal | Polygenic | CIDD |
| Hypomyelination (HYM) | — | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD |
| Bleeding disorder | — | clear or carrier | Unknown | CIDD |
| Diabetes mellitus (DM) | Body-fluid analysis | — | Complex | CIDD |
| Lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD |
| Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency (PFK) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD |
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'