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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 Blue Picardy Spaniel we've compiled 2 tests required by Verein für französische Vorstehhunde e.V. (VBBFL), drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
View verified breedersWhat this grade means
In the Epagneul bleu de Picardie, orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED) are the primary health concerns. The Verein für französische Vorstehhunde e.V. (VBBFL) therefore strictly mandates radiographic screenings for HD and ED, as well as a dental and bite evaluation for breeding approval. Responsible breeders only use parent animals that meet the threshold of ED 0–1 and HD A to a maximum of C (the latter only under corresponding restrictions). Ask to see the official certificates for the joint evaluations and the dental and bite assessments of both parents before purchasing a puppy.
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. For the Blue Picardy Spaniel, Verein für französische Vorstehhunde e.V. (VBBFL) requires 2 tests for breeding approval. 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; no additional tests are currently recorded for the Blue Picardy Spaniel.
In addition to Good:
We don't currently have tests recorded at this level for the Blue Picardy Spaniel.
Not health tests, but required for breeding: the club asks for these results too. They don't count toward the risks or the rating.
DNA-Identitätsnachweis
Required by Verein für französische Vorstehhunde e.V. (VBBFL)
Acceptable result: Genabgleich auf Basis der DNA-Profile der Elterntiere (nach ISAG 2006 Norm)
Dental and bite evaluation
Required by Verein für französische Vorstehhunde e.V. (VBBFL)
Acceptable result: Fehlen von nicht mehr als drei Zähnen toleriert (M3 unberücksichtigt; Canini, P4 im Oberkiefer und M1 im Unterkiefer dürfen nicht fehlen)
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 — Elbow Dysplasia
Both parents must be ED 0–1 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.
The Blue Picardy Spaniel is not currently listed in our extreme-breeding overview. That does not mean it is free of hereditary disease: which ones are typical, and which tests the parents should have, is on this page.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Blue Picardy Spaniel 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