Breeding suitability guide — Golden Retriever
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Core standard for parents
Tests marked “Club standard” are required by Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) / Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC) for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal. The others are part of the recommended health standard and should be on file as well.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO) Club standard | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) |
| Cataract (HC) Club standard | Eye examination | result on file | Complex | Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (Golden Retriever) (GR-PRA1) Club standard | DNA test | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy 2 (Golden Retriever) (PRA-GR2) Club standard | DNA test | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) Club standard | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) |
| Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD-PRA) (PRA-prcd) Club standard | — | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC) |
| Retinal Dysplasia (RD) Club standard | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC) |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | — |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–C (C only with conditions) | Polygenic | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Ichthyosis, PNPLA1-related (ICT) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Curated by HonestDog |
| Aortic valve stenosis (AS) | — | normal | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, type 5 (NCL5) Club standard | — | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC) |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Cataract (HC)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Golden Retriever Club e.V. (GRC)Progressive Retinal Atrophy 1 (Golden Retriever) (GR-PRA1)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC)Progressive Retinal Atrophy 2 (Golden Retriever) (PRA-GR2)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Deutscher Retriever Club e.V. (DRC)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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distichiasis | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Corneal dystrophy (CD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) | DNA test | clear | X-linked | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Atopy (CAD) | Skin test | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Curated by HonestDog |
| Epilepsy (IE) | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hypomyelination (HYM) | — | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hypothyroidism | Body-fluid analysis | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) | Ultrasound | — | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
| Lymphoma (LSA) | Body-fluid analysis | — | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
| Mast cell tumor (MCT) | — | — | 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'