Breeding suitability guide — Gordon Setter
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
Gordon-Setter-Club Deutschland e.V. requires these tests for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zahn- und Bissbewertung | Gebissbescheinigung | normal | Unknown | Gordon-Setter-Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Gordon-Setter-Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | Gordon-Setter-Club Deutschland e.V. |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 4 (PRA-rcd4)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 4 (PRA-rcd4) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Retinal Dysplasia (RD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Black hair follicular dysplasia (BHFD) | Skin test | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
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'