Breeding suitability guide — Irish Red Setter
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Core standard for parents
Tests marked “Club standard” are required by Irish Setter Club Deutschland e.V. (ISCD) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I (Irish Setter) (CLAD-I) Club standard | DNA test | clear | Autosomal recessive | Irish Setter Club Deutschland e.V. (ISCD) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 4 (PRA-rcd4) Club standard | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Irish Setter Club Deutschland e.V. (ISCD) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| 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.
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I (Irish Setter) (CLAD-I)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Irish Setter Club Deutschland e.V. (ISCD)Progressive Retinal Atrophy, rod-cone dysplasia 4 (PRA-rcd4)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Irish Setter Club Deutschland e.V. (ISCD)3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE) | Physical examination | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) (IMHA) | Body-fluid analysis | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Megaesophagus (ME) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Third eyelid (nictitating membrane) abnormalities - "cherry eye" | Physical examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Persistent pupillary membranes (PPM) (PPM) | Eye examination | clear | Unknown | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Atopy (CAD) | Skin test | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Acral lick dermatitis (lick granuloma) (ALD) | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Perianal fistulas (PAF) | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Seborrhea | Skin test | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (PDA) | Ultrasound | normal | Polygenic | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) | Ultrasound | normal | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Epilepsy (IE) | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Globoid cell leukodystrophy (galactocerebrosidosis) (GCL) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Lissencephaly | X-ray | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) | DNA test | — | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hemophilia | Body-fluid analysis | clear | X-linked | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hypothyroidism | Body-fluid analysis | — | Complex | 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'