Breeding suitability guide — Labrador Retriever
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
Labrador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNA-Identitätsnachweis | Blutprobe (DNA-Profil) | DNA-Profil vorliegend | — | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Wesensbeurteilung | Verhaltenstest | Bestanden | — | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Zahn- und Bissbewertung | Gebissbescheinigung | Komplette Schere; toleriert werden P1, M3 und max. 4 weitere Zähne unter Auflagen | Unknown | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam) (ECVO) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Progressive rod-cone degeneration (PRCD-PRA) (PRA-prcd) | — | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Retinal Dysplasia (RD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) | DNA test | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–C (C only with conditions) | Polygenic | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| D-Locus (d1) (D-Lokus) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
| Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK) | Skin test | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Labrador Club Deutschland e.V. |
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.
Labrador Club Deutschland e.V.Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Labrador Club Deutschland e.V.Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Labrador Club Deutschland e.V.Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Labrador Club Deutschland e.V.Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (SD2)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleft palate | Physical examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hereditary myopathy - Labrador retriever/Bouviers des Flandres myopathy (CNM) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (SD2) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) (CDA) | Skin test | — | Complex | Curated by HonestDog |
| Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Epilepsy (IE) | Physical examination | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Globoid cell leukodystrophy (galactocerebrosidosis) (GCL) | DNA test | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) | DNA test | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Diabetes mellitus (DM) | Body-fluid analysis | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Hemophilia | Body-fluid analysis | clear | X-linked | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Portosystemic hepatic encephalopathy (PSS) | — | normal | 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'