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Health Testing Guide
Which tests matter, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Norwegian Elkhound (Black) we've compiled 14 tests in the recommended health standard and 1 additionally recommended test, drawn from veterinary databases such as CIDD (University of PEI) and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
View verified breedersWhat this grade means
In the Black Norwegian Elkhound, breed-specific risks include hip dysplasia (HD), spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), and eye diseases such as primary lens luxation (PLL), cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). A health-conscious breeder therefore has their breeding dogs comprehensively X-rayed, genetically tested, and ophthalmologically examined beforehand. Ask to see the official findings: both parents should be clear of primary lens luxation (PLL), have at most HD C, and regarding spinocerebellar ataxia, a carrier may only be mated with a clear partner. In addition, look for an up-to-date ophthalmological eye examination (ECVO) confirming that the parents are clear.
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. The recommended health standard for the Norwegian Elkhound (Black) covers 14 tests, plus 1 additional recommended test. 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 and performs 1 additional clinically recommended screening that reduces risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam)(ECVO)
Augen
This refers to a variety of hereditary eye conditions affecting the structures of the eye, such as the lens, retina, or eyelids. An ophthalmological eye exam is a specialized clinical screening used to detect these genetic defects, which include cataracts (clouding of the lens) or progressive retinal atrophy (gradual degeneration of the light-sensitive retina). Early detection through these screenings helps identify issues before they cause permanent vision loss or chronic pain.
Eye examination · Passing: clear
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 — Distichiasis
Both parents must be clear 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 Norwegian Elkhound (Black) 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 Norwegian Elkhound (Black) 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