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Health Testing Guide
Which tests are mandatory, how to spot responsible breeders — and what it costs when things go wrong.
For the Pocket Bully we've compiled 9 tests required by American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) and 5 additionally recommended tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
See dogs available for adoptionWhat this grade means
In the Pocket Bully, there are significant breed-typical risks for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), Congenital Vertebral Malformation (CVM), as well as severe joint problems such as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED). Responsible breeders in the American Bully Club Deutschland therefore mandatorily screen their breeding dogs for BOAS, CVM, patellar luxation (PL), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), as well as HD (threshold HD A–B), ED (threshold ED 0) and the heart, rule out ectropion / entropion and refrain from merle-to-merle matings. Additionally, good breeders conduct genetic tests for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL), Hyperuricosuria (HUU), Degenerative Myelopathy, Cystinuria, and Ichthyosis. Have the veterinary findings of the parents regarding respiration, spine, and joints presented to you without exception.
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. For the Pocket Bully, American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) requires 9 tests for breeding approval, plus 5 additional recommended tests. 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 5 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to Good:
Ichthyosis(ICT)
Haut und Fell
Ichthyosis is an inherited skin disorder where the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, does not develop or shed properly. This defect in keratinization—the process of forming a protective outer skin barrier—leads to a buildup of dry, thick, and scaly skin. Because this barrier is compromised, the dog's body is more vulnerable to secondary infections.
Degenerative Myelopathy(DM)
Nervensystem
Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord where the protective sheath around the nerves slowly breaks down. This deterioration disrupts the vital communication signals between the brain and the muscles of the hind limbs. Over time, this lack of signal transmission leads to a complete loss of muscle control in the back legs.
DNA test
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis(NCL)
Nervensystem
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) is an inherited metabolic disorder that affects the nervous system. It occurs when nerve cells in the brain and eyes are unable to properly recycle cellular waste, leading to a harmful buildup of these materials that permanently damages the tissues.
DNA test
Cystinuria(Cyst-1a)
Nieren
Cystinuria is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting the kidneys, where the body fails to reabsorb an amino acid called cystine. Instead of being filtered back into the bloodstream, cystine builds up in the urine. Over time, this high concentration causes the amino acid to crystallize, forming painful stones in the bladder and urinary tract.
Body-fluid analysis
Hyperuricosuria(HUU)
Nieren
Hyperuricosuria is an inherited metabolic disorder affecting the renal system, specifically how the kidneys process uric acid. Due to a genetic mutation, excess uric acid is excreted into the urine rather than being broken down. This high concentration can cause the acid to crystallize, leading to the formation of painful bladder or kidney stones, also known as uroliths.
Body-fluid analysis
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 — Ectropion / Entropion
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.
A strongly shortened muzzle is typical of the Pocket Bully and counts as an extreme-breeding trait: it can cause breathing difficulty (BOAS), heat problems and eye disease. That is why we currently do not show breeders for this breed. A dog of this breed can still have a good life – what matters is explained on our brachycephaly page.
Self-check
Answer 6 quick questions about your everyday life and see how well the Pocket Bully fits you — including an honest cost estimate per month, per year, and across the dog's lifetime.