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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 Belgian Tervuren we've compiled 3 core tests (2 of them required by Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V.) and 5 additionally recommended tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
View verified breedersWhat this grade means
In the Tervueren, breed-typical risks exist for hip dysplasia (HD), elbow dysplasia (ED), as well as epilepsy and eye diseases such as cataracts. The Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V. mandates X-ray examinations for breeding for hip dysplasia (HD) with a limit of HD A–B and elbow dysplasia (ED) with ED 0 or borderline, while breed clubs also test for hypothyroidism. A responsible breeder additionally checks their breeding stock for progressive retinal atrophy, pannus (chronic superficial keratitis), and freedom from epilepsy in the lineage. Before buying, have the official X-ray results for HD and ED, as well as proof of thyroid health and eye examinations of the parent animals, presented to you.
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 core standard for the Belgian Tervuren covers 3 tests, 2 of them required by Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V., 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:
Cataract(HC)
Augen
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the lens inside the dog's eye, which is the clear structure that focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye. When the lens becomes cloudy or opaque, it blocks light from entering, gradually impairing the dog's vision. If left untreated, this condition can eventually lead to complete blindness in the affected eye.
Eye examination
Pannus (Chronic Superficial Keratitis)(CSK)
Augen
Pannus, or chronic superficial keratitis, is an immune-mediated disease affecting the cornea, which is the clear outer surface of the eye. In this condition, the dog's immune system mistakenly attacks the cornea, causing blood vessels and dark pigment to grow across it. This process is worsened by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and can eventually block the dog's vision.
Eye examination
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)(PRA)
Augen
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited eye disease that affects the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. In this condition, the specialized cells responsible for detecting light, known as photoreceptors, gradually degenerate and die. Because these cells cannot recover or be replaced, the disease slowly but inevitably leads to complete blindness.
Vitiligo
Haut und Fell
Vitiligo is a harmless condition affecting the skin and coat where the body's immune system mistakenly destroys melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing pigment. This leads to a progressive loss of color in localized areas of the skin, nose, and fur. The condition is entirely cosmetic and does not cause any underlying illness or physical discomfort.
Skin test
Epilepsy(IE)
Nervensystem
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain and nervous system where abnormal electrical activity causes sudden, temporary disruptions in normal brain function. These disruptions lead to repeated seizures, which are involuntary changes in body movement, sensation, or behavior. Because the underlying cause is often complex, the brain's electrical signaling remains permanently prone to these sudden misfires.
Physical examination
Not health tests, but required for breeding: the club asks for these results too. They don't count toward the risks or the rating.
DNA-Identitätsnachweis
Required by Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V.
Acceptable result: Nachweis der Elternschaft erbracht
Wesensbeurteilung
Required by Deutscher Klub für Belgische Schäferhunde e.V.
Acceptable result: Bestanden
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 — Elbow Dysplasia
Both parents must be ED 0 or borderline 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 Belgian Tervuren 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 Belgian Tervuren 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