Breeding suitability guide — Welsh Springer Spaniel
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Recommended health standard for parents
These tests make up the recommended health standard for the Welsh Springer Spaniel — the baseline of any careful breeding program. They should be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocular anomalies | Physical examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0 | Polygenic | Curated by HonestDog |
| 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.
Ocular anomalies
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cataract (HC) | Eye examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) | Eye examination | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (PRA) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) | Ultrasound | clear or carrier | Complex | AI-Vet |
| 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'