Before you agree to a stud fee, you should know exactly which health tests apply to your breed — and expect to see current results, not promises. 'He's healthy' is not a health clearance. Paperwork is.
For most medium and large breeds, the baseline is orthopedic evaluation: OFA or PennHIP scoring for hip dysplasia, plus elbow grading. These conditions are partly hereditary, and breeding two untested dogs together is how they persist. Large and giant breeds should also have cardiac evaluation, and many breeds need eye certifications (CAER, formerly CERF) renewed every year — eyes change, and a certificate from three years ago tells you nothing today.
Breed-specific requirements matter enormously. Dobermans need annual echocardiograms and Holter monitoring for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a disease that can be fatal before symptoms appear. German Shepherds should have degenerative myelopathy (DM) DNA results. Golden Retrievers and Labradors need eye exams plus screening for exercise-induced collapse and progressive retinal atrophy. Boxers need ARVC screening. The list is different for every breed — your national breed club's health committee publishes the recommended panel, and it's the first document you should read.
DNA panels have become remarkably affordable and comprehensive. A single test from a reputable laboratory now screens for over 200 genetic conditions, and the results are permanent — they don't expire. There is no excuse in 2024 for a stud dog without a full panel on file. Pay attention to carrier status too: a carrier is not unfit to breed, but he must be paired only with a clear female, which is exactly why both sides need to share results openly.
Don't forget the basics that get overlooked: brucellosis testing within 30 days of any breeding (this disease causes infertility and is transmissible to humans), current vaccinations, and a recent fecal exam. Proven studs should also have semen evaluations on record — a dog that has sired litters in the past can still have declining fertility.
Ask for registration numbers you can verify yourself in public databases like the OFA website, where results are searchable by the dog's registered name or number. A five-minute search tells you whether the paperwork is real. On PetsRulez.com, we encourage owners to list these directly on their animal's profile — and many of our featured studs, like Skye the Doberman and Ranger the German Shepherd, have theirs front and center.
Remember: health testing protects everyone — the stud, the dam, the puppies, and both owners' reputations. An owner who resists testing isn't saving money; they're telling you something.