Does Your Breeder Genetically Test?
What a Comprehensive DNA Panel Covers, and What to Verify
What a Comprehensive DNA Panel Includes
A proper DNA panel for Bernedoodle breeding dogs covers disease markers specific to both the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle gene pools. This typically includes Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Von Willebrand's Disease (vWD), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Neonatal Encephalopathy, and dozens of other conditions. The panel also confirms furnishings status (RSPO2), curl gene (KRT71), coat color genetics, and can include size prediction markers.
A responsible breeder should be running a comprehensive DNA panel on every breeding dog, or have reliable knowledge of their genetics through documented parentage. The key word is 'documented': verbal assurances are not the same as published results you can verify.
Physical Health Evaluations
DNA panels cover genetic conditions, but they do not evaluate structural health. That requires separate physical evaluations: hip and elbow scoring through OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) or PennHIP, cardiac clearances from a board-certified cardiologist, ophthalmologist exams for progressive eye conditions, and patella evaluations for miniature lines.
The combination of a comprehensive DNA panel and physical health evaluations gives the most complete picture of a breeding dog's health status. Neither alone is sufficient.
Understanding Carrier Status
A dog that is a 'carrier' for a genetic condition is not a sick dog. Carriers have one copy of a recessive disease gene but show no symptoms. Breeding a carrier to a genetically clear partner produces puppies that are either clear or carriers themselves. None will be affected by the disease.
While having completely clear parents on both sides is ideal, maintaining genetic diversity is crucial to the long-term health of any population. Slowly working away from disease markers is the goal, but it is a process, not an overnight fix. Breeding a carrier to a clear partner is a responsible approach for breeders thinking about the health and longevity of their pedigrees over many generations, not just the next litter.
The danger comes from breeding carrier to carrier (which produces a 25% chance of affected puppies) or from eliminating every carrier from the breeding pool, which shrinks genetic diversity and creates new problems. Knowledgeable breeders balance both concerns.
Red Flags and Green Flags
Green flags: published OFA results you can search online, willingness to walk you through genetic test results, transparent about carrier status, individual puppy testing, and a clear explanation of how they use genetics to plan pairings.
Red flags: claiming testing is unnecessary, unwilling to share results, vague references to 'health tested parents' without specifics, breeding without knowing furnishings status, and dismissing questions about genetics as 'too technical for buyers.'
What DNA panel do you use? Can I see the OFA results for both parents? Do you test each puppy individually? Are any of your breeding dogs carriers for any conditions, and if so, how do you manage pairings?
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