Being an Australian registered breeder, we follow the guidelines set out by the controlling body of our state. For us it is the Canine Control Council of Queensland. There are several health clearances that we, as registered breeders can do, not all of which are required by our state controlling canine body.

In Australia it is a requirement that pedigree litters (whether they are main register or limited register) are only sold as purebreed dogs if the person selling them is a member of their local canine councile and a registered breeder with the Canine Council of their state.

Australia is different to the UK where anyone in the UK who owns a pedigree dog can register a litter as long as both parents are registered, without the person themselves having any prior breeding experience or knowledge, or have to abide by breeding rules, a code of ethics or be a member of a controlling body.

In Australia however, you must be registered as a member of the Canine Control Council as well as being registered as a breeder. You must of owned your pedigree dog for at least 12 months prior to applying to become a registered breeder and you must also now sit a knowledge test on the basics of breeding practices.

This also goes without saying the necessary help and guidance of mentors in the breed who give advice for anyone starting out or early along in their breeding travels (we should always be willing as breeders to be open to suggestions as it is for the betterment of the breed).

This goes without saying that those with many years of experience may know a bit more about lines that work well together than someone who is starting out with little or no knowledge about the parentage of their pedigree dogs they are throwing together to produce a litter!

Hip and elbow scoring is something that is required of all potential breeding dogs and before a mating is done, it is a requirement of an intended registered, pedigree litter.

Eye clearances are not yet mandatory but most breeders do them annually. Genetic testing for PRA, which is different than annual eye clearances, is also not yet mandatory but more and more breeders are now testing their dogs for the gene that can produce PRA. Below we will go into further detail on each of these tests.

Hips & Elbows

The biggest question I get asked is.... are your dogs hip and elbow scored?

Another question I get asked very often is "Will the puppies be hip and elbow scored before leaving you?" Alot of people that make enquiries understand that dogs need to be hip and elbow scored but have no understanding what is behind it, or what the scores really mean and which dogs need to be scored...... And no the puppies do not get scored before heading off to their new home.

Understanding Hip and Elbow scoring.

Labradors as a breed have a pre-disposition to hip and elbow dysplasia. Around 1997 the ANKC brought in mandatory hip and elbow scoring to help reduce the incidence of hip and elbow dysplasia. Hip and elbow scoring is now used as an important guideline for breeders to help reduce the possibility of hip or elbow dysplasia in their breeding program.

The breed average at present for the Labrador breed (as each breed average is different) is approximately 12.5 although the median score (or average at present is more likely around 14), for a labrador. Keeping in mind that this is an average taken over all the dogs that are actually scored. I would expect the breed average to be alot higher if all the x-rays taken were actually submitted for scoring. If this were the case the breed average would definitely be higher (maybe up closer to 20) and it would be a more true indication of the actual breed average.

You should also consider that out of any one litter most breeders keep on one or two pups, that go on to be hip and elbow scored in most cases. So in reality only a very small percentage of each registered litter is scored. If entire litters or even half of each litter was hip and elbow scored this would also impact on the breed average of the Labrador Retriever as well..... just something to think on..........

Each hip is rated out of a potential score of 53. The lower to 0, the sounder the hip. A score of 0/0 (which is left hip and right hip) is perfect. Even a score of 4/4 I would say is near on perfect. Then the left and right hip scores are added together to give a total rating. So the dog with a 4/4 hip score would have a total of 8.

It is a part of the bigger picture, helping us when deciding on a potential litter. Why do I say this is only a part of the bigger picture? Because even though we all hip and elbow score our breeding labs, we also take into account more than just scores when pairing up two potential dogs. Also dogs that were scored say 6 years ago would have a higher breed average than say a dog scored presently.

Each country also has a different approach to hip and elbow scoring and breed averages which you would need to consider if buying outside of Australia.

Elbows -

I have found that we are hearing more about elbow issues in the labrador compared with hip issues over the last few years. Elbows are scored at the same time as hips but are scored quite differently. A score of 0/0 (left and right elbows) is perfect, not affected. You then go up in score depending on the gap between the elbow joint. This is measured in millimetres. The scores of dogs can go up to 5 which would be seriously affected and should not be bred from. We would personally not breed from anything with a 2 elbow score or higher.

Keep in mind no amount of screening can totally stop the chances of possible hereditary defects entirely. Labradors are a living thing and these are tools that each of us, as breeders, use to help us with breeding decisions along the way. This however does not guarantee that puppies will be free of a possible potential health problem but breeding from sound parents increases the probability of sound puppies.

Hip and elbow scoring is done by an accredited company. In Australia this is by Dr. Wyburn in Western Australia or the AVA in New South Wales. We provide copies of hip and elbow scores in our puppy packs for all new owners.

EYES

There are two tests you can do for eyes. One is an annual eye clearance, with an accredited canine opthalmologist. This checks for yearly changes in the growth or development of your lab. At present it is not mandatory for breeders to do eye clearances but alot of breeders undertake to have them done annually.

Another new test that breeders are now looking at is the PRA/PRCD genetic test. This is also a test to see if our breeding labs carry the PRCD/PRA gene. PRA is a genetic eye disorder than can lead to blindness in labs later in life. See our Health Issues for further details on PRA. This is also not mandatory test but alot of breeders are very happy with the introduction of this new test and I am sure at some stage it will become mandatory.

This simple test (via a cheek swab or blood test) can tell us if they are clear, a carrier or affected. If a dog is tested as a carrier it does mean that they will never go on to develop PRA themselves but carry the gene. Breeders CAN breed from dogs that are a carrier if put to dogs that are "PRA clear".

The best scenario is to put two PRA clear dogs together but you can mate a carrier dog IF put to a PRA CLEAR dog. Dogs that test positive for PRA must not be bred from at all.

Here is a scan of the outcomes of matings done with clear to carrier etc. This helps give you an idea that carriers can still be bred from and the pups will not go on to develop PRA. This has been added with permission from George Sofronidis from Genetic Technologies Australia.

These tests are done both overseas and now here in Australia. Genetic Technologies are located in Victoria Australia.