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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 Canadian Shepherd we have compiled 10 mandatory and 2 recommended health tests, drawn from breed-club regulations, the University of PEI (CIDD), and OMIA — weighted by severity and heritability.
What this grade means
There are currently no mandatory health tests for the Canadian Shepherd in our database, which is why buyers must be particularly diligent in checking for documentation themselves. Typical breed risks such as hip dysplasia (HD), the MDR1 gene defect, and degenerative myelopathy (DM) should absolutely be tested in the parent dogs. Without these precautions, there is an avoidable risk of serious mobility and neurological issues.
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. For the Canadian Shepherd we track 10 mandatory tests plus 2 additional recommended ones. 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 are not always predictive of severity in the puppies. Even so, they're a powerful tool used by every responsible breeder.
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 performs all mandatory tests plus 2 additional clinically recommended screenings that reduce risk in this breed.
In addition to mandatory tests:
Malignant Hyperthermia(MH)
Stoffwechsel
Malignant hyperthermia, also known as Narkoseüberempfindlichkeit, is an inherited skeletal muscle disorder caused by a genetic mutation in the RYR1 gene. This mutation disrupts how calcium is regulated within the muscle cells, causing them to contract uncontrollably when triggered. These intense spasms generate a rapid, life-threatening rise in body temperature, typically brought on by specific anesthetic gases or extreme physical stress.
DNA · Passing: CLEAR
Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII(MPS VII)
Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (MPS VII) is an inherited metabolic disorder belonging to a group called lysosomal storage diseases. It occurs when a deficiency in a specific enzyme prevents the body from breaking down complex sugar molecules, leading to a harmful buildup of waste products inside cells. This accumulation causes progressive damage to multiple organ systems, particularly the skeleton and connective tissues.
Passing: CARRIER
These levels are a comparison framework, not an official certification. They help compare breeding programs at a glance.
A complete checklist with every mandatory and 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 Borderline or better or better.
We compile mandatory tests from official breed regulations and veterinary databases — and check every uploaded certificate for authenticity.
L1 = mandatory under breed-club regulations. L2 = 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 AI-extracted and reviewed by our team for authenticity, date, and result.
10 tests are currently mandatory under the relevant breed-club regulations. The most common are DNA-Identitätsnachweis, Zahn- und Bissbewertung, Elbow Dysplasia (ED). Every test must be completed before mating, and the result must fall within the threshold defined by the regulation.
See breeders who have already uploaded their mandatory tests for verification.
View verified breeders