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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 Norrbottenspitz we have compiled 1 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
The Norrbottenspitz is an extremely robust, primitive breed with a refreshingly low genetic disease burden. Nevertheless, when purchasing a puppy, you should be aware of isolated cases of patellar luxation and hereditary eye conditions such as cataracts, even though there are no strict mandatory health tests for these. If you are looking for a fit, natural dog, this breed is an excellent choice in terms of health.
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 Norrbottenspitz we track 1 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:
Eye conditions (ophthalmological eye exam)(ECVO)
Augen und Sehvermögen
This refers to a variety of hereditary eye conditions affecting the structures of the eye, such as the lens, retina, or eyelids. An ophthalmological eye exam is a specialized clinical screening used to detect these genetic defects, which include cataracts (clouding of the lens) or progressive retinal atrophy (gradual degeneration of the light-sensitive retina). Early detection through these screenings helps identify issues before they cause permanent vision loss or chronic pain.
Augen · Passing: No evidence of hereditary cataracts or PRA within 12 months
Hip dysplasia(HD)
Bewegungsapparat
Hip dysplasia is an inherited skeletal disorder where the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit together properly. Instead of sliding smoothly, the bones rub and grind against each other, wearing down the protective cartilage. Over time, this chronic friction causes joint instability, painful inflammation, and progressive arthritis, which is the gradual wear and tear of the joint.
Roentgen · Passing: B or better
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 — Patellar Luxation
Both parents must be Grade 0 or 1 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.
1 tests are currently mandatory under the relevant breed-club regulations. The most common are Patellar Luxation (PL). 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