Dear Seeking: There is an important difference between a purebred dog registry and screening for genetic health disorders like hip dysplasia. It seems you have done your homework as you are buying from a breeder and you do realize that Saints can be prone to hip dysplasia. Additionally, you are wise to want some sort of proof that the parents are healthy and not carriers of the potentially devastating degenerative disease.

Purebred Dog Registry

A purebred dog registry is just that. It registers dogs that are verifiable purebred dogs. This is usually done through pedigrees.

Since 1884 the American Kennel Club has been the keeper of the purebred dog pedigrees in this country. It is the largest not-for-profit purebred dog registry. The parents of your potential puppy are registered with the CKC. This could mean the Canadian Kennel Club, the equivalent registry in Canada, or it could be another “for-profit” registry which documents a paper trial of pedigrees. AKC® is the only registry that has programs involving DNA parentage verification among its attributes as well as a care and conditions policy which conducts investigations and inspections to make sure that puppies are raised in suitable environments. But no registry, not even the AKC, can verify the quality or health of the puppies. This is left to the responsible breeder to prove to the consumer, you the puppy-buying public, that the parents and the puppies are healthy.

Orthopedic Foundation

For Animals

One of the best questions you can ask a breeder about hip dysplasia is if the parents have OFA numbers. OFA stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and is located at the University of Missouri. Responsible breeders will x-ray the hips of all their breeding stock after they turn two-years-old to screen for this disease. The process includes sending x-rays to OFA where board certified radiologists “read” the x-rays and give the hips a rating, such as excellent, good, fair, borderline, dysplastic, etc.

Breeders who truly care about creating a better dog free from problems will not only screen, but then make sure that they breed appropriate dogs together, say not allowing any “fairs” or “borderlines” into the breeding program. OFA sends the x-rays to three veterinarians who each rate the dog and then OFA calculates the dog’s rating based on the vet’s recommendations. OFA issues a number unique to that dog or bitch and send the owner a blue certificate with the OFA seal.

 Ask the breeder to see the originals and not a copy. It should state the name, breed, registration number, and age at time of testing. Beware of any breeder who issues statements like, “I don’t believe in x-raying for hips, it costs too much money, or I’ve never had any problems so I don’t bother.” OFA certifies not only hips, but other areas of canine health such as elbows, thyroid, and cardiac. Breeders should proudly shown OFA certificates to any puppy buyer. Visit www.offa.org for more information.

National Breed Club

In addition to health screening, most responsible breeders belong to their national breed or “parent” club. Many times if a breeder wants to be listed on the club’s official breeder referral list, sometimes on the club’s website, they have to sign a breeder’s code of ethics. Visit www.akc.org to help you locate the St. Bernard Club of America under the breeder referral section. That organization is the ultimate authority on the breed in the United States. Any member should be able to help you determine if you are buying from a reputable breeder. Also, visit the AKC Canine Health Foundation at www.akcchf.org for more information on the latest in canine genetic research and possible new tests for your breed.

  

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.