Breed Health Information: select your breed below

BVA/KC Health Schemes, Breed Club Health Schemes, DNA Tests, Conformation Issues, Closed Gene Pools, Extreme size

Introduction

DBRG's purpose includes advising puppy seekers on the best way to source a puppy and find a breeder who prioritises good health and welfare for their breeding dogs and puppies.

On this page we provide breed specific health information for the 50 most popular dog breeds in the UK. We have also included some of the most popular cross breeds.

Prospective puppy buyers may click on a breed listed below to find information about the essential documents a breeder should supply. We list the Health Schemes and DNA tests which apply to the breed and which a puppy buyer should ask the breeder about. We also list some diseases known to occur in the breed for which there is currently no health scheme or DNA test.

It is important that both the male and female parent dogs have been health tested.

It is perhaps unrealistic to expect a breeder to have carried out all of the tests listed. However, when a particular test has not been carried out, a good breeder should be able to explain why.

A breeder must take into account the genetic diversity of the breed. Breeding from closely related dogs is harmful to a breed population and part of a breeder’s responsibility is to take this into consideration when selecting which pair of dogs to breed from.

The temperament of both parents is crucially important as is the puppy habituation and socialisation the breeder carries out before the sale of the puppies.

More information on Buying a Puppy may be found here:

DBRG Guide to Buying a Puppy
https://www.dbrg.uk/guide-to-buying-a-puppy.html

Canine Health Schemes
https://www.bva.co.uk/canine-health-schemes/

Puppy Contract
https://puppycontract.org.uk

CFSG and DBRG Code of Practice for Dog Breeding
https://www.dbrg.uk/code-of-practice-for-dog-breeding.html

CFSG Guidance on Dog Conformation
https://www.dbrg.uk/guidance-on-dog-conformation.html

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Breed Health Posters

Bassett Hound
Beagle
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bichon Frise
Border Collie
Border Terrier
Boston Terrier
Bull Terrier
Boxer
Bulldog
Chihuahua
Chihuahua (long coat)
Chow Chow
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Dachshund (mini smooth)
Dachshund (mini wirehaired)
Dachsund (miniature, long haired)
Dachshund (wirehaired)
Dalmatian
Dobermann
Dogue de Bordeau
English Cocker Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
Flatcoated Retriever
French Bulldog
German Shepherd Dog
German Short-haired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Great Dane
Hungarian Vizla
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Irish Setter
Jack Russell Terrier
Labrador Retriever
Lhaso Apso
Maltese Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Newfoundland
Pomeranian
Poodle (Miniature)
Poodle (Toy)
Poodle (Standard)
Pug
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Shar Pei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
Weimeraner
Welsh Corgi
Welsh Springer Spaniel
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Yorkshire Terrier