Willow Glen Kennels - Breeding Quality German Shorthaired Pointers

We require certain health tests be performed prior to breeding. These include OFA Hips with a rating of Good or Excellent, OFA Cardiac, annual CERF exam, and cone degeneration or CD clearance. These health tests are the recommended tests in order to qualify for a CHIC number. We also require a negative Brucellosis test.

For more information regarding CHIC numbers, please visit the Canine Health Information Center at www.caninehealthinfo.org

Some people believe that health testing is a waste of money and not worth the time. It is my opinion, and the opinion of the majority of reputable breeders, that health testing is a vital component to breeding. In this day and age of science, why should we not test for the major health problems that we can? Others will say that hip dysplasia is not prevalent in our breed - just look at the statistics found on the OFA website. My response is that the only reason the numbers appear to be so good is because we have been testing for it and eliminating it from our breeding programs. The life expectancy of the GSP is 12-15 years. The cost of most health tests is less than $200 per test, with some being under $100. To me, it is worth testing to improve the odds of producing offspring that do not suffer from the testable diseases/disorders. And yes, it is true that dogs with OFA hip ratings of good or excellent can produce a dysplastic dog, but this is not the norm. So if a breeder says that every dog in the pedigree was either good or excellent so they didn't feel the need to test their current dog, I would question why they were not willing to shell out $200 to have their breeding stock tested. Wherever you choose to purchase your next dog from (especially if you are looking for a purebred puppy), please be willing to spend the extra money to get a puppy from someone who does health testing - while it may be more money up front, it will hopefully lead to a healthier dog with a longer lifespan.