Dog Genetic Disease Testing and Breeding Ethics

Genetic disease testing enables breeders to eliminate heritable conditions, dramatically improving breed welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Over 300 heritable diseases have been identified in dog breeds with genetic tests available for many
Conditions including progressive retinal atrophy, degenerative myelopathy, and exercise-induced collapse are testable
Health-tested breeding programs can eliminate testable diseases from breed gene pools within generations
Kennel clubs increasingly require health testing for breed registration and showing
Prospective owners can verify health test results through national breed club health databases

Welfare Considerations

Genetic disease testing represents one of the most powerful available tools for improving breed health welfare across generations. A single generation of health-tested breeding can eliminate carriers of recessive diseases that have caused suffering in breed populations for decades. Breeders who prioritize health testing over show-winning traits, and buyers who seek health-tested puppies, together drive population-level welfare improvement that benefits every dog in the breed going forward.

What You Can Do

Research common heritable diseases in any breed you consider and the available genetic tests
Only purchase puppies from breeders who test parent dogs for all relevant heritable diseases
Verify health test results through breed club databases before committing to a puppy
Support breed clubs that make health testing a requirement for registration and showing
Advocate for mandatory health testing requirements for breeds with high inherited disease burden