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**OnerePeepsy** · 09-29-2012, 09:01 AM

I am curious, who exactly oversees dog breeders? What organization enforces claims made by dog breeders. If the breeder said, yes of course our dogs are all genetically tested, but did not offer a money back guarantee if the dog develops stuff later in life, would you still buy? Do you just trust that if they say they do, it they actually do it? Is there any proof?

Call me skeptical but dog breeders, sell dogs as a business and frankly people who sell stuff sometimes make false claims or tell customers what they want to hear. Imagine that. If you are paying for a dog it better come from proven winning dogs. No BS claim of genetic testing is worth anything without real proof. What LAB does the testing? What does it cost? How accurate is the testing, who really does this and what freaking difference does it make? Life is a crap shoot. The term reputable breeder means a breeder with a reputation. If you have that and the dogs are nice, just do it. Because a breeder claims to have done genetic testing doesn't make it so.

A lot of people want to be able to justify why they are overpaying for a dog. The claim of genetic testing is nothing more than a claim without certified laboratory reports. If you do not see them, they probably do not exist. BTW go get some genetic testing done and let me know what the bill is, you get what you pay for, but real genetic testing is not cheap. Do you really believe that breeder, bred, fed, vaccinated and had genetically tested that $800 puppy in a certified genetic laboratory?

Most genetic testing is done through OFA, and you can look up any registered dog on the database to verify breeder claims. A responsible breeder will give you this information. Other claims such as "genetically cleared through parentage" should also be verifiable.

For example, I had got Lily's PennHIP. I obviously am not breeding her, as she was spayed at 6 months, but at any point in time if someone asked me to verify what her DI was on each hip, I would be able to present to them the official statement from PennHIP. Both I and my vet have a copy, and PennHIP does keep record.

If I bred dogs, and a prospective owner asked me to verify the report, I would gladly do so. A breeder that does not do this, IMO, is either lying or a jackass and either way not someone I'd want to deal with.

As for what labs do the testing, I'm not familiar with other genetic tests, but, for example, when OFA says "thyroid", they are talking about a Thyroid Panel sent to one of these approved locations: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Thyroid Disease

In my experience, and for the purpose of my job at my hospital, I know that Idexx does not do the testing, they send their test requisitions to the University of Michigan (DCPAH).

09-29-2012, 09:01 AM	#22
OnerePeepsy Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 474 Senior Member	I am curious, who exactly oversees dog breeders? What organization enforces claims made by dog breeders. If the breeder said, yes of course our dogs are all genetically tested, but did not offer a money back guarantee if the dog develops stuff later in life, would you still buy? Do you just trust that if they say they do, it they actually do it? Is there any proof? Call me skeptical but dog breeders, sell dogs as a business and frankly people who sell stuff sometimes make false claims or tell customers what they want to hear. Imagine that. If you are paying for a dog it better come from proven winning dogs. No BS claim of genetic testing is worth anything without real proof. What LAB does the testing? What does it cost? How accurate is the testing, who really does this and what freaking difference does it make? Life is a crap shoot. The term reputable breeder means a breeder with a reputation. If you have that and the dogs are nice, just do it. Because a breeder claims to have done genetic testing doesn't make it so. A lot of people want to be able to justify why they are overpaying for a dog. The claim of genetic testing is nothing more than a claim without certified laboratory reports. If you do not see them, they probably do not exist. BTW go get some genetic testing done and let me know what the bill is, you get what you pay for, but real genetic testing is not cheap. Do you really believe that breeder, bred, fed, vaccinated and had genetically tested that $800 puppy in a certified genetic laboratory? Most genetic testing is done through OFA, and you can look up any registered dog on the database to verify breeder claims. A responsible breeder will give you this information. Other claims such as "genetically cleared through parentage" should also be verifiable. For example, I had got Lily's PennHIP. I obviously am not breeding her, as she was spayed at 6 months, but at any point in time if someone asked me to verify what her DI was on each hip, I would be able to present to them the official statement from PennHIP. Both I and my vet have a copy, and PennHIP does keep record. If I bred dogs, and a prospective owner asked me to verify the report, I would gladly do so. A breeder that does not do this, IMO, is either lying or a jackass and either way not someone I'd want to deal with. As for what labs do the testing, I'm not familiar with other genetic tests, but, for example, when OFA says "thyroid", they are talking about a Thyroid Panel sent to one of these approved locations: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Thyroid Disease In my experience, and for the purpose of my job at my hospital, I know that Idexx does not do the testing, they send their test requisitions to the University of Michigan (DCPAH).
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