Our Commitment
Why we test, what we test for, and what it means for your puppy
Health testing is the single most important thing a breeder can do to protect the puppies they produce. It's not just about the parents — it's about giving every puppy the best possible start in life by screening for hereditary conditions before they're ever passed on.
A puppy from health-tested parents is not guaranteed to be free of all health issues, but the odds are dramatically better. Responsible breeders don't gamble with genetics — they test, they verify, and they make breeding decisions based on data, not hope.
When you buy a puppy from a breeder who doesn't health test, you're paying the same price (or more) for significantly more risk. We believe our puppy families deserve better than that.
Every health test we perform is registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and is publicly searchable. We encourage all puppy buyers to verify results independently.
To look up any of our dogs:
If a breeder won't give you OFA numbers or tells you health testing "isn't necessary" — that's a red flag. Walk away.
Our Testing Protocol
Hip dysplasia is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in large breed dogs. OFA hip evaluations involve X-rays reviewed by a panel of board-certified radiologists who grade the hip joint conformation. Results range from Excellent to Severe Dysplasia. We only breed dogs with passing hip evaluations (Fair or better).
Elbow dysplasia can cause lameness and arthritis in affected dogs. OFA elbow evaluations screen for common developmental conditions including fragmented coronoid process, osteochondritis, and ununited anconeal process. Dogs receive a grade of Normal or Dysplastic. We only breed dogs with Normal elbows.
Rottweilers can be predisposed to sub-aortic stenosis (SAS) and other cardiac conditions. OFA cardiac evaluations are performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist via auscultation or echocardiogram. We screen all breeding dogs for heart abnormalities.
The Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) exam is performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. It screens for hereditary eye diseases including cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, and ectropion. Annual exams are recommended.
Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy is a serious neurological condition found in Rottweilers. It is caused by a recessive gene mutation and can be completely avoided through DNA testing. We test all breeding dogs to ensure no affected puppies are ever produced.
A full dentition check verifies correct bite alignment (scissors bite per the breed standard) and complete tooth count. Missing or misaligned teeth can indicate underlying genetic issues and are noted in our breeding evaluations.
Buyer Education
Whether you buy from us or someone else, here are the questions every puppy buyer should ask. A responsible breeder will answer all of them openly.
Questions?
We're happy to discuss our testing protocols, share specific results for any dog in our program, or help you understand what to look for when evaluating a breeder.
Contact Us