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.
Colt's and Raven's tests are registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and are publicly searchable. Our European imports, Talya and Hope, carry the FCI/ADRK equivalents (HD-A / HD-Frei, ED-0 / ED-Frei), documented on their official European paperwork — we post those certificates on their profile pages. We encourage all puppy buyers to verify results independently.
To look up our AKC-registered dogs:
If a breeder won't give you OFA numbers (or the European equivalent — ADRK/FCI HD and ED certificates) 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. Hip evaluations involve X-rays reviewed by board-certified radiologists — OFA in the US, or the FCI/ADRK reading for European-tested dogs. We only breed dogs with passing hip evaluations: OFA Fair or better, or HD-A / HD-Frei.
Elbow dysplasia can cause lameness and arthritis in affected dogs. Elbow evaluations screen for common developmental conditions including fragmented coronoid process, osteochondritis, and ununited anconeal process. We only breed dogs with clean elbows: OFA Normal, or ED-0 / ED-Frei on the European scale.
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.
European Standard
The ADRK (Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub) is the German Rottweiler breed club and the original authority on the Rottweiler breed standard worldwide. Dogs bred under ADRK standards must pass health testing, a breed survey, and a temperament evaluation before they are approved for breeding.
This is not a show title. It is a comprehensive evaluation of whether a dog meets the standard for health, structure, temperament, and working ability. European bloodlines bred under this standard carry a level of scrutiny that most American-bred dogs never face.
Our dogs carry European bloodlines. Colt was imported from Serbia with full KSS (Kennel Club of the Republic of Serbia) documentation and export pedigree. Talya passed the ADRK ZTP breed survey in Germany — the exact evaluation described above — and Hope is ADRK-registered with German health clearances (HD-Frei, ED-Frei, JLPP N/N).
Transparency
No health test guarantees a perfect dog. Genetics are complex, and even the most thoroughly tested breeding can produce a puppy that develops a health issue later in life. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being honest with you.
What health testing does is dramatically reduce the risk. It is the most responsible thing a breeder can do to stack the odds in your puppy's favor. We do it because it's the right thing to do — not because it's easy or cheap.
Every certificate number on this site is real and verifiable — OFA numbers at ofa.org, and our imports' European clearances on the official documents posted on their profile pages. If a breeder can't give you numbers to check, that tells you everything you need to know.
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