The Importance of Health Testing in Australian Labradoodles
Health testing is the single most important difference between a responsible Australian Labradoodle breeder and a backyard breeder. Before any parent dog is bred, it should pass a complete genetic DNA panel covering at least five breed-specific diseases (PRA, EIC, vWD, DM, IC), an OFA hip and elbow evaluation, OFA or CAER eye certification, a cardiac exam, and a patella evaluation. Skipping these tests can pass on hip dysplasia, blindness, exercise-induced collapse, and bleeding disorders to puppies who would carry those conditions for life. At Bestland Australian Labradoodles in Rome, GA, every parent dog completes the full health workup before producing a single litter, and we share those results openly with every family.
Here is what proper health testing in this breed actually looks like, and the questions you should be asking any breeder before you put down a deposit.
Why Health Testing Matters in This Breed
Australian Labradoodles inherit traits from three to six foundation breeds, and those breeds carry their own known genetic health risks. Without testing, those risks compound across generations. With consistent testing, breeders can pair dogs strategically so that no puppy is ever born with two copies of a disease-causing gene.
Common conditions screened for in Australian Labradoodle lines include:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia (inherited from Labrador and Poodle lines)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) leading to blindness
- Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
- von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD), a bleeding disorder
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), a spinal cord disease
- Improper Coat (IC), which affects the allergy-friendly coat
- Eye disorders including cataracts and multifocal retinal dysplasia
- Cardiac issues
- Addison’s disease
A puppy from two fully tested parents carries a dramatically lower risk for these conditions than a puppy from untested parents, even if both look perfectly healthy as adults.
The 5 Required Tests Every Parent Dog Should Pass
What Kennel-Raised Looks Like (and What It Doesn't Provide)
A reputable Australian Labradoodle breeder runs every parent dog through these five categories of testing before that dog is ever bred:
- Genetic DNA Panel. A blood or cheek swab tests for the breed-specific disease markers (PRA, EIC, vWD, DM, IC, and others). Most labs also include a parentage DNA profile so the dog’s identity is verified for the registry.
- OFA Hip Evaluation. Performed by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals after the dog turns two years old. The OFA does not issue final hip certifications before age two, which is why responsible breeders never breed dogs younger than that.
- OFA Elbow Evaluation. Done at the same age as hips. Elbow dysplasia is a known issue in both Labrador and Poodle lines and shows up regularly in early-generation Labradoodles when not screened against.
- Eye Certification (OFA Eye or CAER). A board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist examines the dog’s eyes for hereditary disorders like cataracts and retinal dysplasia. This test must be repeated every 12 to 18 months because some conditions develop later in life.
- Cardiac and Patella Evaluations. A cardiologist or veterinarian listens for heart murmurs and signs of congenital cardiac conditions. The patella exam checks for luxation, a kneecap issue common in smaller dogs.
A breeder who tells you their dogs are “vet checked” is not the same as a breeder who can hand you OFA certificates, a DNA panel report, and a current eye exam. Vet checks are routine wellness visits. Health testing is a separate and far more rigorous process.
DNA Panel: What Each Disease Marker Actually Means
The genetic DNA panel is one of the most critical pieces of testing because these conditions are passed down silently, with carrier dogs showing no symptoms themselves. Here is what each marker covers:
- PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy): A degenerative eye disease that leads to gradual blindness, usually starting in middle age.
- EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse): Causes muscle weakness and collapse after intense exercise. Affected dogs can experience dangerous episodes during play.
- vWD (von Willebrand’s Disease): A bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia. Affected dogs may not clot normally after surgery or injury.
- DM (Degenerative Myelopathy): A progressive spinal cord disease causing hind-end weakness and eventual paralysis in older dogs.
- IC (Improper Coat): Affects whether a puppy will have the allergy-friendly fleece or wool coat the breed is known for. Two carriers can produce shedding puppies.
A puppy can be clear (two healthy copies of the gene), carrier (one healthy, one affected; will not develop the disease but can pass it on), or affected (two affected copies, will develop the disease). Responsible breeders never pair two carriers of the same condition, which means puppies from a tested pairing will never be affected.
Physical Health Evaluations: OFA, PennHIP, and CAER
The DNA panel is just half the testing. The physical evaluations are the other half.
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) is the gold standard for hip, elbow, cardiac, and patella evaluations in the United States. The Australian Labradoodle has its own dedicated breed code in the OFA Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, which means health data is tracked across the breed and informs future breeding pairings.
PennHIP is an alternative hip evaluation method accepted by the ALAA. It uses a different scoring system but provides equally rigorous information about hip joint laxity and dysplasia risk.
CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) is administered by the OFA and certifies eye health through exams by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists. Eye certifications expire and must be renewed.
When you ask a breeder for proof of testing, these are the names that should appear on the documents.
ALAA Paw Reward Program: Silver, Gold, and Platinum Tiers
The Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA) recognizes breeders who exceed minimum testing standards through its Paw Reward Program. Baseline ALAA membership already requires hip, elbow, EIC, and PRA testing on every parent dog. The Paw tiers reward breeders who go further:
- Silver Paw: Adds an OFA Eye Certification, with retesting every 18 months.
- Gold Paw: Adds OFA Eye every 18 months plus prcd-PRA and EIC clearances, with regular retesting.
- Platinum Paw: Highest tier. Requires Gold Paw testing plus OFA final hip and elbow scores (or PennHIP plus OFA final elbow scores) for all breeding dogs in the kennel over age two, with testing complete by 30 months of age.
The Australian Labradoodle Club of America (ALCA) and the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association (WALA) maintain similar standards. A breeder’s tier or membership level is a fast way to gauge how seriously they take genetic health.
For a deeper look at what these registries verify, see our explainer on what makes a multigenerational Australian Labradoodle.
Questions to Ask Your Breeder Before You Buy
When you talk to a breeder, do not settle for vague answers. Ask for these specifics:
- “Can you send me the OFA hip and elbow certificates for both parents?”
Real documents have certificate numbers you can look up on the OFA website.
- “What does the genetic DNA panel cover, and which lab ran it?”
Major labs include Embark, Paw Print Genetics, Wisdom Panel, and Neogen.
- “How old were the parent dogs when they were first bred?”
The answer should be at least two years old.
- “When was the most recent eye exam done?”
Eye certifications expire; current is best.
- “What registry are you a member of, and at what tier?”
ALAA, ALCA, or WALA membership comes with verifiable health standards.
- “What happens if my puppy develops a genetic condition later?”
This is where the health guarantee comes in.
A breeder who hesitates, deflects, or cannot produce documents is telling you something important. Walk away.
The 2-Year Genetic Health Guarantee Standard
Most reputable Australian Labradoodle breeders offer a written 2-year genetic health guarantee. The guarantee typically covers:
- Hereditary diseases that should have been caught through testing
- Replacement of the puppy or partial refund if a covered genetic condition develops within 2 years
- Specific exclusions for accidents, injuries, and conditions outside the genetic panel
A health guarantee is not a substitute for testing. It is a backstop. The testing is what prevents the problem from happening in the first place.
How Bestland Approaches Health Testing
Our co-founder, Marcela, has severe allergies, which is part of why we became so committed to coat consistency and health testing in the first place. Every parent dog at Bestland completes a full DNA panel, OFA hip and elbow evaluations, eye certification, and cardiac and patella exams before producing a single litter. We are members of the Australian Labradoodle Club of America (ALCA), align with WALA standards, and meet the ALAA’s testing requirements. Every Bestland puppy goes home with a 2-year written genetic health guarantee and lifetime breeder support.
You can meet our parent dogs, learn how our breeding program works, and see our current and upcoming litters. If you are still deciding whether the breed is the right fit, our guide on Australian Labradoodles for families walks through temperament, exercise needs, and lifestyle considerations.
See the Health Testing Behind a Bestland Puppy
Call us, we will walk you through every test our parent dogs have passed, share copies of the certificates, and answer any questions about hereditary conditions. With 15 years of breeding experience and ALCA-aligned standards, we serve families across Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and nearby areas. Domestic delivery is available to major U.S. airports.
