Genetics is the study of how different traits written into DNA are passed on from one generation to the next.  Studying genetics is important so that we can understand what traits the parents are going to pass on to their puppies.  Many people think of this solely in reference to what colors of puppies we can expect from 2 parents.  This is part of the genetic tests, but this is actually not the most important reason for a breeder to run a genetic test.  As a breeder, my number #1 concern is looking at genetics relating to the health of a dog.

  Running a genetic test is pretty simple.  You order the kit and collect saliva from the inside of the dog's cheek.  Considering how inexpense it is to test, how easy and noninvasive it is, I think that it is inexcusable that any dog be bred without genetic testing.  I recently had an old time breeder complain to me that "in her day, no one did genetic testing." I simply can't understand her complaint.  I love genetic testing because it shows me that a dog is: A. the breed that I think it is and B. that this dog is not going to pass on problems to their puppies. Genetic testing is the first step that I use to make sure that I am selling healthy puppies.

 

    I'm not going to lie, I have had my share of disappointments after getting the test results. Once we got an adorable dog that we were told was an AKC Australian Shepherd, but that they had lost the papers in their move.  I questioned if her ears really were Australian Shepherd ears, but she was so cute that I decided to purchase her.  Well, a simple swab later and a few weeks of waiting, and the results were in...... that she was an utter and absolute mutt.... an adorable mutt, but not an AKC registerable Australian Shepherd and definitely not a good fit for our breeding program.  Fortunately, because she was absolutely adorable, it was easy to find her a new home.

  Another time, I brought a gorgeous AKC Australian Shepherd named Elsa into my program from Texas.  Unfortunately, Elsa's genetic test results came back that she was a carrier for hereditary cataracts a condition that would be passed on to 50% of her puppies.  Offering you a genetic health guarantee (your choice of a 1 year, 5 year or lifetime guarantee), makes me very conscious of my breeding practices.  I am now accountable to you, my puppy buyers, for the health conditions that I allow to be passed on to my puppies.  The confidence that I have in re-homing healthy puppies is worth the thousands of dollars that I lost in finding Elsa greener pastures. 

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  As a breeder, I believe that it is my responsibilty to take on that risk, not yours as the puppy buyer.  When I pick a new dog for breeding, I am choosing to take on responsibilty for the health of your family members.  A genetic test should be the absolute minimum that a breeder is doing to ensure that you are getting a healthy family member.  Whether you choose to adopt a Labradoodle puppy or Aussiedoodle puppy from me or keep looking, please make sure that both parents have clear genetic testing.  Any breeder worth buying from has genetic testing results available for you to look over.  If you are investing in a long term family member, please make sure that your breeder has done at least the minimum to give you the healhiest companion possible.