What health testing should a Mini Golden Retriever breeder do?
Last updated October 2026 · By Reagan, Golden Raes, Lehi, Utah
Ask for four exam-based clearances on both parents, the same ones the Golden Retriever Club of America recommends for Goldens: hips (OFA or PennHIP), elbows (OFA), eyes (a board-certified ophthalmologist) and heart (a veterinary cardiologist), plus a DNA disease panel. You should be able to verify results in the public OFA database.
Which tests matter, and when are they done?
| Test | Screens for | Done by | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hips | Hip dysplasia | OFA x-ray review or PennHIP | Final OFA rating at 24 months or older |
| Elbows | Elbow dysplasia | OFA x-ray review | 24 months or older |
| Eyes | Inherited eye disease, including pigmentary uveitis in Goldens | Board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist | Within 12 months before breeding, repeated yearly |
| Heart | Congenital heart disease such as subvalvular aortic stenosis | Veterinary cardiologist | 12 months or older |
| DNA panel | Inherited diseases and traits, including coat genes | DNA lab such as Embark | Any age |
Timing follows the Golden Retriever Club of America health statement. The pigmentary uveitis and SAS notes come from Graciegold Retrievers' health testing summary.
Why isn't a DNA test enough on its own?
DNA panels are valuable, but they can't diagnose hip or elbow dysplasia or many heart and eye conditions. Those take x-rays and specialist exams. The Canine Chasm points out that some breeders advertise DNA testing alone and skip the exams, so ask for both.
When a Golden has all four exam results posted publicly, it earns a CHIC number from the Canine Health Information Center. A CHIC number means the testing was done and published, not that every result passed, so read the actual results too.
What health problems are Golden Retrievers prone to?
The Golden Retriever Club of America's four recommended clearances line up with the breed's best-known inherited problems: hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disease, and congenital heart disease. Graciegold Retrievers notes that subvalvular aortic stenosis is the most common congenital heart disease in Goldens and that pigmentary uveitis is an emerging eye concern in the breed. Because Mini Goldens carry a lot of Golden Retriever ancestry, the same screening applies to their parents.
Why does testing matter for Mini Goldens?
Minis combine Golden Retriever ancestry with breeds like the Cocker Spaniel or Poodle, and each brings its own inherited risks. Breeding for smaller size should never mean cutting corners on testing. The right program screens parents for the Golden's known issues, hips, elbows, eyes and heart, and runs a DNA panel that covers conditions across the whole mix.
Meet the next Golden Raes litterNike and George's December 2026 litter is reserving now, $5,000, home around Valentine's Day.
Apply for a puppyWhat testing does Golden Raes do?
We've invested heavily in testing because it's the only honest way to breed. Our parents are Embark DNA tested and evaluated through the OFA for hips, elbows, eyes and heart, plus any other testing the breed calls for, and we temperament test too. We don't post results online, but we walk approved families through them. Every puppy is also DNA tested, and its Embark report goes home with you along with our written one-year health guarantee, extended to five years total when your puppy stays on pawTree.
How do you verify a breeder's results?
- Ask for each parent's registered name and look them up at ofa.org.
- Ask for the DNA report itself, as a PDF or a link to the lab's online profile, not a screenshot.
- Check the dates. Eye exams should be recent, and hip and elbow ratings should be final, not preliminary.
- Ask how the breeder handles a result that comes back abnormal.
Quick questions
What is a CHIC number?
It's a number from the Canine Health Information Center showing a dog completed all the tests its breed club recommends and made the results public. It doesn't mean every result passed.
What is PennHIP?
PennHIP is a hip evaluation that measures how loose the hip joint is and gives a numeric score. It can be done earlier than a final OFA hip rating.
Does health testing guarantee a healthy puppy?
No. Testing lowers the risk of inherited problems but can't remove it, which is why a written health guarantee matters too.
Keep reading: What is a Mini Golden Retriever? (2026 Guide), Do Mini Golden Retrievers shed? (2026 Guide), How much does a Mini Golden Retriever cost? (2026 Price Guide). Or see the next litter.
- Golden Retriever Club of America, Health Statement
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals database
- The Canine Chasm, How to read OFA health test results
- Graciegold Retrievers, Health testing
Last updated: October 2026 · Golden Raes, Lehi, Utah · @golden_raes