Health Testing Explained
This page explains what health testing really means, why it matters and how it protects the future of the breed, our puppies & the families who love them.
At Cypress Labradoodles, health testing is not a marketing phrase; it is the foundation of every breeding decision we make. Ethical Australian Labradoodle breeding means prioritising long-term health, sound structure and stable temperament over convenience, trends or volume.
Each puppy comes with a 3-year health guarantee for the 31 hereditary conditions we can test for.
DNA Testing
We Use Orivet to health test for 31 hereditary diseases.
Both parents of your puppy have undergone full health testing this includes:
- PRA
- Degenerative Myelopathy
- Von Willebrand's disease
- Malignant Hyperthermia
Genetic testing helps identify whether a dog is clear, a carrier or affected by specific inherited conditions. We use genetic screening to avoid producing affected puppies, ensure safe, compatible pairings & maintain transparency with future owners. Carrier dogs are not automatically excluded — ethical breeding involves responsible pairing, not unnecessary elimination of healthy dogs.
Unfortunately, many puppies are bred without any formal health screening. This can result in avoidable heartache for families & compromised welfare for dogs later in life. Ethical breeders test, not because it is required, but because it is the right thing to do.
Hips & elbows
Hips & elbows xrays scored using the CHEDS and/or PennHIP method:
Elbows: X-rays are taken of each elbow and assesed. The conformation of the elbow and any signs of osteoarthritis is assessed and then given a score. We will only breed from dogs with a score of 0 and 0 in each elbow. A score of 0 means the elbow has no conformational issues and no signs of osteoarthritis.
CHEDS requires a very specific and carefully positioned X-ray of the hips. The image is then sent off to an expert radiologist who will grade each of the hips against different criteria. We ensure that all breeding dogs have a score under 15 as per the Australian Labradoodle Association recommendations.
PennHIP scoring is a technique used to measure and assess hip joint laxity. Studies have shown, breeders that consistently bred from PennHIP scores that were better than the breed average reduced the rates of osteoarthritis in their breed. The breed average distraction index (DI) for Labradoodles is 0.5. We only breed from dogs that have a lower score than the breed average, meaning they have less loose hips.
Preventing Health Issues
Health testing reduces the risk of inherited conditions being passed on to puppies. While no breeder can guarantee perfect health, responsible testing significantly lowers the likelihood of preventable genetic and structural issues.
Some diseases and injuries can be environmental, owners must agree to:
·Reasonable care is taken to prevent hip dysplasia i.e. paying careful attention to diet & recommended exercise when they're pups and ensuring they don't become overweight to prevent excessive pressure being placed upon the joints.
· Ensuring your Cypress Labradoodle is up to date with vaccinations and worming/parasite treatment.