January 2026 Newsletter: Health Testing Explained!
OFA, DNA panels, what matters and why?
Endeavor’s Trick Question, credit Katherine Warren, The Breed Photography Project
Hello All!
I think there's a good amount of misinformation surrounding health testing out there, what it is, and why it's important not to buy from a breeder who doesn't do it. I decided to put together a little short informational "health testing for dummies" to paint a good picture!
If you’ve been researching or ever have researched dog breeders, you’ve probably seen the phrase “health tested” everywhere. It sounds reassuring but the truth is that phrase can mean very different things depending on who is using it.
Today, I want to walk you through what health testing actually means in the Australian Labradoodle breed, what to look for, and why we choose to complete final OFA testing, not just preliminary exams.
My goal is simple: to help you feel informed, confident, and clear about what really matters when choosing a breeder.
What Health Testing Is Really About
Health testing isn’t about breeding “perfect” dogs (although I’m sure we all think our own dogs are perfect). No breeder can promise a dog will never have a health issue. Ethical breeding is about reducing risk and protecting quality of life.
True health testing looks at:
Genetic risks (things dogs are born with)
Structural soundness (how joints develop)
Long-term function, not just how a dog looks as a young adult
Because the Australian Labradoodle has multiple foundation breeds and is a breed in development, proper health testing is especially important.
DNA Testing vs. Structural Testing
DNA testing is important, and we absolutely use it. It helps identify inherited conditions and whether a dog is clear or a carrier. Follow this link to see all of the genetic traits our dogs are tested for.
However, DNA testing alone is not enough.
Some of the most important health concerns when breeding any dog, particularly hips, elbows, and eyes, cannot be evaluated with a DNA test. These require veterinary exams and imaging/ radiographs of the joints which is where OFA comes in.
OFA stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. It’s the organization that evaluates and records orthopedic and eye health in dogs.
For Australian Labradoodles, most OFA evaluations include Hips, Elbows and Eyes (CAER exam). We also like to test their Patellas and Cardiac even though it is not required (but is recommended) by the Australian Labradoodle Association of American (ALAA)
Radiograph results are reviewed by specialists and permanently recorded, giving transparency and accountability.
Preliminary vs. Final OFA Results
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of health testing.
Preliminary OFA exam radiographs can be done before a dog is fully mature (often around 12 months although some breeders do this earlier).
Final OFA exams can only be completed once a dog is 2 years old, when growth is finished.
Preliminary hip and elbow scans can be a helpful early look but they are not considered a full OFA certification. Unfortunately in the Australian Labradoodle breed, the vast majority of breeders are breeding their dogs on preliminary testing, some tested as early as four months old. Between four and twenty four months old, a LOT of growing and developing happens and preliminary results are simply not good enough. If you are breeder searching, make sure to find a breeder who breeds fully health tested dogs with final results.
That’s why in our program, we wait until our dogs are at least 2 years old and complete FINAL OFA testing before breeding a dog for the first time.
Final results give us:
A more accurate picture of adult joint health
Better, more responsible breeding decisions
Confidence that we’re seeing the full picture, not a snapshot of a growing dog
Why Not All Breeders Do Finals
The honest answer? Final OFAs take more time, money, and patience.
They require keeping dogs longer before breeding, longer wait times for puppies (and sales, which is a driving factor for breeders to only breed on preliminary testing) and being willing to retire a dog if results aren’t ideal.
But ethical breeding isn’t about speed or convenience but about responsibility.
Why This Matters for Your Puppy
Joint issues like hip or elbow dysplasia can impact a dog’s comfort and mobility for life. They can also mean:
Chronic pain
Ongoing management
Costly veterinary care
Using dogs with finalized OFA results helps significantly reduce the risk of passing on these issues. While nothing is guaranteed, this step stacks the odds in your puppy’s favor.
How to Verify Health Testing
One of the most important parts of health testing is transparency. Reputable breeders should not only complete health testing, but make it verifiable for puppy buyers to make sure they are getting the answers they need to make the decision to partner with a specific breeder.
Final OFA results are always automatically uploaded to the public OFA database. This means anyone can search a dog by registered name or registration number and view hip, elbow, and eye results directly through OFA. If you are unable to find a dog’s hip or elbow results listed, that typically indicates the evaluations were preliminary rather than final, since preliminary OFA results are not automatically published to the database.
CLICK HERE to see results for one of our girls, Halo, who has had one litter for us and has one upcoming litter. You should be able to search the registered name or number of a specific dog and see at least hips, elbows, and eyes that were completed at at least 24 months old. The ALAA requires eye exams to be completed every 18 months or less to hold Gold or Platinum status with the ALAA.
Genetic testing works a bit differently. Australian Labradoodle breeders complete DNA panels through approved laboratories, and these results are tracked and audited by the ALAA. The ALAA requires genetic testing to be completed and reviews breeder compliance as part of ongoing program oversight. While genetic results may not always be publicly searchable like OFA results, reputable breeders should be able to provide documentation upon request.
Being able to verify health testing gives puppy buyers confidence that claims are accurate and complete, and it helps ensure that “health tested” means more than just a phrase on a website.
Our Philosophy on Health Testing
For us, health testing isn’t a buzzword or a checkbox. It’s a commitment to our dogs, the families who trust us, and the long-term health of the Australian Labradoodle breed
We believe “health tested” should mean something real, verifiable, and complete.
Why “Health Checks” Aren’t the Same as Health Testing
You may see some breeders advertise that their dogs have had a “health check” or “vet check,” and it can sound reassuring. The truth is, these types of checks are not a substitute for formal health testing. A quick vet visit or casual examination can confirm that a dog appears healthy at that moment, but it does not evaluate genetic risks, joint structure, or long-term conditions that can affect puppies later in life.
Some breeders may use the term “health checked” to imply that their dogs are certified or fully screened, when in reality the vet has only done a basic physical exam. Without documentation from OFA or verified genetic testing, there is no proof that inherited conditions have been assessed or ruled out.
Reputable breeders rely on final OFA results and thorough genetic panels because these provide verifiable, long-term information about a dog’s health. This is why asking for documentation and checking public databases is essential, it separates real, science-based health testing from marketing language that can be misleading.
The Bottom Line
When you choose a puppy from our program, you’re choosing:
Fully mature, fully evaluated breeding dogs
Final OFA testing, not shortcuts
Thoughtful, responsible breeding decisions
A breeder who prioritizes long-term health over quick results
If you ever have questions about health testing or OFA results, we’re always happy to explain. We believe informed puppy buyers make the best puppy owners.
Stay warm out there!
Endeavor ALD Family