Health Testing
"Health testing is not a marketing claim. It is the minimum standard for responsible breeding."
Every dog in our breeding program is fully health tested before any breeding decision is made. This is not optional, and it is not negotiable. We do not breed dogs with incomplete testing, borderline results, or known heritable conditions — regardless of how exceptional they may appear in other respects.
This page documents exactly what we test, why we test it, and when. We make all results available to prospective families and to outside breeders considering our stud dogs. If you have questions about any aspect of our protocol, we are happy to discuss it.
Our Position
Why Health Testing Matters
Great Danes Have Real Health Challenges
The breed faces elevated rates of bloat (GDV), dilated cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, and shortened lifespans compared to many other breeds. These are not inevitable — they are the cumulative result of breeding decisions made without sufficient attention to health. We intend to be part of the solution.
Testing Alone Is Not Enough
Health testing tells us what we are working with. What matters is what we do with that information. We use test results to make deliberate pairing decisions — avoiding combinations that increase risk, and selecting for dogs that consistently produce healthy offspring across generations.
Transparency Is a Responsibility
We publish our dogs' health results and make full documentation available to every family we work with. If a health issue arises in one of our lines, we disclose it. Families who purchase a puppy from us deserve complete information — not a curated version of it.
Complete Protocol
What We Test & Why
Orthopedic
OFA Hip Evaluation
Radiographs are submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for independent evaluation by a panel of board-certified radiologists. We require a rating of Good or Excellent for any dog in our breeding program. Fair-rated dogs are not bred.
Timing: Preliminary evaluation at 12 months; official OFA certification at 24 months.
Why We Test This
Hip dysplasia is a leading cause of pain and reduced quality of life in giant breeds. Selecting for Good and Excellent hips over generations meaningfully reduces incidence in offspring.
Cardiac
OFA Cardiac Evaluation
Auscultation and, where indicated, echocardiogram performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist. Results submitted to OFA. We require a Normal finding — dogs with murmurs or structural abnormalities are not bred.
Timing: Annual evaluation recommended; performed prior to each breeding.
Why We Test This
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious and often fatal condition with a known heritable component in Great Danes. Cardiac screening is one of the most important tests we perform.
Thyroid
OFA Thyroid Panel
Full thyroid panel submitted to OFA for evaluation. We require a Normal result. Autoimmune thyroiditis has a heritable component and can affect coat quality, energy, and overall health.
Timing: Performed at 12 months and repeated annually.
Why We Test This
Thyroid disease is underdiagnosed in Great Danes and can significantly impact quality of life. Testing and selecting against affected dogs reduces the burden in future generations.
Genetic
Embark Breed + Health Panel
Full Embark DNA panel covering 250+ genetic health markers, breed composition, and coat/color genetics. We review all results in detail before any breeding decision. Carrier status for relevant conditions is disclosed to puppy families.
Timing: Performed once; results are permanent and available to puppy families on request.
Why We Test This
Genetic testing allows us to make informed pairing decisions that avoid producing affected offspring — even when both parents appear clinically healthy. It is the most powerful tool available for reducing heritable disease.
Brucellosis Testing
Brucella canis testing required for all dogs within 30 days of any breeding. This applies to our own dogs and is required of all outside females presented for stud service.
Timing: Within 30 days of each breeding.
Why We Test This
Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection that causes reproductive failure and can be transmitted to humans. Testing before every breeding is a non-negotiable standard.
Verified Through Independent Organizations
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
The OFA is the gold standard for canine orthopedic and genetic health evaluation in the United States. All hip, cardiac, and thyroid results for our dogs are registered in the OFA database and publicly verifiable at ofa.org.
Embark Veterinary
Embark provides the most comprehensive canine genetic health panel available, covering 250+ health conditions, breed composition, and coat/color genetics. Results are available to puppy families on request.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
All dogs in our program are AKC registered. We participate in the AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. program, which requires health testing, education, and a commitment to the breed standard.
Questions About Our Health Protocol?
We are happy to share documentation, discuss specific results, or walk through our testing protocol in detail. Transparency is not a selling point for us — it is a standard we hold ourselves to.