ONE GUIDE / EVERY DOODLE HOUSEHOLD
Breeder health records: what to ask for and how to read the packet
Source checked and AI editorial review: 2026-10-04. Not veterinary or firsthand breeder review.
Ask for identifiable records for each parent, including the test, date and actual result—not just a “health tested” badge. A CHIC number means the required breed-specific screenings were completed and made public; it does not mean every result was normal. Have a veterinarian review relevance, gaps and limitations before relying on the packet.
“Health tested” is the beginning of a question, not the end of one. A useful packet lets you connect each claim to a dog and a result. This guide helps you organize that information without interpreting genetic reports or inventing a universal doodle screening checklist.
A CHIC number is not a pass mark
OFA issues a CHIC number after a dog meets its breed-specific screening requirements and the owner releases the results publicly. The number itself does not establish that all results were normal. Read the underlying entries, not only the certificate or badge.
Requirements are breed-specific and can change; existing numbers are not revoked when requirements change. A report needs its date and context. It is not a universal crossbreed health guarantee or a promise that a puppy cannot become ill.
Source: OFA: CHIC program and policies.
Keep four different kinds of information separate
A parent’s screening result, a DNA report, an individual puppy’s veterinary record and a seller’s contract answer different questions. Put them in separate parts of the packet. Do not count repeated copies of the same test as additional evidence.
| Document | Record alongside it | Question to take forward |
|---|---|---|
| Parent screening entry | Parent identity, examination/test, date and result | What was assessed, and is anything missing or outdated? |
| DNA report | Identified dog, laboratory, report date and named findings | Which findings matter for this pairing, and what does this report not assess? |
| Puppy veterinary record | Identified puppy, provider, date and documented care | What follow-up is due for this individual puppy? |
| Contract or health guarantee | Exact written terms and the version provided | What happens if a concern appears? This is separate from medical evidence. |
Ask for both parents, with identity intact
Request each parent’s registered name or other identifying information and the original record or public entry the breeder is relying on. Check whether the dog named in the report is the dog described in the pairing. Keep the actual result text; “done” and “normal” are not interchangeable answers.
For a mixed-breed pairing, ask your veterinarian which parent-breed screening recommendations and individual concerns are relevant. Do not assume one parent’s report substitutes for the other’s, or that one broad DNA panel supplies every kind of examination. This article intentionally does not prescribe one test list for all doodles.
Record a missing result without guessing why it is missing
If you cannot find an entry, label it “not yet verified” and ask for the record. That is different from claiming the test was never performed or that the dog failed it. Keep track of what was requested, when, and what response was received.
If the identities do not match, the documents remain incomplete, or the answer is another marketing badge rather than a result, leave the question unresolved. Pressure to decide quickly does not make a missing record clearer.
Send a usable packet to your veterinarian
Group files by parent and puppy, name them clearly, and include a short index. Ask the practice how it wants to receive documents and whether a pre-purchase review is available. Do not upload private records to a public story submission or publish another owner’s identifying information.
Useful questions include: “Are these records appropriate for the parents described? Which results need explanation? Is a repeat examination or another record relevant? What uncertainty would remain even with a complete packet?” The review is a professional discussion, not a request to guarantee the puppy’s future health.
A fictional handoff you can adapt
“We are considering this pairing. Folder A contains the first parent’s records; Folder B contains the second parent’s. These are the tests and dates we could verify. We could not verify the entry described in the advertisement. Please explain what applies to this pairing and what we should request before deciding.”
Use the breeder comparison kit to keep the response with its evidence. Leave unknown entries blank and write the next action in plain language. A tidy folder is useful only if it preserves the limits of the information inside it.
Questions worth asking
Does a CHIC number mean all results are normal?
No. OFA states that it records completion and public availability of the required screenings, not that every result was normal.
Does this guide give me a complete doodle testing checklist?
No. Relevant screening depends on the parents and individual context. Review the actual records and applicable recommendations with a veterinarian.
Is a missing database entry proof that no test happened?
No. Record it as unverified and request the underlying documentation instead of guessing.
Put the guide to work
This shared guide is published once, rather than repeated under different breed names. Tables and examples are original editorial aids, not clinical assessments or endorsements of a breeder.