Sheepadoodle genetic screenings
DNA panels give breeders a direct look at inherited disease risk in each parent. This guide explains the results and their limits.
Clear, carrier and affected
For a recessive condition, a clear dog has two normal copies of the gene, a carrier has one mutated copy and is usually healthy, and an affected dog has two mutated copies and may develop the disease. A carrier bred to a clear dog does not produce affected puppies, though some puppies may be carriers. Two carriers can produce affected puppies, so responsible breeders avoid that pairing.
Tests commonly relevant to Poodle and Old English Sheepdog lines
- PRA-prcd (progressive retinal atrophy)
- Von Willebrand disease
- Degenerative myelopathy (SOD1)
- Additional breed-relevant mutations that the testing lab includes in its panel
What DNA testing cannot do
A DNA panel only finds the mutations it tests for. It does not check hips, elbows, eyes or hearts, and it cannot predict conditions with complex causes. Treat DNA results as one part of a full screening plan alongside the OFA clearances described in the health testing guide.
Questions to ask
- Which lab ran the panel, and can I see the report for each parent?
- Are both parents tested, or only one?
- How do you use the results when choosing pairings?
Keep reading
- Sheepadoodle health testing standards
- Sheepadoodle puppy health warranty
- Compare the five Sheepadoodle types
- Find guidance for your state
- About Kayla's Sheepadoodles
Sources
General information only, not veterinary advice. Ask your veterinarian about your dog. This page has not been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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Ask what tests were run on the parents of the current and upcoming litters, and which Sheepadoodle type and state you have in mind.
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