Golden Retriever

Breed-specific guidance based on recommendations published by the Golden Retriever Club of America, the AKC parent club for the breed in the United States.

What health testing can and can't tell you

A breeder who completes health testing and publishes the results is doing two things: trying to stack the deck in favor of a healthy puppy, and being transparent about the evidence buyers can review themselves. Neither is a guarantee, and a "failing" on one report doesn't reduce a dog or a breeder to that word.

The Golden Retriever breed standard

The official AKC breed standard describes the Golden Retriever as a symmetrical, powerful, active sporting dog that should be sound, balanced, eager, alert, and self-confident.

The breed standard describes the ideal Golden Retriever's structure, movement, coat, temperament, and purpose. It is separate from the breed's health-screening recommendations.

Read the official AKC Golden Retriever breed standard

GRCA-recommended health screening

For Golden Retrievers residing in the United States, the GRCA Code of Ethics identifies four core prebreeding health examinations: hips, elbows, heart, and eyes. The reports should be publicly available through an approved health database whenever possible.

Hips

OFA or PennHIP report at 24 months of age or older. PennHIP results are not automatically published, so GRCA recommends recording them in an approved public database. An evaluation performed before 24 months of age does not meet this GRCA recommendation for a final breeding clearance.

Elbows

OFA elbow report at 24 months of age or older. A general veterinary examination is not a substitute for a formal elbow evaluation.

Heart

Cardiac report from a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at 12 months of age or older. The GRCA Code of Ethics specifies an examination and report from a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Cardiology. The Code does not separately require an echocardiogram, though many breeders choose to have one performed. An examination performed only by a general practitioner does not meet the GRCA cardiologist recommendation.

Eyes

Eye report from a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, performed within the 12 months before each breeding. GRCA also recommends that dogs that produce offspring continue to receive annual ophthalmology examinations throughout their lives, with results recorded publicly when the findings permit recertification.

Understanding CHIC

A CHIC number means that a dog completed the breed-specific screenings required by the CHIC program and that the results were made publicly available.

A CHIC number does not mean that every result was normal. Review the individual results, examination dates, ages at testing, and examiner qualifications rather than relying on the CHIC designation alone.

Learn about the OFA CHIC program

DNA testing (genetic panels)

DNA tests screen for specific inherited diseases with a cheek swab. They complement the four physical screenings above. They do not replace them.

Why not a replacement: hips and elbows are structural conditions that develop over the first two years and require actual x-ray. Heart and eye disease are usually not driven by any single gene we can DNA-test for. A "genetic clear" report tells you nothing about hips, heart, or eyes.

Carrier does not mean affected

Most inherited conditions in Golden Retrievers are recessive: a dog needs TWO copies of the affected gene (one from each parent) to develop the disease. One copy makes the dog a carrier. A carrier never develops the disease. It can only produce affected puppies if bred with another carrier or an affected dog.

What breeding pairs produce, per recessive condition

Recessive DNA tests relevant to Golden Retrievers

Most commercial panels (Embark, Optimal Selection, Paw Print, UC Davis) include these tests for Goldens. Ask the breeder for both parents' results.

A carrier (one copy) result on any of these means the dog can pass one copy forward. It does not mean the dog has the disease or will develop it.

Available tests and breed recommendations change over time. Consult current GRCA health-research guidance rather than treating any commercial panel as a permanent checklist.

The GRCA Code of Ethics

The Golden Retriever Club of America publishes a Code of Ethics that a thoughtful breeding program uses as its baseline. It covers breeding-dog selection, health screening, buyer commitments, and the breeder's ongoing responsibility to the puppies they produce.

What the code typically covers

• Breed only dogs that meet the GRCA-recommended hip, elbow, cardiac, and eye clearances
• Register puppies with the AKC or an equivalent recognized registry
• Provide a written sales agreement and health guarantee
• Take responsibility for any puppy the buyer can no longer keep, for the life of that dog
• Interview prospective homes and match puppies thoughtfully rather than first-come-first-served

Verify the source records

Use each parent's full registered name or registration number to review available health records through OFA or another applicable public registry.

Look at the underlying reports rather than relying only on phrases such as:

• Full health testing
• Health cleared
• Genetic tested
• CHIC certified
• Vet checked

These phrases do not all mean the same thing.

Search OFA health records

What CohortKit does and does not certify

CohortKit helps breeders document health screening and gives buyers a structured way to review the information they make available.

CohortKit does not certify that:

• A breeder complies with every GRCA recommendation
• A health result is normal unless supported by the source record
• A proposed breeding will produce healthy puppies
• A puppy will remain free of hereditary or acquired disease
• A breeder or breeding program is suitable for every buyer

Health screening supports informed breeding decisions and can reduce risk. It cannot guarantee the health or lifespan of an individual puppy.

Buyers should review the source records and make their own decisions based on the complete information available.