Exam 1 OFA X-rays
Hips
X-rays taken at 24 months or older and read by three OFA radiologists. We breed only dogs that score Good or Excellent.
Shony: Good · GR-153544G27F-C-VPI
Health Testing
Health Isn't a Promise.
It's Paperwork.
Every dog we breed has its hips, elbows, eyes and heart checked by specialists, and every result is public on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) database. You don't have to take our word for any of it.
OFA Health Exams
The Four Exams Every Breeding Dog Passes
These are the exams the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) asks breeders to do. The example numbers are Shony's, mom of our December 2026 litter.
Exam 2 OFA X-rays
Elbows
X-rays checked for elbow dysplasia and arthritis. Both elbows must be Normal.
Shony: Normal · GR-EL73543F27-C-VPI
Exam 3 Ophthalmologist
Eyes
Exam by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for inherited cataracts, retinal disease and PRA. An eye result is good for one year, so we repeat it within 12 months before each breeding. Some records read "Normal W/BO" (breeder option): a minor finding the ophthalmologist notes that doesn't fail the exam, like the single uveal cyst on Angus's November 2025 exam.
Shony (Aug 2026): Normal · GR-EYE41486/27F-VPI
Exam 4 Cardiologist
Heart
Checked for heart defects such as subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, not a general-practice vet. Shony had the advanced exam: listening, an ECG and an echocardiogram. Angus had the cardiologist's listening exam.
Shony: Advanced cardiac Normal · GR-ACA13512/27F-VPI
DNA Testing
DNA Tests for Inherited Disease
Each of these is recessive: a puppy has to inherit the gene from both parents to be affected. Shony is clear on all of them (11 DNA tests on her OFA record in all), so no puppy from this litter can be affected by any of them.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
SOD1 mutation; slowly progressive spinal cord disease in older dogs.
Shony: Clear · Angus: not published
Ichthyosis (ICH-1)
PNPLA1 mutation; flaky, scaling skin.
Shony: Clear · Angus: Clear
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)
Fatal neurological storage disease.
Shony: Clear · Angus: Clear
prcd-PRA
Progressive rod-cone degeneration; slow loss of vision.
Shony: Clear · Angus: Clear
Golden Retriever PRA1
SLC4A3 mutation; inherited blindness specific to goldens.
Shony: Clear · Angus: Clear
Golden Retriever PRA2
TTC8 mutation; late-onset retinal atrophy.
Shony: Clear · Angus: Clear
Shony's results are on OFA. Angus's are published by Granite Rock Retrievers (NCL is also on OFA).
Check Our Work
Look Them Up on OFA
Never take a breeder's word for health claims. Each link opens that dog's public OFA record.
What CHIC means: the Canine Health Information Center gives a dog a CHIC number once every test its breed club requires is done and published, whatever the results. So the number tells you the records exist; the results on the record are what count.
CHIC #155465
Tally Dega
Foundation dam · retired
AKC SS08722111
Tally Dega's OFA record (opens in a new tab) ↗ CHIC #86212
Maynard
Sire · two of Tally's litters
AKC SR65522702
Maynard's OFA record (opens in a new tab) ↗Our 2-year health guarantee
If a veterinarian diagnoses a hereditary or congenital defect before your puppy is 24 months old, we will replace the puppy or refund the purchase price. That includes hip and elbow dysplasia, heart defects and inherited eye disease. Every puppy goes home with a written purchase agreement that spells it out; ask us for a copy.
Spay and neuter timing Please wait to spay or neuter until at least 18 months of age (24 months is better), so the growth plates can close. It's part of our purchase agreement. UC Davis studies of golden retrievers linked early spay/neuter to more joint problems.
Ready to Talk About a Puppy?
Send us a puppy application to talk about our Shony × Angus litter.