The Kennel Club Health Standard

The Kennel Club’s Health Standard consolidates all relevant health tests for your breed in one place, providing clear guidance on which tests to undertake before breeding and how to do so. The 'Good Practice' category highlights the most critical tests as a starting point, while all breeders are encouraged to aim for the 'Best Practice' level by completing all recommended tests.

Although designed primarily for breeders, this document is also a valuable resource for puppy buyers, helping them verify whether a puppy’s parents have undergone the appropriate health tests. Additional guidance for puppy buyers is available on our website here.

The Health Standard is not exhaustive, as it excludes conditions without recognised tests or health screening programs. For a comprehensive overview of your breed’s health, including untestable conditions, consult the Breed Health and Conservation Plan.

As new evidence emerges, the Health Standard will be reviewed and updated. Breeders should check it regularly before each litter to stay informed about potential changes. Ensuring all relevant health tests are completed is essential to maintaining and improving breed health. For further details, visit the Breeds A-Z section of our website.

Health testing vs. being healthy

Whilst health testing is a valuable tool for avoiding many known inherited conditions, some are more complex and cannot currently be tested for. Breeders should use health results wisely and balance these with other factors such as temperament and conformation. It’s important to remember that many tests only show risk, and they can’t guarantee that a dog won’t develop or pass on certain health problems.

For breeds where we know conformational concerns can exist, we refer to Breed Watch, so owners can be aware of these problems and avoid breeding from dogs that have these traits. Further, breeders should also check the Breed Health and Conservation Plan for their breed, a breed-specific strategy that has been developed for every breed, which covers health concerns that can’t be tested for but are still important to  consider before breeding. More information about breeding with consideration to complex conditions can be found here.

Breed Club Health Information & Support

Breed Clubs are made up of knowledgeable breeders who often hold a wealth of information and advice relating to the health of their breed. We recommend therefore that you familiarise yourself with the Breed Club(s) for your breed, as well as your breed’s dedicated Breed Health Co-ordinator via the ‘Find a Club’ tool here or your Breed Health Co-ordinator via your Breeds A-Z page here.

Health testing standards for dogs used for breeding

All breeders should complete the tests listed below for both the sire and dam of any litter.

Before breeding their dogs, owners must carefully review the test results and follow the breeding advice issued for each relevant scheme.

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Important information about health tests and screening schemes

Frequently asked questions

How is the decision made to place a test in a particular category?

A rigorous process has been undertaken, on a breed-by-breed basis, to establish where each test should sit for each breed. The criteria for categorisation can be found on pages 21-22.

Genetic diversity concerns and prioritising best breeding practices

Several breeds have been listed in this document as having genetic diversity concerns as a priority, which may be due to historical breeding practices or due to small population numbers. Breeders of these must prioritise genetic diversity, such as by breeding below the average inbreeding coefficient. Best breeding guidance can be found here.

Where can I find out more about the tests and conditions listed in the Health Standard?

Supporting information about each test and condition can be found by clicking on the test listed for your breed. Similarly, more information is available within the glossary or via the Breeds A-Z page on The Kennel Club website.

What if a test I know about isn't listed here?

The tests included here have been accepted as part of an auditing process The Kennel Club has developed to ensure we are encouraging use of the most relevant and useful tests for your breed. This list will continuously change as new tests become available and further research is completed.

If the list below is missing a test, you should contact your breed health co-ordinator, who can submit a request for recognition.

You should also check page 24 of the Health Standard, which provides an overview of all of the breed-specific club schemes offered. Whilst we cannot record results from these schemes at this time, they are important and may test for serious conditions in your breed that you need to be aware of.

Where can I find out more about priority conditions in my breed?

Every breed has a Breed Health and Conservation Plan, a breed-specific health strategy that determines the key problems in each breed. These may include conditions outside of the Health Standard so you should be aware of these before breeding or buying a puppy. You can find out more information about your breed’s plan on the Breeds A-Z.

Where can I go to if I have other questions about health in my breed?

If you have any questions, we encourage you to read the Health Standard FAQs here. We also have a feedback form here if you have any questions outside of these. Your breed community will also have the expertise to support you. You can contact your Breed Health Co-ordinator via your breed’s page on the Breeds A-Z or find a breed club here.