Evidence
Health testing: what should be on the table
A large breed carries large-breed risks. Public test results are how you separate careful breeding from hopeful breeding.
The tests breed clubs point to
The AKC lists these as the health tests recommended by the Rottweiler parent club: hip evaluation, elbow evaluation, cardiac exam, ophthalmologist evaluation and the DNA test for juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy, known as JLPP.
What the American Rottweiler Club asks of breeding pairs
- Hips: an OFA evaluation after 24 months, rated Excellent, Good or Fair.
- Elbows: an OFA evaluation after 24 months, with normal-to-normal pairings strongly recommended.
- Eyes: an exam by a board-certified ophthalmologist after 24 months, repeated at least every three years.
- Heart: a cardiac evaluation after 24 months, with an echocardiogram preferred.
- JLPP: DNA testing, and every breeding must include at least one parent that does not carry the mutation.
- A CHIC number from OFA once the required tests are complete and public.
That list describes one club's requirements for its own breeders. A seller who is not a member can still publish the same results, and you can ask for them.
Conditions the club discusses
The club names cancers, hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts and lid problems, subaortic stenosis and several neurological conditions among the issues that come up in the breed. For some it lists a screening test and for others it says none exists. This is why a puppy contract and a conversation with your own veterinarian matter.
How to verify instead of trusting
- Ask for the registered names and numbers of both parents.
- Search the public OFA database yourself.
- Have your veterinarian read any written reports.
- Ask what the contract says if a hereditary condition appears.
The full set of buyer questions is on buying a trained Rottweiler.
Sources
Quick answers
What is a CHIC number?
A Canine Health Information Center number from OFA shows that the tests a parent club requires were completed and made public.
When are hips tested?
The American Rottweiler Club asks for OFA hip evaluation at 24 months or older for breeding dogs.
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