Health Tests

The Toller is a happy, healthy and versatile dog. Although no breed or dog (or person) is without the possibility of health issues, as a community we strive to keep our breed as healthy as possible. For this reason, breeders consider many factors when deciding which individuals to pair for breeding, including but not limited to: temperaments and trainability, physical characteristics, pedigree, accomplishments in the conformation ring and/or performance venues, health, age, and type of prospective homes for puppies produced.

Additional information may be provided by examinations (e.g., hip dysplasia, eye or cardiac) and/or DNA (gene) tests. DNA tests are typically associated with a specific health concern, e.g. juvenile Addison’s disease. Many DNA tests are available for domestic dogs, with more being developed each year; those available for tollers are listed below. It is important to note that these tests are tools, which provide information that can be used in association with the other factors and exams mentioned above.

Toller breeders affiliated with NSDTRC (USA) make decisions on how to weigh each factor, exam or DNA test for the individual pairing being considered, as well as their breeding program, while adhering to Club policies and the breed standard.

Tools Available for Making Breeding Decisions Include:

Exams for:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbows
• Patellas
• Eyes
• Cardiac

DNA (gene) tests available for tollers are:

• Cardiac Laminopathy (CLAM)
• Cerebellar Degeneration-Myositis Complex (CDMC)
• Chrondrodystrophy (CDDY); formerly known as chondrodysplasia or skeletal dysplasia)
• Cleft lip/palate and Syndactyly (CLPS)
• Cleft Plate (CP1)
• Collie Eye Defect (CEA)
• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Degenerative Encephalopathy (DE)
• Dilute (D locus/blue) or Buff test
• Juvenile Addison’s Disease (JADD)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-prcd)

Where to get more information:

Reliable information on gene tests (genetic testing tab), including summaries of the disease/condition, companies offering testing and related scientific publications can be found online through the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) on the Harmonizationf of Genetic Testing for Dogs Initiative at DogWellNet.com. The website endorsed by AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is a global resource designed to support dog owners and breeders, along with veterinarians and scientists.

A excellent four-part educational designed for breeders and owners called the Review of the current state of genetic testing in dogs (2020) is provided free by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and can be found HERE.

Other educational podcasts, articles and recorded webinars are available HERE.

AKC Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

The NSDTRC (USA) is proud to participate in the AKC Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) program which aims to maintain information on health issues prevalent in different breeds. Participation by toller owner/breeders is elective, but highly encouraged.

CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The mission of CHIC is to provide a reliable source of health information for owners, breeders and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. Each participating breed club selects the tests required to be done on a dog in order for that dog to be given a CHIC number – ABOUT CHIC

Current tests required for the Toller CHIC program are:

• Hip Dysplasia (one of the following tests)
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
• Ontario Veterinary College
• PennHip
• Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)