Every dog that’s part of our breeding program is training for a greater purpose. He or she may earn Canine Good Citizen and may go on to be a service or facility dog. Dogs that excel and are doing well in their training are dogs we consider for our breeding program. We understand and value health testing. Every potential breeding dog carries certifications from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) on his or her hips, elbows, heart and eyes. We also DNA screen using Embark for 300+ diseases and conditions that are known to cause risks in golden retrievers. We exxpected to be able to breed Boomer this year, however the opthomologist found a small geographical fold on his retina during his eye exam We are heartbroken after investing so much time and money, but we know Boomer will do great things. While this diagnosis will likely not affect Boomer, it is possible that he could have puppies whose vision might be affected. We made the decision to keep Boomer as a part of our crisis response team and have found two lovely potential suitors for our three girls in Virginia. Boomer’s Canadian breeder has offered to give us another puppy as we paid for breeding rights and it was part of our contract. We later learned that one of Boomer’s brothers also got the same diagnosis. As breeders, we can’t always know what lies ahead. Boomer’s breeder did all the right tests and Boomer’s parents tested normal until very recently. Eye conditions can be degenerative, meaning the onset of disease might happen later in life. For this reason, breeders should have eyes checked annually.