Standard Poodle Health Testing and Breeding Records

Sources checked September 16, 2026 · Prepared by BreedTracker from the linked references

Planning a Standard Poodle litter starts with knowing which health records you have for each parent, which results are still outstanding, and what your veterinarian needs to review. This guide brings the Poodle Club of America's published recommendations together with a practical way to organize the paperwork.

Use it to prepare questions and records. It does not certify a dog as suitable for breeding or replace your veterinarian's assessment of the proposed pairing.

Standard Poodle health-testing checklist

The Poodle Club of America's December 11, 2024 health statement lists the following for Standard Poodles. It applies to both sire and dam. Keep the actual reports alongside your checklist; a tick beside a test name does not describe its result.

Source: PCA health statement, December 11, 2024 (PDF)  (opens in a new tab).

Why you may find a different checklist: the PCA's general Health Concerns page still describes hips, yearly eyes and one of three health electives for a CHIC number. That summary differs from its dated health statement. We use the dated statement above as the PCA recommendation, and do not present it as a verified list of today's CHIC eligibility rules. Check the current OFA breed requirements  (opens in a new tab) before booking or submitting tests. See the PCA Health Concerns page  (opens in a new tab) for the older summary.

What a CHIC number tells you

The Canine Health Information Center, or CHIC, is an OFA program. A number means the required breed-specific screenings were recorded and the results made public. It does not mean every result was normal. OFA also requires permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo. Read the individual results and dates rather than relying on the number alone. OFA explains its CHIC policies here.  (opens in a new tab)

For each proposed parent, open the OFA search  (opens in a new tab) and compare the registered name and identification with your paperwork. Save the record link and the date you checked it. If a result is missing, request the underlying report; distinguish “not in this database” from “not tested.” Leave unresolved items marked as unresolved.

Keep exam results and DNA results distinct

An examination describes the dog at the time it was assessed. A DNA report describes the variants that laboratory tested. Neither is a promise about every possible health condition.

For hip records, save the full evaluation rather than translating it into your own pass/fail category. OFA distinguishes normal grades, a borderline grade and dysplastic grades; its explanation also separates preliminary screening from later evaluation. Read OFA's hip-screening guidance.  (opens in a new tab)

For a DNA result, record the exact condition and result terminology from the laboratory. For example, UC Davis explains that vWD type I has variable expression and gives result-specific breeding implications. A broad “DNA clear” note loses that detail. UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: vWD type I.  (opens in a new tab)

If you rely on clear-by-parentage documentation, keep the parents' identifiers and reports together and confirm that the relevant registry accepts that evidence. Ask your veterinarian or the testing laboratory to interpret an uncertain result before using it to select a pairing.

A record checklist for both parents

Use one row per test in a notebook, spreadsheet or dog record. These suggested fields are an organizational aid, not additional official health requirements.

For an outside stud, request the same evidence you retain for your own dogs. Keep a dated copy of the reports you reviewed, not just a link that may later change. Note which questions remain for the stud owner and which need a veterinarian's answer.

Record health clearances in BreedTracker

BreedTracker lets you enter a test, exam date, result and certificate number on the dog's Health tab, then attach the certificate as a PDF or photo. A pending result can remain marked Awaiting OFA results until the report arrives. The health-clearance walkthrough shows the current screens and the steps to record or renew a clearance.

Start with adding the dog record, including its registered name and registration number. Keep the original certificate attached when you enter a summary. Software status labels organize records; the laboratory report and your veterinarian's assessment remain the basis for interpreting them.

From breeding dates to litter records

Before a mating, agree with your veterinarian on the information needed to plan and monitor that dog's pregnancy. A breed-average litter size or a calendar date cannot establish what will happen in an individual litter.

Keep the dates you actually observed: the heat's start, each test and each mating. Label a veterinarian's estimated ovulation date as an estimate and retain the underlying results. The printable heat-cycle log provides a paper starting point, and the dog pregnancy calculator turns a known date into an estimated calendar to discuss with your veterinarian.

As the litter approaches, prepare a whelping record and puppy-weight log. Record what happened and when, including veterinary instructions and follow-up. Keep estimated dates separate from actual birth dates.

For buyer enquiries, the puppy buyer questionnaire helps you collect consistent information. When discussing the parents' health testing, share the tests, dates and actual results rather than promising that screening guarantees healthy puppies.

Questions to resolve before a planned litter

• Have you checked the current PCA recommendations and OFA submission requirements for Standard Poodles, rather than another Poodle variety?
• Can every report be matched to the right parent?
• Are you waiting for a result, a repeat examination or an interpretation?
• Have you recorded relevant family health history and questions about the proposed pairing for your veterinarian?
• Have you agreed on pregnancy checks and an emergency contact plan?
• Can you keep the parents' records, actual litter events and buyer communications organized as the litter develops?

BreedTracker can help with that final task. See the health and pedigree features, follow the user guide, or start a free account.