Responsible Breeding Should Look Beneath the Surface
Crown & Collar Institute expects breeding programs seeking recognition to complete a credible DNA-based health, trait, and pairing review before breeding.
This review should compare the intended sire and dam before the pairing takes place. The purpose is to help breeders understand possible inherited disease risks, carrier status, trait outcomes, coat or color considerations where relevant, genetic diversity, and coefficient of inbreeding/COI or estimated COI where available.
This type of DNA-based review helps breeders make more informed decisions, document their reasoning, reduce avoidable risk, and communicate more transparently with puppy families.
Crown & Collar Institute does not require one specific DNA testing company at this stage. Breeders may use a credible DNA testing platform, breeder pairing tool, veterinary genetic consultation, or qualified genetics review process, as long as the results allow meaningful comparison of the intended sire and dam before breeding.
Inherited Disease Risk
DNA review should help identify known inherited disease risks, affected status, carrier status, and pairing risks where available.
Pairing Compatibility
The sire and dam should be compared before breeding so breeders can better understand potential health risks, trait outcomes, color or coat possibilities where relevant, and genetic diversity.
Documentation & Transparency
Breeders should keep DNA reports, pairing notes, genetic review summaries, and written explanations of why a pairing was chosen.
DNA testing is only one part of responsible breeding review. DNA testing does not replace veterinary care, OFA/CHIC screening where available, orthopedic evaluation, cardiac evaluation, eye examination, airway or respiratory review, patella testing, thyroid testing, breed-specific veterinary screening, or Crown & Collar Institute documentation review.
OFA Hip Evaluation or PennHIP documentation where available. Crown & Collar Institute accepts either pathway as orthopedic documentation. PennHIP is strongly recommended where available; OFA Hip Evaluation remains an accepted pathway. Breeders should review results with their veterinarian or an appropriate orthopedic professional.
DNA-Based Pairing Review
Crown & Collar Institute expects breeders seeking recognition to complete a credible DNA-based health, trait, and pairing review before breeding. The intended sire and dam should be compared for inherited disease risk, carrier status, trait outcomes, coat or color possibilities where relevant, genetic diversity, and COI/eCOI where available.
Working Alongside Many Canine Registries
Crown & Collar Institute™ is not a replacement for breed registries, canine registries, registration papers, pedigrees, or registry requirements. It is an independent recognition, education, documentation, and awards pathway designed to recognize excellence beyond basic registration.
Crown & Collar Institute™ may work alongside many canine registries and registry systems. A breeder, dog, program, or kennel may hold registration through an outside registry while pursuing Crown & Collar Institute™ recognition for health documentation, ethical breeding practices, puppy development, education, mentorship, stewardship, philanthropy, and accountability.
IOEBA may be one registry connection or documentation pathway where appropriate, but Crown & Collar Institute™ is not limited to IOEBA and does not replace outside registry requirements. As the Institute grows, recognition pathways may extend across additional registries, breed communities, and canine programs.
Crown & Collar Institute recognition, awards, title codes, and pedigree/program record displays are issued through Crown & Collar Institute systems. Unless a separate written agreement exists, Crown & Collar Institute titles should not be described as automatically issued, endorsed, displayed, or accepted by IOEBA, AKC, UKC, ABKC, or any other third-party registry.
Registry Documentation
Crown & Collar Institute™ is not a replacement for breed registries, canine registries, registration papers, pedigrees, or registry requirements. Crown & Collar Institute™ is an independent recognition, education, documentation, and awards pathway designed to recognize excellence beyond basic registration.
Crown & Collar Institute™ may work alongside many canine registries and registry systems. A breeder, dog, program, or kennel may hold registration through an outside registry while pursuing Crown & Collar Institute™ recognition for health documentation, ethical breeding practices, puppy development, education, mentorship, stewardship, philanthropy, and accountability.
IOEBA may be one registry connection or documentation pathway where appropriate, but Crown & Collar Institute™ is not limited to IOEBA and does not replace outside registry requirements. Breeders may provide other registry, pedigree, kennel, litter, or ownership documentation as supporting records during review.
Submitting documentation from another registry does not automatically make that registry part of Crown & Collar Institute™ pathways and does not guarantee recognition, title display, award approval, or registry compatibility.