Breeder Documentation Checklist

Section 1 · Core Breeder Information

• Breeder or program name
• Owner or primary contact name
• Email address
• Phone number
• City, state, and country
• Website or social media links
• Breed or breeds
• Registry or pedigree documentation
• IOEBA, AKC, UKC, ABKC, APRI, other, or not sure
• Years involved with the breed or program
• Primary breeding goals
• Program philosophy

Section 2 · Registry, Pedigree & Ownership Records

• Dog registration records
• Pedigree records
• Litter registration records
• Kennel or program records
• Ownership documentation
• Co-owner documentation where applicable
• Breeding rights documentation where applicable
• Any relevant IOEBA-focused launch documentation

Section 3 · DNA-Based Pairing Review

• DNA health reports for sire and dam
• DNA trait reports where applicable
• Carrier status information
• Inherited disease risk review
• Coat or color trait review where relevant
• Genetic diversity, COI, or eCOI information where available
• DNA-based sire and dam comparison before breeding
• Written explanation of pairing risk and compatibility
• Notes from a genetics professional or veterinary professional where available

Important: 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 professional guidance.

Section 4 · Veterinary & Health Records

• General veterinary wellness records
• Vaccination and preventive care records where applicable
• Reproductive health records
• Pregnancy or whelping records
• Neonatal health records
• Health issue disclosures
• Surgical history where applicable
• C-section history where applicable
• Chronic condition notes where applicable
• Veterinary reference or clinic information

Section 5 · Orthopedic Documentation

• OFA Hip Evaluation or PennHIP results where available
• Elbow evaluation records where applicable
• Patella evaluation records where applicable
• Spine or structural notes where applicable
• Movement or gait review notes
• Veterinary orthopedic notes where available

Important: PennHIP and OFA evaluate hip health using different methods and should not be represented as identical tests. Crown & Collar Institute may accept either pathway as orthopedic documentation.

Section 6 · Cardiac, Eye & Airway Review

• Cardiac evaluation records
• OFA cardiac records where available
• Specialist cardiac evaluation where applicable
• Eye examination records
• OFA CAER / ACVO-style eye screening where available
• Eyelid, irritation, entropion, or breed-relevant eye notes
• Respiratory or airway review notes where applicable
• Open nares or breathing comfort notes where applicable
• Exercise tolerance and heat tolerance observations where applicable
• Recovery after activity notes where applicable

Section 7 · Temperament & Behavioral Stability

• Sire temperament notes
• Dam temperament notes
• Puppy temperament observations
• Recovery after stress observations
• Confidence observations
• Human focus and engagement notes
• Handling tolerance notes
• Environmental confidence notes
• Sound sensitivity notes
• Social behavior notes
• Any concerning behavior disclosures

Section 8 · Puppy Development Records

• Prenatal and maternal care notes
• Neonatal observation notes
• Early neurological development notes
• Handling and sensory exposure records
• Sound exposure records
• Surface and texture exposure records
• Environmental exposure records
• Recovery and decompression notes
• Puppy confidence-building records
• Puppy-family transition materials
• Early service, therapy, facility, or working-canine foundation notes where applicable

Section 9 · Breed-Specific Health Testing

• Breed-club recommended health testing panel
• CHIC, OFA, or equivalent program records where available
• Thyroid panel results where applicable
• Hearing or BAER evaluation where applicable
• Dentition, bite, and palate review where applicable
• Skin and coat health review where applicable
• Allergy or autoimmune disclosures where applicable
• Reproductive screening (brucellosis, etc.) where applicable
• Breed-specific neurological screening where applicable
• Any other breed-relevant veterinary screenings

Important: Breed-specific testing supplements — and does not replace — general veterinary care, DNA review, orthopedic evaluation, or cardiac, eye, and airway documentation.

Section 10 · Pairing Rationale

• Why the sire and dam were chosen
• Health strengths and risks considered
• Temperament goals
• Structure and function goals
• Genetic diversity considerations
• Preservation goals where applicable
• Working-canine prospect goals where applicable
• Genetic restoration goals where applicable
• What risks were disclosed or managed
• Why the pairing supports long-term stewardship

Section 11 · Welfare, Housing & Living Conditions

• Housing and kennel environment description
• Indoor and outdoor space access notes
• Climate control and ventilation notes
• Sanitation, cleaning, and biosecurity practices
• Daily enrichment and exercise practices
• Socialization environment and household integration
• Whelping area description and protocols
• Number of adult dogs in the program
• Retirement and lifetime-care plan for breeding dogs
• Rehoming policy for retired dogs where applicable
• Nutrition program and feeding protocols
• Routine parasite, dental, and preventive care practices

Important: Welfare documentation reflects the daily conditions in which dogs live, not only the records produced at the time of breeding or placement.

Section 12 · Long-Term Stewardship & Lifetime Support

• Lifetime return or take-back commitment
• Health guarantee or support policy
• Generational health tracking across litters
• Follow-up records from placed puppies where available
• Outcome tracking for working, therapy, or service prospects where applicable
• Mentorship received and mentorship provided
• Continuing education, conferences, or coursework
• Collaboration with veterinary, genetic, or behavioral professionals
• Transparent disclosure of program changes over time
• Long-term preservation, restoration, or stewardship goals

Section 13 · Family Education & Follow-Up

• Puppy contract or agreement
• Health disclosure materials
• Puppy care instructions
• Training or developmental guidance
• Nutrition guidance
• Return or rehoming policy
• Follow-up support policy
• Puppy-family communication plan
• Educational handouts or videos
• Buyer screening process

Section 14 · Ethics, Transparency & Disclosures

• Acknowledgment of the Member Code of Ethics & Conduct
• Disclosure of any prior recognition, sanctions, or revocations
• Disclosure of co-breeders, collaborating programs, or shared dogs
• Disclosure of advertising claims and titles in public use
• Honest representation of registry status and pedigree sources
• Disclosure of any conflicts of interest
• Consent for references to be contacted
• Willingness to provide additional records on request