https://www.facebook.com/481654705925830/

St. Croix Golden Retrievers, Hudson, WI (2026)

10/31/2026

‘The world is not in your books and maps- it’s out there’

Bandana |
Code | STCROIXGOLDENS

10/30/2026

We are ready 🐶🎃👻

10/29/2026

Golden Retriever Health Testing- What is it?

There’s are 5 core health tests for Golden Retrievers.

Eyes- can be done before the age of 2 and are done annually. Eyes must be certified by an ophthalmologist. Passing will be normal or normal with BO.

Heart- can be done at the age of 1. Heart must be certified by a cardiologist. The two levels of heart clearances are basic and advanced. Advanced is the most recommend and should be the standard for the breed. Passing will be normal.

Hips- preliminaries can be done before the age of 2 but finals are done at the age of 2. Preliminaries are just to get a baseline at an early age, they are not to used as a final clearance. Hips can be x rayed by most vets and the radiographs are sent off to OFA to be evaluated by a panel of board certified radiologists. The passing scores are either excellent, good, or fair.

Elbows- preliminaries can be done before the age of 2 but finals are done at the age of 2. Preliminaries are just to get a baseline at an early age, they are not to used as a final clearance. Elbows can be x rayed by most vets and then radiographs are sent off to OFA to be evaluated by a panel of board certified radiologists. Passing elbows will be normal.

When a golden has completed those 4 tests, they’ll receive a CHIC number.

Genetic Panel- is a dna test sent out to a lab to to analyze its ancestry and test for genetic conditions. The conditions are DM, PRCD, PRA1, PRA2, ICH1, ICH2, and NCL. The results are either clear, carrier, or affected. Clear means they don’t carry the gene or have the condition. Carrier means they carry gene but don’t have the condition- they can be bred to a clear. Affected means they have the condition- they can be bred to a clear.

A golden is not fully health tested until the age of 2 and no golden should be bred before the age of 2.

A fully health tested golden has all of the health tests completed with passing scores and has received their CHIC number.

A lot of breeders claim their dog is health tested because at its annual exam at the vet, everything is normal. That is not health tested.

A lot of breeders also claim their dog is health tested just cause they’ve completed the genetic panel. That is not health tested.

All health testing results are posted on OFA’s website and are public knowledge. If the breeder says they’re health tested but it’s not on OFA, they are lying. Eyes and heart are to be sent in by the owner and sometimes a breeder forgets or gets behind but they should have the physical copy to show proof. Hips and elbows are sent directly in by the vet.

All you need to search any dog is either their AKC number or their AKC registered name. If a breeder won’t give you that info, run!

10/29/2026

I’ve been warning people about this breeder for a long time! One of the breeds they have is golden retrievers and it’s because of them that good golden breeders get a bad rep!