Hi
I'm looking for a bit of advice from more experienced users. I am currently in the middle of buying/ adopting a golden retriever puppy.
This is the link to his pedigree- https://www.k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=1090867. Can someone just check it and let me know does it
look good, please? Any more advice about what I supposed to check and what is important would be really appreciated it.

Thanks in advance
Bartosz

I would want to know the health test results for the parents and other ancestors.

For DNA tests parents results are sufficient, but for Hip and Elbow Dysplasia that are not totally genetic a pattern of acceptable/good scores throughout the pedigree are more useful.

This isn't my breed, but see DNA test details etc here: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-golden/

If not in UK check with hip/elbow and eye certification schemes in your own country. DNA tests are international.

It looks like the sire's elbow results are 1/1 - so I would not want a pup from this breeding.

Agree, especially as the breed has a high incidence of elbow dysplasia.

I've just looked through the pedigree and clicked on parents and grandparents and the results imo look good. I wouldn't have an issue with a elbow of 1 when you are putting to a 0 and elbows behind are good on both sides.

The dogs look lovely and don't see any issue if concern for me. As you can see others may have a different view as the sire has 1 elbows, in some breeds this really isn't an issue if put to a 0 and not forgetting all the excellent attributes he would be offering too. On all balance this looks a lovely mating.
Goldens aren't my breed and I don't believe in throwing the baby out with the bath water when you clearly have a very lovely sire who has achieved a lot. Using a 1 to a 0 if everything else is there and the sire can offer a lot then I think this looks a great mating

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have looked into the elbow score explanation on the thekennelclub.org.uk website and I found it:
"Breeding advice:
Ideally, dogs with grade 0 elbows should be chosen for breeding, and dogs with a score of 2 or 3 should not be used for breeding."
So it looks like score 1 is still ok?
What do you think guys?

Not according to the
BVA/KC scheme , that states only 0 scored dogs. ED is more genetically inluenced than HD BTW.

The dog's score is 1/1

1 + 1 = 2

Elbow scores are often added together and given as one whole number.

The dog's score is 1/1

1 + 1 = 2

Elbow scores are often added together and given as one whole number.

Incorrect, it is always the highest number.
0/0=0
0/1=1
1/1=1
2/1=2 etc etc.

>Elbow scores are often added together and given as one whole number.

No, that's hip scores. Elbow scores are given as the highest number from one side. 1/1 = 1

So I'd find a 0/1 = 1 mated to 0/0 acceptable if otherwise outstanding for other features, but not 1/1, but that's me.

in my breed where researching many hundreds of results USA, all Scandinavian countries to find out of 100's of results all but less than half a dozen 0/1's all scored 0.

Very few elbow scored in UK, (not required by our breed club) but I encourage my owners to do so.

I've used a 1 elbow to a 0 and it improved that generation all that were scored are a 0 

I would use a 1 to a 0 if the dog had everything I was looking for and other health tests were good

Considering that golden retrievers are so numerous I really don’t think that using a dog that has this elbow score is necessary however good he is in the show ring. Goldens are large active dogs, elbow disease can be very painful, that is why the ability to test dogs prior to breeding is there, to help stop the puppies from inheriting it.
There are plenty of other golden sires to choose from which have 0 scores. I would rather have my dogs live a long pain free life and stack the odds against them developing painful conditions at a young age.

Bartosz:  Buying Puppy: The confusion re Elbow Score is a huge on going debate.  0/0 is a perfect score.  0/1 = 1 has no recommendation one way or the other from UK Kennel Club.  It is correct that a 1/1 score would still = 1. I have a fabulous Retriever with a 0/1 score and have no issues with his health nor his progeny and indeed other experienced Posters have had a mating with a ES = 1 dog as long as the other Parent is = 0 which improved the progeny score.  The Assured Breeder Club witin KC demand = 0 but there is huge debate about how the ABS criteria is questionable too.  I had a litter from both parents 0 Elbow Scored and the Puppy developed Shoulder Dysplasia which has no available test so nothing is guaranteed.  A Dog is much more than just Hips & Elbows and at the end of the day many other qualities should be considered.  Scoring is only a measured percentage.  (just a different view from me that you might like tp consider) Good Luck with your future companion!

> it is always the highest number.

Hmm, not in my breed at least colloquially, but maybe I misunderstood it.

That would mean that 0/1 and 1/1 would both be said to be 1 and so undifferentiated...

With 0/1 you could easily imagine some injury or stress causing the 1 result on a single elbow. With 1/1 it is much more likely to be genetic as both elbows are unlikely to have suffered an injury/stress. It's important then to differentiate between 0/1 and 1/1 and IMO we can't say that both = 1  Perhaps the official view is different?!

onetwothreefour:   0/1 = 1 & 1/1 = 1...Exactly so this is why no one knows for sure. - a complete shambles!

onetwothreefour:  Just to confuse things, Hip Scores take the joint number as the measurement ie 3/3 = 6, 4/5 = 9 etc.  Then mix in 0/9 or 2/7 = 9 but viewed as less desirable.
I can understand why but still given the added scores as acceptable (current KC advice is on or 'around' 9 another very grey area)

Because Hips and elbows are not wholly genetic, opinion, knowledge and experience come into play.

Elbows are far more heritable, from articles it would seem twice as heritable as hips.

Both are genetically bilateral, so differences re sides should be small, larger differences point to non genetic damage effects.

In hips both sides are always given in results.

As so few of my breed are elbow scored in my and all UK results are 0, not sure if published results show both sides + total, or just 0 - 3 without differentiating, though certainly Scandinavian KC's show full result, which is why I know there have been a tiny proportion of 0/1 scores in the breed.

Breeding is a balancing act taking into account many aspects.

With DNA testing for example one may often find ones dogs Clear for some and Carrier for others. Choice of partner to compensate with Carrier to clear avoids producing affected offspring.

Hips and Elbows are less clear cut, and relatives, and ancestors scores will help determine a good or bad pattern.

In a few breeds ebv's have been developed (using that information) making decisions a little simpler.

The there is nature/luck/Shit happens.

Also so much we can't test for/see and rely on keeping records through the generations of the less tangible selection criteria.

That would mean that 0/1 and 1/1 would both be said to be 1 and so undifferentiated...


Yes, if you look at MyKC when it is back you will notice that for elbows they only ever give the overall result, never both sides. The only way to find out both sides is from the KC/BVA form, and if the owner has shared the full results in some way or other.