Nextgen Goldens is a small family Golden Retriever program in Boring, Oregon, about half an hour from Portland. This page explains the health tests we screen our breeding dogs for, what each result means for your puppy, and how to check our dam’s results yourself at ofa.org. We publish certificate numbers because a claim you cannot check is not worth much.
Why health testing matters in Golden Retrievers
A healthy puppy starts with healthy, tested parents. Golden Retrievers are a wonderful breed, but like all purebreds they carry a handful of known inherited risks: hip and elbow dysplasia, certain eye conditions, heart disease, and a few genetic disorders. Testing the parents before breeding is how a breeder finds those risks first, so the puppies we place start life on the strongest possible footing. At Nextgen Goldens, every breeding dog is screened before it is ever bred.
The Golden Retriever Club of America recommends four core screenings for every breeding dog: OFA hips, OFA elbows, a cardiac exam, and an annual eye exam. Official OFA hip and elbow certification requires the dog to be at least 24 months old. A dog that has all of the breed’s required tests on file with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is issued a CHIC number, which is one more thing you can search for.
The five tests we screen for, and what each one means for your puppy
| Test | What it screens for | Who does it | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hips (OFA or PennHIP) | Hip dysplasia, the most common orthopedic problem in the breed. | X-rays read by OFA radiologists, at 24 months of age or older. | Excellent, Good and Fair are all passing grades. We breed only from dogs with sound, certified hips. |
| Elbows (OFA) | Elbow dysplasia, an inherited joint condition that causes lameness and arthritis. | X-rays read by OFA radiologists, at 24 months or older. | A Normal result means no sign of the condition. |
| Eyes (OFA CAER) | Hereditary cataracts, PRA and other eye conditions. | A board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. Eyes are re-checked every year, because some conditions appear later in life. | Look for the date. An eye exam is current for one year. |
| Heart (cardiac clearance) | Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) and other congenital heart defects known in the breed. | A veterinary cardiologist. | A clear heart exam on both parents lowers the chance of a heart defect in the litter. |
| Genetic (DNA) panel | Breed-relevant inherited disorders such as prcd-PRA, PRA1/PRA2, ichthyosis and DM. | A laboratory DNA test. | Knowing the parents’ status means two carriers of the same condition are never paired, so no puppy is affected. |
Rosie’s results, in full
Here are our own dam’s results so you can check them rather than take our word for it. Rosie is registered as Northwest Rainbows Pocket Full of Posies, AKC SS30078605, born October 28, 2021. Her hip and elbow radiographs were taken at 25 months of age.
| Test | Result | OFA number | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hips | Fair (passing) | GR-144035F25F-C-VPI | January 4, 2024 |
| Elbows | Normal | GR-EL63809F25-C-VPI | January 4, 2024 |
| Eyes (CAER) | Normal | GR-EYE32485/23F-VPI | exam September 30, 2023 |
| Heart | Not yet published on this page. Ask us and we will tell you exactly what is on file. | ||
| Genetic (DNA) panel | Not yet published on this page. Ask us and we will tell you exactly what is on file. | ||
Search SS30078605 at ofa.org and check every number yourself. We publish the Fair hip grade rather than hiding it, because a breeder who only shows you the comfortable results has told you nothing. OFA hip grades of Excellent, Good and Fair all mean the hips were evaluated as within normal limits.
See Rosie’s full record, including her four-generation AKC pedigree.
How to check any breeder’s health testing in 30 seconds
- Ask for each parent’s registered name or AKC registration number. A screenshot or a PDF is not enough.
- Go to ofa.org and search that number.
- Look for hips, elbows, eyes and heart, each with a date. An eye exam should be less than a year old.
- Check the dog’s age at the hip and elbow X-rays. Official certification is at 24 months or older.
- If a breeder cannot give you a number to search, that is your answer.
The same steps work for us. Our number is on this page.
Our health guarantee
Every Nextgen puppy goes home with a written health guarantee backed by our testing. Before placement each puppy is examined by our veterinarian, up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, dewormed, and microchipped. You receive complete records so your own vet can pick up right where we left off.
Why choose a purebred, health-tested Golden?
A well-bred purebred Golden Retriever gives you predictability: in size, coat, energy level, temperament, and health history. For families choosing a dog to grow up alongside children, or a prospect for therapy or service work, that predictability is everything. Testing does not guarantee a dog will never get sick, but it stacks the odds in your favor, and it shows a breeder who is investing in the breed’s future rather than just selling puppies.
Questions families ask about our health testing
Are Nextgen Goldens’ parent dogs OFA tested?
Yes. Our dam Rosie has OFA hips (Fair, a passing grade), OFA elbows (Normal) and an OFA CAER eye exam (Normal) on file under her AKC number SS30078605. The certificate numbers are published on this page so you can search them at ofa.org.
What does an OFA “Fair” hip grade mean?
Fair is one of OFA’s three passing grades, along with Excellent and Good. It means the hips were evaluated as within normal limits. We publish it because that is what the public database is for.
Which health tests should a Golden Retriever breeder in Oregon have?
The Golden Retriever Club of America’s core four: OFA hips, OFA elbows, a cardiac exam, and an annual eye exam, plus a DNA panel for conditions like PRA and ichthyosis. Ask for the numbers and search them at ofa.org.
How old must a dog be for OFA hip and elbow certification?
At least 24 months. Rosie’s hip and elbow radiographs were taken at 25 months.
Where is Nextgen Goldens?
Boring, Oregon, about 20 miles southeast of downtown Portland on Highway 212. Our puppies go to families across the Portland metro, including Gresham, Happy Valley, Sandy and Clackamas County. You are welcome to visit by appointment and meet our dogs before you commit to anything.
Next steps
Our health-tested litters are limited and placed by waitlist. Join the waitlist to reserve your family’s place, read our buyer’s guide for Oregon families, or contact us with any question about our testing.