The Doodle Club
Paw Points
The Doodle Club
Here at The Doodle Club we are committed to provide the information so families have the ability to make an informed choice. It can be a confusing time purchasing a puppy. Our Paw Point programme has been designed to help you make your choice. Purchasing a puppy is a huge commitment, they will be part of your family for years!
At The Doodle Club we are here to help you!
All our Breeders have to pass our minimum health requirements to achieve their two paw point status, they can achieve more paw points by adopting good practices or by completing more testing. We are striving to raise standards by encouraging our breeders to adopt the best possible breeding practices.
Every Doodle Club Approved Breeder Earns Two Paw Points
The Doodle Club awards all breeders that meet the minimum health testing requirements two paw points. Each parent breed has a different minimum health testing requirement, this can be found in the breed information pages. The minimum health testing requirements for the parent breeds must be performed before a litter is born. To be eligible one dog must meet the requirement. We will award a third paw point if the breeder has a council license as we feel that this deserves recognition.
The Doodle Club 5 Paw Points Approved Breeder
Every Dog within The Doodle Club members program must meet the health testing requirement to be eligible to earn 5 Paw Points.
The required paw points are mandatory, you must be council licensed to be a 5 paw point breeder and then you may choose between BVA testing or genetic disease panel. For the last star you may choose from the extra choice paw point list.
Required = One Paw Point - Council Licensed
Required = One Paw Point - BVA / EVCO Ophthalmologist Examination or
Required = One Paw Point - Genetic Disease Panel for breed
Extra choice for additional paw points.
One Paw Point : Registering all litters produced
One Paw Point: Passing Hip Certification
One Paw Point: Passing Elbow Certification
One Paw Point: Patella Evaluation
One Paw Point: Cardiac Evaluation
One Paw Point: Five or more years breeding experience
One Paw Point: Live puppy camera
One Paw Point: Puppy Culture
Choose One Extra Paw Point To Be Awarded 5 Paw Points
What is Health Testing?
Every breed of dog has different health testing requirements, because they can produce puppies with certain health conditions. With science and experience, good breeders around the world try to produce dogs that will not inherit certain diseases that have affected their breed.
We want to give you as much information as possible to make an informed choice.
As each breed has a different health testing requirement, and because doodle's are a cross breed it is important to test relevant conditions in both parent breeds. Please visit the breed page to learn about the different minimum testing requirements for each breed.
Hip Dysplasia Scheme for dogs
The Hip Dysplasia Scheme was established by BVA and the Kennel Club in 1965 to reduce the incidence and severity of the condition. Hip dysplasia can have serious effects on the health, behaviour and welfare of dogs. The scheme uses X-rays to screen for signs of abnormalities (irregular or poorly shaped hip joints) caused by hip dysplasia. X-rays are reviewed and scored by BVA-appointed expert veterinary surgeons
Elbow Dysplasia Scheme for dogs
The Elbow Dysplasia Scheme uses X-rays to identify abnormal growth in the elbow joint. The images are then reviewed and graded by an expert panel of veterinary surgeons. The elbow grades can then be used by breeders to make responsible breeding decisions and help make sure that they are only breeding from healthy dogs.
Hereditary Eye Disease Scheme for dogs
The Eye Scheme was established in 1966 as a means of identifying inherited and non-inherited eye conditions in dogs. It is a clinical eye examination carried out by expert veterinary surgeons. The Scheme is open to all dogs and breeds including crossbreeds.
Patellar Luxation Scheme for dogs
Although the luxation may not be present at birth, the anatomical deformities that cause these luxations are present at that time and are responsible for subsequent recurrent patellar luxation. Patellar luxation should be considered an inherited disease.
Congenital Cardiac Disease
Congenital heart disease in dogs is a malformation of the heart or great vessels. The lesions characterising congenital heart defects are present at birth and may develop more fully during perinatal and growth periods.
DNA based prcd-PRA test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive.
A pattern of inheritance in which an affected dog must have two copies of an abnormal gene in order to present with the disease or trait. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Aliases: Canine degenerative myelopathy, DM
DNA based DM test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance.
Degenerative Myelopathy is an inherited neurologic disorder caused by a Mutation of the SOD1 gene. This mutation is found in many breeds of dog. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Exercise-Induced Collapse
Aliases: EIC
DNA based EIC test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive with variable expressivity
Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder affecting apparently healthy dogs. This mutation is found in many breeds of dog. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Von Willebrand Disease I
Aliases: Pseudohemophilia, Vascular Hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease type 1, Von Willebrand's disease, VWDI
DNA based VWDI test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive.
Von Willebrand Disease I (VWDI) is an inherited bleeding disorder affecting dogs. Dogs affected with VWDI have less than half of the normal level of Von Willebrand coagulation factor (VWF), which is an essential protein needed for normal blood clotting. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Familial Nephropathy (Cocker Spaniel Type)
Aliases: Hereditary Nephropathy, Nephropathy, FN, HN
DNA based FN test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive.
Familial Nephropathy (cocker spaniel type) is an inherited disorder of the kidneys affecting dogs. Dogs with this disease usually start showing symptoms of chronic kidney disease between 6 months and 2 years of age. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Acral Mutilation Syndrome
Aliases: Pain Insensitivity, Sensory Neuropathy, AMS, SN
DNA based AMS test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive.
Acral Mutilation Syndrome is an inherited neurological disease affecting dogs. Affected dogs present around 4 months of age with an insensitivity to pain in the lower limbs demonstrated by repetitive licking and biting of their paws, eventually resulting in self-mutilation. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Aliases: Spinocerebellar Ataxia and Myokymia, SCA
DNA based SCA test results from an approved lab, autosomal recessive.
Spinocerebellar Ataxia is an early onset, inherited neurologic disease affecting Jack Russell Terriers. Dogs with this disease present with incoordination and loss of balance between 2 to 6 months of age.It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Primary Lens Luxation
Aliases: Lens Luxation, PLL
DNA based PLL test results from an approved lab, autosomal incomplete dominant.
Primary Lens Luxation is an inherited abnormality of the eye affecting Jack Russell Terriers. It is very important that breeders are testing their breeding dogs to ensure they do not produce dogs with this disease.
Enviromental Paw Points
There are many things that make an individual breeder great! You may find that breeders raise their puppies differently. Not every puppy is raised equally. Here at The Doodle Club one of our main goals is to help breeders improve their breeding standards.
The Doodle club will award paw points for health testing and we will also award paw points to those breeders actively breeding to the best possible standards.
We want to give each families the correct infomation to make an informed choice.
Live Puppy Camera
A live puppy camera is something that The Doodle Club founders have been using for a number of years. They were the first breeders of their breed in the UK to use a live puppy camera.
A pup cam will allow you and your family to watch your puppy grow from a newborn to 8 weeks old. They change so much every day, and we feel it is important for you to see how your puppy grows and the environment they are coming from, and how good breeders operate. The bond you will receive from seeing how mum feeds and cares for her puppies is special. The Doodle Club endorses the use of puppy cams and therefore awards a paw point to those breeders that provide this service.
Council Licensed
The Doodle Club will give an approved breeder that has a current Valid Council Licence a paw point for their program. Some breeders maybe out of scope and do not require a licence.
The Doodle club offers free information for their breeders to help them gain a licensed status.
Experience
The Doodle Club will give an approved breeder that has 5 years or more of experience in dog breeding a paw point for their program. Experience is one of the greatest assets for a breeder to have. Some things can only be learn't by experience and we believe this should be rewarded.
Puppy Culture
The Doodle Club will give an approved breeder that raises their puppy following puppy culture methods. Puppy Culture represents a gold standard in puppy rearing and early socialisation. Breeders have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on a puppy’s ultimate personality. By the time the puppy goes to their new home, much of that opportunity has already been lost. Puppy Culture shows you what you need to do, and when, in order to take advantage of your power as a breeder. This is why The Doodle Club offer a paw point for breeders taking this active step to improve their breeding program.
