Health & Genetic Screening at Windsong Doodles
AAt Windsong Doodles, health testing is the foundation of everything we do. Every parent dog is evaluated using OFA or PennHIP for hips and elbows, along with genetic screening through Embark or Paw Print Genetics, to ensure strong structure, long-term health, and stable temperament.
But testing alone is not enough. With years of experience developing our lines, we make intentional breeding decisions based on both science and real-world outcomes, consistently producing dogs that thrive in family and service-oriented homes.
Our Approach:
How We Health Test Our Dogs at Windsong Doodles
(And What That Actually Means)
At Windsong Doodles, health testing is not a trend or a checklist. It is the foundation of how we responsibly breed and raise our puppies!
Every parent dog in our program is thoroughly evaluated through a combination of OFA testing and genetic screening, ensuring we are producing puppies with strong structure, sound health, and stable temperaments.
But just as important as the testing itself is our experience. We know our lines. We know what they produce. And we make decisions based on both science and real-world outcomes.
What Health Testing We Perform:
Each of our parent dogs is evaluated before entering our breeding program. This includes:
• OFA Hip Evaluations Or Pennhip Evaluations
• OFA Elbow Evaluations
• Cardiac (Heart) Testing
• Genetic Screening through Embark Veterinary or Paw Print Genetics and often double checked through Animal Genetics.
• OFA Eye Testing (performed when indicated, not routinely repeated without reason)
We do not move forward with dogs who do not meet our standards. Period.
OFA Testing and Early Evaluation
Many of our dogs are evaluated using OFA hip and elbow preliminary testing before one year of age, allowing us to make early, responsible decisions about whether a dog should remain in our breeding program.
We do not keep dogs in our program if results are not acceptable. This allows us to be highly selective and intentional in the dogs we choose to move forward with.
OFA preliminaries are widely accepted and do not require repetition when results are clear, providing a reliable foundation for making informed, responsible breeding decisions.
Our goal is not just to pass testing, but to build generations of dogs with proven health, structure, and temperament.
Line Knowledge Matters More Than People Realize!
One of the biggest advantages of working with an established breeder is history.
We don’t just look at two dogs on paper.
We look at:
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Previous litters
• Real puppies living in real homes
If an issue were to show up in a line, we would know. And we adjust accordingly.
This is something testing cannot measure, but it is one of the most important parts of responsible breeding.
Transparency and “Proof”
We understand that many families today are being guided by online checklists and AI-generated questions asking for “proof” of testing.
We are happy to provide:
• OFA results and records
• Genetic testing results
• Guidance on how to interpret those results
At the same time, we encourage families to understand that reading a report is only one piece of the puzzle.
Knowing how to apply that information is where experience matters most.
A Thoughtful Foundation!
Health testing is essential. We take it seriously, and we do it thoroughly.
But what truly sets Windsong apart is how that testing is used:
• In intentional breeding decisions
• In how we raise our puppies from birth
• In how we match each puppy to the right home
This is how we consistently produce dogs that are not only healthy, but adaptable, intuitive, and deeply connected to their families.
If you have questions, we are always happy to walk you through our process and help you understand what actually matters when choosing an ethical goldendoodle breeder.
Why Health Testing Matters (And Where People Get It Wrong)
Health testing is meant to reduce risk, not eliminate it entirely. No breeder can promise a “perfect” dog.
What it does do is:
• Reduce the likelihood of inherited conditions
• Improve long-term structural soundness
• Support more predictable health outcomes
• Contribute to stable, resilient temperaments
However, here’s what most people (and AI) miss:
Health testing alone does not create a great dog.
A dog’s outcome is the combination of:
• Genetics
• Early development
• Environment
• Training
At Windsong, we focus on genetics, early development, environment and training!
And this is what sets us apart from the rest! We do not pair dogs simply because they “passed testing.”
Every pairing is intentional and based on:
• Structure and movement
• Temperament compatibility
• Genetic pairing strategy
• What we have seen produced in past generations
Because we’ve been doing this for years, we’re not guessing.
We know:
• Which lines produce service-level temperaments
• Which pairings create the most stable family dogs
• Where potential weaknesses may show up and how to avoid them
That level of knowledge does not come from a database. It comes from experience.