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DNA Testing
Genetic testing
DNA testing has advanced significantly over recent years, making it easily accessible and affordable for dog breeders.
We now have access to a range of services that allow us to screen for genetic diseases, coat colours, traits, parentage confirmation and more!
As part of our successful growth as an ethical breeding association, Orivet are now providing NGA members with exclusive discounts to a suite of Groodle DNA tests to help ensure we reach the best possible genetic outcome for the Groodle as a developing breed in Australia.
To ensure we meet best practice breeding standard, the following National Groodle Association's DNA testing standards have been informed by Orivet's very own Genetic George and Animal Welfare Victoria's Code of Practice for the Breeding of Animals with Heritable Defects that Cause Disease.
Genetic soundness
Breeding with 'Carriers'
Although we aim to breed genetically sound Groodles, this should not take away from the importance of breeding happy, healthy dogs with good temperaments.
For this reason, we do not recommend ruling out 'carriers' of a particular disease but do place a limit of 3 carrying traits per breeding pair.
No breeding pair carrying the same disease trait will be permitted under the NGA breed standards.
A dog that is carrying a disease trait is not at risk of expressing the trait. If this dog was bred with another dog who carried the same trait, a high percentage of this litter would be at risk and expressing this disease.
Breeding True Groodles
We appreciate that with the popularity of Poodle cross mixes, there has been a history of 'infusing' other breeds into the Groodle for coat and size.
The National Groodle Association only accepts True Groodles. This means that only genetics associated with Golden Retriever and Poodles are present in the Groodle breeding lines.
With so many breeders already working with True Groodle lines, we are confident in our developing breed.
Hip and Elbow Testing
Reducing Hip and Elbow Dysplasia in Groodles
Breeders play a very important role in the future health and wellbeing of the puppies they produce and a responsible breeder aims to produce a litter that betters the breed in body, health and temperament.
The National Groodle Associations Hip and Elbow testing standards have been informed by experienced veterinarian Dr Lisa Butler BVSc.
Learn more about Hip and Elbow scoring at our Learning Hub.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia and Elbow dysplasia is defined as a growth abnormality of the hip or elbow respectively which result in joint pain and early onset arthritis.
They are multifactorial diseases – which means that they have a genetic or hereditary components but also have a number of other causative factors such as nutrition, body weight and exercise that may play a role in the development of the condition.
Groodles as a breed have a high incidence of hip and elbow dysplasia but may not show the clinical signs of pain and arthritis until after they have reached breeding age (often over 2 years of age) which is why pre-breeding health testing is so important.
Hip and Elbow Testing schemes
In Australia we have two Hip and Elbow testing schemes available. Below is a summary of each scheme, their individual requirements and the recommended ranges for breeding dogs.
Note: The NGA will only list litters on our recommended litters list where both parent dogs are within acceptable range.
ANKC Scoring
This scheme requires a single ventrodorsal extended radiograph of the hips to be taken while under a general anaesthetic.
This radiograph is then sent off to an ANCK registered radiologist who will grade each of the hips on nine different criteria. These include the angle the hip makes (the Norberg Angle), how well the ball sits within the socket (“subluxation”), the shape of the socket, and the shapes of the head and neck of the femur.
For each of these points, each hip is scored from 0 to 6, with 0 being perfect, and 6 being such severe damage that the joint is non-functional except for the acetabular ridge which is scored out of 5.
All scores are combined and are sent in as a Left and a Right Hip score results for the dog.
Requirements
- The dog must be at least 12 months of age
- The dog must be microchipped
- The radiographs must be taken under general anaesthesia
- The radiographs are submitted to a licensed veterinary radiologist where the elbows are graded and the results are returned to you and your veterinarian.
Current Breed average for ANKC testing scheme is 10.38
NGA Recommended breeding range
- Total hip score within breed average
- Total elbow score of 0
- Where the individual hip score are dissimilar, we recommend against using a dog with an individual hip score that is greater than half of the breed average score. Ie if one hip receives a score of 6 or greater then it is not recommended to breed with the dog.
Penn Hip scoring
The PennHIP® is the most accurate hip screening method available and identifies dogs that are susceptible to hip dysplasia from 4 months of age.
It is based on the principal that hip laxity – the distance that the femoral head (ball) can be displaced/distracted from the acetabula (hip socket) – can be correlated to the development of hip dysplasia.
In simple terms, hip laxity refers to the degree of ‘looseness’ of the hip ball in the hip socket when the dog’s muscles are completely relaxed as occurs with normal movement of walking, running and jumping.
Joint laxity cannot be accurately assessed on the extended hip view alone – it may be subtle or absent.
Requirements
- The dog must be at least 4 months of age
- The dog must be microchipped
- The 3 radiographs must be taken under general anaesthesia
- The radiographs are submitted to Antech Imaging Services.
It is mandatory that films taken for PennHIP® evaluation are submitted so that an accurate database of the incidence of hip dysplasia is available for each breed.
Current breed average Pennhip DI score for Groodles is 0.49
NGA Recommended breeding range
- Only breed with dogs who are under breed average
Groodle Breed Standards
Acknowledgement to GANA
We'd like to acknowledge and thank GANA, The Goldendoodle Association of North America for allowing us to use the Goldendoodle breed standards developed by their Association.
Temperament
Groodles must be friendly, reliable, trustworthy, and well-rounded. Their stability in most situations and environments, particularly with children, elderly, and the disabled, is consistent with that which is required to perform as a trained service and therapy dog.
Unwarranted hostility, timidity, anxiety, nervousness and/or hyperactivity should never be seen in a Groodle. Dogs that exhibit any of these temperament faults should not be bred, as temperament is paramount for Groodles.
Groodles are a friendly, intelligent, and confident breed who are happy, playful and affectionate. Their loyalty and eagerness to please make them the perfect companion dog.
The Groodle
The story of how the Groodle came about changes slightly from one breeder to the next, but what we can agree on, is that they were originally bred as family pet, favored for their low shedding coat, beautiful temperament and high trainability.
The Groodle is a cross-breed between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. The physical appearance of this breed is a balanced mix of the traits common to those two founding breeds, which are the only two breeds that comprise the Groodle.
Although they are not a conformation show breed, proper structure is still essential to overall health, well-being, and breed type. Equal priority is also given to health, temperament and furnishings.
To ensure as much genetic diversity as possible, the stud book will remain open and the dogs may be bred from the founding breeds or from multigenerational stock. These founding breeds, when combined through multiple generations, present a well put together, agile, durable and athletic dog, whose light footedness results in a smooth, fluid gait.
Groodle Form
Sizing
Standard Groodle
Height at wither: 53cm to 63cm
Weight: 23kg to 30kg
Medium Groodle
Height at wither: 43cm to 52cm
Weight: 13kg to 20kg
Miniature Groodle
Height at wither: 35cm to 42cm
Weight: 7kg to 13kg
Note:
Sizing is not easy to define, especially in the earlier generations. Breeders must communicate this with families and equally, families should prepare for variations in sizing within the same litter.
Breeding a larger dog to a mini sized dog does not guarantee a smaller sized dogs.
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Proportion
The build of the Groodle is consistent with that of the endurance trotter: slightly longer in back from the forechest to the point of rump than the height from the ground to the withers.
Their length of leg is to be equal to their depth of body. The brisket is to extend down to the center of the back of the elbow.
Substance
Adequate bone and muscle are necessary for their active play style, energy level, and exercise endurance. Their bone substance is moderate, neither too heavily nor too slightly boned. Their weight is proportionate to size, neither overweight nor underweight.
Head
Skull Top - Skull is slightly broader at the back than at the front (above the eyes) and slightly arched. The stop is moderate. Length from the center of the stop to the occiput is slightly longer in length than that of the muzzle from the center of the stop to the tip of the nose.
A slightly square muzzle is preferred over a narrow muzzle. The skull and muzzle are on parallel planes. Looking face-on, the head is clean cut with no prominence in cheeks. There is adequate fill/chiseling under the eyes.
Muzzle - In profile, the Groodle muzzle is straight, not roman, dished, or downfaced. The width is more consistent with that of the Golden Retriever – i.e., not as narrow as that of the Poodle. It is slightly wider at the stop than at the tip of the muzzle where the nose begins. The upper lip should cover the lower jawline, but lips are never pendulous nor fluttering. The upper lip falls away in a curve toward the throat. The underjaw is never too short in length, as to create a snipey appearance.
Eyes - Oval shaped, moderately wide set, and do not protrude. Eyelids are tight with no haws.
Ears - Front edges of the ears are attached well behind and roughly even with the eye, hanging close to the cheek. Ear leather is moderately thick, and the length of ear extends down to just below the lower jawline. Low set or low hanging ears, as in that of the Hound set, are not desirable.
Bite - A scissor bite is required. A dog with a malocclusion should not be bred.
Teeth - Teeth are strong and clean, with full dentition preferred.
Noses - All colour variations acceptable. Split noses should not be bred.
Neck, Topline and Body
Neck - Moderate length, never short, fat, or offset, such as an ewe neck. The throat latch is tight with no excess skin hanging. The neck is well muscled, slightly arched, and gradually flowing into the shoulders.
Topline - Relatively level with a slight dip behind the withers and a slight rise above the loin. The back never slopes off or roaches up.
Body - Well-balanced and short coupled. The chest and ribs are elliptical shaped. The brisket is as deep as the elbow when viewed from the side. There is an adequate tuck up at the loin but never too extreme as to appear waspy.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters
Legs are straight when viewed from the front with elbows tucked in close to the ribcage. Toes are pointing forward. Pasterns are short and strong with a slightly sloping forward angle.
Shoulder blades are well laid back at an angle that matches that of the rear angulation to create a sense of balance.
The upper arms and shoulder blades are about the same length, setting the elbows back beneath the upper tip of the blades when standing foursquare. All four legs are near vertical to the ground.
Hindquarters
The rear is strongly muscled with a croup slightly sloped at an approximate 20 to 30 degree angle. The femur joins the pelvis at an angle that matches that of the shoulder angle, resulting in a balanced dog.
Stifles are well bent, hocks are well let down, and rear pasterns are strong and perpendicular to the ground when standing foursquare.
Legs are straight when viewed from the rear, never cow-hocked, sickled, or bowed.
Feet Small to medium sized in relation to the size of the dog. The shape is oval, and the foot is compact, well-knuckled, and cushion toed; pads are thick. Nails are kept trimmed so as to prevent them from touching the ground. Dewclaws are maintained.
Feet are never splayed, nor are they turned in or out. Toes are never too high or too short.
Tail Set moderately high on the croup, but not so high as to create a flat backline. The tail is to show off feathering.
Coat and Colouring
There are 3 approved coat types.
- Curly
- Wavy and
- Straight - not to be confused with flat improper coat.
Coat is of a soft texture with facial furnishings. Ideally, the Groodle coat possesses low shed qualities.
Incorrect Coats
“Incorrect Coats” are those that have no furnishings and that shed. They are ideally only bred when it’s prudent to bring in other desirable traits from an Improper Coated (IC) dog or to keep diversity by continuing a line.
Colours
All colours are acceptable with the exception of those associated with health problems; these include, but may not be limited to, double merles, extreme whites to the extent that it would affect hearing, and double dilutes.
Merles are acceptable however must be bred responsibly. All recognised breeders must demonstrate their understanding of the merle gene prior to commencing breeding plans.
Common Groodle Generations
F1 Groodle
F1B Groodle
F1B Groodle
An F1 Groodle or a 'first cross' is the result of breeding a Golden Retriever with a Poodle. These puppies often have fleece or sometimes hair coats.
F1B Groodle
F1B Groodle
F1B Groodle
An F1B is the result of one parent being a Groodle and the other being either a purebred Poodle or Golden Retriever.
F2B Groodle
Multigenerational Groodle
Multigenerational Groodle
An F2B is where an F2 was bred back to a purebred parent, often a Poodle to correct the furnishings on a Groodles coat, in line with Groodle Breed standards.
Multigenerational Groodle
Multigenerational Groodle
Multigenerational Groodle
A Multigenerational Groodle is when two parents are Groodles. Parents can also be bred back to a purebred to achieve a variety of goals in line with Groodle breed standards.
Health Testing Requirements
We're raising the standard!
We are currently in the early stages of developing the National Groodle Association (NGA).
Prior to launching the NGA we gathered some research from around the world and came across GANA, the Goldendoodle Association of North America - the only existing body representing this wonderful breed. We quickly identified just how far behind we are in regards to health testing and knew we wanted to raise the bar.
We know we need to increase our health and temperament testing, but are also aware that this is a big change from where we are right now, taking into account the various stages breeders are at across Australia.
As a result of this, we will be looking to our friends over at GANA on how to roll out our increased health testing requirements.
For now we have published our first recommended litter list. To help encourage our breeders to strive for higher health testing standards, we are currently allowing breeders to join this list with DNA testing of both parent dogs as minimum requirement - this will change in 2023 where the minimum standard will be increased to DNA and Hip and Elbow scoring of both parent dogs.
In addition to this, they must not breed with carriers of the same trait or intentionally pair dogs with high hip and elbow scores.
National Groodle Association NGA