Bad hips....full stop should not be bred from.
Short sighted or not.....
Drahthaar in Germany-bad hips-no mating,like you said.
Yes I breed my labs-to bitches I approve of only.
Bitches need to work well,look like a lab(not a whippet),have all health tests in place and produce all relevant certification for Hips,Elbows,eye certificate(annual test),test for PRA,CNM,EIC and TVD.....does this answer your question?
Those bitches could be the UK's best working dog if no test above.....no mating-simple.
This is what any buyer of puppies needs to do......
Ask for what genetic tests/clearances has been done on each parent of a litter of puppies. Then ask to see proof of any testing the breeder has claimed to have done. Ask to see the certificates or documents to prove their dogs have been x-rayed free of Hip Dysplasia AND Elbow Dysplasia. Most breeders will have a certificate for their cardiac clearances too. For eyes the breeder should have a certificate of eye exam findings. Optigen sends notice of whether or not a dog is clear (Normal), a carrier or affected with the PRA gene. The testing facility for CNM and EIC will also send a certificate to show whether or not a dog is clear (Normal), a carrier or affected.
If any breeder cannot provide you with PROOF that these genetic tests have been done, buy at your own risk! Some breeders claim that their dogs have never limped or their own veterinarians have said the genetic testing was unnecessary. I'm sorry, but in my opinion, any veterinarian who says that genetic testing of Labrador Retrievers isn't necessary before breeding should lose their ability to practice.That is totally irresponsible. Granted, clearances do not 100% guarantee that a problem might not happen to an offspring, but the chances of it occuring are lessened.