Understanding OFA Testing, CHIC Numbers, and What They Mean for Your Dog’s Health

If you’ve spent any time researching reputable dog breeders or considering adding a purebred dog to your family, you’ve probably come across the term “OFA testing.” You may also have seen breeders proudly advertising that their dogs have a “CHIC number.” While these health certifications are important tools in responsible breeding, there is often confusion among puppy buyers—and even some breeders themselves—about what the certifications actually mean, how to interpret the results, and why having a CHIC number does not automatically prove a dog is free of health issues.

This article will help you understand what the OFA is and what it does, the purpose and process of OFA testing; what a CHIC number represents—and what it does not; how to interpret health screening results; alternatives to OFA hip evaluations, including PennHIP.

Let’s explore each of these topics in detail so you can make informed decisions when choosing a puppy or planning a breeding program.

What Is the OFA?

OFA stands for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, an organization based in the United States. Founded in 1966, the OFA was originally established to address hip dysplasia in dogs. Over time, it expanded its mission to include other inherited conditions affecting dogs and other animals.

Today, the OFA maintains databases and provides certification for numerous genetic and orthopedic health conditions, including but not limited to:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Patellar Luxation
• Cardiac Disease
• Thyroid Disorders
• Eye Diseases (CERF—now part of OFA’s Eye Certification Registry)
• Degenerative Myelopathy
• Various breed-specific inherited diseases

The OFA does not directly perform the tests. Instead, veterinarians and veterinary specialists carry out the examinations or radiographs, then submit the results to the OFA for evaluation and official certification.

Key takeaway: The OFA acts as a registry and evaluator. It compiles standardized results and makes them accessible to breeders, owners, and the public (if the owner agrees to release them).

Why Is OFA Testing Important?

Responsible breeders use OFA testing to:

• Screen for inherited health problems before breeding.
• Document that breeding dogs meet minimum health criteria.
• Inform buyers of the health status of their potential puppy’s parents.
• Contribute to breed health research and data collection.

Testing does not guarantee that a dog (or its offspring) will never have health problems. However, it dramatically increases the odds that you are starting with a healthier genetic foundation.

For prospective puppy buyers, seeing OFA test results provides some transparency and reassurance. For breeders, publishing these results demonstrates a commitment to improving breed health.

What Is a CHIC Number?

Many breeders emphasize that their dogs have earned a CHIC number—but this is often misunderstood by the public.

CHIC stands for Canine Health Information Center. It is a partnership between the OFA and participating breed clubs. Each breed club defines a list of recommended health tests that responsible breeders should perform.

A CHIC number simply means the dog has completed all the recommended tests for its breed and that the owner has agreed to make the results publicly available—regardless of whether those results were good, bad, or somewhere in between.

Important Point:

A CHIC number does not mean all test results were normal or excellent.
It only indicates that testing was performed and results were disclosed.

Many breeders say they are “proud to have a CHIC number,” and it can be a sign of transparency and thoroughness. However, it is essential for buyers to look beyond the number itself and actually read the results.

For example, a dog could:

• Have a CHIC number
• Be tested for hips, elbows, eyes, and thyroid
• Yet still be graded as dysplastic in hips or fail another health screen

This is why CHIC is more like a checklist of completed tests rather than a badge of health perfection.

How to Read OFA Test Results

When a breeder provides OFA certificates or you look up a dog’s record on the OFA website, you will see results in categories like:

• Hips: rated as Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild Dysplasia, Moderate Dysplasia, or Severe Dysplasia
• Elbows: Normal or Grades I, II, III dysplasia
• Patellas: Normal or Luxation Grades 1–4
• Cardiac: Normal (by practitioner or specialist) or Abnormal
• Thyroid: Normal or Abnormal (Autoimmune Thyroiditis, etc.)
• Eyes: Normal or showing specific disease findings

When evaluating a potential breeding dog or the parents of a puppy you want to buy, here are general guidelines on what to look for:

• Hips: You should prefer dogs rated Excellent, Good, or Fair. Any degree of dysplasia should be considered a significant red flag.
• Elbows: Should be Normal.
• Patellas: Should be Normal.
• Cardiac: Should be Normal, ideally certified by a board-certified cardiologist rather than a general practitioner.
• Eyes: Should be Normal or have only minor findings not associated with serious disease.

If you see Borderline or Dysplastic results, discuss this with your veterinarian or a trusted breed mentor before making decisions about breeding or purchasing.

Always read each report in full rather than relying on a summary or a breeder’s verbal reassurance.

A responsible breeder should never intentionally breed two dogs rated Fair together, as this pairing increases the risk of producing offspring with poorer hip quality; in our own breeding program, we accept only dogs with Good or Excellent hips, to help ensure the best possible orthopedic foundation for future generations.

For Dobermans in particular, comprehensive cardiac screening is essential, as they are prone to serious heart conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy; this means a thorough evaluation should include not only an echocardiogram performed by a board-certified cardiologist but also a 24-hour Holter monitor, since combining both tests gives a much clearer picture of heart health before breeding.

Are There Extra Fees for CHIC Numbers?

Yes.
When a breeder applies to have their dog’s health data linked to a CHIC number, they pay additional fees beyond the standard OFA processing costs.

This expense is one reason some breeders—especially those with large kennels—choose not to get CHIC numbers even if they have done all the recommended tests.

Key takeaway:

A lack of a CHIC number does not automatically mean the breeder has not done the right health testing.

What matters most is whether the breeder can show you the official test results themselves—regardless of whether they are tied to CHIC.

Many highly ethical breeders provide full copies of all OFA certificates but simply haven’t applied for CHIC numbers due to extra costs or administrative reasons.

OFA Hip Evaluations vs. PennHIP

Hip dysplasia is one of the most impactful inherited problems in dogs. For decades, the OFA has been the primary resource for hip evaluation in North America.

OFA Hip Radiographs:

• Typically taken when the dog is at least 2 years old for a final, official rating.
• Requires the dog to be anesthetized or heavily sedated.
• Radiographs are positioned to show the hip joints in a specific view.
• Three independent board-certified radiologists score the images.
• Results fall into categories from Excellent to Severe Dysplasia.

For OFA radiographs, sedation is not strictly obligatory if the dog is exceptionally calm and easy to position, as some veterinarians are able to take accurate x-rays on fully awake dogs; however, mild sedation or anesthesia is still commonly recommended to ensure precise, reproducible positioning and reduce stress.

While OFA has been the standard for decades, some veterinarians and researchers have pointed out limitations—especially regarding the subjective nature of interpretation and the potential for positioning to influence the rating.

PennHIP:

• Developed by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
• Uses a different method of evaluating hips, measuring distraction index—the degree of looseness in the hip joint.
• Involves three separate radiographic views.
• Can be performed as early as 16 weeks of age.
• Provides a numeric value that predicts risk of osteoarthritis later in life.

In contrast, PennHIP requires full anesthesia, both because the technique involves several radiographic views and because the distraction positioning used to measure joint laxity is quite uncomfortable for the dog when awake; anesthesia not only ensures the dog stays completely still but also makes the procedure safer, faster, and easier to perform accurately.

Key Differences:

Feature	OFA	PennHIP
Minimum Age	24 months for final rating	16 weeks
Method	Visual grading by radiologists	Measurement of distraction index
Sedation	Required	Required
Results	Excellent–Severe Dysplasia	Numeric index predicting risk
Availability in Quebec	Widely available	Limited—few certified vets
Cost	Generally less expensive	More expensive

In Quebec, it can be very difficult to find veterinarians certified to perform PennHIP, so many breeders still rely on OFA hip testing. If you prefer PennHIP, you may need to travel or make special arrangements.

Many orthopedic specialists believe PennHIP provides a more objective, reliable prediction of a dog’s hip health. However, breeders and buyers should be aware that no method guarantees a dog will never develop arthritis.

Preliminary results

About Preliminary Hip and Elbow Results
When you look at a dog’s OFA records, you might notice some evaluations are marked as preliminary. A preliminary result means the hips or elbows were x-rayed and submitted to OFA before the dog reached 24 months of age (the age required for an official certification). Preliminary results can be issued as early as 4 months old, though most breeders wait until at least 12–18 months when the joints are closer to maturity. Some breeders use preliminary results because they want to assess the orthopedic health of young dogs before making breeding decisions, especially if the dog will be bred on their first heat or before two years old.

While prelims are not considered final, they are often quite predictive: according to OFA data published on their website (www.ofa.org), preliminary evaluations done at 18–23 months agree with final adult ratings about 95% of the time, making them a reliable early indicator. The main difference is that preliminary results are labeled as such and can be updated with an official rating after the dog turns two. Responsible breeders typically disclose whether they are citing preliminary or final certifications so buyers can understand exactly what stage of evaluation has been completed.

Our Perspective on Breeding Age and Timing
We personally believe that breeders who choose to breed a female on her first heat are not acting responsibly and should not be encouraged. Not only does this practice fail to allow the dog full physical and mental maturity, but it is also legally prohibited in Quebec, where the law states that a bitch cannot be pregnant before 18 months old. It’s also worth understanding why many breeders rely on preliminary hip and elbow evaluations—not necessarily because they prefer prelims, but because the timing of heat cycles can make scheduling radiographs complicated.

For example, Dobermans typically come into heat every 4–5 months, and each heat lasts about three weeks. During this time, hormonal changes can temporarily affect joint appearance on x-rays, so veterinarians recommend waiting at least one month after the end of the heat before taking radiographs. This delay can push the timeline almost two months later, leaving only a small window to do the screenings before the next cycle starts. When breeders are also active in sports and competitions, it can be very difficult to coordinate everything. As a result, some are satisfied with preliminary results—especially when they are done close to 18 months old—because they are nearly as reliable as a final certification.

Should You Only Buy from a Breeder with a CHIC Number?

This is where it is important to keep a neutral and realistic perspective.

Having a CHIC number shows the breeder:

• Completed all the recommended health tests for their breed
• Agreed to make the results public

This is often a sign of transparency and a desire to follow best practices. But it does not automatically mean the dog has “passed” everything or is superior to dogs without a CHIC number.

Some excellent breeders do not have CHIC numbers because:

• They do all the same tests but don’t pay for CHIC certification.
• They prefer to share results privately rather than on public databases.
• They focus on international certifications that are separate from OFA.

Bottom line:

The quality of a breeding program is about thorough, honest health screening and the breeder’s commitment to sharing results—not whether they paid extra fees to label it as CHIC.

If a breeder can show you up-to-date OFA (or equivalent) certificates with clear results, this is as meaningful as having a CHIC number.

For example, at Wonder Doberman all our dogs are tested far more extensive than OFA requires and on the personal page of each reproducer in the program you can find the results directly available (including DNA testing, OFS Hips & Elbows, Cardio, etc.). At the same time, for the reasons mentioned above, we do not use CHIC number.

How to Verify OFA and CHIC Information

You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it. You can look up a dog’s records yourself:

1. Go to www.ofa.org.
2. Click Search OFA Records.
3. Enter the dog’s registered name or registration number.
4. Review all listed results.

This will show you:

• Which tests have been performed
• The date of each test
• The official result
• Whether the dog has a CHIC number

If you’re considering a puppy, ask the breeder to provide:

• Copies of each OFA certificate (or equivalent)
• Registration information so you can verify independently

This level of transparency is a hallmark of a responsible breeding program.

Transparency of Our Health Testing
In our case, the majority of our dogs’ health test results are available publicly on our website, so anyone can review them at any time. However, please understand that over time, some records may temporarily be missing—either because they haven’t been uploaded yet or because a dog is still too young to have completed all the recommended testing. If you notice that a result isn’t listed, we encourage you to ask us directly, and we will be glad to provide the documentation immediately or let you know exactly when the testing is scheduled to be done. This way, you always have clear and up-to-date information before making any decision.

Summary: What You Should Remember

To recap, here are the most important points:

OFA provides standardized evaluation and certification of health tests.

A CHIC number means all recommended tests were performed and disclosed—but does not guarantee the results were good.

Always read each result individually rather than relying on the CHIC label.

OFA hip ratings and PennHIP measure similar issues in different ways—PennHIP can be more predictive but is harder to access in Quebec and often costs more.

A breeder without a CHIC number can be just as responsible—what matters is whether they have completed the tests and are willing to show you the results.

Transparency, honest communication, and a commitment to breed health are far more important than labels alone.

Final Thoughts

Health testing in dogs is a critical piece of responsible breeding. However, it can be confusing—especially when breeders and buyers alike misunderstand the significance of certifications like CHIC.

If you are considering purchasing a purebred puppy, the most empowering thing you can do is educate yourself about what each test means and how to interpret results independently.

No breeder or test can guarantee a perfectly healthy dog. But by prioritizing clear, thorough health screening and honest disclosure of results, you dramatically improve the odds of welcoming a healthy companion into your life.

If you have more questions about specific test results or how to find reputable breeders, consult your veterinarian or contact your breed’s national club for guidance.

Knowledge is your best tool. Use it wisely, and you will be better prepared to make the right choices for you, your family, and your future dog.