Quick Summary: Don’t just accept a breeder’s claim that puppy parents are health-tested; ask five specific questions about which tests each parent received, see the actual results, verify them against public OFA records, and learn how findings influenced the pairing. A CHIC number only confirms tests were done, not that results were normal, and no testing eliminates all risk. The guide, aimed at Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo buyers, stresses matching screenings to both breed lines and treats a breeder’s willingness to explain results as the real mark of transparency.
A breeder tells you both puppy parents are health tested. Great news – but the better next question is which tests were done, for which dog, and what the results actually say.
That matters because “health tested” means different things to different people. A routine vet visit, a broad DNA panel, or even a CHIC number can sound like a complete guarantee when it is not. Without parent-specific records, it is hard to know what was really screened.
This guide walks you through five direct questions about puppy parent health tests: what to ask, what to request in writing, and how to talk through results for Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo pairings. The sequence follows OFA and breed-club guidance – confirm the right screenings, get each parent’s records, check dates and identity, then discuss how the pairing accounts for the results. No single test list fits every breed.
Five Parent Health-Testing Questions at a Glance
| Question | Best for | What to request | Key thing to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which health tests are recommended for each parent breed? | Understanding the testing plan | Named tests for each parent | Relevance to both breed backgrounds |
| Can I see the results for both specific parents? | Checking breeder transparency | Sire and dam reports | Each record matches an identified parent |
| How can I verify the dogs, dates, and results? | Confirming records are reliable | Names, identifiers, dates, and reports | Current, parent-matched results |
| How did the results influence this pairing? | Understanding breeder decision-making | A clear explanation of the pairing | Results inform choices, not just advertising |
| What can these tests not tell me? | Setting realistic expectations | An explanation of remaining risks | No promise that testing prevents every issue |
What parent health testing can tell you
Before you fall for a fluffy face, it helps to ask smart questions about puppy parent health tests. Good breeders screen their sire and dam for inherited problems that show up in Havanese, Cavapoos, and Havapoos. That screening usually mixes DNA tests with hands-on exams by a vet or specialist.
The real question is not how many tests a breeder can rattle off. It is whether the tests fit the breeds, whether the paperwork covers the actual parents, and whether the results guided the pairing.
Keep in mind: a CHIC number from OFA only confirms the recommended breed screenings were done and shared publicly. It does not mean every result came back normal.
Here are five questions worth asking.
1. Which health tests are recommended for each parent breed?
Start with this question because testing only matters when it fits the actual sire and dam. Ask the breeder to name each test and which parent took it. A long list of unrelated tests says nothing if it skips the risks tied to the breed background.
For purebred lines, parent clubs publish clear screening plans. The Havanese Club of America, for example, lists three CHIC tests for the breed: an annual eye exam (CAER), a hip x-ray, and patella certification, with extras like cardiac and hearing testing encouraged by the club. Poodle clubs recommend their own mix of eye, joint, and DNA screening, so the two sides of a litter can look very different.
For a Cavapoo, ask about the Cavalier side and the Poodle side separately. Cavaliers carry heart and other risks that Poodle testing will never catch. For a Havapoo, the Havanese and Poodle lines each need coverage. One generic “panel” rarely addresses both parents, and breeders who welcome questions about puppy parent health tests will walk you through it line by line.
Highlights
- Ask for the name of each test and the parent who received it
- Compare the plan with current parent-club or OFA screening guidance for the relevant breed
- For mixed pairings, ask how screening covers both parent breeds
- Ask whether the breeder added testing based on the individual family line or veterinary advice
Specs
- Best for: Understanding the testing plan
- What to request: Named tests for each parent
- Key thing to verify: Relevance to both breed backgrounds
A good breeder answers with specifics, not a vague “all health checks done.” You can even verify results yourself in the OFA database using each parent’s registered name. That is the standard we hold at Sage Puppies, and the reason this question comes first: relevant, documented screening is the foundation everything else builds on.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
Also Read: 10 Red Flags to Avoid When Visiting a Local Puppy Breeder
2. Can I see the results for both specific parents?
“Health tested” is a phrase. Documentation is proof. Before you put down a deposit, ask for readable copies of the sire and dam’s test results, or the public registry listings you can look up yourself. Each report should name the dog, name the test, show the date, and state the result. Vague answers here are a signal worth noticing.
Highlights
- Request parent-specific reports or registry listings, not a general claim.
- Check that each document identifies the dog and the test performed.
- Ask for the sire’s records even when he lives elsewhere.
- Keep parent screening separate from the puppy’s own vet records.
Specs
- What to request: Sire and dam reports
- Key thing to verify: Each record matches an identified parent
- Best for: Checking breeder transparency
Many breeders register results with the OFA, whose public database lets you search a dog by name or kennel and see every test, date, and result. The OFA also runs the CHIC program, which issues a number when a dog completes all the screenings recommended for its breed and the results are made public.
A CHIC number confirms the tests were done, not that every result was normal. Read the actual results, not just the icon.
A few practical notes. If the sire lives with another family or breeder, that is common and fine. A transparent program will still produce his records and explain his role in the pairing. And keep the paperwork straight: your puppy’s wellness exam, vaccine record, and deworming history are valuable early-care information, but they say nothing about the parents’ genetic screening. Both matter. Only one predicts inherited disease.
It ranks here because specific documentation turns a broad assurance into something you can review yourself, and it confirms both parents, including an off-site sire, were actually screened.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
Also Read: 10 Signs a California Puppy Listing Is a Scam – Sage Puppies
3. How can I verify the dogs, dates, and results?
Matching reports to the right parent matters as much as having reports at all. Ask for each parent’s registered name or permanent identifier, then check public records yourself to verify puppy parent OFA health testing rather than relying on screenshots alone.
A good breeder will hand over names, identifiers, test types, and dates without hesitation. The OFA database lets you search by dog name, breed, and test type, and normal results there go back to 1974. Compare what the database shows against the breeder’s documents: the same dog, the same test, the same result.
Watch the dates closely. Eye and cardiac exams are time-sensitive, so an old clearance may not reflect the dog’s current health. OFA numbers also encode the age at testing, so you can read the details in each record using OFA’s number guide.
Highlights
- Match the parent name or identifier across every record.
- Check dates and retesting guidance for time-sensitive screenings.
- Use public OFA or CHIC records where available.
- Review individual findings rather than trusting a CHIC number alone.
- Ask calmly for original reports when results are not publicly listed.
Specs
- Best for: Confirming records are reliable
- What to request: Names, identifiers, dates, and reports
- Key thing to verify: Current, parent-matched results
One caution: a CHIC number means the required breed tests were done and disclosed, not that every result was normal. Read the underlying report.
It ranks here because verification separates a current, parent-specific result from an outdated paper or an uncheckable claim.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
4. How did the results influence this pairing?
Paperwork proves a breeder ran the tests. The better question is what those tests changed. Ask the breeder to walk you through how the sire’s and dam’s results shaped this specific pairing, and listen for a clear answer that connects a finding to a real breeding decision.
A good breeder explains results without hesitation. They name what they considered when choosing these parents, acknowledge anything outside the normal range, and put it in plain language. No defensiveness, no jargon dump.
Highlights
- Ask what the breeder weighed when selecting this dam and sire.
- Request plain-language context for any carrier, affected, or other non-normal finding.
- Ask how the pairing manages a recessive variant when one parent carries it.
- Invite discussion of health history in close relatives and the wider line, not just the two parents.
Carrier status is the classic example. A dog that carries one copy of a recessive variant is usually healthy itself. The risk only appears if both parents carry the same variant. That is why the answer matters: a breeder who tested the other parent and paired accordingly can show you the reasoning. The OFA’s guide to inherited disorders explains how these conditions pass down and why pairing choices matter.
Watch how the breeder talks about tradeoffs. Every breeding involves weighing structure, temperament, and health results together. If a finding exists, an honest breeder names it and explains how the pairing reduces the risk. That openness tells you more than a stack of certificates.
This question is #4 because it separates testing from marketing. A basic primer on genetic testing in dogs shows why results only matter in context. When a breeder can explain how results guide choices, health testing becomes a real decision-making tool, not a sales phrase. At Sage Puppies, pairings are planned around test results and family temperament goals from the start.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
Also Read: Havanese, Havapoo & Cavapoo Puppy Care Blog
5. What can these tests not tell me?
Health testing lowers risk. It does not erase it. The OFA states plainly that a CHIC number only confirms the required tests were done, not that the results were normal, so even a fully certified parent line cannot promise a disease-free puppy (OFA).
Highlights
- Ask which conditions are not covered by the tests you’ve seen.
- Separate genetic testing from physical exams and routine vet care.
- Ask how results reduce risk without implying certainty.
- Pair this question with the puppy’s go-home vet records and the breeder’s written terms.
What to request
- An explanation of the risks that remain after testing.
Why this matters
- DNA panels only detect specific variants. A “clear” panel says nothing about conditions without a test.
- Eye and cardiac exams are snapshots in time. Some diseases appear later in life, even in dogs that screened normal young.
- Orthopedic checks like patellas or hips evaluate structure on one day, not lifelong joint health.
- Environment, diet, and plain luck still shape a puppy’s future. Good testing stacks the odds, it doesn’t fix the outcome.
A trustworthy breeder welcomes this question. If someone promises a “perfectly healthy” puppy with zero risk, treat that as a red flag, not a selling point. As OFA notes, for conditions screened by physical evaluation there are no guarantees, only better probabilities (OFA FAQs). At Sage Puppies, we’d rather set honest expectations than overpromise, because families who understand what testing does and doesn’t cover make calmer, better-prepared owners.
Key thing to verify: No claim that testing prevents every issue.
This question ranks last because it protects you from overreading health claims and leaves you with a realistic picture of what testing contributes.
Last updated: September 28, 2026
How to use the answers when choosing a puppy
Ask the same five questions of every breeder you’re seriously considering. Write down the exact tests, dates, and records each one shares so you can compare fairly later.
A few practical pointers:
- Match tests to the breed line. A Havanese parent, a Havapoo, and a Cavapoo need different panels. Start with the parent breeds and that exact litter, not one universal checklist.
- Look for records, not reassurance. Good answers name the parent, the test, the date, and the result. If answers stay vague or rushed, pause.
- Read CHIC and DNA results carefully. A listing isn’t a guarantee. Ask the breeder to walk you through any finding.
- Keep two records separate. Parent health testing and your puppy’s own vet wellness exam are different things. Review both before go-home day.
When you’re ready, review Sage Puppies’ health-testing information, available puppies, and pickup or delivery details from South Jordan, Utah before you reserve. Clear, patient answers are what you should expect – here and anywhere else.
Ready to meet a puppy whose parents passed every test? At Sage Puppies, we’ll walk you through each parent’s health records and answer all five questions – plainly. Browse our health-tested Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo puppies today, then apply for pickup in South Jordan or nationwide delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which health-testing details should puppy buyers ask about?
Ask for the parents’ OFA or CERF results, patella evaluations, and cardiac exams. For Havanese, Havapoo, and Cavapoo parents, also request DNA test results for breed-specific conditions so you can see proof, not promises.
Q2: What is a CHIC number, and does it guarantee a healthy puppy?
CHIC shows a breeder completed required health tests for the breed. It doesn’t guarantee results were normal, so ask which tests were done and what the actual outcomes were.
Q3: Can I see the health-testing paperwork myself?
A transparent breeder says yes without hesitation. Ask for OFA verification numbers you can check online, plus DNA certificates for both parents.
Q4: Does health testing of parents apply to crossbreeds like Havapoos?
Yes. Both the Havanese and Poodle/Cavalier sides should be tested for their breed’s known issues, since puppies can inherit conditions from either parent line.
Q5: What if a breeder only offers “vet checked” puppies?
A vet check covers the puppy on one day. Parent health testing looks at inherited risk for life, so you need both.
