[NatalieDann]

Hi everyone!

I am hoping to get my first Golden Retriever puppy over the next couple of months and might be looking at a litter next week.

I just need a bit advice on the hip scores. I understand that the lower the score the better, but at what number is a score classed as bad?

The mother of the litter's is 7/8, which is higher than some of the others that I've been looking at, but is that a bad score?

I am still waiting to hear back about the dads score.

I am finding it so hard to get one, as soon as they are advertised they are all whipped up straight away

Thank you in advance,

Natalie

 

[Prism Goldens]

If it is BVA, that's equiv to a good on OFA. Here is a comparison chart: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Hip Dysplasia
If it is OVC, I would want to actually see the clearance- they no longer do them.
but one dog's scores are not all you need to see- look at the dog itself and also both parents, 4 grandparents, all the siblings and aunts and uncles and look for gaps in the hip column where you see elbows rated, and vice versa. Gaps there are likely fails on the missing one.
Look at elbows in particular.

 

[Tahnee GR]

If it is BVA, that's equiv to a good on OFA. Here is a comparison chart: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Hip Dysplasia
If it is OVC, I would want to actually see the clearance- they no longer do them.
but one dog's scores are not all you need to see- look at the dog itself and also both parents, 4 grandparents, all the siblings and aunts and uncles and look for gaps in the hip column where you see elbows rated, and vice versa. Gaps there are likely fails on the missing one.
Look at elbows in particular.

I disagree on the BVA equivalency. With BVA, you add the hips together, which gives a total of 15, which puts her in the Fair category. Plus, to be the equivalent of a Good, neither hip can be >6. Still an acceptable rating, with no evidence of DJD.

The rest is spot on.

 

[mylissyk]

The best way to get a puppy is to contact breeders before the puppies are born, or even bred. Get to know the breeders in the community and talk with them about what you are wanting, get on their list before the puppies are on the ground. It's pretty typical that the puppies are all already spoken for long before they are born.

 

[Wicky]

I found the attached useful in helping me to better understanding hip scores

https://www.bva.co.uk/uploadedFiles...retation-and-_use-of-BVA-KC_Hip-Scores(1).pdf