A healthy puppy starts long before it's born. The single biggest thing a Goldendoodle breeder can do to give a litter a strong, sound future is to health-test the parents first — and to be honest with families about exactly what that testing covers.
This post explains the health testing standards we hold ourselves to at Purkey Puppies: what we screen for, why OFA certification matters, and the veterinary care every puppy receives before it comes home. It's the same information we share with every family who asks.
Every Breeding Dog Is Genetically Cleared
Goldendoodles inherit their genes from two parent breeds — the Poodle and the Golden Retriever — and both carry a handful of hereditary conditions that can quietly pass from generation to generation. Genetic clearance is a DNA panel that screens a breeding dog for those conditions before it's ever paired, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), degenerative myelopathy (DM), and von Willebrand's disease.
The point isn't just to identify affected dogs — it's to avoid pairings where two carriers could produce affected puppies. At Purkey Puppies, every dog in our program is genetically cleared at minimum, and we plan each pairing around those results. You can meet our breeding dogs and ask about any of their clearances directly.
Most of Our Dogs Are OFA-Certified for Hips and Elbows
Hip and elbow dysplasia are among the most common — and most costly — joint problems in medium and large dogs. OFA certification, from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, is how responsible breeders screen for them. A dog's hip and elbow X-rays are reviewed by board-certified radiologists, who then certify whether its joints are sound enough for breeding.
Most of our breeding dogs are OFA-certified for hips and elbows on top of their genetic clearances. Because our Standard Goldendoodles grow into larger adults, joint soundness in the parents matters a great deal — and it benefits our Mini and F1B litters just the same.
Every Puppy Sees a Vet Before It Comes Home
Testing the parents is where health starts, but it doesn't end there. Before any puppy leaves us at eight weeks, it receives its first puppy vaccination and a well-check exam from a licensed veterinarian. Both are included in the $1,700 price — a $200 reservation fee holds your spot, with the remaining $1,500 due at pickup.
You go home with the puppy's health records so you can hand them straight to your own vet at your first appointment. If you'd like additional vet visits, microchipping, or other extras handled before pickup, those are available through our puppy upgrades.
Why This Matters to Our Three Families
Purkey Puppies is run by three families — the Purkeys, the Stinnetts, and the Gentrys — across our Midland and Dallas/Red Oak, TX programs. Health testing costs us real money up front, but we've never seen it as an expense. It's how we make sure the puppy we hand you has the best possible start, and it's why so many of our families come back for a second doodle.
If you ever want to see the clearances behind a specific litter, just ask. We'll walk you through them — transparency is the whole point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of Purkey Puppies' breeding dogs health-tested?
Yes — every breeding dog at Purkey Puppies is genetically cleared at minimum, and most are also OFA-certified for hips and elbows. No dog enters our program until its health results are back and reviewed, so every litter starts from a tested pairing.
What is OFA certification?
OFA certification is an evaluation of a dog's hip and elbow joints by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Board-certified radiologists review the dog's X-rays and certify whether its joints are sound enough for responsible breeding, which helps reduce the risk of hip and elbow dysplasia in the puppies.
What does genetic clearance test for?
Genetic clearance screens a breeding dog's DNA for hereditary conditions known in Goldendoodles, Poodles, and Golden Retrievers. This includes diseases like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), degenerative myelopathy (DM), and von Willebrand's disease, so we can avoid pairings that would pass a condition to the puppies.
What veterinary care does each puppy receive before pickup?
Every Purkey Puppies puppy receives its first puppy vaccination and a licensed veterinarian well-check exam before going home, both included in the $1,700 price. You receive the health records to hand directly to your own vet at your first appointment.
Does health testing guarantee a healthy puppy?
No testing can promise a lifetime free of illness, but health testing dramatically lowers the odds of the inheritable conditions that cause the most heartache and expense. It is the single most important thing a breeder can do to stack the deck in a puppy's favor.
Can I see the health records for my puppy's parents?
Yes — we're happy to share the genetic and OFA results for the sire and dam of any litter. You can view our breeding dogs on our Parents page and ask us for their clearances anytime.
Why does health testing make a puppy worth more?
Health testing costs the breeder real money up front, but it saves families far more in avoided vet bills and heartbreak later. A tested pairing is why a well-bred Goldendoodle is a sound long-term investment rather than a gamble.
Ready to Reserve a Health-Tested Puppy?
Join the waitlist for an upcoming litter from our Midland or Dallas, TX program. $200 reserves your spot.