Hip scoring in Labradors

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We are looking at getting a lab puppy soon. the parents of the ones we are keen on have hip scores of 5/7 (mum) and 3/3 (dad). Elbows are 0/0 for both parents.

Are these ok?

The dad's are pretty good, 5/7 is 12, so average for labs, which isn't good really, you should be looking at well under average for breeding...and they're uneven, not hugely, but on a higher score than you should really be looking at for breeding...I'd be looking at another litter unless there's an amazing reason why they've used that bitch.

Elbows are fine, 0 is the lowest score for both joints and lower is good.

I disagree. Both scores are below the breed average, so are perfectly fine to breed from.

There is a more to a dog than their hips, if the bitch is a lovely dog there is no reason to not get a puppy from her litter, just because she has a slightly-higher-but-still-below-average hips.

The median score for labs is 10 though and you want to be under the median score for breeding.

Breed average for a breed where hip dysplasia is an issue is too high to be considered ok...unless there is a really good reason to be using that particular dog.

I think I would check out the bitch's age at scoring which will have some small influence, and would check out the hip scores for her grandparents and great grandparents too, as well as trying to establish what decision process the breeder has followed to end up breeding from her.

Does the bitch have lots of FT awards? Or Ch awards? If you don't know how to find out, PM me the bitches kennel name or number and I'll have a look.

Thanks all.
Daisy I don't know the kennel name or number but will try and find out, thanks.

You also need to establish whether the dam and sire have in date clear eye certs, and have been tested for EIC and CNM - and ideally prcd-PRA too.

Daisy - yes both have clear eye tests. Not sure about the other things - need to check.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be able to say which test this is, but I'm guessing it's the prcd-PRA. We have a two year old lab who was bred from clear eye tests, but is now night blind as a result of progressive retinal atrophy. A blood test would have shown that both these dogs carried the recessive gene for PRA.