What Does "Health Tested" Actually Mean?
When a breeder says their dogs are "health tested," that phrase can mean very different things. At one end, it means a vet looked at the dog and said it seemed healthy. At the other end, it means the dog has been evaluated with DNA panels, hip and elbow radiographs, cardiac exams, and eye certifications performed by board-certified specialists.
At CCR Kennels, health testing means the latter. We believe that breeding without proper testing is guesswork, and our puppy families deserve better than guesswork.
Why DNA Testing Matters for Cane Corsos
Cane Corsos, like all purebred dogs, carry a finite gene pool. Over generations, certain genetic variants (some beneficial, some harmful) become more or less common within the breed. DNA testing lets breeders identify which variants individual dogs carry, so breeding decisions can be made to reduce the likelihood of producing puppies affected by heritable diseases.
That said, this does not mean only "clear" dogs should be bred. A dog can carry one copy of a gene variant without being affected, and carriers are often perfectly healthy. Smart breeding pairs carriers with tested-clear dogs, which eliminates the risk of producing affected puppies while maintaining genetic diversity.
Common Health Concerns in Cane Corsos
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Large breeds are prone to developmental joint conditions that cause pain and mobility issues. Hip and elbow evaluations involve radiographs read by board-certified radiologists through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) or PennHIP. Breeding dogs with poor joint scores passes those structural risks to offspring.
Cardiac Disease
Cane Corsos have an elevated risk of certain cardiac conditions, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and aortic stenosis. Cardiac exams should be performed by a board-certified cardiologist. The OFA maintains a cardiac registry for breeders who submit results.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
DM is a progressive neurological disease similar to ALS in humans. It is caused by a mutation in the SOD1 gene. Dogs can be DNA tested as clear, carrier, or at-risk. Breeding two carriers or two at-risk dogs produces at-risk puppies. Testing is straightforward and inexpensive, so there is really no good reason to skip it.
Eye Conditions
Annual CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) exams screen for inherited eye conditions. Some eye diseases do not manifest until a dog is older, making annual rechecks important for breeding dogs.
What to Ask a Breeder
When you are evaluating a breeder, ask for documentation and not just assurances. Any reputable breeder should be able to provide OFA registration numbers for hip and elbow evaluations, which are searchable publicly at ofa.org. They should also have DNA panel results from an accredited lab like Embark, Paw Print Genetics, or UC Davis. You will want to see a cardiac exam date along with the performing cardiologist's name, and AKC registration numbers for both the sire and dam.
If a breeder cannot or will not provide this documentation, that is a significant red flag. "My vet checked them out" is not health testing.
What CCR Kennels Tests For
All of our breeding dogs are tested through rigorous protocols before any breeding takes place. We test for the conditions most relevant to the Cane Corso breed and share complete documentation with every puppy family.
Our testing approach is not about marketing. It is about being able to look our puppy families in the eye and tell them we did everything we could to set their dog up for a long, healthy life.
The 2-Year Health Guarantee
Every CCR Kennels puppy comes with a 2-year health guarantee that covers genetic conditions. This is not just a nice bonus. It is our commitment that we stand behind our dogs after they leave our home. That guarantee would mean nothing without the testing to back it up.
The Bottom Line
Health testing costs money and time. Breeders who skip it are cutting corners, whether that is to reduce costs, because they are uninformed, or because they already know their dogs would not pass. When you pay for a health-tested puppy from a responsible breeder, you are not just paying for a dog. You are paying for the years of investment that breeder made in understanding their lines and reducing health risks for your family.
A puppy is a 10 to 14 year commitment. The extra investment upfront is worth it.