German Shepherd dogs are great large dogs for active families. However, it’s important that they are socialized and trained. Even well-socialized German shepherds can be easily excitable and protective of their homes. Owners should be mindful of this when inviting strangers over.

German shepherds are often unfairly stereotyped as aggressive by nature. In actuality, much of any dog’s temperament and personality is formed through early training and socialization. Overall, a well-socialized German shepherd can be great with other dogs, cats, and pets.

We can offer the below tests for the German Shepherd  singularly or as combos or as included in the most comprehensive Panel “DogCheck 4.0”:

• Degenerative Myelopathy DNA Testing which is a screening test for your dog to determine if it carries the genes associated with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). Click here to read more about the Degenerative Myelopathy Test Kit.
• Hyperuricosuria DNA Test for Uric Acid is a screening test for your dog to determine if it carries the mutated gene associated with Hyperuricosuria (HUU).
• MDR1, some dogs can have sensitivity to certain drugs and others can experience more serious neurologic symptoms like excess salivation, tremors, anorexia, blindness and possibly death. The following is a list of drugs known to cause reactions: Acepromazine (tranquilizer), butorphanol (pain control), doramectin, doxorubicin, emodepside, erythromycin, ivermectin (found in heartworm medications), loperamide (anti-diarrheal agent), milbemycin, moxidectin, paclitaxel, rifampin, selamectin, vinblastine (anti-cancer agent), vincristine and vinorelbine.

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cone-Rod Dystrophy 4/cord1. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a general term for eye disease, classified by progressive vision loss with age. Due to the gradual death of the photoreceptors in the retina, PRA often leads to complete blindness. Many different PRA eye diseases are known in dogs, most of which are breed specific. The mutation for cord1-PRA/crd4, on the other hand, occurs in many different breeds of dogs. In cord1-PRA/crd4, the light receptor cells (rods) of the retina, which are responsible for the perception of light/dark, are affected first. Secondarily, the color sensory cells (cones) may also be affected. If dogs have the alteration on both gene copies, they are at risk of cord1-PRA. However, due to the so-called incomplete penetrance, not all dogs carrying two altered copies are necessarily affected. This indicates that additional genetic or environmental factors may have an influence on the course of the disease. Carriers of this disease who have only one gene copy with the alteration are not at risk of developing the disease due to recessive inheritance, but may pass this alteration on to their offspring. The age at which an at-risk dog first shows symptoms of cord1 PRA can vary widely. A change in the retina can occur at a young age of 6 months, but the average age is usually 5 years. A few dogs do not show abnormalities of visual loss until they are 10 years old. The enormous age differences with which dogs develop cord1-PRA/crd4 are still unexplained.

You can choose the best option for you by clicking below:

For the above tests, if done singularly or as combos, we offer the results in 8-14 working days from receipt of samples to the laboratory.

If they are all included in the most comprehensive test called “DogCheck 4.0“, which also gives information about coat colour traits, the turnaround is 3-4 weeks from receipts of the samples to the laboratory. Please refer to the list below to see all the genes tested in this case.

NOTE: There is an extra cost of £45 to test the genes mentioned on the table as *xP as they are not included in the Dog Check 4.0 Report unless the extra fee has been paid at the checkout.