Hereditary Clear DNA Status

Kennel Club policy information

A dog may be recorded as hereditary clear for a specific autosomal recessive condition when both of its parents are known to be clear of the tested genetic variant.

What does hereditary clear mean?

Hereditary clear status means that a dog is expected to have inherited two normal copies of the gene associated with a particular autosomal recessive condition.

This is because both parents are recorded as clear for the same condition, either through their own DNA test results or because they are themselves recorded as hereditary clear.

The status applies only to the individual condition and genetic variant concerned. It does not mean that the dog is free from every inherited condition or every possible form of that disease.

Clear

The dog has been DNA tested and has no copies of the tested autosomal recessive genetic variant.

Carrier

The dog has one copy of the tested variant. It will not normally develop a simple autosomal recessive condition but can pass the variant to its puppies.

Affected

The dog has two copies of the tested variant and may be affected by, or at increased risk from, the condition.

The proposed two-generation limit

The Kennel Club previously announced that, from January 2023, hereditary clear status would be limited to two generations unless the dog’s lineage had been verified through DNA parentage testing.

Implementation of this change was paused because of the technical development and testing required. The Kennel Club’s published policy therefore continues to allow hereditary clear status when both parents are known to be clear for the same autosomal recessive condition.

Recommended good practice: The Kennel Club strongly recommends retesting breeding dogs from apparently clear lines every two generations.

Why is occasional retesting important?

Hereditary status depends upon the accuracy of DNA results and recorded parentage. Although mistakes are uncommon, an incorrect status could arise because of:

incorrectly recorded parentage;
errors in a pedigree or registration record;
sample identification or handling errors;
laboratory or administrative errors; or
a DNA result being attributed to the wrong dog.

An error may remain unnoticed for several generations. Retesting a dog from an hereditary clear line helps confirm that the tested variant has not been unintentionally reintroduced.

Before breeding

Check that the DNA test is relevant to your breed and to the condition being considered.
Use a laboratory whose results are accepted for recording by The Kennel Club.
Check the results recorded for both the proposed sire and dam.
Consider directly testing hereditary clear dogs, particularly when their clear status extends through several generations.
Remember that DNA tests form only one part of a responsible breeding programme. Other breed-relevant health tests, temperament, conformation and genetic diversity should also be considered.

Carriers of a simple autosomal recessive condition do not automatically need to be removed from breeding programmes. When a carrier is otherwise healthy and suitable for breeding, mating it only to a DNA-tested clear dog prevents affected puppies from being produced while helping to preserve genetic diversity.

Please note: Clear, carrier and affected inheritance patterns are not the same for every DNA test. Some tests measure increased risk rather than certainty, and some conditions have different modes of inheritance. Always follow the guidance supplied for the particular test.

Further information

This page provides general guidance only. Breeders should check the latest Kennel Club policy and the advice supplied for each individual DNA test before planning a mating.