Paw Rewards Program

ALAA breeder members are awarded Silver or Gold Paws next to their breeder listings that reflect the level of health testing performed in their individual programs. All breeder members must have at minimum hip and elbow clearances. The additional Silver and Gold paw health testing is voluntary. All health test results must be submitted on a dog before that dog may be bred. The requirements for Silver and Gold Paw awards are as follows:

Silver Paw

In addition to the hip and elbow clearances required of all member breeders, an eye exam clearance from a certified opthamologist must be submitted on all dogs within a breeder member's program in order to be awarded the Silver Paw logo.

Golden Paw

In addition to hip and elbow clearances required of all member breeders, the following tests are required to be awarded the Silver and Gold Paw logo: eye clearance by a certified opthamologist, CBC BLOOD SCREENING (sent out to a lab NOT run in house) including full Thyroid panel (see thyroid note below). Breeders must re-test each breeding age dog every 18 months and submit clearances to retain the Silver and Gold Paw logos.

Thyroid testing requirements:

• If testing to the OFA thyroid standards, ask your vet for the OFA thyroid panel plus the full CBC. Serum may be sent to any lab, however, if you want an OFA certificate, you must send to an OFA approved lab. Screening may be done prior to 12 months of age, however OFA certification is only possible at or over 12 months of age.

• If you are doing the Dr. Dodds CBC and Thyroid Panel you must run the Profile 7200 with add on TgAA. Dr. Dodds provides a personal reading and consult of the results. Print this thyroid test request form and give to your vet. Also print the Instruction for drawing blood form as it is important that your vet follows the directions carefully.

Notes on receiving Silver and Gold Paw logo

If a Breeder Member has requested to be in the optional Paw Program:

1. It is up to each breeder member to keep current on all program requirements. Paw logos will be removed from a member's listing if at anytime they are not current on testing. They will be given a 14 day notice to turn in any health test results before a Paw logo will be removed. Breeder Members may request a formal exemption (via a letter to the dog registrar or Quality Assurance officer). If a member breeder falls behind in testing and a Paw logo was removed from their listing, it will be reinstated once health testing is current to that Paw standard.

2. Yearly and random audits will be performed on each program participating in the Paw program.

3. All dogs in a member's program must meet the paw level requirements BEFORE they may be bred. Should a dog be bred before that level of testing is complete, the Paw logo will be removed from their listing until the testing is complete.

4. An exemption to health testing requirements may be requested from the Dog Registrar in the following situation:

   • If a dog is purchased in whelp, a contract of the purchase agreement must be sent to the Dog Registrar stating such. An exemption will be granted for this whelp only if the dog is not tested to the same level as the other dogs in the breeder member's program.
     

The Paw Rewards program will be updated yearly to include current recommendations of the ALAA. Breeders will receive at least 6 months notice for any changes in requirements to allow time for additional testing.