Winnie was health tested through Embark, which screened her for 274 genetic conditions. She is clear for all but one—a single carrier status for Ichthyosis (ICH1), a mild skin condition typically found in Golden Retrievers.

This condition is inherited in a recessive pattern, meaning a dog must inherit two copies of the gene to be affected. Winnie carries just one copy and is completely healthy.

Bear comes from a reputable breeder who Embark tests all parent dogs, to ensure their litters are clear by parentage. Bear’s breeder informed me that his mother had only two notable results. She was a known carrier for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) and prcd-PRA, but because Winnie is clear for both, even if Bear did inherit those genes, there is no risk of affected puppies from this pairing.

This is a one-time, intentional pairing between two exceptional dogs we know and love. While we aren’t running a large breeding operation, we’ve approached this experience with professional standards and deep care at every step. We believe in sharing this information transparently because the health and future of these puppies—and the families they join—matter deeply to us. Bear came from a reputable breeder who’s parents were also fully health tested and cleared through Embark.

Click here to view Winnie’s Embark Test Results.