OFA, DNA, & Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) Testing
OFA ORTHOPEDIC TESTING
The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) was founded in 1966, with the sole mission of promoting health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease.
OFA tests, such as hip and elbow certifications use x rays to check the health of a dog's hips and elbows. These readings can range from poor to excellent, and a certificate is issued to the dog owner after a team of veterinarians from the OFA go over the x-ray.
These tests are used to check for the possibility of hip & elbow dysplasia and should be performed on all breeding dogs!
All reputable breeders will perform OFA testing on their dogs and should show the certificate to those who want to adopt their pups. OFA results are public record & can be found on the OFA website with the OFA umber listed on the certificate.
DNA TESTING
DNA testing has been readily available since 2007 & should be done on ALL breeding dogs. I use Embark, which tests for over 200 conditions. Labradors can suffer from over 20 conditions & Poodles over 12. DNA testing ensures that two dogs are not being mated while containing genetic disease which would be passed to the offspring. Roughly 60% of dogs are carriers of at least one genetic condition, which is extremely high, & while being a carrier does not affect a dog's health, it will affect an offsprings health if two dogs are mated while carrying the same genetic disease.
Two types of disease exist. Recessive- in which the offspring would need one bad copy of the same disease from each parent, & dominant, where only one copy needs to be present. If two dogs are mated that carry the same recessive condition, 25% of the offspring will be born with that disease. If it is a dominant condition, 50% of the offspring will be born with the condition.
BOTH LABRADORS & POODLES CAN SUFFER FROM HIP/ELBOW DYSPLASIA, & GENETIC DISEASE! ALL breeding dogs should be fully DNA & orthopedically tested!!
Trusted by Families Across the Country
We spoke with several breeders prior to finding Mike’s website and were immediately impressed by the information and videos provided. Mike is very personable and truly cares about the health and well being of his dogs, and we greatly appreciate that he highly values full panel genetic and orthopedic testing. It also meant a lot that he cared about the home she was going to and that we are conscious pet owners. Mike was welcoming at his home and made it easy for our three kids (12, 8, 5) to interact with many of his dogs, all who were pleasant and personable toward us. He patiently spent time answering our long list of questions after our meeting and took extra time to provide information that ultimately made us feel confident in our decision.
Since adopting our girl almost a month ago, Mike has kept in touch, checking in to make sure everything is going smoothly. He has readily answered our questions and is genuinely interested in her development. We highly recommend reaching out to Mike!
Mike’s dedication to responsible breeding gave us complete confidence in our decision. He truly cares about his puppies and the families they go to— this isn’t just a business for him, it’s a mission. If you’re looking for a healthy, well-socialized Labrador or Labradoodle and want to work with someone who genuinely puts the dogs’ health first, Mike is the breeder you want. Highly recommended!
Before adopting Tootsie, I did a lot of research on the internet. Then I sope with Mike at great lengths, and decided Mike knew what he was doing, and cared deeply about his dogs. The in-person conversation only reinforced my research, and slowed me Mike is a first class breeder. Then he provided documentation regarding Tootsie's parents, specifically DNA and OFA testing. That was the proof I needed, he had testing to prove her health is as advertised, and what could be expected. I am a retired Project Manager in the Nuclear Power Industry that appreciates hard evidence.
Tootsie was Stage 2 trained. Eliminating hours and hours of crate training, she had all the basis commands I needed to help me build upon. Which I have, what a smart dog.
Thank you, Mike, for my dream puppy.
And thanks for your continued follow-up calls.
Thank you again Phil! I'm always available to answer any questions!
Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable, but he also goes above and beyond in staying in touch throughout the process. Whether it's answering questions, providing updates, or sharing essential information, he’s always available and eager to help. It’s clear that he cares deeply about the families he places his puppies with and is invested in their well-being every step of the way.
If you're looking for a healthy, well-bred Labradoodle and a breeder who truly cares about both the dogs and their future families, look no further. You won't find a better place to start your journey!
When decided to get another dog, we did more research for “good breeders”. We read reviews, looking to see how long they have been breeding dogs, etc. It wasn't until we came across Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies of Chicago that we began to understand the importance of DNA and Orthopedic testing. Most breeders don't even mention it, we just assumed we were getting a high quality, healthy dog because it’s from a breeder. I am so thankful that we came across Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies of Chicago and that Mike was able to teach us the importance of genetic testing. Mike prides himself on breeding healthy, high-quality puppies, which was so important to us given the experience we had with our last dog. Please, don’t get a puppy just based off reviews, take it from us, I wish we knew then what we know now. Thank you so much Mike, we love our beautiful little puppy Loki and look forward to a long healthy life with her.
Concluding- thank you for your heartfelt review, and thank you for putting your trust in me to deliver you a puppy with the highest quality genetics and orthopedics.
From the very beginning, Mike was extremely easy to work with—professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in his dogs' well-being. What truly set him apart was his continued support even after adoption, consistently checking in to see how Minnie was doing and if we had any questions.
It’s clear that he cares deeply about his puppies and the families they go to. We couldn’t be happier with our decision, and we highly recommend Mike to anyone looking for a reputable, responsible breeder!
Given the large number of puppy mills in the Chicagoland area, it is great to know firsthand that Mike at Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago is a first rate, legitimate breeder.
Having flown across the states not once, but twice, to bring home our beloved dogs Sherman (Black Labradoodle) and Birdie Bean (Silver + Blue Eyed Labradoodle), I am continually impressed by Mike's dedication and the personalized care he extends.
Mike's approach to breeding is grounded in meticulous DNA and orthopedic testing, ensuring each puppy's long-term health and vitality. His responsiveness and genuine care for the puppies extend well beyond the initial adoption. Mike's follow-up texts over several weeks to check on our new pup Birdie Bean highlight his commitment not just as a breeder, but as a true caregiver who remains invested in the lives of his puppies and their families.
I love to highly train my dogs and Mike's dog are crazy smart. Sherman off-lease in full heal in downtown Seattle could catch a frisbee 100 yards away and was taught to carry my umbrella in the Seattle rain. He would even walk to the local store and find my wife's favorite popcorn and bring it back to her. I plan to train Birdie to be in my pediatric medical clinic as a service pup. Anything is possible with Mike's dogs.
What truly sets Mike apart is his people-first attitude. His quick responses to texts, readiness to provide knowledgeable answers, and his innate kindness make the entire experience deeply personal and reassuring. The journey from Seattle to Illinois is a testament to the trust and respect we have for Mike's professionalism and the love he shows to every puppy and family he encounters.
If you are looking for a breeder who not only provides healthy, beautiful puppies but treats you like family, look no further than Mike Martinez at Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago. Here, you are not just adopting a pet; you are becoming part of a community that cherishes lifelong bonds.
Thanks Mike! 🐶 ❤️
DNA Testing
DNA testing should be a staple in ALL REPUTABLE BREEDERS breeding program. These DNA tests help rule out any genetic traits being passed to puppies from the parents. Myopathy EIC, PRA and IVVD to name a select few, are diseases that can affect certain dog breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles, including mini poodles. A puppy that is breed from parents with a lack of complete DNA testing & OFA hip/elbow testing, have between a 35% & 65% chance of developing either a genetic disease and or hip/elbow dysplasia in its lifetime. These are staggering numbers which makes both DNA & OFA testing not only a priority, but a necessity.
The breeder should be able to show DNA & orthopedic results. I give a copy of both parents DNA reports. I also give copies of my dogs' OFA certificates. I use Embark for my genetic testing, as they test for over 200 possible genetic conditions.
Sadly- over 90% of breeders are not performing full panel DNA or OFA orthopedic testing. Many will claim they do the testing- but if they do not provide copies of the reports, chances are the testing was not done at all.
Sadly, many breeders are charging top dollar for their puppies- while doing no OFA testing, and no, or very little genetic testing. Most genetic conditions surface between 3-8 years of age. When this occurs, all you know is that your dog is sick, so you take him to the vet. The vet will diagnose the problem & you will think it was just an unfortunate turn of events, & in most cases, there will be no correlation made between the dog being born with this disease due to lack of DNA testing on the breeders part & the fact that this could have been avoided if the breeder was responsible & was doing DNA testing You now have both a financial & emotional burden. Most of these issues could be avoided with thorough and complete DNA and OFA testing.
COEFFICIENT OF INBREEDING (COI)
COI is a means of testing a dog's DNA to check how diverse its gene pool is. The lower the percent, the more diverse the dog's gene pool is. This gives the dog the potential for ultra-high intelligence and potentially lessons the chances of genetic issues. The average C.O.I of a purebred dog is 20%. The average C.O.I of a mixed breed dog is 10%. While this isn't the "end all be all" it does give you a good idea of the dogs gene pool. It can also be used to tell if a dog was inbred, line bred or cross bred. All of my puppies have a COI of between 20% and 0%. This number, however, is enhanced by a DNA profile which is clear of all genetic issues. All of my dogs are 100% clear of ALL genetic conditions. When a dog has a clean DNA profile, as well as a 0% to 20% COI, you are getting a genetically perfect animal. COI is basically the icing on the cake while DNA is the cake.

