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
When I had questions or worries as a new puppy owner (like when Toby had some minor tummy issues, normal for puppies adjusting to a new home), Mike was quick to respond with reassurance and helpful advice. He explained what was normal and when to keep an eye on things, which really put me at ease. His guidance showed how much he genuinely cares about both the puppies and the families they go to.
Toby came home already on a great routine — nearly potty trained, crate-trained, and super well-socialized. You can tell he was raised in a loving, structured environment. He’s energetic, smart, and affectionate — exactly what we were hoping for in a new family member.
If you’re looking for a breeder who is knowledgeable, responsive, and truly invested in raising healthy, happy puppies, I can’t recommend Mike enough. Bringing Toby into our home has been such a blessing, and I’m grateful to Mike for setting us up for success.
He’s not only an experienced breeder, but also incredibly kind and supportive — even after we brought Nala home.
I was planning a surprise for my husband and was a bit nervous, but Mike made the whole process feel easy and exciting. Thanks to him, Nala is now part of our family and we couldn’t be more grateful.
He’s still in touch and always ready to help with tips on training and adjustment.
If you’re looking for a caring, responsible breeder — I couldn’t recommend Mike more!
My one piece of advice if you’re interested in a Labrador or Labradoodle is to read Mike’s website then give him a call to talk it through. It was a very no-pressure conversation and I could tell Mike was truly passionate about breeding quality puppies and sharing his wealth of information.
Black Betty is 5 ! Healthy, smart and a Dang Good Dog!
Mike Martinez the breeder, is still in touch with us and enjoys hearing about her.
Betty and I have grown an inseparable bond over the years we cherish dearly. Being semi retired and working from home, we share a lot of our time together. She’s independent but always ready and waiting to share her love with us, the wife and I.
An F1 field dog, Betty Loves-to-Run and gets in at least a mile or two a day. Being trained off leash, she has the freedom and discipline to enjoy her walks in the park. Videos added.
Thank you Mike, for helping us find each other. We needed each other and time has been good to us.
Update 10/25/23. Betty is almost 3.5yrs now. Best forever friends! She's a good girl and we'll trained off leash. It took 1.5yrs till she knew it. A lot of time and patience to get there. The free spirit loves to socialize with the pack and their parents. She challenges alpha and plays hard to win.
Thanks Mike! It really means a lot to share our adventures with you.
Thanks Mike, for your professional experience and honest assessment of where we are in the doggy world today.
Our journey to meet you, by chance on the internet, was rife with disappointment and fraud. It had been 12-years since we shopped for a puppy and best-friend Jackson R.I.P, in 2008. When I spoke on the phone with Mike, he listened as I admitted my experience since early May, and aided me in the realization that I would be spending more than planned for a quality dog.
Mike indicated I could find a puppy in my price range, but, the dogs will most likely not be DNA and OFA certified. He went on to explain his quality breeding service and convinced me that I should consider his advice and read through the information in his website, along with his Google reviews, to see what others had to say.
We ended up with our beautiful, sweet, intelligent Betty! I understand the point’s people have made in the Google reviews- and I have to say I now understand why and confirm their accuracy with my own experience.
Mike calls to check on the pup. Mike has been breeding dogs for 15-years. The care and knowledge he possesses are vast, freely shared and greatly appreciated. Having had dogs all my life it is reassuring that his calls are of concern for his puppy’s and clients.
Mike is well read and experienced in puppy matters such as; health and safety, nutrition, doggy habits, training, discipline, etc. His breeder skills are top notch and delivers well-bred pups that are healthy and smart.
The “puppy prep sheet” Mike emails you is a good read and suggested reference when bringing a puppy home. The requirement sheet provides valuable and useful info for new puppy’s and owners, and older lifetime owners that may read some good info about quality pup care.
The care that goes into breeding Mike’s pups is proven science and a love for his dogs. His dogs are well cared for with walks and swims in Lake Michigan, and they are fit and trim. The dogs and pups live with him. Duly noted in another review is how clean and odor free his house is. His dogs are trained, very friendly and the puppies are born into a nurturing environment.
Betty is 8-weeks now. She goes to the door to go out, shakes paw, sits and her biting is down to a minimum, except when she’s in mad-dog mode and wants to play hard. She learns fast. She knows her name and is starting to come when called. I have started training, explaining; sit, stay, down, heel, leave it, on the double and no mud. Never too early to start, I believe she may be voice command trained very quickly!
Thanks Mike, A week and a half, and we are best friends. Betty’s personality is fast becoming loyal and trusting. She tries to please us with the skills she is learning, and loves obtaining our praise and kindness! The treats help too.
I may call to inquire about quality trainers to assist in Betty’s development. She’s smart and I would like to see her achieve her potential.
Bill Gibbons
Chicago, IL
Mike goes out of his way to ensure you have all of the information you need to be a successful pet parent. We also went over the thorough genetic testing and insights Mike has.
We’re so happy to have Molly as our new family member and appreciate the care that went into ensuring we had plenty of information to feel confident in the type of dog we have.
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.
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.
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.
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.
