CHIC Corner: An Easy Win for Healthier Labradors

February 26, 2026 | Yates Family Labradors |

One of the simplest — and most meaningful — steps a breeder can take to support the long-term health of the Labrador Retriever is earning a CHIC permanent identification number through the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), in partnership with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).

CHIC isn’t a marketing badge. It’s a transparency standard.

If a Labrador already has OFA-certified hips and elbows, you’re most of the way there. For Labradors, earning a CHIC number requires just three additional items:

  • ✅ Eyes (CAER exam)

  • ✅ EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse DNA test)

  • ✅ D Locus (Dilute gene test)

What a CHIC Number Actually Means

A CHIC number does not guarantee a dog is free from every possible genetic risk. No responsible breeder would claim that. What it does mean is:

  • Required health testing has been completed

  • Results are publicly recorded

  • The breeder is operating transparently

  • Breeding decisions are being made with data

In other words, CHIC represents accountability.

The Labrador Retriever Club and other preservation-focused organizations recommend CHIC testing because it establishes a clear, achievable health baseline for the breed.

Why It Matters for Families

When families search for a Labrador breeder in Virginia—or anywhere in the country—they often see phrases like “health tested.” But without publicly verifiable records through OFA, that claim can be vague.

A CHIC number allows buyers to independently confirm:

  • Hip and elbow certifications

  • Eye exams

  • Required genetic testing

It shifts the conversation from promises to proof.

Our Standard at YFL

At Yates Family Labradors (YFL) in Arlington, Virginia, CHIC is not optional — it’s the expectation.

Whether we’re breeding a Chocolate Lab, Black Lab, Yellow Lab, or Fox Red Lab, we believe in:

  • OFA-certified hips and elbows

  • Annual eye exams

  • DNA testing for EIC and D Locus

  • Public transparency

We are registered with the American Kennel Club, but registration alone is just the starting point. Health documentation is what elevates a program.

Let’s Raise the Bar Together

The best part about CHIC? It’s achievable.

For breeders who already complete hips and elbows, adding eyes, EIC, and D Locus testing is a straightforward step that dramatically increases transparency across the community.

If more breeders commit to CHIC as the baseline standard, families win. Dogs win. The breed wins.

Let’s make CHIC the norm for healthier Labradors — not the exception.

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