Our Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee
ðū Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee for Our German Shepherd Puppies
When you bring home a puppy from Purple Pups GSD, I want you to feel confident about the care and thought that went into bringing that puppy into the world.
I take the health of my German Shepherds seriously. That starts long before a litter is born, with health testing, careful breeding decisions, and a commitment to being honest with my puppy families.
That’s why I provide a Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee as part of my Puppy Purchase Agreement & Lifetime Commitment.
My guarantee covers qualifying serious hereditary genetic conditions that significantly affect a dog’s quality of life. It also explains what is not covered and what I need from you if a health concern arises.
Please note: This page explains my guarantee in everyday language. The Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee included in your signed Puppy Purchase Agreement contains the official terms that apply to your puppy. This website page does not change or expand those terms.
ð My Commitment to Your Puppy's Health
I believe responsible breeding means doing everything I reasonably can to make informed decisions before puppies are born.
But I also believe in being honest about what health testing can and cannot tell us.
Even when both parents have been carefully screened, no breeder can promise that a puppy will never develop a health problem.
What I can promise is that I take health testing seriously, review the information available to me, and stand behind the commitments in my signed purchase agreement.
I want my puppy families to understand both the protections my guarantee provides and the responsibilities that come with raising a German Shepherd.
𧎠Health Testing Before a Litter Is Born
ðŽ DNA Testing and Responsible Stud Selection
I use genetic health testing to help make thoughtful breeding decisions.
Embark Veterinary is my preferred DNA testing laboratory because I am familiar with its testing panel and understand how to review the results.
I also accept comparable genetic testing from other reputable laboratories.
I currently use outside studs rather than keeping a stud of my own. When choosing a stud, I require documented clear results for MDR1 and the other genetic conditions included in his DNA screening.
I also review the genetic information available for my females.
Some dogs can carry a genetic variant without ever developing the related condition. Depending on the condition, that information may help me choose a breeding partner that reduces certain risks for the puppies.
I do not routinely DNA-test every puppy before it goes home. Instead, I share known genetic findings from the parents and explain what those findings may mean for their puppies.
Genetic testing is an important tool, but it cannot detect every possible inherited condition or guarantee a dog’s future health.
ðĶī PennHIP Hip Evaluations
Hip health is especially important to me as a German Shepherd breeder.
My breeding dogs receive PennHIP evaluations to help me understand their hip joint health and make more informed breeding decisions.
Even with hip evaluations, genetics is only part of the picture. A dog’s growth, body weight, nutrition, exercise, and injuries can also affect joint health.
That’s why I encourage my puppy families to focus on healthy growth and appropriate care throughout puppyhood.
ðĄïļ What My Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee Covers
My Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee covers qualifying serious hereditary genetic diseases that significantly affect your dog’s quality of life.
Coverage is based on the terms of your signed Puppy Purchase Agreement and appropriate veterinary documentation.
𧎠Serious Hereditary Genetic Conditions
A hereditary genetic condition is one that is influenced by genes passed from parents to their puppies.
Not every inherited genetic finding is a disease, and not every diagnosis qualifies for coverage.
For a claim to qualify, the condition must meet the requirements of the signed agreement, including its seriousness, hereditary nature, and effect on your dog’s quality of life.
ðĶī Hip Dysplasia and Other Orthopedic Conditions
Severe hip dysplasia may qualify for coverage when veterinary evidence supports a significant hereditary component.
Hip dysplasia can have several contributing causes. Genetics matters, but so can body weight, growth, exercise, injury, and other environmental factors.
A diagnosis of hip dysplasia does not automatically mean the condition qualifies under my guarantee.
I may request veterinary records, diagnostic imaging, or a second veterinary opinion to help determine whether the condition meets the agreement’s requirements.
Other conditions are considered under the general terms of the signed guarantee. I do not offer separate, automatic coverage based solely on a named diagnosis or a particular grading scale unless that coverage is stated in the agreement.
ð§ Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Degenerative Myelopathy, often called DM, is a progressive disease that affects a dog’s nervous system and mobility.
DNA testing can identify certain genetic variants associated with DM risk. However, a genetic result alone does not establish that a dog has clinical DM.
Because other health problems can cause similar symptoms, diagnosing probable DM requires careful veterinary evaluation.
Under my guarantee, a DM claim requires:
*A written assessment from a board-certified veterinary neurologist supporting probable DM.
*Documented progressive neurological impairment that significantly affects the dog’s quality of life.
*Reasonable efforts to rule out other possible causes.
A positive DM genetic test by itself does not qualify for coverage.
I want this process to be fair to both my puppy families and my breeding program. That means considering a specialist’s findings and the dog’s actual condition, rather than relying on a DNA result alone.
ð Understanding MDR1 Drug Sensitivity
MDR1, also known as ABCB1 drug sensitivity, is a genetic finding that can affect how some dogs respond to certain medications.
A dog with an MDR1 variant may be more sensitive to certain drugs. This can be important even when the dog carries only one copy of the variant.
One of my females, Attina, carries one copy of the MDR1 variant identified by her Embark testing.
Attina has never had a known adverse medication reaction. However, her personal experience does not mean that another dog carrying the variant will respond the same way.
When I breed Attina, I require a stud that tests clear for the relevant MDR1 variant.
With this combination, each puppy has an estimated:
*50% chance of inheriting no copies of that variant.
*50% chance of inheriting one copy.
The puppies are not expected to inherit two copies of that variant from this pairing.
Because I do not routinely test each puppy individually, I cannot tell a family whether their puppy inherited Attina’s MDR1 variant without individual testing.
I encourage families to share known parental MDR1 results with their veterinarian and discuss whether testing their puppy would be helpful.
An MDR1 variant alone is not a covered illness under my guarantee. Medication reactions are also not covered by the guarantee, subject to applicable law.
I may choose to offer voluntary assistance in an individual situation, but that does not create additional contractual coverage.
My goal is to help families understand the potential risk so they can make informed medication decisions with their veterinarian.
ðŦ What Is Not Covered by My Guarantee?
My Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee is designed to address qualifying serious hereditary genetic conditions.
It is not a general health insurance policy, and it does not cover every illness or injury a dog may experience.
Under my purchase agreement, exclusions include:
*Accidents and injuries.
*Parasites.
*Infectious diseases acquired after purchase.
*Obesity and related health concerns.
*Allergies.
*Environmental conditions.
*Neglect, abuse, or improper care.
*Medication reactions, subject to applicable law.
Other requirements and limitations in the signed agreement also apply.
If you are unsure whether a particular condition may qualify, please contact me so we can review the situation and the relevant veterinary information.
ð How to Submit a Health Guarantee Claim
If your veterinarian identifies a serious health concern that you believe may fall under my guarantee, please contact me as soon as possible.
I want to understand what is happening and review the information needed to evaluate the claim.
ðĐš Veterinary Records and Specialist Assessments
Depending on the condition, I may request:
*Your dog’s veterinary records.
*Diagnostic test results or imaging.
*A written diagnosis or assessment from the appropriate veterinary specialist.
*Additional information or a second veterinary opinion when needed.
For DM, the specific neurologist requirements explained above apply.
I understand that dealing with a serious diagnosis can be stressful. Clear documentation helps us evaluate the claim fairly and according to the signed agreement.
ðĪ Possible Remedies Under the Guarantee
If a claim qualifies under my Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee, I may choose one of the following remedies:
*Refund the original puppy purchase price.
*Offer a replacement puppy from a future litter.
*Contribute toward treatment expenses, up to the original puppy purchase price.
The choice of remedy is made by Purple Pups GSD under the terms of the signed agreement.
The guarantee is not a promise to reimburse unlimited veterinary expenses.
ð Your Responsibilities as a Puppy Owner
Good breeding decisions matter, but so does the care a puppy receives after going home.
I ask my puppy families to provide appropriate nutrition, regular veterinary care, healthy exercise, training, and a safe, loving home.
Keeping your German Shepherd at a healthy body weight is especially important for joint health.
My purchase agreement also includes requirements concerning spaying and neutering.
In general, I recommend waiting until approximately 24 months of age unless your veterinarian determines that an earlier procedure is medically necessary.
Under the agreement, spaying or neutering before 24 months without documented veterinary medical necessity voids the Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee.
I also ask you to tell your veterinarian about any known MDR1 findings or inherited risks I have disclosed.
These responsibilities are explained in more detail in your signed Puppy Purchase Agreement.
ðĄ My Lifetime Commitment Beyond the Guarantee
My relationship with my puppies and their families doesn’t end on go-home day.
I’m here to answer questions about training, nutrition, grooming, behavior, and everyday care throughout your dog’s life.
I also have a lifetime return-to-breeder commitment.
If you can no longer keep your dog, I ask that you contact me before transferring ownership or surrendering the dog.
That commitment is about helping protect the dogs I bring into the world. It is separate from the financial remedies available under my genetic health guarantee.
I want every Purple Pups GSD puppy to have a safe place to turn throughout its life.
â German Shepherd Puppy Health Guarantee FAQ
Is every Purple Pups GSD puppy DNA-tested?
No. I perform genetic screening on breeding dogs, but I do not routinely DNA-test individual puppies before they go home.
I disclose known parental genetic findings so families can understand possible inherited risks.
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Does being an MDR1 carrier mean my puppy will have a medication reaction?
No. Carrying an MDR1 variant does not mean a dog will definitely experience a medication reaction.
However, even one copy of certain MDR1 variants can increase sensitivity to some medications. Your veterinarian should know about the possible risk.
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Is hip dysplasia always covered?
No. Severe hip dysplasia may qualify when veterinary evidence supports a significant hereditary component and the requirements of the signed guarantee are met.
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Does a positive DM DNA test qualify for the guarantee?
No. A positive genetic test alone is not enough.
A claim requires a written assessment from a board-certified veterinary neurologist supporting probable DM, along with documented progressive impairment significantly affecting quality of life and reasonable efforts to rule out other causes.
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What happens if my dog develops a qualifying hereditary condition?
After reviewing the required documentation and determining that the claim qualifies, I may choose to refund the original purchase price, offer a replacement puppy from a future litter, or contribute toward treatment costs up to the original purchase price.
The signed agreement controls the available remedies.
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Does the lifetime guarantee mean all veterinary expenses are covered for life?
No. The guarantee applies to qualifying conditions under the signed agreement. It is not lifetime veterinary insurance.
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Can I contact you with questions even if my dog’s condition isn’t covered?
Absolutely. I welcome questions from my puppy families throughout their dogs’ lives.
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ð Questions About My Health Guarantee?
I believe choosing a German Shepherd puppy should come with clear information, not confusing promises.
I want you to understand how I select breeding pairs, what my health testing tells us, and what my Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee actually covers.
If you have questions about genetic testing, DM, MDR1, or the terms of my puppy purchase agreement, please reach out before reserving a puppy.
I’m happy to help you understand my approach so you can decide whether Purple Pups GSD is the right fit for your family.
How to Reserve a German Shepherd Puppy
The signed Purple Pups GSD Puppy Purchase Agreement & Lifetime Commitment, including its Lifetime Genetic Health Guarantee, contains the controlling terms for each puppy purchase.
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