What does CHIC certification mean for a Shiba Inu?

It means the dog was tested through the OFA/CHIC database for hips, patellas, and eyes — the three required Shiba screens. The dog does not have to pass every test, but every test result must be publicly recorded to earn the CHIC number.

Is CERF the same as an OFA eye exam?

No. CERF was renamed CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) and is now hosted within the OFA system. Older Shiba pedigrees may still list 'CERF,' but the exam itself and the ophthalmologist requirement are unchanged.

At what age can a Shiba Inu be health-tested for breeding?

Hips are preliminarily evaluated from 4 months but officially certified at 24 months. Patellas can be certified as early as 12 months. Eye exams (CAER) must be renewed annually and have no minimum age.

Do Shiba Inu breeders need to DNA test for PRA and glaucoma?

It is not part of the CHIC minimum, but most reputable breeders add PRA and glaucoma DNA panels, plus OFA thyroid, because both eye conditions appear in the breed and clear DNA results protect future litters.

Shiba Inu Breeder Health Tests: OFA, CHIC, and Patella Guide

A responsible Shiba Inu breeder performs at minimum OFA hips, OFA patellas, and a CAER (formerly CERF) eye exam — together these form the CHIC certification required by the national breed club. Genetic testing for PRA, glaucoma, and thyroid function is also strongly recommended before breeding.

Why Breeder Health Testing Matters in Shiba Inu

Before a Shiba Inu is bred, both parents should pass a standardized set of health screenings. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) maintains the central registry, and the breed's CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) program defines the minimum panel a Shiba breeder should complete. Skipping these tests propagates hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and progressive eye disease into the next generation of one of the longest-lived breeds (13–16 years).

The CHIC Required Tests for Shiba Inu

CHIC certification is granted when a dog completes all required clearances — a dog does not need to pass every test, only to be tested and publicly recorded. For Shiba Inu, CHIC requires:

OFA Hips — radiographs evaluated by a board radiologist. Roughly 7.6% of Shibas submitted to OFA show hip dysplasia, so screening is not optional.
OFA Patellas — manual luxation grading by a veterinarian. Patellar luxation is one of the most common orthopedic issues in the breed.
CAER Eye Exam — formerly called CERF, this is the Companion Animal Eye Registry exam done by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and valid for 12 months (annual re-examination is the norm for breeding stock).

A dog earning a CHIC number from these three tests signals that the breeder is transparent about results, even if an individual dog is rated mildly affected.

Strongly Recommended Extras

Responsible Shiba Inu breeders typically go beyond the CHIC minimum. These additional tests are widely accepted in the breed community:

OFA Elbows — screens for elbow dysplasia, which can co-occur with hip issues.
OFA Thyroid (Autoimmune Thyroiditis) — hypothyroidism is reported in the breed.
DNA panel — covers Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), primary closed-angle glaucoma risk markers, and Degenerative Myelopathy (DM).
Cardiac evaluation — OFA cardiac auscultation, especially before pairing older sires/dams.

How to Verify a Breeder's Results

Numbers on a website are not proof. Any buyer can confirm a breeder's claims in under five minutes:

Go to ofa.org and search the dog's registered name or AKC number.
Look for a CHIC icon, the date of each clearance, and the actual rating (e.g., Excellent, Good, Fair for hips; Normal for patellas; Normal for eyes).
Cross-check the eye exam at https://ofa.org/eye, which links directly to the CAER database.
Be cautious of breeders who quote "vet-checked" or "health-tested" without naming OFA/CHIC — these are not equivalent.

Red Flags and What to Ask

Walk away from a breeder who refuses to show verified OFA/CHIC paperwork, breeds a dog under 24 months, or repeats the same sire/dam pairing without updated clearances. Ask directly:

May I see the OFA results pages for both parents?
What is the hip rating, and what is the patella grade?
When was the most recent CAER eye exam?
Do you DNA-test for PRA and glaucoma?

A well-prepared breeder will answer in seconds and often send the OFA links before you ask. Expect to pay roughly $1,400–$2,500 for a puppy from fully health-tested parents in the US; significantly lower prices usually indicate corners were cut on the very tests outlined here.

After the Puppy Comes Home

Breeder testing protects the line; it does not replace routine care. Schedule your own first-year veterinary visit to confirm patellar stability, begin annual eye exams, and discuss prophylactic skin-allergy screening — atopic dermatitis is one of the most reported Shiba health issues and benefits from early management. Keep copies of the parents' OFA/CHIC results in your puppy folder; they help your vet interpret any future joint, eye, or thyroid findings and remain valuable if you ever plan to show, sport, or breed your own Shiba Inu.