Atopic dermatitis and breeding: what the evidence says about inheritance

Atopic dermatitis is a lifelong, itchy skin disease that runs strongly in families, usually appears between six months and three years of age — often after a dog has already been bred from — and is shaped by environment as well as genes, so breeders face a real decision each time an allergic dog, or the parent of one, is considered for breeding.

How heritable is it?

Shaw and colleagues studied 429 Labrador and Golden Retrievers related to 13 dogs with atopic dermatitis. They found a marked association between the atopic status of parents and offspring, particularly through the sire, and, using 32 litters where both parents’ status was known, estimated the heritability at 0.47 (±0.17). Their conclusion was direct: atopic dermatitis has a strong genetic component, and breeding from dogs with clinical signs should be discouraged.

Breed predisposition points the same way. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists Golden Retrievers, Labradors and West Highland White Terriers among predisposed breeds, and the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA) describes the disease as genetically, etiologically and clinically complex.

Genes are not the whole story

In a study of 2,445 Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Harvey and colleagues found that being reared in an urban environment increased risk, while living with other dogs and regular walks in woods, fields or beaches were protective. They also found that chocolate-colored Labradors were at greater risk than black or yellow ones. In a 2026 review, Marsella argues that modern living conditions, including pollution, less contact with rural environments and more sedentary lives, help explain the rise in allergy in dogs.

For breeders, that means two levers: what you breed from, and how you raise the litter. Early exposure to varied, natural environments is good socialization anyway; the evidence suggests it may matter for the skin too.

What about DNA tests?

Researchers are looking for genetic variants. Forman and colleagues, working with a large commercial genotyping database, reported a splice variant in the SLAMF1 gene associated with atopic dermatitis. Findings like this help explain the biology, but one variant does not account for a disease with many genetic and environmental causes, so it is not a basis for breeding decisions on its own. Ask any test provider what proportion of affected dogs the variant explains in your breed.

Practical steps for breeders

• Record skin and ear history for every breeding dog: age at first signs, seasonal pattern, diagnosis and how it is managed.
• Ask buyers to report itching, ear infections and allergy diagnoses, and collect it at your regular check-ins. One affected puppy tells you little; a pattern across litters tells you more. See collecting health and longevity data.
• Wait before breeding where you can. Because signs usually appear by three years, knowing a dog’s status at two or three is more informative than at one.
• Weigh it with everything else. A dog with mild, well-controlled seasonal signs is a different decision from one needing year-round treatment, and allergy is one trait among many.
• Don’t double up. Avoid pairing two dogs that are both affected or both from affected families.
• Be honest with stud owners, co-breeders and buyers. Concealing allergy only moves the problem down the line.

When to call your veterinarian

• A breeding dog or puppy with persistent itching, recurrent ear infections or red, broken skin.
• Before breeding from a dog with a history of skin disease, to discuss diagnosis and severity.
• If in doubt, call — your vet would rather hear from you early.

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Sources & further reading

1. Shaw SC, Wood JL, Freeman J, Littlewood JD, Hannant D (2004) — Estimation of heritability of atopic dermatitis in Labrador and Golden Retrievers. American Journal of Veterinary Research 65:1014–1020. doi.org
2. Harvey ND, Shaw SC, Craigon PJ, Blott SC, England GCW (2019) — Environmental risk factors for canine atopic dermatitis: a retrospective large-scale study in Labrador and golden retrievers. Veterinary Dermatology 30:396–e119. doi.org
3. Marsella R (2026) — Environmental factors are responsible for the rise of atopic dermatitis in dogs: veterinarians should focus on modifiable influences. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 264:11–19. doi.org
4. Mueller RS, Banovic F, Bensignor E, Santoro D, Nuttall T (2026) — Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA). Veterinary Dermatology. doi.org
5. Forman OP, Freyer J, Kerr A, et al. (2025) — A splice donor variant in SLAMF1 is associated with canine atopic dermatitis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12:1550617. doi.org
6. Merck Veterinary Manual — Allergies in Dogs. merckvetmanual.com

Where evidence is limited, recommendations rest on established practice and expert judgment, and may be updated as knowledge develops. This is general information and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.

Next steps

• Read next: Collecting health and longevity data.
• Related: Understanding canine genetics · Retained puppy teeth and bite faults.
• Return to the guide: Breeding goals and strategy.