I don't know anything about my GSDs parents...when should I get his hips x-rayed and at what frequency? Who should I go through to do it?

I'm absolutely clueless and the health of my dog is paramount. Obviously genetics play heavily into it...but I know nutrition is a huge component as well. I'm not comfortable going to the BARF diet yet...Is there a good kibble alternative out there to minimize risk (for HD and everything else)?

since you do not know what is behind your dogs (his parentage), i am assuming you have no intention of breeding him. if you care about health, you shouldn't breed a dog without knowing what is behind him.

testing hips is probably pointless if you don't intend to breed. or at least, i can't think of any reason to do it if he shows no symptoms.

but if you want to do it anyway, there are two points at which hips are generally tested: before two years, to get a preliminary score, and after two years, to get a final score. you would have a vet who knows how to xray for hips put the dog under general anesthesia for the xrays. then you can send the films to the orthopedic foundation for animals, or ofa, to be examined by their radiologists and rated.

there are several ratings: excellent, good, fair, borderline, and dysplastic. anything fair or better gets a passing grade and an ofa number for the registry. borderline or worse gets a failing grade and should not be bred.

but these readings are judgment calls, and can be disputed if you resubmit the films. different radiologists have different opinions of how to score the films.

also, a dog that tests dysplastic may never develop any problems and you'd never know he had a problem unless you xrayed.

grow your pup slowly, keep him skinny, and feed high-quality, low protein food (i.e. do not feed puppy food).

also very important is don't overexercise him. let him play or walk until he is ready to stop on his own. no forced marches, no jumping, no jogging. you can do more intense exercise after 18 mos.

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testing hips is probably pointless if you don't intend to breed. or at least, i can't think of any reason to do it if he shows no symptoms.

Hindsight is 20/20 but next puppy, if I don't just get a young adult, will get OFA prelims when young.

I did not do that on my current female and invested a lot of time in her SAR training that would have been redirected had I known the verdict of HD. Also there are different options for treatment / managment of HD in a young dog than and adult.

Just a thought there. If it is a pet, I probably would not do it. Definitely for a working prospect.