Glad the hips have come back with a score in the range that your vet said they would be, when you had him screened.I think when you know what is behind your dogs in the way of scores of parents, siblings etc, it's ok after all Darcy's brother is only 7.
I have been reading a thread on Champdogs, it also mentioned on there that other dogs in our breed have been used in the past under a year old. So you are not the first and probably wont be the last.
