Puppy Buyer's Guide
First some Facts About Labradors in general-
Labradors come in 3 recognised colors, black, chocolate and yellow. With varying
shades of chocolate and yellow. The color of the dog does not determine the temperament. A black Lab is not smarter, or scarier, a yellow is not
less intellegent nor do they shed more or less. A chocolate Labrador is not necessarily hyper or a better hunter.
Factors which affect how a dog sees this world and reacts to it are determined by inheritence, the genes that were passed down from the sire and dam.
Environment and treatment by humans are a major contributor to the temperament of any dog.
Many think every Labrador puppy arrives "ready made" to do all the great things that everyone says a Labrador
is capable of.
The truth of this is as with everything great, it take alot time and training.
Along with a well bred puppy, you will need a good book on training your Lab to it's greatest potental.
Even if all you want is a big lug to sit on your lap and sleep next to you in bed.
The Information given here is to help you make the right choice when buying a puppy. Before you
fall in love with the first adorable Labrador face you see, take the time in an initial phone call
to ask the following questions. You may not find a breeder who fits 100% of these criteria but don't
settle for anything less than one or two negative responses. At the end of the list you will find
questions to ask yourself. You should be able to answer ALL of them affirmatively before you begin
your search. Remember you are adding a new member to your family for the next 10-15 years.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BARGAIN HUNT!!
Prepare to spend at least $900-$1200 or more for a well bred puppy. The purchase price for that
puppy is just the beginning of your responsibility. Both financially and emotionally. You may have
known someone who has or you may yourself have purchased a "backyard" bred dog or a pet store or puppy
mill dog and had great success. However, the high number of serious problems seen in the breed today
make this event unlikely to reoccur. Chief among these are temperament problems ranging from aggression
to shyness to hyperactivity. Hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems causing blindness, bleeding disorders,
heart defects that can severely shorten life span and auto immune disorders and cancer are also becoming
prevalent. Responsible breeders will do all they can to avoid these problems by researching pedigrees
and screening parents for certain inherited problems before breeding.
Caution! Pennsylvania is now the leading puppy mill state due to the high number of backyard
breeders and puppy farmers who have found it more profitable to raise puppies than poultry.
AKC means more to you then you think!
There is a new and growing group that is known as the Continental Kennel Club or CKC. Do not confuse
this with the Canadian Kennel Club which is a very reputable club in Canada. The Continental Kennel
Club is a registry which will send out registration paper to anyone. You may think you are buying a
purebred dog when you see CKC when in fact the dog is from questionable parentage. Look for dogs who
are registered with The American Kennel Club, AKC. When you are investigating a litter ASK!
Print and keep this checklist by the phone when you make your calls and Good Luck!!!
____1) Where did you find out about this breeder? They usually don't find it necessary to advertise
with a sign out in the front yard. Newspapers can also be a place for backyard breeders and puppy mills
to advertise. Note, not all ads in the paper are puppy mills or back yard breeders, just ask the right
questions you will soon know the type of person you are dealing with.
____2) Do both parents (the sire and dam) have a hip clearance from the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals),
PennHip or Wind-Morgan? Ask to see the certificates. "My vet okayed the x-ray" is not a valid clearance.
____3) Do both parents have current eye clearances from an Ophthalmologist or CERF certificate
(Canine Eye Registry)? This must be re-done every year. Some may say ACVO cleared. Ask to see the certificates
or paper work.
____4) Do either parent have other clearances, Elbow, VWD, and Heart? These are some of the other problems
Labradors can have and some breeders are checking for.
____5) Are both parents at least 2 years old? Final hip/elbow clearances cannot be obtained before that age.
____6) Do all four grandparents, siblings of the parents and any other puppies that they may have
produced have these clearances? A responsible breeder will keep track of these statistics and honestly discuss
any problems that have occurred in the lines and what has been done to prevent them from reoccurring.
____7) Is the breeder willing to provide you with references and telephone numbers of other people who have
purchased puppies from them?
____8) Will the puppy have a limited registration, with possibly a mandatory spay/neuter contract? A breeder
who cares enough about the breed to insist on at least one of these is likely to be a responsible breeder.
____9) On what basis was the sire chosen? If the answer is "because he lives right down the street" or
"because he is really sweet", it may be that sufficient thought was NOT put into the breeding.
____10) WILL THE BREEDER TAKE THE DOG BACK AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, IF YOU CANNOT KEEP IT?!
This is the hallmark of responsible breeding (and the quickest way to make rescue obsolete).
____11) Will the breeder be available to answer any question you might have for the life of the dog?
Is this someone you would feel comfortable asking any type of question?
____12) Is the breeder knowledgeable about the breed? Is he or she involved in competition with their dogs
(field, obedience, or confirmation)?
____13) Are there titled dogs (the initials: CH, OTCH, CD, JH, WC...before or after the names) in the
first three generations? The term "champion lines" means nothing if those titles are back four or more
generations or there is only one or two in the whole pedigree.
____14) Are the puppy's sire and dam available for you to meet? If the sire is unavailable can you call
his owners or people who have his puppies to ask about temperament or health problems? You should also be
provided with pictures.
____15) Is the breeder knowledgeable about raising puppies, critical neonatal periods, proper socialization
techniques? Puppies that are raised without high exposure to gentle handling, human contact and a wide variety of
noises and experiences OR are removed from their dam or litter mates before at least 5 weeks, may exhibit a
wide variety of behavioral problems!
____16) Is the breeder holding the puppy until it is at least 7-8 weeks of age?
____17) Does the breeder provide you with a 3-5 generation pedigree, copies of all clearances(this
information may be on the AKC registrations papers), health records and material to help you with feeding,
training and housebreaking?
____18) Have the puppies temperaments been evaluated and the puppy placed accordingly with your lifestyle?
A very shy puppy will not do well in a noisy household with small children, just as a very dominant puppy won't
flourish in a sedate, senior citizen household. A caring breeder will temperament test their puppies and place
them according to the information you have given and the results of the temperament test.
____19) Do the puppies seem healthy, with no discharge from eyes or nose, no loose stools, no foul smelling
ears? Are their coats soft, full and clean? Toenails clipped? Do they have plenty of energy when awake yet
calm down easily when gently stroked?
____20) Does the breeder take care that the puppies and other dogs that are exposed to the puppies are
not handled by potential buyers? There are people who are "just looking" and go from litter to litter,
which could spread disease and infect the entire litter with the possible results of them all dying. Also remember
that you are also a shopper until you walk down that driveway with a puppy in your arms.
____21) Do the puppies have their first shots and have they been wormed & vet checked by the time
they go to your home?
____22) Does the breeder have only 1 or at most 2 breeds of dogs? If there are many breeds of dogs
there, the chances are the breeder cannot devote the time it takes to become really knowledgeable about the breed.
____23) Does the breeder belong to a Labrador Retriever Club and/or a local All-Breed Club?
____24) Do you feel comfortable with this person, after all you are entering into a decade long relationship?
Are you feeling intimidated or pressured? If so, keep looking!
____25) Are the puppies temperament tested and matched up with your family and living conditions?
Do you get the result of the temperament test?
____26) If it is near the Christmas Holidays is the breeder going to let you take the puppy home
at the worst possible time of the year when your life is not routine and the puppy could possibly
be hurt by decorations, toys and to much activity. When you bring your puppy home your life should
be as routine as possible to get the puppy trained asap.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF....
ARE YOU PREPARED TO...
__Take full responsibility for this dog and all its needs for the next 10-15 years? This is NOT
a task that can be left to children!
__Invest the considerable time, money and patience it takes to train the dog to be a good companion?
(This does not happen by itself!! !!)
__Always keep the dog safe; NO running loose, NO riding in the back of a open pick up truck,
NO being chained outside?
__Make sure the dog gets enough attention and exercise? (Labrador puppies need several hours of
both, every day!!)
__Live with shedding, retrieving, drooling and high activity for the next 10-15 years.
__Spend the money it takes to provide proper veterinary care including but certainly not limited
to: vaccines, heartworm testing and preventative, spaying or neutering and annual check ups?
__Feed the dog a premium dog food recommended by the breeder?
__Become educated about the proper care of the breed, correct training methods and how to groom?
(There are many good books available, invest the time to read a few.)
__Keep the breeder informed and up to date on the dogs accomplishments and problems? As well as
informing the breeder of change of address?
__Take your questions to the breeder or other appropriate professional before they become problems
that are out of hand?
__Have the patience to accept (and enjoy) the trials of Labrador puppyhood, which can last for
three years, and each stage afterward?
__Continue to accept responsibility for the dog despite inevitable life changes such as new babies,
kids going off to school, moving or returning to work?
__Take the time and effort to care for an older dog even if it's health requirements change so
that it is necessary for you to give it a shot or medicine on a daily basis?
__Resist impulse buying, and instead have the patience to make a responsible choice? No buying a
puppy from a pet store because you feel sorry for it. The store will only replace it w/ another.
If you answered yes to ALL of the above you are ready to start contacting breeders.
Start early because most responsible breeders have a waiting list ranging from a few of months to a
couple of years. Remember, the right puppy or adult dog IS worth waiting for!!
A word about Rescue dogs...Rescue dogs may or may not be responsibly bred. However, since they are
adults, we are able to evaluate them for any signs of a problem before you fall in love, something
that can't be done with a puppy. We consider this only one of the many advantages to adopting an older
dog! They are ready made friends.
Check these links. Be an educated buyer.
-Welcome to the AKC
-CERF Home Page
-OFA
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