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  1. #1
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    Seeking for advise regarding new puppy!

    Hello all,

    Our family have decided to add a Labrador dog in the family. We never own a dog/pet before. The kids wants chocolate lab. We are not into hunting or show. Would you please give me advises, tips, inputs that we can prepare prior to welcome the new puppy? Do you have any recommendation regarding reputation lab breeder in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri that we can look? Thank you!

  2. #2
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Hello and Welcome!

    Of course, we all think labs are the best. We don't name kennel names on the board. Get your post count up and you can PM members and they you for a private discussion. There are several breeders on the board who may have some good leads.

    There is tons of information also on the board regarding choosing a breeder, puppy antics, training, etc. Doing your homework before getting any puppy is very important. And don't discount a rescue; there are purebred labs in rescues begging for a home, from pups to seniors.
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  4. #3
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Hi and welcome!

    As POPTOP says, we cannot name breeders on the open forum but if you get up to 5 or 10 posts, I'm never sure, you can receive private messages from people who may know breeders in your search area. You can easily get up to the required number of posts by going to the Welcome Wagon section and saying Hi to other new members.

    In the meantime, Woody, who is the owner of the site, has posted a thread that has several very helpful links that you should look over while starting your search for a new puppy.

    Asking About Breeders or Where to Get a Puppy

    Labrador puppies can be challenging for anyone, maybe especially for inexperienced puppy owners. They are energetic, they want to live inside with their family, and they don't mature out of the puppy stage sometimes until they're 2-3 years old. You will need to take the puppy to obedience classes and be prepared to invest a good amount of time into training the puppy to be the type of dog you want. Well bred labs are bred for their lovely temperament, friendly, easy going dogs who are a joy to own. Take time to read up about finding a breeder and be sure to come back and ask questions as you start your search!
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  6. #4
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    Thank you POPTOP for welcoming me and for your advice. To be honest, I am very nervous about getting the dog. I already purchased couple books on Amazon to read. I hope that I won't make a serious mistake when I have a puppy.
    Quote Originally Posted by POPTOP View Post
    Hello and Welcome!

    Of course, we all think labs are the best. We don't name kennel names on the board. Get your post count up and you can PM members and they you for a private discussion. There are several breeders on the board who may have some good leads.

    There is tons of information also on the board regarding choosing a breeder, puppy antics, training, etc. Doing your homework before getting any puppy is very important. And don't discount a rescue; there are purebred labs in rescues begging for a home, from pups to seniors.

  7. #5
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    Thanks Smartrock for welcoming me and your input. I hope that I will find the good breeder in my area. Since I don't have any experience regarding purchase a dog, I don't know what question I should ask ...

    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    Hi and welcome!

    As POPTOP says, we cannot name breeders on the open forum but if you get up to 5 or 10 posts, I'm never sure, you can receive private messages from people who may know breeders in your search area. You can easily get up to the required number of posts by going to the Welcome Wagon section and saying Hi to other new members.

    In the meantime, Woody, who is the owner of the site, has posted a thread that has several very helpful links that you should look over while starting your search for a new puppy.

    Asking About Breeders or Where to Get a Puppy

    Labrador puppies can be challenging for anyone, maybe especially for inexperienced puppy owners. They are energetic, they want to live inside with their family, and they don't mature out of the puppy stage sometimes until they're 2-3 years old. You will need to take the puppy to obedience classes and be prepared to invest a good amount of time into training the puppy to be the type of dog you want. Well bred labs are bred for their lovely temperament, friendly, easy going dogs who are a joy to own. Take time to read up about finding a breeder and be sure to come back and ask questions as you start your search!

  8. #6
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Puppies like any infant mammal can make you crazy. As long as you can tolerate a certain degree of chaos for a while... you'll be fine. It's great that your reading up ahead of time.

    If you are going to purchase a purebred puppy, the main thing is to make sure the pup is not going to have some of the diseases to which the breed is susceptible. And make sure you have certification from the breeder that they have done due diligence to make sure the pup's sire and dam are clear of the diseases and/or are not genetic carriers.

    Hips and elbows: The sire and dam should have actual ratings on x-rays from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. A good breeder will actually list an OFA ratings (Fair-Good-Excellent) AND a number with the registry that you can actually look up. (Sad to say, some people will tell you the sire/dam hips and elbows are good. An honest breeder will actually give you the ratings and the numbers.)

    Eyes: There are genetic tests performed on sires and dams to make sure they are not carriers for Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This will cause blindness in dogs after 5 or 6 years of life.

    Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC). This disease is particular to Labradors (I'm pretty sure.) But when the dog gets excited and runs around, they fall over in a paralytic state for a while, then recover and appear normal. Make sure that the sire/dam are clear of this inherited condition.*

    Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM). A similar but worse condition, similar to human muscular dystrophy. Again, the sire and dam of your puppy should be tested and clear of the gene for this disease.

    Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia: I am not sure there is a genetic test for this, but the sire and dam should be certified as having healthy hearts by a veterinarian. Also, before you take your puppy home, they should be checked for a heart murmur by a veterinarian.

    I suspect if you are a first time puppy shopper, this may sound daunting! But it should not. If you seek out a good breeder, he/she will provide you with all this information almost as soon as you begin investigating one of their litters. Labrador retrievers born of healthy parents are remarkably sturdy and robust dogs.

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  10. #7
    Senior Dog dxboon's Avatar
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    There are several good breeders in your desired area. The link Smartrock gave you to read is a good one. Your local Labrador clubs are good resources -- Shawnee Mission Labrador Retriever Club: American Kennel Club - Shawnee Mission Labrador Retriever Club - KANSAS CITY - KS - 2495

    and Spirit Of St. Louis Labrador Retriever Club: SSLLRC Spirit of St Louis Labrador Retriever Club

    It pays to do your research on the breed up front. They are great dogs for active families who provide exercise and companionship (not a good breed to just leave alone in the backyard). They tend to have extended adolescence and be mouthy puppies. They also shed continuously with two seasonal heavy sheds annually (called blowing coat). Starting training early is key.

    The breed is prone to certain genetic issues. A good breeder will rule them out through testing. Demand proof of this testing (either scanned copies of the certifications or via the online database at the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). These are NOT health tests done by standard vets, but by specialists.

    Hips and elbows: Final clearances can be done no earlier than two years of age. Passing hip scores are either Excellent, Good, or Fair. Passing elbows are listed as Normal. Both parents should have passing scores.

    Heart: This is again, not something your general veterinary practitioner provides. Echocardiogram by a cardiologist will show if the heart is functioning normally. You want both parents to have heart clearances.

    Eyes: Eyes should be checked by an opthamologist annually and deemed cleared of any defect, or if there is an issue (such as cataract) you should get more information from the breeder. Is this suspected to be a heritable condition or not?

    Other genetic disorders (prcd-PRA, CNM, EIC): The breeder should not be breeding two dogs that are carriers or affected with these diseases together. Breeding a carrier to a dog that is clear can be done, and the resulting puppies would not be affected by the disease.

    Although you don't hunt or show, IMO you want a dog from someone who does these health clearances AND does something with their dogs (e.g. shows in conformation, competes in obedience, hunt tests, etc.) to get independent assessment that they are breeding dogs that are good representatives of the breed. Clearances alone are not enough. Plenty of lesser breeders or breeders of designer colored dogs do clearances to give their programs a facade of legitimacy. I think the best pet will come from a breeder who breeds for proper Labrador temperament, has all the appropriate health clearances, and wants to preserve the looks and abilities of the traditional Labrador. The popularity of this breed means tons of "breeders" are producing adorable but generic black, chocolate, yellow, shorthaired, medium sized, long tailed puppies to be bought, but most of these dogs are just Labradors on paper, they don't embody the true type, physically or mentally, of this breed.

    Good luck in your search. Labradors are a fantastic breed.

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  12. #8
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    ↑↑ The above is a very thorough and thoughtful explanation of what you need to know to find a great breeder and a wonderful addition to your family. I wish you the besr of luck and lots of extra patience as you begin your journey. Welcome to our "family"!
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  14. #9
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    dxboon laid it out beautifully. The only thing I can add is I hope you find a breeder who can asses the best pup for your family. I know from years and years of experience that in general Lab puppies are pretty horrible, er, challenging to live with. They bite, they chew, they jump, etc, etc. With all that being said, Labs are the best (IMHO) family dogs ever.

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  16. #10
    Senior Dog doubledip1's Avatar
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    Once you actually have your puppy, alcohol helps
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