OK, here’s the deal… Excuse me if I walk three miles to get next door. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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We lost Kenzie, our 14yo lab, this past spring. She was a WONDERFUL dog—loyal, calm (for a lab), sweet, easy going, and tough. I say tough because she was a handful of health issues. I’m assuming BYB in-bred. Her death, while certainly sad, was no surprise. Between her age and her on-going health issues—nothing she suffered through; only my wallet suffered—I was expecting it. We had already been talking about puppies for a couple of months.<o:p></o:p>
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A few months after Kenzie died, we did get a sweet little black lab puppy. She is the sweetest thing with the goofiest personality. I adore her. But more on her in a minute.<o:p></o:p>
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Fast forward until a couple of weeks ago. We lost our other lab. She was a rescue and 11-13 years old. Her death has just been miserable. Not that she was loved more, but her death blindsided me. She was healthy. I had just had the vet do a full senior examine three weeks before she died and she was wonderful. Her full story is on the Rainbow Bridge board. I’m still hurting.<o:p></o:p>
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I am not ready for a new puppy right now. I’m still mourning. But, I will be ready. Not only can I not imagine life without a dog, I can’t imagine life without two dogs. I’ve had a dog all my life, usually 2-3 dogs, sometimes 4. I’m a dog person and my floors and woodwork shows it. I’m so glad we have the puppy or I really think I’d be having a harder time of Sutton’s death. Anyhow, the kids are wondering about getting a new dog and, amazingly, so is my husband; he’s talking a chocolate lab. I’m starting to think I could be ready in a few months. <o:p></o:p>
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A new dog could not replace Sutton anymore than the puppy replaced Kenzie. We had been talking about another dog in October ’09 before Sutton’s death, but now I’m thinking January ’09. Not only because the house seems empty with only three kids and one dog (I must thrive on chaos), but because my social butterfly puppy is happier when she has a puppy to play with. I don’t think she’s the only dog type either. Right now she gets puppy play dates with two different friends who have puppies the same age, my parent’s 8yo Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and my sister’s two dogs when they visit. None of this is often enough for her. <o:p></o:p>
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I figure January is good because I know I’ll be ready by then, the kids will still be in school and can’t interfere with training (I’ll never get another summer pup again!) and the puppy will be 9 months old and fairly well trained by then. She’s such a quick learner and has most the basics down well already; now that the kids are back in school, I suspect her progress will pick up tremendously.<o:p></o:p>
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A rescue would seem the best place to start, but I’m not sure I can handle having an abbreviated time with my dog. Circumstances considered, I think being a bit selfish is understandable. Having Sutton only 10 years was just too short a time. With three children, I don’t want to have an unknown mix. I know that training and socialization is the better part of a dog’s behavior, but I’d still like to skip over naturally more aggressive breeds. I’d also like to bypass as many health issues as possible; better to pay a breeder (and, yes, I understand a well bred lab will be $800-$1000) upfront than my vet every few weeks. Even when good care easily cures (and prevents) a lot of issues, it’s still a heartbreak to go through that also. <o:p></o:p>
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So anyhow, I know what to look for in a breeder/questions to ask, but how do I go about finding breeders to interview (and interview me)? How do I end up comparing two breeders that have similar answers? How do I compare minor differences (deposit requirements & such)? When do I start looking, if I’m looking for January or February take home? I’m scared it might already be too late. I’d prefer a fairly local breeder (within 6 hour drive one-way), but if the right pup comes further, how do I evaluate/handle shipping? Should I just not deal with a puppy that needs shipping at all? What else am I missing?

Or should I just wait?

I'm so sorry for your losses and understand your need to wait and want a puppy. But two things jumped at me reading your thread....rescue and chocolate. I've learned to stay out of the rescue section of this board but recently a sweet chocolate face popped up. I apologize if this is too soon and I'm not trying to cause any hurt.

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/athens-ga-owner-t7299116.html

I'm very sorry for you losses....you've hit many questions here and I'll only provide my thoughts from my perspective.

Personally, I'd recommend until your new pup is a little older....like a year....I waited four in between my two, and that is perfect....speads them out in age, but I understand your need to fill that void. Just my recommendation. If you do go the puppy route, if your current pup isn't 100% in specific areas of training, well, you're new one will pick up everything your current dog does, for better or worse.

There are many reputable breeders in your area. Check the local Labrador retriever clubs in TX. There are also many wonderful Labrador rescues in TX. They get mostly purebred dogs who need wonderful homes, some are puppies and some are younger (like from 6 months to a year). They do a wonderful job of fostering and evaluating temperament prior to adopting a dog out.

If you decide to go the puppy route, you need to research for titles, health clearances in OFA (hips, elbows, eyes/CERF, and cardiac), and what types of things the breeder does with their dogs. There are several links in this forum that will give you a good laundry list of questions to consider, but for the life of me right now, I can't find them.

I am sorry for your losses. Its never easy. Thank God you have your pup.

I agree with Dani that it will be easier on you to wait till your pup is closer to a year. But also understand if you don't want to wait - need to fill the void for both you and the pup.

You do need to start looking now so you can get on the waiting list of the breeder you choose. I already have people on my waiting list and my girl has not even been bred yet.

A September breeding would have pups going to their homes in January.

As for shipping: I personally don't ship my pups. People must travel to get them either by car or by plane and take pup home when it is of the right age/size to travel under their seat on the plane - not down in cargo.

Good luck to you in your search. I agree with Dani too on going thru your local Lab clubs to find breeders and to be sure they do all the clearances Dani mentioned.

Get involved in your local labrador retriever clubs. Be a spectator at some events, mingle and network. You will meet some fabulous people to help guide you to a good breeder. The internet is always a good resource - but anybody can post a website. Look for a breeder that is INVOLVED with the breed.

You are not necessarily too late to find a litter. But, don't hesitate if you want a Jan/Feb take-home. Enjoy the journey!