New to the forum

[POPTOP]

Hello and Welcome!

Once you experience a lab, bet you'll never change. They are amazing.

There are many very knowledgeable folks here about selecting a good breeder, clearances to check out, etc. We don't mention kennel names on the board but once you get 10 posts, which is really easy to do, you can use the private message option to contact members individually.

Good luck in your quest and thank you for doing the homework it takes to get a fantastic lab.

[dxboon]

Labradors are a great breed for the right home. They are also the most over bred, badly bred, dog breed out there. The sheer number of Lab breeders makes it hard to weed through and find good ones. I see you are in Maryland. If you would like to see many of the best examples of the breed, and meet breeders, you might try to get to Frederick, MD next April 6-10 for the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac specialty. I would shoot for visiting during the morning/early afternoon Tuesday 4/7-Friday 4/10 (Best of Breed competition starts Friday morning). This is the largest gathering of Labradors in the world. Here's a link to the Potomac club, which is one of your nearby Lab clubs: Puppy Checklist

When looking for a puppy you will want to see evidence of health clearances. In this breed generally you are looking for evidence that the parents have been cleared for hips, elbows, eyes, heart, EIC, CNM. You can double check clearances at Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). IMO you want a breeder that is involved in dogs -- they should belong to some sort of AKC-sanctioned club for the breed locally or nationally and do something organized with their dog (compete in conformation, hunt tests, obedience, licensed therapy work, guide dogs, etc.). You want a breeder who will take your puppy back at any time for any reason if you can no longer care for it.

Things you don't want: a breeder who breeds silver, charcoal, champagne, white or other "rare" colored Labs.

Good luck with your search. Doing your homework ahead of time will save you a lot of heartache and regret later.

[Lyra]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I will definitely look into the event in Frederick, MD, that's actually where I live! I am definitely taking my time on selecting a breeder, unfortunately, my sister hastily bought a Boxer from a breeder whom she did very little research on. Loves her dog to death, but the amount of health problems that have arose is alarming. Of course she is willing to do what is needed, but I am taking her experience as a learning one. That is why I am not in a hurry to find a puppy now, I want to make sure I find the right one from the right breeder who is out for the breed not the money. I figure the cost of the puppy would probably be equal to all the vet appointments of a poorly bred one, so I am willing to pay more for a properly bred puppy.

I am curious, the standard colors are yellow, black, chocolate, so how do they get the other colors without crossing outside of the breed?

[dxboon]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I will definitely look into the event in Frederick, MD, that's actually where I live! I am definitely taking my time on selecting a breeder, unfortunately, my sister hastily bought a Boxer from a breeder whom she did very little research on. Loves her dog to death, but the amount of health problems that have arose is alarming. Of course she is willing to do what is needed, but I am taking her experience as a learning one. That is why I am not in a hurry to find a puppy now, I want to make sure I find the right one from the right breeder who is out for the breed not the money. I figure the cost of the puppy would probably be equal to all the vet appointments of a poorly bred one, so I am willing to pay more for a properly bred puppy.

I am curious, the standard colors are yellow, black, chocolate, so how do they get the other colors without crossing outside of the breed?

It is thought that the dilute gene is brought in from Weimeraners after the close of the Labrador stud book (which means the breed is set and no outcrosses should be accepted beyond this point). The original kennel that produced silver dogs also kept Weimeraners. Here is more information:

The Truth Behind Silver Labradors

Don't be fooled, just say No To Silver Labradors

[4Thelove]

hello and welcome

[Luke's Mom]

This forum is awesome! Welcome

[ChoppersDad]

Yep. Labs are the best!