New member from Illinois.

[rs_smoove]

I agree, Breeder of Merit and state licensed isn't always a good sign. A lot of silver lab breeders are both breeders of merit and state licensed. As long as the clearances are done and the breeder does something with the dogs (show, hunt, obedience....etc....), and if they are a member of a club....you are probably OK!

Thank you for the feedback. Yeah this is all new to me and there is so much info online. They told me they are involved in showing the dogs and primarily breed for conformation. Like I mentioned above, they are part of a lab club so that's sounds like a good thing. They also informed me that they have right to choose which dogs to keep from the litter(s) 1st which makes sense

[rs_smoove]

Overall, I just wanted to thank everyone for the replies/feedback. The more research I do, the more it seems that the breeder we choose is reputable and has a good history so again the hope is we made the right choice. With that said, I'm still open for any feedback and suggestions.

[Maxx&Emma]

Thank you for the reply. She only had 2 chocolate girls that were pregnant. In conversation, she did tell me that the 2 chocolate girls can only have black and chocolate puppies. I asked that question because one of the girls was bred with a yellow stud. I didn't ask for proof of health clearances. I guess this is attributed to me being a newbie at this.

Being a new member, not sure if I can PM anyone yet. If you know anyone that I can ask about the breeder I've chosen, I'd be more than happy to talk with them. Like you stated, my wife and I just want to have a lab puppy who will start with the best foundation possible.

You need either 5 or 10 posts to make/receive PM's. You can get that easily by going to the photo or welcome sections and commenting on pictures or saying hi to new members.

It looks like Fran, (PopTop), offered to give you some info and is in your area. There is JenC, Shelly and windycanyon that could also offer you some great insight and guidance.

Good luck, I look forward to pictures of your new baby!

[Labradorks]

Thank you for the reply. She only had 2 chocolate girls that were pregnant. In conversation, she did tell me that the 2 chocolate girls can only have black and chocolate puppies. I asked that question because one of the girls was bred with a yellow stud. I didn't ask for proof of health clearances. I guess this is attributed to me being a newbie at this.

Being a new member, not sure if I can PM anyone yet. If you know anyone that I can ask about the breeder I've chosen, I'd be more than happy to talk with them. Like you stated, my wife and I just want to have a lab puppy who will start with the best foundation possible.

You should be able to look up the parents in the OFA database. If the breeder is a member of the local Lab club, that can be a good sign. You can also google the breeder's kennel name and name of the breeder. That can bring to light the good and the bad. If she is selling puppies on the internet, other than a litter listing through her local Lab club (which should require heath testing on the parents) that is a bad sign.

I don't think it's a big deal if two girls are pregnant. Sometimes a breeder doesn't believe that one will take and then they both do and there you go. Or maybe just timing.

Does the breeder do anything with her dogs? Are the parents titled? Is the breeder planning on/hoping to keep any of the pups? I think it's a bad sign when the breeder doesn't plan to keep any.

Cost-wise, I've seen well bred dogs go from $1,00 to $2,500. Sometimes the $1,500 puppy has more going for him than the $2,500 puppy. Some breeders have good marketing than others. Or live in a more affluent area. And, "silver Labs" go for more than well-bred Labs. Labs on the internet are usually more than a local well-bred Lab locally. BYB Labs tend to go from $300-$800. So, don't let the cost of the dog indicate, well, much.

Your Lab club should have a volunteer who you can speak with about puppies, someone who will help guide you to the right breeder to help you find what you are looking for, to help educate you and to steer you away from any red flags. I would take full advantage of that opportunity as only they will really have the scoop on your local situation.

[rs_smoove]

You should be able to look up the parents in the OFA database. If the breeder is a member of the local Lab club, that can be a good sign. You can also google the breeder's kennel name and name of the breeder. That can bring to light the good and the bad. If she is selling puppies on the internet, other than a litter listing through her local Lab club (which should require heath testing on the parents) that is a bad sign.

I don't think it's a big deal if two girls are pregnant. Sometimes a breeder doesn't believe that one will take and then they both do and there you go. Or maybe just timing.

Does the breeder do anything with her dogs? Are the parents titled? Is the breeder planning on/hoping to keep any of the pups? I think it's a bad sign when the breeder doesn't plan to keep any.

Cost-wise, I've seen well bred dogs go from $1,00 to $2,500. Sometimes the $1,500 puppy has more going for him than the $2,500 puppy. Some breeders have good marketing than others. Or live in a more affluent area. And, "silver Labs" go for more than well-bred Labs. Labs on the internet are usually more than a local well-bred Lab locally. BYB Labs tend to go from $300-$800. So, don't let the cost of the dog indicate, well, much.

Your Lab club should have a volunteer who you can speak with about puppies, someone who will help guide you to the right breeder to help you find what you are looking for, to help educate you and to steer you away from any red flags. I would take full advantage of that opportunity as only they will really have the scoop on your local situation.

I'll try to look into the OFA database thing. The breeder shows her dogs for conformation. I believe the parents are titled but I didn't ask or look for proof of that. Regarding your last question, yes she informed us that they have the 1st right in terms of keeping a couple puppies from the litter and also informed us about a contract on not breeding our dog.

[rs_smoove]

Just figured I'd update this thread. We get our puppy on the 29th and just figured I post a picture of her. I'll be posting more once she comes home.

[Bernie]

Hello everyone! We're expecting to have a puppy in August. It will be a female English chocolate lab. Our 1st and only dog was a lab mix that we adopted when she was 2 years old. Her name was Hazel. She got cancer around 2010 and we paid for her to have surgery to remove the mass that she developed. In 2014 she developed another cancerous tumor that was affecting her breathing and on Sept 11, 2014, we had to make the gut wrenching decision to put her down. It took my wife and I a while to get over that and we're still not over it but think we're ready for another dog.

We have a soon to be 4 year old son who's been asking for a dog for a few months now and since my wife and I had already talked about it prior, we decided to move forward with it I will say that we're freaking out a bit since we've never had a puppy (doesn't help reading some of the nightmare stories I've read about some lab puppies) but we're excited at the same time. I haven't browsed this forum completely but I know there are links with recommendations on raising a puppy. I've been reading a bit on the differences between an English and American lab (besides the physical look) but not sure how much stock to put into that. If anyone has any experience with an English lab and how it was to raise them through puppy-hood and would like to share, I'm all ears and would appreciate it.

I'll try posting a picture of our 1st girl Hazel and when we get our puppy girl in August, I'll be sure to post some pictures. Thanks.

sorry for your loss , most of us have been there.
now.....this is how it starts.......
that's snow on him.

[EmmaJo11]

Hello and welcome! Sorry to hear of your loss of Hazel. Congrats on the new puppy!

[MikeLynn]

Hi and welcome!

[Rosy]

Hello welcome to the forum Labrador is a large breed puppies, this article that I read every time I have a question about our breed (lab-retriever) can help you to raise your puppy a healthy living lifestyle and it's very useful until now that I have a question I search some information here.