Labrador Retriever Breeders
A good dog breeder, no matter what their breed or breeds of choice are, will be quite used to you asking a lot of questions, and in fact they will welcome them as this helps reassure them that you are also going to provide a good home for one of their puppies. Labrador Retriever breeders that you can trust will be those who genuinely love their breed. They will probably have started breeding because they originally had one Labrador, and loved it so much that they got a second, and having the time and the space decided to breed. Many of the top breeders are also the owners of prize winning show dogs. It is safe to say that their Labradors are their life and they will be an excellent choice for getting your puppy.
There is a worldwide campaign to stamp out puppy farms or mills, where breeding bitches are kept in cramped conditions, starved of human contact. These are not animals to be envied. Their sole purpose in life is to provide the puppy mill with as many puppies as possible, and should they fail to do so they are shot. Simple as that. However, puppy mills offer their dogs cheaper than a reputable breeder and the first time dog owner is easily hooked. What you won’t see if you got to a Labrador puppy mill is the mother. You will be asked whether you want a male or female pup, and a selection will be brought out to you. If this happens, walk away. A breeder who gets upset or defensive if you ask questions should also raise alarm bells for you, and again think twice before you buy a puppy as a good Labrador retriever breeder will know the answer to any common question about his pups and his parent dogs and will be more than happy to answer you.
Puppies that come from farms or mills are in real danger of having serious illnesses and diseases and are very unlikely to be given the required vitamins and vaccinations needed by a new puppy, so you are storing up future trouble from buying a puppy from this condition, and any financial saving you made buying the pup will soon be gone in vet bills when it all goes wrong. A pet shop is most definitely not a Labrador Retriever breeder either, so never ever buy a puppy in a pet shop as again these are unlikely to have been born in proper circumstances and are more than likely to have come from a puppy mill. The only way that the campaign can work to stamp out these awful places is for all of us to stop using them.
You may also consider adopting a dog from a welfare shelter before you go out and get a puppy. There are hundreds of needy dogs in welfare care that would love the chance to find a family and have a home for life, and some of the labs they get are very young. You can adopt with confidence as they will have been checked by a vet for any conditions you need to worry about.
