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| So You Want a Puppy . . . First rule: Do not fall for the puppy because it is cute! All puppies are cute and very lovable and it takes an extreme effort to walk away from one. Making sure it is a healthy, well-bred puppy will make a vast difference in your lives for the next 10-12 years. Do get recommendations from previous buyers and/or the breeder's veterinarian, if possible. Puppies should come with hip and eye guarantees, dewclaws removed, regular worming, first shots if younger than 9 weeks, vet checked and, just as importantly, be socialized! See everything in writing. There are breeders who claim many things for their dogs, such as OFA and CERF clearances, even the pedigree, or mislead by skipping over those particulars. Don't believe it until you see the paper, no matter how wonderful the person may seem. Learn to ask the right questions. I've been burned before. It is heartbreaking. Ask for the hip and eye clearances in writing from the OFA and CERF. Does the breeder participate in Field Trials, Hunt Tests, Obedience, Show or other competition? Do they have the titles and awards to prove it? If not, ask yourself why they are breeding the dogs they have if they haven't proven themselves. Ask yourself how you can take the breeder's word for it that the puppy should succeed in its specialty if the puppy's parents, at least one, haven't been judged in an objective way by a standard other than the breeder's. Anyone can say their brood bitch or stud is the best hunter, best marker, best handler, smartest, prettiest, easiest to train, etc. Where's the proof? It takes a lot of money, time, effort and sacrifice to participate in any type of dog event, let alone the health clearances, feed and vet bills. If they aren't competing their dogs on some level, they are breeding for profit. You should be able to meet the mother of the litter but not a lot of breeders will always have both parents on site. (Good breeders try to find the best available stud that is a good match for their girl and it isn't usually their own as it takes quite a bit of time, effort and money to campaign a truly good dog. It also takes a lot of effort to get that girl bred to an "outside" stud.) While many moms are nervous with their litters, no Lab should be vicious or so protective that you can't see her when visiting the pups. She should be in good health, though be aware that most moms lose their coats, some almost entirely, during the whelping process. This is normal, if ugly. The puppies should be clean, as should their box/kennel. There should be no foul odor. You and the breeder should have already had a detailed conversation about what you want out of a pup before you ever make an appointment to see the litter. The breeder should be familiar with the characteristics of the parents and, particularly, of each puppy. Take the breeder's word for it if they tell you that puppy isn't really the laid back one just because it happens to be sleeping when you visit. It could be the rowdy one resting up for the next round. Whether you want a family dog, hunter, hunt test hopeful or all of the above, you and the breeder need to discuss what type of pup will suit you best. It can be a tough call and no one can guarantee what each pup will absolutely turn out to be, but in watching day to day, the breeder should have a pretty good idea of each pup's basic character. It is very common for pups to be sold on pedigree alone and for the breeder to pick out and ship the pups best suited for each buyer, without the buyer ever meeting the pup in person. This places a great deal of responsibility on the breeder to assess their litters well. Don't be surprised if the breeder asks you for references. No one who puts their heart and soul into their puppies wants them to end up badly but sadly, the statistics at shelters prove us wrong. Be ready for a very long commitment in time and money. If you think paying $600 or more for a pup is high, you aren't ready for a dog. If you think spending a minimum of half an hour daily exercising/training the dog, you aren't ready to have one. If you aren't willing to commit to basic obedience to make your dog a good citizen and example of its breed, forget about it. But if you are, a Labrador will make you a companion like you never thought possible and repay every last cent a thousand fold every day you live with one. |
