Frequently Asked Questions

We are small hobby breeders striving for an even tempered, laid back, all-around Lab. With each litter we evaluate the dog being bred and try to find a stud dog that will compliment what our bitch already has. We intend to build on the foundation and family line behind our bitch. Each litter is bred so that we can keep a puppy or two for the future of our hobby.

We strive for a Labrador that is easy to train, willing to please, nice to look at, and precocious enough to keep us laughing. We breed the English type Labrador; a medium dog (21-24 inches), having a deep chest, square head, thick tail, and laid-back temperament. We want a "light switch" dog; a dog that is ready to play one moment, and willing to settle on the floor the next.

All of our dogs are cleared through OFA for hips/elbows and AVCO/CERF for eyes. We breed only to dogs that have similar clearances. We breed only to those dogs that have a record of producing sound (healthy) pups. We offer a contracted guarantee with a replacement clause.

All of our pups are raised in the house; the kitchen to be exact. We set up a whelping box in the kitchen where the pups are born and kept for the first few weeks of their lives. When they are old enough they go outside in a safe enclosure for sunlight and a bit of exploration. In the evening they are bedded down in the house once again.

Before a reservation is taken we like to meet the prospective family, either in person visiting our home, or on the phone. We do not sell puppies over the internet. Prospective owners must speak to us personally to purchase a puppy. We welcome a visit to our home to meet us and our dogs and review our paperwork. After we speak, if we mutually feel that one of our puppies is right for you, you will be placed on our waiting list. After the puppies are born, I will send a “Good Faith” deposit form for prospective owners to make a reservation on the litter.

We will form a waiting list until the puppies are born. Once the litter is born we will notify those on the waiting list and give them the opportunity to send a good faith deposit to reserve a place in the litter. We consider all deposits good faith from us that the buyer will be getting a puppy and good faith from the buyer that they will follow through on the purchase. Once we have reserved the puppies, we stop offering the litter as available. For this reason, the good faith deposit is nonrefundable. We take reservations for desired color/gender on a first come, first served basis. We reserve the right to first picks from every litter. Puppies are allowed to go home at eight weeks of age.

All pups are sold as companion puppies (pets), and on a spay/neuter contract. All of our puppies are sold on an AKC limited registration, which means the puppy cannot be bred or shown in conformation but may be shown in obedience, agility, hunt tests or any type of performance events. This is part of our support for the fight against canine overpopulation and irresponsible breeding.

Puppies are given worming medication as recommended by our vet. A puppy vaccine, which includes a booster for parvo, is given at 6 & 8 weeks and every 2 weeks thereafter until the puppy goes to its new home.

Once the litter is born, the fun begins! We allow pups to have visitors after they are 2-weeks-old. These early visits need to be supervised and young children must be monitored carefully. It is such fun to share the early development of pups with their future families. We allow as many visits as we can schedule. We have had some families visit every weekend, camera in hand, until they could take their little fur-ball home.

These visits are great for the socialization of the litter. We also do several other things to begin the socialization process. From an early age I pull on them and put them into uncomfortable positions. I lay them on their backs, a position of submission. We bang anything that might scare them, so that they are comfortable with loud noises. We get them into sunshine daily, if weather permits. We make a bit of a puppy obstacle course to help build balance and an adventurous spirit. We introduce them to water; some dive in, some don't. We let them play with the big dogs—that’s fun for everyone! I introduce balls of all sizes and begin a basic "fetch" game to gain insight to their individual personalities. It is a family job, so our young son gets to help out too! There is nothing like the wild antics of a little boy to help aid in the growing process of a young pup.

This is what we ask to help keep our pups healthy, safe, and a productive member of their new family and the community-at-large:

· The puppy should be examined by your vet within the first 7 days of purchase.

· Maintain the dog in good health, including a careful vaccine protocol in infancy.

· Keep the dog in good health by not allowing it to become obese, causing potential joint problems.

· Take the pup to a socialization and training class before it is 8 months of age. This should be a puppy kindergarten classes, beginner obedience training, or active social stimulation (to be approved by the breeder). You will be glad that you did this!

· Do not allow the dog to run free in a non-secured setting, or ride loose in the back of an open vehicle.

· Have the dog spayed or neutered after 6 months of age and before 1 year of age. The buyer agrees that the dog will not be used for breeding at any time.

· That the buyer understands this is a breed of dog that is very social and will become very destructive if left alone and not given the proper attention and training.

Before you bring home your Labrador, here are some questions to consider (and we may ask):

· Where did your referral come from?

· What made you select a Labrador over another breed?

· Have you ever owned a dog before? What breed?

· If the answer to the above is yes, what happened to that dog?

· Do you have any other pets at this time? What are they?

· What sex and color Labrador are you interested in?

· Do you have a desire to breed this dog?

· Will you spay or neuter it? By what age?

· Will you obedience train this dog? Field Train it? Show it in Conformation?

· How many people live in your household? Children? Ages?

· Are you expecting a baby? If so, when?

· Tell us about your family

· Is someone home during the day?

· How long will the new puppy be alone at any given time?

· Where will your dog stay when you are gone?

· Do you have a fence or other enclosure for the dog? Fence height?

· Do you have an outdoor activity that the dog will participate in?

· Do you live in a house, condo, or an apartment?

· Do you own or lease? If leasing, does it permit pets?

· Is there anyone in the house who doesn't like, is afraid of, or is allergic to dogs? If so, how will you handle this situation?

· Are you aware that Labradors can be destructive and out of control if left alone for a long time period or left untrained?

· How do you plan to prevent such damage or behavior?

· Where will your dog stay while you are on vacation?

· Do you have questions for us?

FAQs