High Quality Labrador Breeders? *Update!

[newenglandnative]

Hi everyone, as Christmas rolls around my family and I have decided to surprise my mom with a lab puppy. We’ve had labs since I was born and our current lab is quickly aging and I’m afraid we all may die of heartbreak when she passes. We got her from a breeder in Ohio called Jennings Mill Labradors, but I’m unsure if they are still in business.

I have to drive from southern Indiana home to Massachusetts so if anyone knows of any breeders along that line of travel that would be great!

Update: Well, after searching and everyone’s advice, we have a puppy! He is still nameless, I’m thinking maybe wyatt?, but is in great health and is all around too adorable. At the moment I’m getting zero sleep so he can go out every 2 hours, but it is so worth it since he has such a funny, sweet personality.

(Sorry about the sideways picture) =]

[saje]

Being as this is COTH, I have to give you the standard spiel about giving live animals for Christmas, especially if you’re planning on presenting them on the day. Unless the puppy is really wanted and planned for, wait 'til after the holidays.

That said, I have had 3 dogs from Cedarwood Kennels. They’re in Maine, but I know they travel down to RI pretty frequently and something could probably be arranged. My current puppy is 4 mo old and is THE smartest and most trainable dog I’ve ever had.

If she doesn’t have anything at the moment (and come to think of it they may not, their litters are generally sold before they’re even born) I bet she’d have some referrals for you.

[CVPeg]

I had a small kennel, during the days of raising a family, and not being able to do the horses!

Look at the National Club’s website breeder’s page. You can’t just get there by placing an ad - it takes referrals from other accepted breeders to make the list. Suggest you fill in the states you will be traveling across, and making a list from those. Don’t be surprised to be on a list, and very likely not getting a pup in time for the holidays - but you can always give your Mom a little package containing a photo of a representative pup, or of the mom or dad, and a collar.

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/find_breeder.php

And please read through the recommendations elsewhere on the Club site for the best way to select, and bring home a puppy.

Oh, one final thought - sometimes it’s very tough on the older dog for a new puppy being brought into the household. Adds more stress, and they are often too old/frail to be able to interact kindly. So the picture is a good idea since you might not want to bring that pup in right now.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;6007786]
Don’t be surprised to be on a list, and very likely not getting a pup in time for the holidays - but you can always give your Mom a little package containing a photo of a representative pup, or of the mom or dad, and a collar. :)[/QUOTE]

My thoughts exactly. A high quality breeder might have every litter claimed before they are even born. But I’d start at the AKC website and go from there - ask breeders because they usually know who else is breeding and what age their litters are. Sometimes you can get lucky; my breeder had a puppy home fall through at the last minute and someone who had been “wait listed” for the next litter got one.

[RougeEmpire]

Like other have said you want a QUALITY dog from a respectable breeder you need to get on a wait list a good six months before the holiday. Breeders of HEALTHY labs are far out numbered by the back yard breeders popping out puppies for a few extra hundred bucks during the holiday. Plenty of “breeders” breed in time for “Christmas puppies” which will quickly be followed by a buyer who ends up with a crippled dog by next Christmas. Labs are rittled with genetic disease, unless you really don’t like your mom I would suggest to start looking NOW for a breeder to supply you a puppy NEXT year. The last thing you want to do is give mom a puppy that will need full blown hip surgery by next year or be having epilepsy. Well bred healthy Labs are pricey.

[LauraKY]

Or you could give a shelter or rescue dog a home. Plenty of lab rescues out there.

[Ben_and_Me]

[QUOTE=LauraKY;6008054]
Or you could give a shelter or rescue dog a home. Plenty of lab rescues out there.[/QUOTE]

And please don’t believe the “urban myth” that shelter/rescue dogs are anxious, harder to bond with, etc. I have the world’s most wonderful lab that I got from a rescue group at around 2-3 years old. Three years later, she is still the love of my life and makes friends wherever we go. I would say we’re just as bonded (and probably even more) than my friends who purchased puppies. If you’re nervous about going to a county shelter, I would highly recommend a rescue group that focuses on placing family-safe, happy, trainable dogs.

Just be forewarned that many won’t adopt out animals as “Christmas presents” – and I’m sure the same will be true for many reputable breeders as well.

[S1969]

Even though this breeder has a bit about why they won’t sell puppies at Christmas, it does also give some ideas of where else to look for puppies in the Boston area…they also have a litter due around Christmas Eve that is taken but they are still taking applications.

http://www.grampianlabs.com/Litters.htm

PS I have no idea who these people are…just found their website from a dog show site.

[newenglandnative]

Thanks for the advice everyone I figured it was too last minute for it to actually work out, but I know we eventually want a new dog so it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

I’ll definitely check out the AKC website and such to look for breeders. I would never want to just buy something so we could have a puppy for the holidays. We did that once with one of our labs and her hips were never in good condition from the start :no: it was heartbreaking to have to see her go through that even after surgeries and what not.

I actually would love to adopt something from a shelter, but my dad is the one funding this as well as the one who will be with the dog the most (he is a stay at home dad/retired) he would rather have a purebred. I think mainly because we have had such luck with our current lab.

ETA: While the animals have always been part of the family they are even more so now that I’m in my sophomore year in college and my brother is in his senior. The house gets pretty lonely for my parents.

[Ben_and_Me]

Salley is adorable, looks purebred, and sounds like she could be a good fit for an older dog.

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21626876

And Lola also sounds like she could fit the bill. Known history, purchased from a breeder and only surrendered due to family illness.

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21578639

Both are in CT. Search for Labs4Rescue on petfinder (or google) – they have a ton of available boys and girls.

[Elkie]

Agree with the above. Just want to add that winter is a very hard time to train an 8 week old pup. The frequent outdoor visits are not fun in 10 degree weather for either the pup or the owner. In the spring or summer is best for many reasons including socializing.

[Pcostx]

A high quality breeder of ANY breed will NOT let you give a puppy to a family member as a gift. They will want to talk to whomever is going to own the puppy.

As the other posters have said, good breeders have pups sold before they are even born. Occasionally you get lucky if someone backs out of purchasing a pup, but your mother would have to talk to the breeder, fill out the application, etc.

Your best bet is to adopt a dog, Labs are SOOO darn popular that there are thousands of them ending up in pounds and rescue organizations. These dogs are wonderful and are desperate for good homes.

My suggestion would be to make up a little card/gift certificate for your mom saying that after Christmas the two of you will look for a dog/puppy for her. You can wrap up some dog items like a leash/collar, toys, etc. for Mom to open.

[Pcostx]

[QUOTE=newenglandnative;6008137]
Thanks for the advice everyone I figured it was too last minute for it to actually work out, but I know we eventually want a new dog so it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

I’ll definitely check out the AKC website and such to look for breeders. I would never want to just buy something so we could have a puppy for the holidays. We did that once with one of our labs and her hips were never in good condition from the start :no: it was heartbreaking to have to see her go through that even after surgeries and what not.

I actually would love to adopt something from a shelter, but my dad is the one funding this as well as the one who will be with the dog the most (he is a stay at home dad/retired) he would rather have a purebred. I think mainly because we have had such luck with our current lab.[/QUOTE]

Rescues are FULL of purebred dogs! We just had a 9 month old Golden Ret. surrendered to our rescue along w/ his AKC papers!

[Big_Grey_hunter]

When I was 7, my mom wrapped a note that said IOU a puppy, wrapped it in 10 boxes (each wrapped and with a bow) and gave it to my siblings and I. Best present ever, and it gave us time to find a good breeder and get the perfect puppy You could do that, so that you can still give your mom a puppy for christmas, but let her be involved in the process and not rush into getting a dog.

[wendy]

he would rather have a purebred.

there are thousands of purebred labs needing homes listed on Petfinder.

Frankly, any breeder willing to sell you a christmas gift puppy is not a breeder you want to be buying a puppy from.

[LauraKY]

There are plenty of purebred labs in rescues. Take a shot. We have a dumped lab, who is the most loyal, sweet dog you would ever want to live with. We have a rescue collie, who came with baggage (abuse confiscation) who has blossomed into a wonderful, brave companion. She came to me terrified, literally, of her own shadow. She’s now the pack boss and the most well behaved of the bunch.

Mind you, I’m not suggesting you take one with baggage…not unless you are willing and able to work with one. I am/was.

Give a rescue dog a home…one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.

[Ben_and_Me]

[QUOTE=S1969;6008121]
Even though this breeder has a bit about why they won’t sell puppies at Christmas, it does also give some ideas of where else to look for puppies in the Boston area…they also have a litter due around Christmas Eve that is taken but they are still taking applications.

http://www.grampianlabs.com/Litters.htm

PS I have no idea who these people are…just found their website from a dog show site.[/QUOTE]

Good golly, those are some fat labradogs. But that’s how fat the lab was at Westminster, so I guess that’s (unfortunately) the official breed standard. :mad:

[BigPaintHorse]

We have two litters of purebred lab puppies from two bitches that were taken by animal control from a local breeder. 5 black and 5 yellow (one litter of each color)

The sires are AKC champions and one dam is a champion. Both parents of both litters have novice obedience titles. We are not sure yet if we can obtain registration papers on the pups as that depends on the “breeder” cooperating with us but we know the parents of both litters and did their training when they were young. (the dam’s are 7 and 8.5 respectively and the sires are also middle aged)

One litter is being fostered in Northern Michigan until around the 29th when we will bring them to Lexington for placement. The yellow litter is fostered in Lexington. (KY)

There are purebred dogs and puppies everywhere for placement if what you are looking for is a great pet.

[cowboymom]

He should think about why he wants a purebred-most purebred labs have major health problems any more. For a truly healthy one he’s going to have to wait and pay up.

If he wants just a good healthy dog I would twist twist twist his arm to go down and at least look at the shelter dogs. There are some really nice family dogs there, many of them purebred labs, many more that look like purebred labs or are crosses.

The nicest thing about a lab is when they have a nice personality (without insane spazziness IMO)-that bill can be filled by a dog that’s down on his/her luck down at the shelter.

Tell him it’s good kharma.

[newenglandnative]

Thanks again for the responses everyone =]

I’m going to try and go check out the labs that are in Kentucky and see if any steal my heart, but the more that people talk about it the more I do feel like my mom should be involved. As much as I would love to give her a puppy I feel like she would want to be there to pick one out with the family.