Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Finding a "good" dog breeder can be one the hardest things you will ever have to do. It's funny how many people will research the heck out of buying a stereo or will get a half a dozen free insurance quotes but will buy a puppy or dog from the first person they go to. It just doesn't make sense. Here are some tips or some information to help you choose the right breeder.

If a breeder accepts money from you right away without talking to you first and gettng to know you and your family and what your plans are with the dog or puppy you should probably throw up a red flag. No respectible breeder is going to let their puppies go to just anybody because they have cash in hand. A real breeder cares about their puppies and where they are going.

A reputable breeder will also provide you with a contract and guarantee of health. You should also ask for pedigree information and any good breeder will be able to provide you with the proper documentation.

You should be able to go to the house and see where the dogs were bred and inspect the general living conditions to how clean the environment is. The last thing you want to do is bring home a puppy that was raised in unsanitary conditions.

Most times out of ten a good breeder will breed just one flavour of dog. If you are going to a breeder that has three or four different types of dogs on the go then it is time to look elsewhere. Don't support puppy mills, you will regret it in the end.

If you aren't sure call the AKC or the CKC and ask if they are members and members in good standing. You can also call any organizations or groups dedicated to the breed you are looking for and see if they can recommend a good breeder.

Now that you and your family have decided that it is time to get a new pet and you have decided on a Labrador, it is now time to talk to Labrador breeders. You will want to do some homework to make sure that you do not get a fake breeder or a breeder that is not reputable. You want to be certain you are doing business with a reputable breeder because your dog's health depends on it and your family is counting on you.

The Internet is filled with the many breeder registries that any good breeder will want to be a part of to show that they conform to healthy standards of breeding quality dogs. The most popular registry is the American Kennel Club but they are not the only registry around. Check and see if the breeder you are considering is a member of any of the national registries before you talk to them personally.

A Labrador breeder is someone that will be a part of your life and your dog's life for a very long time. If you ever have a question you should be able to ask your breeder and know that you are getting the information you need. If you do not get answers that satisfy your questions when you are looking for a breeder then chances are the communication after the sale may be less than reliable. Communication with your breeder is important so be sure to gauge their reliability when you are talking to them.

Any good breeder is going to offer you detailed care instructions when you purchase your new Labrador and they are very likely to send you home with a sample of the dog's food so you know what to feed the dog. If your breeder indicates that they are not in the habit of offering care instructions or food samples then the breeder you are talking to may not be the breeder for you.

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There are many ways to acquire a new dog and some methods are definitely better than others. Puppy mills, pet stores, shelters and dog breeders are the most common sources of new pets for most people. Carefully examine the nature of each of these venues before buying a dog.

Puppy Mills

The term "puppy mill" refers to any breeding facility that breeds dog for profit only. Very little attention is paid to the animals and breed standards are not held to. In the worst of the puppy mills, dogs are stacked up in cages, are underfed and given very little medical care. The dogs are continually bred, heat cycle after heat cycle, giving the female dog little or no time to recover before she is impregnated once again. The conditions under which these dogs are kept and bred often produce dogs with minor to major behavioral and medical problems. Not all puppy mills are large facilities.

Even the "backyard breeder" who breeds dogs only for profit and not for the benefit of the breed is considered by many to be a puppy mill. The prices you'll pay to a puppy mill may be less than what you would have paid for a dog from a reputable breeder, but you may end up paying more in the long run anyway. Dogs from puppy mills are usually plagued with medical problems (resulting from a lack of proper medical care and malnutrition) that require an excessive amount of medical exams, shots and medication.

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Breed no guarantee of puppy’s disposition
Toronto Star, Canada – Dec 22, 2007

A: Breed is probably the biggest red herring a pet owner can fall for. Dogs that are purebred are registered with an organization such as the Canadian Kennel Club. A purebred dog is part of a group that should reflect specific characteristics. Unfortunately, “should” is a very loose and imprecise concept.

Let’s say you are considering a Labrador retriever. Out of 1,000, maybe a third are exactly what a retriever should be, having a soft mouth and gentle disposition. Another third is similar to the breed standard but a little off. The final third will be completely wrong when it comes to temperament.

If you buy a dog based on breed alone, you might get lucky. Or you could wind up with unexpected issues.

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Before you go hunting for a family pet you want to make sure that you know exactly what kind of dog you are looking for. It is important to know what kind of Labrador you want in order to find the right Labrador breeder. There are several things you should keep in mind if you are considering making a Labrador your pet, breeding is one of them.

Once you have researched and studied about Labradors, and you have decided that you want to make one part of your family life, you will then need to find a good breeder. There are several things you should consider when you are looking for Labrador breeders. Remember that a breeder is only as good as his knowledge. You want one that will be able to answer all your questions concerning your pet to be. So, do your research about the different types of Labrador dogs so that you are sure you are asking the right questions. Be sure that when you are talking to breeders and asking questions that the they are able to answer your questions correctly. They should be able to give your valuable information.

An important point to consider is to be wary of Labrador breeders who don’t ask you questions. Dog breeders should be screening the people who are buying puppies from them. Good dog breeders are as interested in who their puppies will belong to as you are in getting the right puppy for you and your family. So if he doesn’t ask you about where you live, how you plan to raise the puppy, and things that like, it’s probably not a good idea to buy a dog from them. Make sure that the breeder that you pick is taking an interest in you as a potential owner because that means that they are also interested in where this puppy will go.

By asking questions of Labrador breeders, you will get a good idea about how much they care for their own dogs and how knowledgeable they are about Labrador dogs in general. This will give you an idea as to what kind of puppy you might be taking home.

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