Choosing a Breeder

You’ve made the decision to purchase your new Lab from a reputable professional breeder.  Your next step is to locate the breeder.  Since your breeder will not only be supplying your dog, but will also be providing support and information throughout your dog’s life, it’s worth taking some time to find a breeder whom you really like and trust.

Before you start your search you should determine how far you are willing to travel to find a good breeder.  This will help you narrow your search.  Once you know what your geographical search area is, you can begin. How can you find breeders?  There are any number of methods.  The American Kennel Club can refer you to your local breed club, which can in turn give you contact information for local breeders.  The AKC also offers the Breeder Referral Program which can refer you directly to a breeder.  Your local breed club can probably give you more specific information, however.  Your veterinarian may be able to refer you to a good breeder as well.

Breeders also advertise in dog and breed magazines.  You should take care when looking through these ads, however.  Remember that anyone can place an ad!  Before you respond to an ad, you might want to double check with the local breed club to see if the given breeder is in good standing.

Perhaps the best way to find and meet breeders is to go to conformation shows, field trials, or other events featuring Labs.  Even if you don’t intend to enter your Labrador in competition, such events are great places to see a large concentration of breeders and their dogs in a single spot.      Every breeder has a slightly different philosophy about what qualities are most important in their dogs, and they make choices about which dogs to mate according to that philosophy.  The result is that each breeder produces a “family,” or line, of dogs that tend to have certain characteristics in prominence. By attending an event featuring Labs, you can observe the differences in physical appearance and in temperament in the different lines.  If you see something you like, you should try to meet that breeder!  Remember that these are busy events so don’t bother them while they’re preparing a dog for competition.  Afterwards, however, is a great chance to introduce yourself and ask a few brief questions.  Ask for a business card or set up an appointment to visit the breeder’s kennels.

One pitfall to this approach is that many breeders do not show their own dogs, but instead hire a handler.  If this is the case, you may not be able to meet the breeder at the event.  Even so, a handler should be able to tell you how to get in touch with a breeder if you like the look and behavior of a certain line of dogs.

You should make contact with a few different breeders, especially if you’re a first time buyer.  You’ll then be able to set up visits with each breeder, and compare what you observe in each meeting.  Don’t rule out a breeder just because he or she has no puppies available at the moment.  You might be passing up a truly fantastic breeder by not being willing to wait a few months for your puppy.  Try to select a breeder regardless of whether or not they have a litter available at the moment – if you have to wait for a litter, your patience will pay off.

Questions, Questions

Your first visit to a breeder’s facility serves two purposes.  First, you’re there to observe the breeder’s facility and dogs, and to ask plenty of questions of the breeder.  Second, you’re there to let the breeder know what “personality” or other traits you’re interested in.  There is little more important to a good breeder than finding the perfect home for each puppy.  The breeder will probably want to ask you as many questions as you’d like to ask him or her!  In fact, you may feel like you’re being grilled – but don’t take offense!  The good breeder has a responsibility to find you a good match in a puppy, and to find each puppy a good match in an owner.

What kind of questions should you ask?  Your goal is to ascertain the quality of the breeder.  With that in mind, you can start by asking how long they have been breeding.  There is no substitute for experience in breeding, and if the breeder you’re considering has just gotten started breeding Labs, you may wish to look elsewhere.  Every breed presents different challenges.  A longtime breeder of Chinese Pug Dogs who has only recently switched to breeding Labs will not have the kind of experience you’d like to see.

Ask the breeder questions concerning the breed.  You should already know all about the breed in which you’re interested from your own research.  However, by asking the breeder questions to which you already know the answer, you can determine how open and knowledgeable the breeder is.  For example, if you ask about genetic problems to which the Lab is prone, and the breeder glosses over the issue of hip dysplasia, you should be instantly suspicious!  Either that breeder doesn’t know much about hip dysplasia (a real shortcoming in a breeder of Labs), or the breeder is being dishonest (or at least misleading) in order to make a sale.  You don’t want to deal with either kind of breeder.

It’s worth talking a little more about genetics.  Genetics are really important in selecting a Lab.  You should ask several questions that will help you to determine the degree of care that a breeder takes with the genetics of his or her line.  For example, ask if the breeder is a member of a breed club (you may already know this if you found the breeder through the breed club).  Breed club members usually subscribe to a code of ethics and breed to an established breed standard.  Ask if the breeder shows his or her dogs in conformation shows or other performance events.  While you may not care if your puppy has parents with titles, the fact that the breeder shows his or her dogs may indicate a real concern for the genetic quality of the animals.  Also, knowing that the pup’s parents have conformation titles helps to ensure that the pup is from genetically sound stock.  Most importantly, ask the breeder what kind of genetic testing he or she performs on their dogs.  In Labs, breeders should have the hips of each parent checked, and the eyes of the parents should be checked annually.  Finally, ask the breeder for the name of his or her veterinarian.  A good breeder will be happy to have you speak to his or her vet about the general health of the line.

Ask the breeder how many dogs he or she owns.  If the number is quite large, you might think twice about dealing with such a breeder unless he or she has additional people helping in the kennels.  A single person can only care properly for so many dogs.  Also ask how often the breeder has puppies available.  Note that a good breeder often has more interested buyers than pups.  You may have to get your name on a waiting list.  Don’t be disappointed!  This is probably an indication that the breeder is doing a quality job.  Find out how old the puppies are when the breeder allows them to go to their new homes.  If the breeder releases puppies any earlier than 7 weeks of age, look elsewhere.  Early separation from the mother and litter can be quite detrimental to the pup’s physical and mental health.

Ask for references.  Under no circumstances should you buy a pup from a breeder who is unwilling or unable to provide references.  Make sure some of the references are previous buyers.

Inquire about a contract.  Such a contract should include a health guarantee lasting at least one year.  The breeder should also be willing to take the dog back at any time if you become unable to care for him.

Visiting the Breeder’s Facility

While you can ask questions over the phone or at a dog show, you should make a visit to the breeder’s facility if at all possible.  Take a look at the facility, the dogs, and observe the way in which the breeder interacts with the dogs.  The facility should be spacious, clean, and comfortable.  Pay attention to all the dogs in the kennel (not just the parents of the litter in which you’re interested).  The entire kennel of animals should appear healthy, happy, and energetic.  Such attributes indicate that the breeder is paying plenty of attention to each animal.

Watch the way in which the breeder interacts with his or her dogs, and his or her general behavior while showing you around the facility.  A good breeder will have a good relationship with each dog in the kennel, and it should show clearly.  Also, a good breeder will be proud of his or her line and facility and eager to show you around – if you feel like the breeder is hurrying you through the kennel, or not letting you look in certain areas, you should be immediately suspicious.

Do spend plenty of time with the parents of the litter.  Realize that only one parent may reside in the breeder’s kennel – litters are often the product of mating between kennels.  If only one parent is on site, don’t hold it against the breeder.  If you can visit the other parent, do so.  If not, ask plenty of questions about the other parent, and try to get pictures.

When you’re interacting with the parent or parents, observe physical appearance, health, and temperament.  All of these are at least partially genetic traits and can be passed to the litter.  Therefore, if you observe skittish or aggressive behavior in the parent, you may expect to see the pups to grow up to exhibit a similar temperament.  Recognize that a dam may be somewhat reserved if you’re approaching her around her litter however, she should not be openly aggressive.

Finally, you should spend a great deal of time with the puppies.  In fact, if your breeder doesn’t require that you spend time with the pups, you should shop elsewhere.  The breeder should remain present while you interact with the pups – he or she should be observing carefully in order to determine which pup might make a match for you.

No matter what breeder you choose, the process of meeting and interviewing the breeder and choosing a pup from his or her litter should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  If dealing with your breeder is stressful or awkward, you may want to look elsewhere.  Even if the breeder’s animals are of excellent quality, remember that you’ll be dealing with your breeder for many years to come.  If you have a real personality clash between the two of you, this will be difficult.  Many owners and breeders become true friends, and this is the ideal.  A close relationship between breeder, owner, and dog makes for the best experience for everyone.

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