[epic1129]

Hi Fellow Labrador Enthusiasts,

I'm looking for my first labrador puppy. I've done a lot of research and contacted a few respectable breeders in Northern California but none have any upcoming litters. I was hoping you guys could lead me to some other respectable breeders or places where I can get a yellow labrador puppy. I've been actively searching for the past month but still no progress. So far I've contacted Talimar, Shadowbrook, and Marstad?

Looking forward to hearing back from you guys!

Thanks

 

[azooinaz]

You will need to be patient if you want a pup from a respectable breeder. Get on the waiting list if need be. Thank you for doing your research and commitment to becoming a responsible Lab owner. Please consider looking into your local Lab Rescue and adopting a rescue pup.

 

[blackjack]

I have a list for "future" use. I can't recommend anyone, these are just ones I've found (next will be chocolate for us but that is years away)

http://www.belgairn.com/belgairnupcominglitters.html

http://members.cruzio.com/~vickib/

http://www.diamondplabs.com/index.htm

http://www.hyspire.com/hyspire_puppies.html

http://www.japatullabradors.com/HOMEPAGE.html

http://www.kelleygreenlabradors.com/for_sale.html

Like I said, I personally don't know any of these breeders, this will just be my starting point when the time comes. Maybe someone else can tell you more about them.

 

[NM Lab Lover]

I bought both of my labs from a breeder in Lodi, California. Abbey is yellow and Coco is chocolate. My sister-in-law has two chocolate girls also (same breeder). I am including their web site below. You may have to get on a waiting list but patience is the key. I looked for over 18 months before we got the girls. They are now 7-1/2 months old and the joy of our lives.

http://www.miconslabradors.com/

Just another note - I also contacted Kelleygreen's in Gardnerville, Nevada. Sally has beautiful dogs also. You have to put down a deposit and go on the waiting list there too. Most of the puppies from respected and reputable breeders are sold before they are whelped. Our Coco's sire is a Kelleygreen's chocolate. Wonderful lines and great health records. Both breeders sell most of the puppies on limited registration unless you plan to show the dog in competition. You would have to discuss that with them.

Do your research and don't discount a rescue pup. They can be some of the most loving companions. We looked everywhere down here in southern New Mexico but with no luck. That is why we finally talked to Connie at Micons.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Canyon Labradors]

Knowing what I know now, and Hudler being a dog from Micons, I wouldn't go back there again.

Allot yourself 6 months to find a puppy, the reputable breeders have lists and don't breed alot, so you are stacking the deck against yourself if you only limit yourself to who has a dog NOW.

Don't limit yourself to the Nor Cal area. Be willing to drive to So Cal. Granted you might have an 8 hour drive ahead of you, but it will be worth it to find the right breeder.

I think this breeder JUST had her litter: http://www.hopemorelabs.com/puppies6.html

Google Wynmar Labradors and Blue Knight Labradors. I think they both have litters on the ground.

Also, here are the links for the Lab Clubs in CA...you can do more research by contacting these breeders:
http://www.lrcsocal.org/memberdirectory.htm
http://sdlrc.com/htmldocs/breeders.html
http://www.hdlrc.com/hdlrc_memberlinks.html
http://www.cclrc.org/members.html
http://www.shadowbrooklabs.com/sjvlrcdirectory.html
http://www.svlrc.com/sites.htm
http://www.gglrc.org/ This one doesn't have a breeder listing, but you can contact the board members and they'll help.

I would also consider looking up in Oregon as well:
http://www.rosecitylrc.com/breederlistnew.htm

Good Luck.

 

[epic1129]

Thanks for the quick response guys/gals!

I've pretty much crossed Micon off the list as the consensus seems to be not to buy from them. I went ahead and reached out to all the breeders above and are on the waiting list for a couple of them. Hopefully, I will find the perfect lab soon.

What do you guys think of breeders who advertise under the classified section on the AKC website for labs in CA? I see a handful of available or once available pups and some pups were going for only $500.

 

[justine]

I'm not a breeder nor am I familiar with any of the breeders in CA, but I would most definitely feel more comfortable choosing a Lab based off of recommendations from a Labrador Club than off of a website or based on price.

Good luck in your search.. I know how hard waiting for a pup can be!!

 

[epic1129]

Here's a little update. The below picture is a possible litter I might choose from this weekend. The litter comes from supposedly "champion line" labs and is from a small private family breeder in Santa Rosa. I believe the breeders name are Cindi Rose and Doug Rose? Only the grandparents of the dogs are AKC registered but the sire and dam will eventually be registered. The sire and dam are 4years old and I'm in the process of finding out how many litters the dam has had thus far. Please let me know if you guys have any feedback or suggestions.

Excited to see these puppies first hand!

 

[kiddsmom]

Here's a little update. The below picture is a possible litter I might choose from this weekend. The litter comes from supposedly "champion line" labs and is from a small private family breeder in Santa Rosa. I believe the breeders name are Cindi Rose and Doug Rose? Only the grandparents of the dogs are AKC registered but the sire and dam will eventually be registered. The sire and dam are 4years old and I'm in the process of finding out how many litters the dam has had thus far. Please let me know if you guys have any feedback or suggestions.

Excited to see these puppies first hand!

Riiigggght. These people are backyard breeders. You mentioned in a previous post about paying $500 for a puppy. Let's just say you will get what you pay for.

 

[windycanyon]

First, you said you've done alot of research and had contacted some respectable breeders... do you really think $500 is going to buy a pup w/ all the clearances in this day and age? Okay, I'll answer that.... No. Expect to pay at least $1000, and quite possibly more in CA, since I even get folks from CA calling and flying up for a puppy to WA.

If you are going to pay more than $200 (and that's what I'd pay up to for a rescue), then don't settle for anything less than a full pedigree (3 generations at least) of hip, elbow and CERF cleared dogs. Many of our health issues are polygenetic, so depth of clearances are very important.

Second, we have gene tests for some biggies now. PRA (late onset blinding disease), EIC (exercise induced collapse) and CNM (centronuclear myopathy) are all recessive. A DNA test that shows at least one of the parents to be clear in the breeding pair is what you are looking for there if you want to ensure your pup never to be Affected.

Third, what do the breeders do w/ their dogs? Though you may only want a pet, good trainability and general temperament is often reflected in the titles earned. It's tougher to do performance, esp, w/ an ill tempered dog (though note, it still happens, unfortunately).

Fourth, what is the longevity in the lines? What can the breeders tell you about the grandparents, greats, etc.? Any cancer? Any allergies, etc????

So decide what you want. If purchase price is an issue, please reconsider and adopt a rescue instead of putting far too much moneyin the pocket of a breeder who is too lazy (or more than likely can't for other reasons) to even register the parents. If they bought those dogs on limited registration, they likely can't get full reg anyhow since most breeders would not convert on dogs that have already been bred (against wishes) and the pups will not be registerable. Good luck! Anne

 

[epic1129]

Thanks Anne! I'm definitely still a newbie at this, thanks for putting things in perspective. I think I will just suck it up and wait until a reputable breeder has a litter for sale. I hate being so anxious!

 

[Canyon Labradors]

Ditto to what Anne said. There are a TON of great breeders in CA. And there are a TON of BYB's in CA too. I would be patient, find one that is in one of the clubs I listed, does something with their dogs, does all the clearances, and pay a little more. In the long run, you'll save yourself alot of money, grief and heartache.

Put it into perspective this way, you want a breeder that is breeding for themselves, to keep a dog for showing....because they will be putting all their resources into creating a great litter for them to go forward with. They are super concerned with health, temperment, training....because not only are they keeping 1 or more pups for themselves but their name and reputation is staked on the type of dog they produce. The pups they sell as pets are top of the line. The only "problem" is something a pet owner wouldn't notice or necessarily care about...whether the pup has a low tailset or a straight stifle, etc. These are minor things that only matter in the show ring.

When you compare that to someone who has 2 dogs, breeds them just because, tells you their vet says they are healthy (but have no clue what "clearances" mean), and can afford to sell them for $500 because they didn't do clearances, didn't have to pay for a stud fee to bring in the healthiest genes, fed the pups cheap food, don't even have them AKC registered, no proof of temperment or trainability...for me it's a no brainer.

 

[epic1129]

Just some random questions-

How many total litters should a good breeder breed a labrador in it's life span?

Is two litters a year considered extremely unhealthy for the dam?

 

[Canyon Labradors]

Just some random questions-

How many total litters should a good breeder breed a labrador in it's life span.

Is two litters a year considered extremely unhealthy for the dam?

Most breeders do maybe 2-3 litters in a bitches life, usually retiring her around 6 years of age.

2 litters a year for one dam is basically breeding the dog on back to back on every heat. You need to look at the whole picture to get a better idea. First off, a ***** shouldn't be bred before 2 years of age. This is for maturity reasons as well as the fact that OFA won't clear hips and elbows until the dog is 2.

If it's 2 litters every year since she could start breeding...that's bad. But if there are extenuating circumstances like a ***** had a very small litter first time, everything went well, the ***** is healthy, it's actually OK to do another litter right away. But in general practice, most tend to give a year or 2 rest in between litters because having puppies and producing milk really takes a toll on the *****'s body. You would want to ask the breeder WHY they decided to do back to back. You can usually tell if the reason was a justified one.