Finding a Labrador Retriever - Purchasing or Adopting

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Responsible Breeders

A responsible breeder is one that strives to produce healthy and happy puppies by following breed standard guidelines. They perform hereditary disease testing on the parents and the pups, and will only allow their dogs to go to the most suited homes.

The following is a checklist to use when selecting a breeder.

A Responsible Breeder will:

• be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club or American Kennel Club
• test for hip dysplasia, eye disease and epilepsy and will provide you documented proof that this testing has been done
• allow you to meet either the mother or father of the pup, or both!
• ask you about your experience as a dog owner
• home raise their pups and shelter them in a warm area in their house or a smaller well lit, clean and warm building on their property
• show you the litter and be proud of their warm and inviting whelping area

A Responsible Breeder will NOT:

• mass produce their pups
• allow a pup to go home with you before the age of 7.5 weeks
• allow a pup to go home with you as a Christmas present
• supply their pups to a petstore
• keep their pups and bitches in a cold or dirty environment
• claim that their pups don't require health clearances

Find a Responsible Breeder by Contacting:

• The Canadian Kennel Club
• The American Kennel Club
• Your Veterinarian