Planning to get a healthy pedigree Labrador puppy follows that requirement. These requirements are essential, so you can buy the right puppy. But, be careful because there are problems to watch out for. If you have questions, you can ask someone who knows about this kind of thing before you decide what to do next.

Plan in advance

Good breeders do not usually have trouble finding puppy buyers. But, on the other hand, they often have waiting lists. So, if a litter of 8-week old puppies is still unsold, be careful. It pays to plan in advance. Six to 12 months ahead of when you want your puppy is not too soon.

This is a written plan on how to find a dog. It’s for people who don’t know anything about dogs.

Decide what kind of Labrador you want.

Labradors in the UK, USA, and elsewhere are divided into two different kinds. Those that were bred for show or as pets and those that were born to be gundogs.

In the UK, we have two different kinds of Labradors. One is for working, and one is for show. They look different and are used in different ways. They are called field type (or American) and bench type (or English). It doesn’t matter what you call them. They are still the same kind of Labrador.

Once you have picked a type of dog, find the breeder. Get some contacts in the dog breeding world.

Find a list of reputable Labrador breeders.

If you want to find a reputable breeder, it is not as easy as going to a pet shop. First, you have to look for one who meets your standards. One way to start looking for a dog is by looking at the website of your local Labrador breed club. This will lead you to experienced breeders that meet your requirements.

The Kennel Club has a list of Labrador breed clubs in the UK. You can visit each club and see who is on the committee.

Many people who are involved in their breed club are also breeders. If they don’t have time to breed anymore, they can give you someone else’s contact information. Look at the members’ titles or roles. For example, one will be called the FT secretary. The initials FT stand for Field Trial, and this individual is likely to be a Labradors. GWT means Gundog Working Test – this is likely to be someone who breeds gun dogs.

Scroll down the page, and you’ll see what this person does. Some people do shows, and some work with their dogs. If someone shows their dogs, they want them to be more show type and more minor working type.

Make contact with Labrador breeders.

Make a list of contacts to approach. You can phone or email them. Let the person know that you found them on the Kennel Club website and look for a pedigree Labrador puppy. Tell the person what type of Labrador (work or show) you are interested in. Have another list ready to enter details of any litters.

Ask the breeder if they have puppies.

And ask them if they have any puppies planned or available at the moment. If so, find out their age and how many are left.

You should also ask which stud dogs they have mated to females recently. Make sure you know which one is best for you!

A good breeder will have her puppies booked before they are born. If you want one, the second way is best. If you have a color preference, let the breeder know. Don’t talk much about your family, hopes, and dreams for your dog at this point unless the breeder wants to see that information about you.

Find a litter

The first breeders you contact may not be the right ones. They might not have puppies or meet your requirements. But they will give you more contacts to check out. Make a list of six or so litters to see which one is best for you.

Find a male dog that is good with children. Then find all the female dogs he has mated with in the past few months and email pictures of them to you. A good breeder will let you visit their stud dog and decide if they like him or not.

The trail will lead you to more miniature breeders who are not experienced. You need to look at the mother of your puppies carefully so they have the proper credentials.

Verifying credentials

You need to check the litter. This is something that people often forget. A pedigree does not guarantee that the puppy (or his parents) has met standards, and it is just a statement of ancestry. The Kennel Club pedigree says nothing about their dogs’ good but only tells you who they come from.

The three credentials you need to check are

• Temperament
• Health
• Ability

Temperament

The most important thing is temperament. A Labradoodle might weigh over 70 pounds. These are big, strong dogs that people expect to be friendly. You can’t take any chances with a poor temperament. You can help your puppy be warm, But his genes make an essential contribution. He will inherit tendencies to be friendly or unfriendly, nervous or confident, etc., from both of his parents.

SEND TRAINING TIPS

It is essential to meet the mother of a puppy before you buy it. You should not buy the puppy if you have not met its mother. And you should meet the father, too. If someone who has completed the dad can say that he is a good person, that is better. But if you cannot meet the dad, make sure someone says he is OK to handle even if they have not met him before.

Dogs who work are different from other dogs. Sometimes, dogs with bad tempers succeed in competitions, and they’re used to having puppies.

Health

It is essential to check certificates way before you get your puppy. Never take anyone’s word for it. If you already have the puppy, do not let them go! You will love them too much to give them up.

Ability

Puppies can be suitable for different jobs. You might want to get a puppy if you want it to do the job you want. If you’re going to compete in working trials, get a dog who has ancestors who have been successful in this job.

If you know no one who shoots, it will be hard for you to get a dog. You might have to rely on paperwork from the breeder. It has some red ink and some letters that start with FTCH. These are important.

Choosing a litter

You may have difficulty choosing between many different puppies if you don’t have your heart set on one in particular. But there are still a few that meet all the criteria. You can use that narrow down the list if you look at the breeder more carefully and find out which puppies they have right now.

The person is essential. You need to have trust in her. If she supports you when you get into difficulties with your puppy, and if she offers to take the puppy back at any point in his life, that’s a real bonus.

Puppies should be in the family’s home. They should spend lots of time with people.

Choosing gender

Some people like to buy a dog from one sex rather than another. But it is hard to generalize about the sexes.

Male Labradors are just as easy to train and control as female Labradors. It is OK if your male dog is not supervised in an unfenced property, but it can also happen with female dogs. One recent study showed that most male Labradors do not pick fights.

Female dogs come into season twice a year. They may need to be kept on washable floors and away from males for around 3 weeks. Neutering a female is more expensive than fixing a male. Also, female dogs can get something called pyometra if they are not taken care of soon enough.

Males are usually heavier than females. Females have a head that is more “blocky.” Overall, it is up to you which kind of dog you want.

Choosing your puppy

Now it is time to choose a puppy. Which one should you take home?

If you choose a puppy from a litter, it is good to take someone who has the experience with you. Or else, ask your breeder. It’s also good if you have found an experienced person to go with before so that they can help you choose.

Sometimes you will not be able to choose the type of puppy. You will be last in line, or the breeder might not give you the best puppy even though they know it is good for you. But if there is a choice, a good breeder will help you pick the right one, and it may seem OK physically and from what is in its pedigree.

To make sure your new puppy is healthy, you should get him checked at the vet. He will need to be reviewed within a day or two of contacting him. It is essential to get it right the first time to not have any problems with his health and temperament.