A bit sad to be meeting under these circumstances, but we recently lost our lab/collie rescue, Gus, to metastatic sarcoma that spread before we even knew he was sick. He was the best companion and loved to sunbathe and be outside. He never complained, even on his last day he only asked for cuddles. I'm joining the forum because I am researching getting a purebred Labrador this time around, since Gus' many medical problems (elbow dysplasia, distemper, arthritis, broken bones, and cancer) from abuse prior to joining our family was very difficult to deal with. We only got three years with him, and I hope we made it the best three years of his life. I wouldn't trade our time with Gus for anything and miss him so much. I am hoping that our next fur baby from a reputable breeder will give us some more peace of mind as they age to avoid some of the mental hardship we've endured this year. I had two family labs growing up, both rescues, one with behavioral problems and one without, and I think that a lot of Gus' sweet personality was from the lab in him. I am most interested in a male chocolate puppy, but would definitely consider females and other colors as well. We also have a 2-year old terrier rescue named Lena who was separated from her mother and abandoned at a very young age. She has some behavioral issues that have improved a lot, including some leash reactivity, anxiety around other dogs, and separation anxiety, but she gets along well with dogs she is around frequently. We live in a good-sized house with an unfenced yard (feels very empty without Gus ) and our dogs are inside dogs and go outside on leash only. We are located in the California Bay Area, and welcome any breeder recommendations or general advice. I look forward to getting to know you and your dogs !
Hi there, welcome to the forum! I'm sorry for your loss. Gus sounds wonderful, and I'm glad he got to spend his last years with you - I'm sure he treasured every moment that he knew he was loved and safe. Good luck with your puppy search, I hope you'll be sharing the news of your new Labrador very soon
My recommendations would be to get to know a breeder before you go and see any puppies. Responsible breeders will be more than happy to answer to 100s of questions you will have. Just a brief checklist; Are both the parents fully health tested (good hip scores, 0 elbows, DNA tested and up to date eye certificate as a minimum). How/where are the puppies raised? What work to they do with the pups to ensure they are well socialised and have been introduced to plenty of stimuli. What are the temperaments of both the parents? Make sure you meet mum (ideally before she has pups) and ask plenty of questions about the stud dog and why they chose him. What is their plan for worming fleaing, vaccinations, health checks etc? The list could go on and on, but its a good starting point.
