Hi To All

Michael Peace · Feb 8, 2016

Rosie said: ↑

Hi and welcome from me and Pongo in south Wales!

It took us some time to find Pongo. We particularly wanted a yellow boy. I can share what we did in case it is of interest / use to you!

We went to the KC website and took a list of all the breeders within a fair radius of where we live. That meant Wales and the West Country - there were about 50 breeders on our list with email addresses. We emailed all of them to ask if they had any litters due that were likely to include yellow labs. About half of them replied, and of those just three said that they might have yellow pups available in the next few months. We were surprised how few there were! But we got some good advice from friendly breeders, and some recommendations for other routes - for example, we found out that there was a Labrador Club of Wales, and we contacted them and got helpful advice (see below). We did follow up with two breeders, and had arranged to have a pup from one of them....but it then turned out to be a false pregnancy. Disappointing!

But in the meantime, we'd been advised (by the Labrador Club) to look at the Champdogs website. They have a very good listing of litters available and due. They also have rigorous quality standards (for example, minimum age of the mother etc) which are in fact more stringent than the Kennel Club's own.

We saw a listing on Champdogs for a new litter near Newbury - further than we'd meant to travel, but the breeder sounded very good and we liked their website. We went down to visit when the pups were about 4 weeks old, and although at first I was surprised to see how many dogs they had (I think I had an image of just one or two dogs curled up in a basket, and in fact it was an operation with at least a dozen breeding dogs) it was obvious after five minutes how very, very well cared for they all were, how devoted the owner / breeder was, and how scrupulous she was about where her pups went (we were "interviewed" pretty carefully to make sure we knew what we were doing and that we would offer a suitable home for her pup!). She rejected point-blank a suggestion that we might take Pongo at less than eight weeks - she preferred to wait for nine or ten weeks. She had detailed information about hip, elbow and eye scores at her fingertips and would refuse to let any pup go to a new home in the few weeks before Christmas. All her dogs looked immensely healthy and very happy. We met not only the bitch and her litter of six pups, but also the father and close relations that were still with the breeder. We had a chance to play with the father and others and loved their temperament. She left us to spend as much time as we wanted with the mother and litter (having given us strict instructions about how to pick a pup up properly!) and we got to know them. She also gave us a strong steer about which pup she thought would suit us best (she steered us away from a yappy, hyperactive one towards a steadier, quiet one - recognising that we don't have kids and that the yappy chappie would want an active family environment to keep him entertained).

So that was it - we picked out Pongo, visited one more time when he was 7 weeks old and picked him up a couple of weeks later. He is a stunning boy, beautiful (I think!) and very calm and loving - now that he has got through the crocopup stage, during which I can thank this forum for saving my sanity!

This post is way too long! But I thought you might find our experience useful. In summary, I'd say - use the KC website but also go to Champdogs; be prepared to wait to find the right pup for you; meet the breeder and expect them to quiz you about your suitability for their dog (that's a great sign!); make sure you can see hip scores, elbow scores and eye tests (you can check these for yourself on the KC website if you know the sire and dam's "proper" KC names). And if you have any doubts once you've met the breeder, walk away.

Have fun - it is a great adventure! And let us know how you get on.

Rosie (and Pongo)
Click to expand...

Hi Rosie,

I must say what a response to my enquiry and I really appreciate the time you have taken in regards to my enquiry.
I am now on a mission as when I do eventually find what I am after, she the pup will get on very well with my daughters Newfoundland as since I lost my last Lab the Newfie
still walks around my place looking for them.

Thanks again

Mick

Rosie · Feb 8, 2016

Michael Peace said: ↑

I really appreciate the time you have taken in regards to my enquiry
Click to expand...

No problem Mick, I'm working from home today and this is a pleasant distraction from writing the most boring report on the planet....

lucy@labforumHQ · Feb 8, 2016

Hi Mick,
We have a few articles on finding a Labrador puppy on the main website. You might find the following helpful:
How To Find A Good Labrador Breeder
How To Spot A Bad Labrador Breeder
Buying A Labrador Puppy Online

This is also a good one to check out when looking for a puppy, as it details some important health tests the parents should have had:
Health Screening For Labrador Diseases

Best of luck in your puppy search!

pippa@labforumHQ · Feb 8, 2016

Hi Mick and welcome to the forum, you may find this general article helpful: finding a breeder.

Building a list of stud dogs you like and noting which bitches they have been out to within traveling distance of your home can be a good strategy.

There is also information on the main site How to find a good labrador breeder

MaccieD · Feb 8, 2016

Hi and welcome to the forum. There's great advice already about finding and researching breeders and ensuring that all the necessary tests have been done and that all certificates are current. Expect to be interviewed by the breeder so ensure you have answers to questions like how long the puppy will be left alone etc. etc. Also if you find a breeder you really like be prepared to wait for a puppy; unfortunately they aren't born to order or you may decide to go on a breeders waiting list.
I went through much the same experience as others have quoted but with breeders in France and waited for around 9 months for my girl to be born as the litter I expected to have a puppy from consisted of 8 boys and 2 girls, and guess who was third on the list for a girl .

Have fun with your search and let us know how you get on

Michael Peace · Feb 8, 2016

editor said: ↑

Hi Mick and welcome to the forum, you may find this general article helpful: finding a breeder.

Building a list of stud dogs you like and noting which bitches they have been out to within traveling distance of your home can be a good strategy.

There is also information on the main site How to find a good labrador breeder
Click to expand...

Hi Pippa,

Thanks for the information.

Regards

Mick

Michael Peace · Feb 8, 2016

MaccieD said: ↑

Hi and welcome to the forum. There's great advice already about finding and researching breeders and ensuring that all the necessary tests have been done and that all certificates are current. Expect to be interviewed by the breeder so ensure you have answers to questions like how long the puppy will be left alone etc. etc. Also if you find a breeder you really like be prepared to wait for a puppy; unfortunately they aren't born to order or you may decide to go on a breeders waiting list.
I went through much the same experience as others have quoted but with breeders in France and waited for around 9 months for my girl to be born as the litter I expected to have a puppy from consisted of 8 boys and 2 girls, and guess who was third on the list for a girl .

Have fun with your search and let us know how you get on
Click to expand...

Hi Rosemary,

Thanks for the information.

Regards

Mick

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