So, you've decided to buy a puppy - where do you look?
There are many places to find Labrador puppies, but as with everything in life, it is very much a case of ‘buyer beware’ and ‘do your own research’. This is a purchase which should be given as least as much thought as buying a new car – a Labrador will (hopefully!) be with you for between 10 and 15 years and will be a major part of your family. Imagine if something went wrong – just think how upset your kids would be that their playmate couldn’t play anymore, or how badly your bank account would be affected if your puppy had to have a major operation because of joint problems (this can easily be thousands of pounds)! Buying from a reputable breeder who has carried out all the health tests required on the parents is no absolute guarantee of a trouble-free future, but it does make it far, far more likely to happen. For information on which tests are required of the parents of any prospective companion, have a look at www.lab-health.co.uk
No matter how good the source of the litter details, ALWAYS check the paperwork BEFORE you look at the puppies. Any breeder worth their salt will be happy to let you do this; if they are not, walk away. Once you have looked at those little bundles of fluff, with their little waggy tails and cute faces, you may well find that all sensible thoughts will leave your mind and you feel you are obliged to hand over your money as ‘that puppy in the corner is the only one for you!’ Remember, there are plenty of Labrador puppies out there, and if the litter you are looking at does not tick ALL the boxes, you WILL find one (usually quickly and easily!) which does.
· Breed Clubs
This is probably the best place to start looking, as litters listed by breed clubs are only from members, and only from health tested parents. There are many Labrador breed clubs around Britain; there will be one covering your area, and they nearly all have ‘puppy coordinators’ who hold details of litters available. The puppy coordinator should also be able to answer any questions you might have with regards to what to look out for, or whether a Labrador is the right breed for you. For a list of breed clubs, have a look at the links page.
· Champdogs/Breedadog
These sites do their best to only allow reputable breeders to advertise with them. This is not infallible, but if you find a kennel where things are not as they should be, please let them know – they have strict rules for breeders using their site.
· The Kennel Club
The Kennel Club has lists of breeder in each area who have recently registered puppies. At the top of each page, marked with a white rose, are the Accredited Breeders. These are breeders who have paid to join the scheme, but who have also agreed to adhere to a minimum health testing policy. For Labradors, this is simply hip scoring and eye testing as mandatory, with Optigen testing and elbow scoring being recommended. This doesn’t mean that these breeders have done Optigen and elbows, nor that no other breeders on the list have, but it does mean that AT THE VERY LEAST the parents are hip scored and eye tested. Accredited breeders are not disallowed from breeding from dogs with high hip scores though, so again be careful about the actual results for the parents.
· Other advertisements; online/local paper/free-ads
These can be useful, as there are some reputable breeders who will advertise in this way. There are also, however, many adverts for puppies which are from non health tested parents, or which are not KC registered. Usually there is a big difference in price, but not always. It is always VERY important to ask the relevant questions about the parents’ registration and health test status BEFORE arranging a visit; if there is anything missing then please do not even consider going to look at the puppies.
