The Hoosier Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. Getting a Labrador Retriever

Home Club Information Event Information Getting a Labrador Retriever   Do your homework   Where to look   Know your colors   Must it be a puppy?   Must it be pure-bred? Breeder Referal   Puppy Referal Labrador Retriever- Related Links	One of the questions our club members get asked most often is, "What should I know before getting a Labrador Retriever?"  The decision to get a dog should not be entered into lightly.  This is going to be a family member for the next 12-14 years.
	Breeder / Puppy Referal Link Do Your Homework First Understand the needs and temperament of the breed,  then consider your lifestyle.  Do you live in a house or apartment?  Do you have time to provide the dog with enough exercise?  Time to take the dog to puppy kindergarten and obedience classes?  What size dog do you want?  Do you want a friendly dog or a protective dog?
	There are various breed-matching web sites and books that ask questions about what you want in a dog and your lifestyle and then suggest breeds.
	Find an all-breed show in your area and AFTER your breed of interest has been shown in the ring (the handlers may not be willing to talk before going into the ring), find where the breeder/handlers of your breed are hanging out and ask specific questions about the breed. You can find out about upcoming dog shows at the American Kennel Club website.  On the menu, choose Dog Events, and then Conformation Events. Above all, be honest with yourself that you can commit to the needs of the breed. top Where to Look Do not buy a dog, regardless of the breed, that is advertised in the newspaper or from a pet store.  Conscientious breeders do not advertise in the newspaper.  And there is no telling WHERE a dog in a pet store has come from, let alone try to housetrain a dog that has been allowed to relieve itself in a cage. What do we mean by "conscientious breeder?"  If you are going to buy a pure-bred dog, you want to find someone who: Knows the pedigree (blood line) of the puppy or dog you are looking to buy and can explain why the bitch (female) was bred to the stud (male). Knows the predominant health risks associated with the breed.  With Labrador Retrievers, the focus is on the eyes and hips.  Ask the person if the dog has been certified by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). Ask the person if there is any known Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) in the bloodline.  And ask what the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) classification was given on the hips /elbows of both the bitch and the stud.  Use the acronyms when asking the questions.  If they give you a blank look or an incompatible answer, you may not be getting a dog whose long-term health was considered during the breeding. The club recommends that the Breeder's Code of Ethics guidelines be followed. top Know Your Colors Labrador Retrievers come in three colors: Black Yellow (runs from a cream to a fox red) Chocolate Many people mistakenly refer to the Yellow Lab as "Golden."  This is where your homework comes in handy.  Do you really mean a Yellow Lab or do you really want a Golden Retriever, which is an entirely separate breed but with many of the same characteristics as the Lab? Ask a conscientious breeder for a Golden Lab and they will know you have not done your homework. And there is no such thing as a Silver Labrador.  Don't fall for the hype of this "rare" version. top Must It Be a Puppy? There are many legitimate reasons for wanting to get a dog while it is a young puppy.  If you really don't care if you get a puppy or an older dog, you may want to consider a breed rescue organization.  Breed rescue take dogs that the owners are not able to care for or out of bad situations and put them in foster homes while they evaluate whether the dog is suitable for placement in a home.  They are very careful about their placements. In Central Indiana we have the Central Indiana Labrador Retriever Rescue (CILRA).  While Jan Clark and her team of devoted volunteers occasionally get puppies, most often they get more mature dogs that required more effort than their owners expected. top Must It Be Pure-Bred? If you are not set on a pure-bred dog, local animal control and Humane Societies have a variety of wonderful animals looking for a home. top

Last updated:  24  August   2006

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