Imperative to have raised a puppy on your own. While growing up as a kid, your parents brought home a pup and you feel you were a part of it, this is still not the same. If you have not raised a puppy as an adult, no need to further. I am sorry. The learning curve can be done on someone else's puppy, not one of mine. I am sorry I am a bit tough with this.
1. Have you raised a puppy on your own?
Fenced good size yard. Invisible fencing does not work best for a young pup. A dog park is a no-no. If you reside in the country without proper fencing or an area for the dog to call his/her home? Then you don't qualify.
2. Do you have a good fenced yard at home?
Please provide your attending Vet information caring for your existing or past dogs. I like to review annual vaccinations and overall best health care for your dogs in the past.
3. Share you Vet information, please.
Who is going to train your Lab? Do you have this experience? Or are you just placing a harness and a lead on your Lab and not planning on any training and allowing your Lab to take you for a walk? I recommend Bill Hillman Retriever Training on YouTube or his DVDs. If you plan for a Labrador to become an in home dog, please choose another breed of dog. Labradors deserve to run, play, be out on dirt and grass and be outdoors. I don't support training with clicker or treats.
4. Who is going to train your Lab? Do you have this experience?
If you already have another dog at home, sanitizing for Parvo is of upmost. How are you going to separate your existing dog from the new puppy for 6-7 weeks til your puppy has more of the puppy shots? And what do you know about Parvo? Are you aware this kills puppies? I send a puppy home with 3 puppy shots but you have 8 more weeks of shots. The puppy should NOT go out in the backyard til the puppy has 2 more puppy shots. Hard floor that is sanitized with Pro Logic or Virkon to kill Parvo is essential.
5. Do you have another dog at home?
6. What do you know about Parvo? Are you aware this kills puppies?
Have you updated yourself with the latest info and research for why Labradors are not spayed/neutered til fully grown at age Two? The latest info from FDA research on grain free dog food and the dog food brands linked to Cardiomyopathy? How about Copper Storage Disease that is linked to high quantities of copper in majority of manufactured dog food? I have a paper I wrote on the subject about CSD on my blog and links to research for 35 yrs being conducted on this subject at Michigan State University.
7. Have you updated yourself with the latest info and research for why Labradors are not spayed/neutered til fully grown at age Two?
I care where my puppies go. I desire for them to go to homes that care for best in care for them. There are many diseases that Labs can have if one does not test the parents for them. I am a breeder that does the DNA testing including for the epidemic Copper Toxicosis. CT kills Labs between ages 2-6 yrs of age with liver failure. I go thru all of this not to intimidate you but it should matter to you that you are working with a breeder that is doing their homework and research. Please be researched and prepared to answer questions about the following:
Are you prepared for your puppy being indoors for the following 7-8 weeks after getting home? Parvo lives in the dirt forever, which means unsafe for puppy going potties on the ground in your backyard til your Vet says it is ok. Webinar at the Learning Center www.revivalanimalhealth.com, great webinars on diseases including Parvo.
Have you Googled what Labs are pre-disposed today? OCD (not proven is genetic) and tearing of ACLs. How does one prevent this? Not neutering/spaying before age 2, ramps, good dog food and not playing hard with body slams with an adult dog at a young age. Plus, for the hunters... not hunting at a young age in boggy sticky mud and rice fields prior to full age growth 2.
Do you have a large enough yard with dirt and grass for a Labrador? Pretty tile, concrete, a pool and landscaping challenges a Labrador to find space for themselves for their best environment.
Are you going to allow your Labrador to enjoy the great outdoors? If not, and you wish for a Labrador to hang out indoors with you all day long with only occasional potty trips outside, then you are doing an injustice to the Labrador. If this is what you need, then may I suggest a small dog breed.
If you have issues with a puppy still biting on your arms and biting non stop, perhaps the training of the word 'no' in the month 3 might be needed. A puppy needs foundation at that age. Labradors these days are brilliant. At least mine are. You need to have backbone to be a good teacher. Labradors appreciate black and white.
