Thoughts to consider before purchasing a Labrador puppy:
The Labrador retriever is considered by many to be the ultimate family dog. This is only partially true! In fact, many American families are NOT suited for this breed; the typical busy family does not have adequate time to allot to an intelligent, active puppy in their home. Although Labrador retrievers should always have a kind, biddable temperament, this is not the only consideration when purchasing a dog. Their reliable temperament, among other things, has led to an incredible rise in the popularity of the Labrador retriever. Unfortunately, the other breed characteristics are often forgotten. For example, many people forget the original purpose of the breed- as a retrieving, hunting, waterfowling dog! They are energetic by nature, and do require daily exercise. Many of today's families may find they don't have the time to exercise such an active puppy. Although many dogs ultimately outgrow this "puppy stage", WHEN is entirely based on the individual. It is not uncommon for Labradors to remain very active into their middle ages and beyond, although some will mellow much sooner than that.
Labradors grow to be medium/large dogs- although not terribly tall in stature, they average in weight around 70-85 lbs. A dog of this size is in dire need of obedience training from an early age. An exuberant Labrador can easily injure a child or older adult (unintentionally, of course!) simply as a result of their activity level and size. They can be potentially destructive too- as those puppy teeth grow in, your Labrador puppy will seek things out in your home to chew on, including shoes and furniture, if not provided with another outlet for teething. Labrador retrievers are intelligent and trainable by nature, and do best when given some sort of "job"- ideally through obedience training.
Oh yes, the shedding. Labradors have a "double coat"- both an undercoat and top/outer coat protect the Labrador on its icy swims to retrieve waterfowl. That undercoat also ends up all over your home, and once or twice a year, many Labradors "blow coat", or have an intense shedding period (normally related to changes of season or hormonal cycle). Although Labradors are certainly less maintenance-intense than other breeds, their coat does require some care and brushing. There is a common misconception that short coated dogs don't shed much (or at all). Please stop by and look at our living room rug sometime if you need proof!
We can not urge you enough to CAREFULLY CONSIDER your decision to add any dog into your home. Remember, the purchase of a puppy or adult dog can be one of the most rewarding purchases of your lifetime, spanning 10-15 years! It is inevitably worth your while to take time to talk to breeders and pet owners of the breed you think is right for you. I always recommend going to a dog show, obedience trial, or field event if you are interested in pursuing any of these venues with your dog (and of course, they can be great places to meet breeders and see their dogs!). Remember, one of the best parts about a purebred dog is its predictable characteristics, so meet as mnay dogs of your chosen breed as possible before decicing on a puppy.
With all that said, Labrador retrievers have the potential to be excellent dogs for the right owners and right family. Obviously, we're rather fond of them, and I couldn't see our home without them in the future.
PLEASE REVIEW BEFORE CONTACTING ME FOR A TRIFECTA PUPPY!
Much careful consideration goes into the prospective breedings at Trifecta Labradors. We strive to choose parents that are not only good examples of their breed, but that are healthy, and most importantly, have the sweet & biddable temperment that is representative of the breed.
At bare minimum, both parents will have the following health clearances: OFA hips, OFA elbows, a current CERF exam (dated within one year), and will have been Optigen tested (a genetic test for the presence of progressive retinal atrophy). This helps us ensure that at the very least, we are doing everything within our power to produce puppies that will be healthy companions for their owners.
After the mom-to-be is confirmed pregant, we will start contacting potential homes on our waiting list. The prospective new owners will be carefully screened, ideally in person, to ensure that every Trifecta puppy is going to the best home possible. I do not ship puppies for any reason- but you are welcome to fly out and pick up your puppy in person at 8 weeks of age, and I will be happy to help you set up any necessary travel arrangements.
The puppies are whelped in my home office. This allows me to keep close contact with the new mom and babies, while still giving her some deserved privacy. As the puppies grow older, they will be introduced to the normal sights and sounds of the home & field- adult dogs, cats, the vacuum cleaner, children, birds, water, etc- to help make the adjustment into your home smoother. In addition, the puppies will begin crate training before they leave our home.
All puppies will receive a combination vaccine at 7 weeks, permanently identified by microchip, had their dewclaws removed, and will have been dewormed several times before leaving our home. In addition, they will have had their eyes examined by a board-certified opthamologist (CERF exam) between 7 and 8 weeks of age. My puppies have a guarantee on hips, elbows, and eyes- please contact me for details about our puppy guarantee.
Please note- the reason that I breed a limited number of litters is to keep a potential puppy for ourselves, and will only have a litter when we are capable of adding to our family. Our breeding goal is to improve the Labrador retriever and preserve this breed as a multipurpose dog. Although I may have a specific color and sex in mind that I ideally wish to keep, ultimately I will keep the "best" puppy or puppies from each litter. For this reason, I am unable to guarantee a specific color and sex of pet puppies- although I will do my best to accomodate your wishes. In addition, my puppies are sold either on a co-ownership agreement or limited registration with a spay/neuter contract. I ask that you please read the AKC's webpage on limited registration by following the link. I may have a limited number of puppies (perhaps 1 or 2) available to performance or show homes. Please contact us for more information.
Every time I produce a litter, my utmost concern is for the health and welfare of the dam and her pups. For this reason, a Trifecta puppy is always welcome back to us, for any reason, no questions asked.
