Labradors are among the most popular dog breeds. According to the American Kennel Club, they’ve been the most popular dog breed in the United States since 1991. Finding the perfect Labrador puppy can be daunting, and asking the right questions when dealing with breeders is essential.
The most important question to ask breeders when buying a Labrador puppy is whether they’re the puppy’s actual breeder. This question is essential in ensuring you deal directly with the source for all necessary information about the puppy’s health, background, and temperament.
In this guide, I’ll explore additional questions to ask breeders when buying a Labrador puppy, ensuring you find the perfect new addition to your family. Let’s get started!
1. Did You Breed the Puppy Yourself?
It’s important to ask the breeder if they bred the puppy themselves. This is a crucial question, as it helps ensure you work directly with the breeder rather than a middleman or broker.
Buying a puppy directly from the breeder ensures you don’t encounter issues, such as
uncertainty about the puppy’s background, health, and temperament. This can be especially problematic with purebred dogs, where genetics significantly determine the dog’s characteristics and potential health issues.
You’ll also have access to information about the puppy’s parents and lineage. This can help assess the puppy’s potential health issues and temperament.
2. What Is the Dog’s Temperament Like?
As a potential buyer, ask the breeder about the puppy’s temperament and parents. This information can provide insight into the puppy’s personality.
In addition, observing the puppy’s behavior and temperament is important before deciding. That said, Labradors typically have a friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited temperament. They’re also known for being gentle and affectionate, making them fantastic family pets.
Labradors are also highly intelligent, easily trainable, and often used as service dogs and in other working roles.
They can adapt to different living conditions, including apartments or rural areas.
However, Labradors require regular exercise and mental stimulation to maintain their physical and mental well-being. A lack of exercise and mental stimulation can lead to behavioral issues.
Some Labradors can be prone to separation anxiety, so it’s important to know if the puppy has shown any distress when left alone. It’s also worth checking if the puppy displays aggressive or overly dominant behavior, which can indicate potential temperament issues.
3. What Kind of Socialization Has the Puppy Had?
Socialization is a vital process for puppies, as it helps them develop positive associations with people, other animals, and new experiences.
This process begins early and should continue throughout puppyhood.
Before bringing a new puppy home, a responsible breeder will have initiated the socialization process.
This should include exposure to different people, animals, and environments, such as car rides and walks in new areas. The breeder should also have introduced the puppy to common household sounds like vacuum cleaners and TVs.
Exposing the puppy to these experiences teaches them to adapt and become more confident in new situations, reducing the risk of fear or anxiety issues later in life.
Ask the breeder how they continue socializing their puppies after they leave their care. A good breeder will provide advice and resources for continuing the socialization process at home.
For example, they may recommend enrolling the puppy in puppy classes or obedience training or providing you with exercises to practice at home to help the puppy develop positive associations with new experiences.
4. Can I See the Puppy’s Parents?
Meeting your potential Lab puppy’s parents can give you valuable insight into what to expect from your furry friend. The parents’ behavior and temperament can offer insight into the puppy’s likely future personality.
While seeing the parents in person and observing their demeanor and behavior is ideal, some breeders may have reservations about in-person visits, or an in-person visit may not be practical. You can ask for photos or videos to understand their temperament and habits in such cases.
If your puppy hasn’t been born yet or the father is in a different state, ask the breeder to share photos or videos of the parents. This can still provide a glimpse into their personality and traits.
Apart from temperament, it’s also crucial to inquire about the parents’ health. They should be healthy and free from any genetic issues that could be passed on to their offspring.
Ensure that the breeder has conducted health screenings and can provide supporting documentation.
5.How Old Is the Puppy, and When Can I Take It Home?
When adopting a Labrador puppy, it’s important to inquire about its age and when it will be ready for adoption.
Labrador puppies can usually be brought home at around 8-10 weeks. At this age, they’re becoming more independent and can begin to learn basic training and socialization.
Removing a Labrador puppy from its mother and litter mates too early can negatively affect its development and behavior.
Labrador puppies learn crucial socialization and communication skills from their mother and litter mates during their first few weeks. If removed too early, they may develop behavioral problems such as anxiety and aggression, affecting their long-term well-being.
Additionally, if a Labrador puppy is taken away from its mother too early, it may have a weaker immune system and be more susceptible to illnesses. This is because the mother’s milk contains vital nutrients to develop the puppy’s immune system.
6. Has the Puppy Received Its First Set of Vaccines?
When considering adopting a Labrador puppy, ask the breeder if it has received its first set of vaccinations and deworming treatments.
Puppies, including Labradors, are vulnerable to various diseases, so early vaccinations are essential to protect their health.
Some of these diseases include:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Canine distemper
- Canine hepatitis
- Canine parainfluenza
- Heartworm
- Rabies
It’s crucial to ask the breeder to provide you with the puppy’s health records showing that the vaccines are up to date.
The first booster vaccine for canine distemper should be given to Labrador puppies between 6-8 weeks.
The second vaccine for rabies is typically given when the puppy is around 12-20 weeks old.
The third vaccine, DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza), is generally administered when the puppy is 16-20 weeks old.
In addition to vaccines, it’s important to deworm your Labrador puppy regularly to prevent the spread of parasites.
Ask the breeder if the puppy has received deworming treatments and any information on when the subsequent treatment is due.
7. Are There Any Health Issues in the Puppy’s Bloodline?
Before adoption, asking about potential health issues in a puppy’s bloodline is essential.
The breeder should be able to provide you with a complete health history of the puppy’s parents and grandparents, including any health conditions they may have had.
Ensuring the puppy comes from a healthy bloodline helps reduce the risk of inherited diseases or health issues.
A health condition affecting Labradors is exercise-induced collapse (EIC), a genetic condition that can cause collapse during or after intense exercise or excitement.
This is caused by a mutation in a gene called dynamin 1, and breeders can identify gene carriers through a DNA test. Ask the breeder if the puppy might be a carrier of EIC and, if so, how they plan to avoid producing the disease in future litters.
Another health issue owners of Labrador puppies should be aware of is gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), commonly known as ‘bloat.’ This life-threatening condition can affect large, deep-chested dogs like Labs.
Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with gas, fluid, or food and can twist on its axis, cutting off blood supply to other organs. This can cause shock and death if not treated promptly.
8. How Much Is the Puppy, and What Does the Cost Include?
When you’re interested in adopting a Labrador puppy, an essential question to ask the breeder is the price and what it includes.
The average cost of a Labrador puppy typically falls between $800 to $1,200. Still, it can go even higher, depending on the following:
- Lineage
- Age of the dog
- Your location
However, remember that the cost of purchasing the puppy is just one aspect of the expense of owning a pet.
The breeder should also be able to give you an idea of the average cost of caring for a lab puppy well into adulthood.
This may include the cost of:
- Food
- Routine veterinary visits
- Vaccines
- Parasite control, along with any other necessary medications and treatments
In addition to these expenses, there may be additional costs to consider, such as:
- Grooming
- Bathing
- Toys
- Leashes
- Collars
- Bedding
9. Will You Sign a Written Contract and Health Guarantee for the Puppy?
When considering adopting a Labrador puppy, it’s important to ask the breeder if they’ll provide a written contract and health guarantee.
Purchasing a purebred dog is a legal transaction, and it’s crucial to understand the terms of the contract before bringing the puppy home.
The contract is an agreement between you and the breeder, and is designed to ensure the puppy is placed in a suitable home. As such, the breeder may ask to visit your home or request pictures or videos of your living environment to ensure it meets their standards.
By providing a written contract, the breeder is also offering a guarantee they’ll be available to answer any questions or concerns you might have along the way.
Additionally, it should include a provision in case you can no longer care for and keep the dog. This provision will ensure that the breeder is notified and can assist in finding a new home for the puppy.
As a prospective owner, to establish a lasting relationship with the breeder, ensure you can provide a secure and affectionate home for the Labrador puppy. This will allow you to receive essential advice and assistance from the breeder as your puppy matures.
Regarding a health guarantee, the breeder should be able to offer assistance if your puppy encounters any health issues. They may refer you to a trusted veterinarian or provide advice on caring for your puppy’s health.
Discussing these issues before taking the puppy home ensures you’re fully prepared to own a Labrador puppy.
10. Do You Have References or Past Customers I Can Speak With?
Verifying the breeder’s credibility when contemplating adopting a Labrador puppy is crucial. You can accomplish this by inquiring about references or contacting the breeder’s previous customers.
Experienced and trustworthy breeders will often have testimonials and referrals that they can share with you. It is a good idea to take advantage of this and speak with previous customers about their experience working with the breeder.
This can help you gain valuable insights into the breeder’s reputation and the quality of their Labrador puppies.
Some questions you can ask past customers include:
- Would you buy from the breeder again?
- Have you ever encountered any issues or concerns during the process?
- If you did, how did the breeder handle these issues?
This information can be especially helpful when searching for the right breeder.
Some breeders may hesitate to share references or have none available. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the breeder is not reputable, but it’s a good idea to proceed with caution in these situations.
11. What Do You Feed the Puppy?
Labradors love eating and aren’t fussy. Lab puppies are no exception and will eat almost anything you give them. However, before taking your new bundle of fluff home, ask the breeder what they feed the puppies.
When you first adopt your puppy, there will be a period of adjustment, and your puppy may feel slightly anxious as he gets used to his new home and is away from his mother and littermates for the first time. Feeding your Lab puppy the food he’s used to means there’s one less thing to get used to, and can also prevent digestive issues resulting from eating a new food type.
12. Do You Have Any Tips for Raising a Healthy Labrador?
When adopting a Labrador puppy, you want to provide him with a happy home and a healthy lifestyle. While your vet is the perfect person to provide advice and veterinary recommendations, your breeder can also give valuable tips.
A reputable Labrador breeder will be passionate about the breed and should have plenty of breed-specific information for you.
