First time owner - where to find a lab pup?

[scaredsadandstuck]

We have been thinking about getting a puppy for a couple of years now and I am pretty settled on a lab based on my research about what's likely to fit into our family (two kids aged 9 and 13, 2 cats). I would happily have considered a rescue but it seems like organisations are, totally understandably, more cautious about giving rescues to first time owners, people with kids and people with cats.

So where should I look for a lab puppy? I have read some less than complimentary comments about Pets4homes on here. Should I stick with Kennel Club? Where else could/should I consider? And finally, does anyone have any views on whether puppy prices are likely to return to pre-covid levels? They are insane at the moment!

We got ours off pets4homes just before lockdown. They aren’t ALL con artists on there!!

Paid £350 for a 18 week old black lab puppy from a ‘normal person’. Saw mum and dad and other pups. All good

Wow! £350 is extremely good. Was that before lockdown last year? Good to hear a positive P4H story too

The thing to beware of with pets4homes isn’t just that it’s rife with dodgy breeders, you also need to beware of a “backyard breeders” who will just mate their bitch because they think it will be a lovely thing to do, won’t she have nice puppies, etc etc

Now these people aren’t puppy farmers, they usually (not always) have good intentions, but just because you CAN breed, doesn’t mean you SHOULD - for example, is the bitch health tested, is the stud health tested? Especially for Labs. Health problems will cost you a fortune in vets bills, if you are lucky. There is currently a thread about a poor collie puppy that came from an unscrupulous breeder and sadly didn’t survive. It needs to be read just so people realise how serious it can be.

Just because the owners mate Dave round the corner has a gorgeous lab doesn’t mean it’s a good stud. It’s also not about health testing as well it’s about temperament as well. Also will they enter in to a contract with you? Will they support you afterwards? Will always take the pup back if for whatever reason you have a problem?

So this is why pets4home isn’t great, they aren’t all greedy puppy farms, but it doesn’t necessarily make them ideal breeders either. And some people do just breed because they want to make their money back

So best place to start is a breed club. Champ dogs will list breeders and often it lists which breed club they belong to. So that’s a great place to start.

Beware though, any decent breeder will have a very long waiting list. We are after a miniature Dachshund and I’ve identified my breeder, but her wait list is closed until 2023, which actually is ok for us. She’s got our details and is going to let us know when the places move up and we can go on the list.

By all means, you can probably get a lab puppy in a few weeks, but it’ll cost you probably £2.5k and you’ve no idea really about where it’s come from.

But yes, occasionally there genuine breeders on P4H, but it’s hard work digging them out. And truthfully, most reputable breeders don’t need to go P4H, because they’ve already got waiting lists

This is all anecdotal, but a family member who’d always owned labradors bought their last labrador puppy from a friend of a friend who lived on a farm and had apparently had a happy accident between two of their labradors. Prior to this they’d always got their dogs from a breeder friend who had since passed away.

We were suspicious but the deed was done so said nothing.

Unlike their other labradors who had always been confident and easy to train, this dog was neurotic - couldn’t be left alone, hated the car, was nervous around other dogs and new people despite efforts to socialise, etc. Then, at under two years old she dropped dead in front of them from an undiagnosed heart problem.

They’ve been on the waiting list of a reputable breeder ever since. Apparently it might be over 2 years before they get their next pup, but they’re not taking any chances.

I have no idea how rare this is, but after having spent years reading about similar horror stories on MN I was shocked to learn it really does happen IRL.

I understand the longing fur a puppy but now is not a good time to be looking for one. I have a lab , not my first and we got her 10 months before Lockdown. Our breeder has closed her list as it was way too long, she is a professional kennel club platinum breeder and her dogs are excellent. Other breeders have done the same and there are some really unscrupulous people out there breeding who are making a lot of money selling puppies as if they are commodities. If it was me I would wait until things have settled down. Look at the kennel club register for approved lab breeders and go and visit one. They will be happy for you to go and meet the dogs and discuss owning a lab with you. A good breeder will have a waiting list.

Labs are wonderful dogs and worth the wait

Not a Lab puppy, but we did find our puppy through Champdogs. Got her at 12 weeks, and still in communication with the breeder today. Our puppy is now 20 weeks old. The breeder follows all her puppies. She is doing great.

The problem with getting a very sought after breed is you are more at risk of being scammed. Please be careful.

Look at the kennel club assured breeders in your area and email them about upcoming litters. Make sure they’re ‘assured’ as that means kennel club has actually gone over to their house and checked them out, they (the parents) will also need to be hip and eye tested to show you how they are genetically. Champ dogs is also a good place to start. I would say that any place that has done health checks, you can meet mum and KC registered is a safe bet for a good breeder.

Our puppy was sold at pre lockdown prices. Not overpriced, but expensive enough. Her price wasn't inflated. But again, she isn't sought after as a breed IMO. Labrador retrievers are very popular and so it's going to be difficult to get one just now as a PP has said due to inflated prices and many reputable breeders will not breed just now.

Try al the rescue centres near you. Also do you think it's fair on your cats?

Definitely make plans to visit different breeders if you can though, not necessarily meaning you will have a puppy immediately but sets the wheels in motion.

Thanks all, that's really helpful. I hadn't heard of Champ dogs either so will definitely check them out. I meant to say in my post that we're still at the thinking about it/planning stage. I'm well aware that prices are ridiculously high right now and that it's not the best time to be buying. To be honest with the others costs associated with a new puppy it would probably be beyond our budget to spend upwards of £2k on the dog. There'd be nothing left for all the other essentials. I would actually be happy with waiting another year or even longer if it meant getting the right dog, and meant prices and the general craziness around puppies to settle down. I do worry about all the lockdown dogs that have been bought over the last year.

Re the cats - yes I'm a bit worried about them, but that's one of the key reasons I've decided on a lab.

Labs are working dogs, they have excellent temperaments but it doesn’t mean they don’t have a prey drive! Labs need training from day 1 to teach them how to interact with other animals and people. They have soft mouths, but they’ll still shake a cat to break its neck in an instant as a ‘game’.

Get in touch with some good breeders (I can PM you one I know very well and isn’t having a litter until covid calms down, but will put you on a waiting list after ‘interviewing’ you to see if you’re lifestyle suits).

*your

theres no guarantee of a 'better' dog if its kennel club registered or from well bred parents, the dog is still an individual

training wise you get out what you put in (from my experience) and you don't need all the best accessories either. you will also find lots of conflicting advice over the best food

i joined a few Labrador owners forums and find them to be the snobbiest, bitchiest places....even giving AIBU a run for its money!!

no 2 trainers agree on anything either. Its so confusing!

OP, are you after show or working lines? ChampDogs is a very good place to start, but do be aware of the split in the breed. Working-line labs can make excellent pets, but on average they need more exercise and mental input than the show variety.