LITTER INQUIRY INFORMATION Our puppies are very special to us, and we take their placement very seriously. Our goal is to select homes that will provide a lifelong, safe and loving environment for them, and establish a solid, working relationship with you, which will ultimately result in the benefit and success of your puppy. To be considered as a prospective owner for one of our puppies, you will need to complete a "Puppy Questionnaire" which will ask some personal information about you, your family and your home so that we can determine how the puppy will be raised, and where and how he/she will live. We will also want to know your reasons for deciding to obtain a Labrador Retriever, and what you expect from your dog (a family companion, a show prospect, an Obedience or Agility participant, etc., as well as what you want in terms of color, sex, size and personality). Before requesting our "Puppy Questionnaire", please think about the following questions and facts: Do I really want a dog, and does everyone in the home really want a dog? When getting a puppy for a child, please keep in mind that the ultimate responsibility for the care, maintenance and upbringing of the dog rests solely with the adults. Can I afford to keep a dog? Dogs are a big expense when being properly kept. You will have expensive veterinary bills, food bills, training fees, equipment, boarding fees, etc. Will the dog fit into our lifestyle? If you vacation or travel often, your plans may have to change if you own a dog. Most vacation spots do not allow pets, therefore you will have to make arrangements to have your dog properly cared for when you are away, or else your vacation plans may have to change. If you work long hours, please keep in mind that Labradors do not enjoy spending long periods of time alone. Will the dog fit into our home? Do you have enough room in your house for a dog? We have serious concerns about dogs living in apartments and condos due to rules and regulations, exercise space, etc. Additionally, we will not place a puppy that will be living strictly outdoors. Labradors are extremely social dogs and require human companionship. They like a place within the home and will thrive if they perceive they are a part of the family. Do I have the time and patience to spend on training and exercising a dog? A puppy has endless energy and will keep you "on your toes". Additionally, Labrador puppies grow quickly and will need proper exercise to expend their energy and develop properly. You should have a fenced yard for your dog's exercise. A sturdy, well-built, six-foot fence is necessary to contain an energetic Labrador. Labradors will also need training in order to resolve "growing-up issues" and become well-behaved and well-adjusted members of the family. Labradors mature slowly. Expect to have a rambunctious "puppy" around for two to three years. Is this the right time to get a dog? Don't make the mistake of buying a puppy on impulse. This can be a terrible mistake, and cost you and the puppy great heartbreak and sorrow. Please keep in mind that we will not place a puppy with a couple expecting their first baby. This is a very special time to be devoted to the baby, and a puppy will detract from this experience. Additionally, we will not place a puppy in a home in which there is another puppy younger than six months of age, nor will we place two puppies in a home at the same time. Does anyone in the house suffer from asthma or allergies? Although Labradors are shorthaired dogs, they shed tremendously. If anyone in the house suffers from the above conditions, or if you don't like to have dog hair all around your house, a Labrador is not the dog for you. All of our companion (pet) puppies are sold with an AKC Limited Registration. The AKC, to assist breeders in preventing the inexperienced and uninformed breeding of puppies provides this form of registration. Those of us who love our breed and want to preserve its excellence, and stop the irresponsible breeding of these dogs now use the Limited Registration option. Information on Limited Registration can be obtained from the AKC. We strongly recommend that all companion (pet) puppies be spayed or neutered by the age of one year. Spaying or neutering early will not only avoid unwanted and unplanned breedings, but it will also eliminate or lessen the likelihood of the dog developing serious medical conditions later in life, including certain types of cancer. Our puppies will not go home before the age of 8 weeks. By the time our puppies go home they will have received a health examination and necessary vaccinations for their age, and will go home with an appropriate health guarantee. It will be the new owner's responsibility to then complete all puppy vaccinations in order to ensure full immunity for the puppy. All dogs that we use for breeding have been screened for Hip Dysplasia and heritable eye disease and we only breed dogs that are clear of these problems. For more information on these health clearances, please refer to our Links page and visit OFA and CERF. If the puppy has to be shipped, the buyer is responsible for all shipping charges. We will ship only via direct flight. We will require that the new puppy owner(s) contribute as well to the ultimate success and health of the puppy. As a new puppy owner you need to learn what activities are appropriate for a puppy, what food will contribute to proper growth, what the necessary veterinary care is, what equipment you will need to obtain, and what forms of training are available for your puppy. We will gladly provide assistance with information about all these facets of puppy care and development. If you understand all the above information and are in agreement with it, and decide that you are interested in one of our puppies, please contact us so that we can send you a "Puppy Questionnaire". We place our puppies' best interests and happiness above all, and appreciate your understanding in providing the requested information. We recommend the following books for complete Labrador care and information, and for a humane and effective approach to puppy and dog training: The Labrador Retriever, the Dog that Does It All, by Lisa Weiss and Emily Biegel Mother Knows Best, by Carol Lea Benjamin The Art of Raising a Puppy, by The Monks of New Skete Check Dogwise.com for these selections and many other dog related publications. Please contact us for a"Puppy Questionnaire" or so that we may answer any other questions you may have.