Planning, breeding and raising Labrador Retriever puppies is a substantial undertaking.  The planning process starts long before the breeding takes place and the breeder's responsibility extends throughout each puppy's life.  The most important aspect of the breeder's role is matching each puppy with his adoptive family.  Many factors contribute to a successful puppy adoption – and the breeder and the adoptive family share this responsibility.

The Breeder's Responsibility

The Breeder must do everything possible to ensure that the selected breeding partners are healthy and exemplify the breed.  Before being considered for inclusion in my breeding stock each of my Labradors is carefully screened and qualified as having:

•	Sound physical health and temperament,
•	Breed type with sound physical structure, correct double coat, classic head and otter tail,
•	Strong retrieving instinct and trainability,
•	Appropriate orthopedic clearances certified through OFA and/or PennHIP,
•	Annual ACVO / CERF eye clearances,
•	Heart evaluation by a veterinary cardiologist and certification through OFA, and
•	OptiGen status appropriate to the selected breeding partner ensuring that the puppies will not be affected by Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

The art of canine breeding involves building on positive and eliminating undesirable traits. It is my practice to engage in a breeding only when I believe that the combination will contribute to the breed, meet a specific objective in my breeding program, and produce puppies who will become exceptional family members.

Once the planned breeding has taken place, the pregnant mother is carefully managed to maximize puppy health.  The whelping is carefully supervised for the safety and health of the mother and each puppy.  Puppies are raised with loving attention and the provision of appropriate socialization.  And very importantly, each puppy's temperament is evaluated so that each puppy may be well matched with adoptive families.  The breeder continues to serve as a resource to each adoptive family throughout each puppy's life.

The Adoptive Family's Responsibility

The adoptive family must be committed to the addition of a family member and recognize the responsibility that is entailed.  It is important to be knowledgeable about the Labrador breed and the breed characteristics.  Families must understand that daily patterns and priorities will need to adjust to include a puppy and later an adult dog.  The family must fairly evaluate their lifestyle and be realistic about their expectations for a Labrador Retriever family member.   The family must be prepared to provide love, training, grooming, veterinary care and daily companionship to nurture the puppy into a fully integrated adult family member.  Please visit "Is a Labrador Right for My Family" to consider the factors important to selecting a Labrador Retriever to become a family member.