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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: |
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Sound physical health and
temperament, |
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Breed type with
sound physical structure, correct double coat, classic head
and otter tail, |
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Strong retrieving instinct and trainability, |
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Appropriate orthopedic
clearances certified through OFA and/or PennHIP, |
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Annual ACVO / CERF eye clearances, and |
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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. |
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