Q: How much are your puppies? A: Our puppies 8-12 weeks of age are typically priced at $2000 depending on the litter and stud choices as of January 1, 2024. Our litters are priced at a set price regardless of color and gender. Our puppies sell on a contract with a 2 year health guarantee. Puppies come up to date on shots, have been dewormed, and have been deemed healthy by a Veterinarian. Puppies have been well socialized and are ready to blend into your family. We require a $400 deposit to hold your puppy. Older puppies are priced according to training and start at $2500 and increase with the more advanced training, titles, etc. Repeat buyers do receive a discount.
Q: How do we place a deposit? A: For deposits we accept cash or check. Cash or check deposits can be mailed or dropped off. The $400 deposit comes off the total price of the puppy. Remainder of payment is due upon pickup. You are welcome to make payments throughout the period leading up to puppies going home. Puppies will not leave our care until they are paid in full. Receipts for your deposit and all other monetary exchanges will be provided. Final payment is required before puppies will leave for their new homes. Final payment can be made on puppy pick up day. Cash is expected for final payment at time of pickup. Checks are not accepted at pick up.
Q: How do you raise your puppies? A: From the beginning our puppies are raised to be apart of our everyday lives. We breed dogs as a hobby and to improve our own dogs for showing/hunting/family purposes. Puppies are exposed to many different scenarios so they will be properly suited to blend into their new homes. Everything starts at about 3 days old when we begin with ENS, or Early Neurological Stimulation, and from there we work diligently to make sure our puppies are confident enough to handle the outside world. Puppies are introduced to many different surfaces, sounds and textures throughout their time here to ensure well rounded individuals.
Q: Will puppies be acclimated to water prior to going home? A: Yes, puppies will have been exposed to water prior to leaving for their new homes. Puppies will have access to a kiddie pool where they can get access to water on their own terms and become confident in the water.
Q: At what age do your puppies go home? A: Our puppies are able to go home around 8-10 weeks of age. It is important for them to be with their mother and learn important social skills during this time. A responsible breeder will not allow a puppy to leave for their new home before 8 weeks of age. We stick true to this and any of our puppies will not leave even a day before they turn 8 weeks old.
Q: Do you allow visitors? A: Visitors are allowed on a case by case situation. We do not allow visitors within the first 5 weeks after birth. Newborn puppies are extremely susceptible to pathogens and can succumb to simple viruses. Parvo virus is one of the biggest risks to young puppies and lives in the environment, it can be easily tracked in on your shoes. While we have litters on the ground we have a pretty strict biohazard protocol to ensure our puppies' safety. We do NOT allow visitors that have not completed a puppy application and have been approved. Our visitor protocol is much more lax during times where we do not have litters on the ground, but a completed and approved puppy application is still a requirement.
Q: When do you recommend spaying or neutering our puppy? A: We highly recommend waiting to spay and neuter your puppy until they have fully matured at the age of 2. It is very important that they remain intact to insure proper growth and development. Early spay and neuter can result in abnormal growth, hip dysplasia, increased risk for cruciate ligament tears and an increased risk of common cancers. Every puppy goes home with a packet of information regarding early spay and neuter.
Q: Do you remove the dew claws on your puppies? Why or why not? A: We do not remove the dew claws on our puppies. Dew claws do have a purpose and we intend to leave them on to serve that purpose. Here is a link to a short video that explains the purpose of dew claws. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4XflsMEk-k
Q: I heard that the color of a dog affects their temperament, is that true? A: Absolutely not. The color of a dog makes absolutely no difference in how their personality will turn out. Genetics, proper training and socialization affect the personality of your dog. With that being said, each dog is an individual and will have personalities that reflect that.
Q: Which is better, male or female puppies? A: Neither gender is better. However, you may have personal preferences in personality that may show you are more inclined to prefer males over females or vice versa. Each puppy has their own unique personality. We evaluate and temperament test our puppies so we are able to give you the best description of each puppy's individual personality.
Q: Do you offer shipping? A: We do not offer shipping. If you're interested in purchasing a puppy from another state, you must arrange for transportation on your own. We will not be responsible for finding a transporter or booking flights. If you plan to fly your puppy you must use a flight nanny or fly in yourself and we will happily meet you at the airport or will welcome you to our home. We prefer to meet all of our families in person at pick up.
Q: How long can we expect to wait for a puppy from a reputable breeder? A: On average families on our waiting list are typically waiting about a year from being added to our waiting list and taking their puppy home. Families that are set on particular color/gender combinations may be waiting up until 2 years. We cannot control the timing on heat cycles and stud availability so things are not always in our hands. We do not breed often and not every color is possible from every pairing. This is why we recommend reaching out sooner than later in regards to being placed on our waiting list, even if you don't plan on bringing home a puppy for another year or more.
Q: Why are all puppies sold on a contract? A: All of our puppies are sold on a contract to protect their best interest. We do not want any of our puppies ending up in shelters or rescues. We want to find the best possible homes for our puppies. Our puppies' best interests are our number one priority period. Our contract is lengthy, and it may seem excessive to some, but these "babies" are our livelihood and we put an incredible amount of time, love, and care into each one of our puppies. A copy of our contract and health guarantee can be found on our Puppy Information page.
Q: Do you raise silver Labs? A: No, we do not partake in the breeding of dilute dogs. Dilute dogs are out of standard and are not purebred. They are not recognized by the Labrador Retriever Club, which is the parent club for our breed. Fun fact, ALL dilute dogs go back to a breeder who had kept both Labradors and Weimaraners. All of our dogs are tested and are negative for the dilute gene. You can read more about silvers, and other dilute Labs below by following the link below: "The Truth Behind Silver Labs".