Questions to Ask Before Buying a Labrador Retriever

Bringing home a new labrador retriever puppy is an exciting time for your family, but you need to do your homework before settling on a breeder. This breed has a lifespan of up to 15 years, so you want to invest in a quality dog from a reputable, straightforward breeder. When asking these questions, if the breeder avoids giving clear answers or gives you a bad feeling, do not buy a puppy from him. Good breeders don't mind these questions and are often pleased that you have put effort into researching labrador retrievers prior to buying.

  1. Health Testing

    • Ask the breeder what health testing has been performed on the dog's parents and the results of those tests, since this breed is subject to many genetic diseases. For example, many labs suffer from hip dysplasia, a painful, degenerative joint disease that can be screened for by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), PennHIP or Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). According to the OFA, labradors have a 11.9 percent rate of hip dysplasia among dogs tested, so if you buy a puppy from a breeder not doing health screening, your puppy has a 1 in 10 chance of having one or both parents with this disease. A responsible breeder will only breed labs with hips certified normal, good or excellent, which lowers your risk of ending up with an affected puppy. Other tests that should be performed screen for eye, heart, neurological and elbow diseases and the breeder can provide you with official test results.

    Socialization

    • You should ask the lab's breeder what type of socialization has been done for your puppy. According to veterinarian Dr. Robert K. Anderson, the first 16 weeks of a dog's life are a crucial time to expose the dog to as many new sights, sounds, sensations, people and places as possible. During this age range, puppies accept new situations without fear and build confidence to rely on later in life. Your lab's breeder should be exposing the puppy to different people, such as children and seniors; different surfaces, such as tile, carpet and grass; and noises, such as lawn mowers and squeaky toys. It is not a good idea to buy a dog from a breeder who doesn't understand or recognize the value of early socialization because you can end up with a fearful, nervous adult dog.

    Return Policy

    • Before buying your lab puppy, ask the breeder what kind of return policy he has for his dogs. Even if you never plan on returning your puppy, the answer you get will provide you with valuable insight on the breeder's motivation. A responsible lab breeder will always accept a return on any of his dogs, no matter the age of the dog or the amount of time that has passed since the purchase. According to the Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston, this type of breeder is passionate about his dogs and has invested his heart and soul into them. He would rather take in another dog than see one of his labs go to an animal shelter.

    References

    • An appropriate request to make when buying a labrador puppy is for a list of people who have purchased from that breeder. A responsible breeder will be happy to give you previous customers who can provide reviews and recommendations. A breeder will have nothing to hide if he is selling healthy and happy puppies and providing good "customer service." According to the Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston, the references will be more than willing to discuss the breeder, the puppies and any other questions you have. This is a sign of a very reputable and trustworthy lab breeder.