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There is a curse to being the most popular breed of dog in America. That means there are a lot of Labrador Retrievers that are being bred for money at the initial sale without any thought as how good a potential pet they will make. You can help avoid these so-called Labrador Retriever breeders by asking them some questions about how they do business and what they expect for from a Lab owner.

The most important questions when can I come look at the kennel, what kind of contract do you require and what do you look for in a new puppy owner. If you don’t have time to ask a lot of questions (say, if you are at a dog show), then at least try to slip in those three. The answers you get will tell you most of what you need to know about what kind of breeder your future Lab puppy will be like.

It is absolutely vital that you are able to visit the kennels of any Labrador Retriever breeder. Even if you are at a show and there are literally a littler of pups for sale, resist the temptation and schedule an appointment. The environment your puppy will be raised in will tell you a lot about the health and mental stability of your future puppy. You also should be able to meet dogs related to your puppy.

Take a good sniff when you are at the kennels. It should smell okay, perhaps be a bit musty, but should not smell overpoweringly like decaying meat or like dog poop. Labrador Retrievers need exercise and so should not be kept in crates all day - especially stacked crates. It is okay if they live in outdoor kennels with runs. You need to see how the dogs react and if they are clean and perky. This is a good indication that your puppy will be raised in a good environment.

Although there are no certainties in the dog world, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting a raw deal and a sickly puppy by obtaining certain paperwork from the Labrador Retriever breeders.

Paperwork for Lab puppies does not mean the newspaper you use for paper training. You need to ask about health certificates of both parents of the Labrador puppy as well as a contract. Yes, there definitely has to be a contract made up by the breeder about what the breeder is responsible for (especially in terms of your puppy’s health) and what you are responsible for. A contract is a deal breaker. No contract ? no deal.

A contract also can help eliminate a lot of future headaches. It should list what the breed is responsible to provide and what they are not. They might even have clauses such as you having to go to them first if you are no longer able to keep the adult dog.

You won’t get your money back, but at least your dog will have a good home. Assume nothing. Great Labrador Retriever breeders will bring all of this up if you forget to ask.