Shadow Mtn™ Labrador Retrievers
Frequently Asked Questions / Comments
Greenies Dog Treat Warning (Link to Dog Treat May Carry Danger)
I am looking for a chocolate lab puppy, but I cannot find one what should I do?
Why are most of your litters 1 chocolate parent and 1 black parent?
Will you have any puppies at this particular time?
How do I know if I am talking with a responsible breeder?
If I get a puppy from Shadow Mtn Labradors do I get to choose my puppy?
Why are your puppies sold on a spay/neuter contract?
Frequently Asked Questions / Comments
I am looking for a chocolate lab puppy, but I cannot find one what should I do?
There are three options:
- Find a breeder you feel comfortable with and who has labs with a look that you also like. Then talk with them about getting on their waiting list for a chocolate lab pup in the future
- Keep looking . . . if we know of responsible breeders with chocolate puppies we will be more than happy to provide you with this information
- Get a black lab now & a chocolate lab playmate in a year or so
Often people who are wanting a lab plan on getting another lab at some point in the future. In our opinion a responsible breeder will not place two labs pups in the same home from the same litter. The puppies will bond with each other instead of bonding with you the owner. Therefore, there must be a separation of time. We suggest 1-2 years.
We have people who get a black lab, then request to be on our waiting list for a chocolate in the future (1-2 years, sometimes more).
Why are most of your litters 1 chocolate parent and 1 black parent?
We feel the over all quality the chocolate coat, eye color, pigmentation and type is better when one parent is black. We are not the only ones that believe in this combination after years of focusing on Chocolate puppies it just works.
Will you have any puppies at this particular time?
Labrador retriever puppies arrive when everything goes according
to plan. Keep in mind Mother Nature plays a huge part in producing puppies.
We can
only estimate when a litter will be born. Once puppies are born they will
not be available for another 7-8 weeks or so depending on the litter.
If you have a requirement for a particular timeframe what will you do with the
puppy when that timeframe has ended? A puppy is a commitment regardless of your
schedule. Lab Puppies like children need lots of attention.
We do ask that you have a minimum of 4 days to spend with the puppy initially
for bonding and to get the puppy acclimated to the new surroundings and your
schedule. Then you need to make arrangements to let the puppy out midday if you
work outside
the home.
This consistency will assist in crate training and housebreaking your pup.
How do I know if I am talking with a responsible breeder?
Talk with the breeder. Ask them questions. They should be
able to provide a significant amount of information about their pedigrees & their
labradors. A responsible breeder will be knowledgeable about the genetic & health
problems of Labrador retrievers & be knowledgeable about any problems
in their bloodlines.
Speaking with the breeder will enlighten you to the breeder's philosophy.
How they care for their puppies from the day of birth to the day of placement.
Use your good judgment if something doesn't seem right move on and find another
breeder. This is a decision that you will live with for approximately 14 years.
Most people do not want a "show" puppy, but they do want a quality puppy for companionship. As a breeder we want quality in the puppies we keep. Therefore we pay close attention to the health and overall genetic make up of our puppies/parents/bloodlines, etc.
Keep in mind our focus is to improve the breed and very rarely do we ever have a litter where we do not keep a puppy. So in essence you are getting a similar health and genetic makeup in your pup as we have in ours. This is important whether your lab is a companion, a hunting dog, or an all around working lab.
If I get a puppy from Shadow Mtn Labradors do I get to choose my puppy?
Your decision will be guided based on a number of factors including (but not limited to):
- Number of people in your household
- Household activities/interests
- Why you want a lab
- Individual Puppy temperament/s (based on observation & testing)
- Individual Puppy Activity level (based on observation & testing)
Food for Thought: We do not want to place a puppy that shows strong retrieving desire in a home with a retired couple. That pups needs to go to a hunting home. It is not only important that you are happy, but we want to place each puppy in the best environment for them where they will be happy as well.
Why are your puppies sold on a spay/neuter contract?
There are a number of reasons for this, but here are a couple:
First: It is healthier for the puppies to be spay/neutered. Spaying/Neutering
decreases the risk of various types of tumors.
Second:
Pet puppies are sold as pets
for a reason:
They do not qualify as a puppy that should be in a breeding program.
Accidents happen & this is one way we can assist in trying to prevent unwanted
breeding's.
