1. Make sure parents and individuals have OFA numbers for Hips AND Elbows, as elbows are starting to be a problem in field dogs. You can verify these numbers online at www.offa.org and now study the parents, grandparents, siblings and offspring. Hips should be done for a number of generations, but the parents may only have Elbow numbers. If there is no OFA number for Hips recorded, then the dog probably does not have one. If you are told the dog is "Prelimed", ask for a copy of the report signed by the vet on his official office form. If there is no report, I would question the x-ray. Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) issues numbers for Hips, Elbows, and Eyes. These are the genetic tests that they have determined that must be done on a breeding dog at this time.

2. Make sure parents eyes are CERFed if you want to breed or buy a puppy. CERF numbers can also be verified online at http://www.vmdb.org/cerf2.html. A veterinarian can't "look" at the eyes or hips and say they are ok. Hips and Elbows MUST be xrayed and eyes must be looked at by a board certified canine Ophthalmologist. Most breeders get certificates from the ACVO vet that the pups eyes are clear so the new owner will repeat the exam before breeding to get a CERF number.

3. Ask for the written guarantee, read it and understand it BEFORE YOU BUY. Many breeders will replace a pup only if you euthanize it or return it to them. Some breeders only have occasional pups so ask them what they will do if they don't have any pups for replacements to honor the guarantee. Some breeders will only return part of your money. Some breeders do not guarantee against mild dysplasia. Severe dysplasia is uncommon, although not rare, by 2 years, but mild dysplasia is more common. Make sure the guarantee covers all dysplasia for 26 months.

4. PRA (progressive blindness) is usually not apparent by ACVO exam until 3-5 years or more and is rare in field dogs and more common in bench dogs. A guarantee against PRA until 2 years is kind of a non-guarantee. Retinal dysplasia is more common in field dogs and can be ruled out at 6 weeks. PUPPY folds that disappear (as opposed to true retinal folds) have finally been proven to not cause hereditary retinal dysplasia. Cataracts can be inherited or acquired (as from trauma). Only juvenile and inherited cataracts are a concern for breeding.

5. A good field pedigree has 10-14 FC's in a 4 generation pedigree, has FC's on all sides of the pedigree, and titled dogs in the 1st and 2nd generations. An NFC or NAFC is the top dog that year at the National Open or Amateur. A "C" prefix, such CFC denotes a Canadian FC. A CH is a show or conformation champion and is not a field championship. Hunt test titles are not championships as the dogs are graded against a standard and do not compete against each other, but they are a good measure of ability and show the dog is trainable if a SH or MH is accomplished. The Derby is a stake for dogs under the age of 2 that awards points and not titles, although Derby Champ for the year is a great accomplishment. See the WRC library for more title definitions. Check with the AKC website for agility and obedience titles.

6. Linebreeding in a pedigree will intensify the characteristics of that dog repeated in the pedigree. Linebreeding is not bad, but the breeder must have knowledge about the health and temperament of the dog and know if it is "clean" for genetic defects that could compromise the quality of life of the offspring. Doubling up on genes can make a uniform litter, but it can also be disaster if unwanted recessives are doubled up. NO dog is free of genetic defects, and each dog probably carries an estimated 7-10 recessive genes that when combined, can cause minor to severe defects. Defects passed by breeding to known carriers usually shows up in 2 to 3 generations when novice and BYB breeders start putting dogs together without knowing the history of dogs in the pedigree.

7. A Limited registration allows you to compete in any AKC event, other than conformation, such as hunt test, flyball, obedience, agility, CGC, etc. You may NOT breed with a limited registration. The breeder is the only person that can convert a Limited to a Full registration BEFORE the dog is bred. If you are taking a limited registration on one of my pups, I require the $50 difference in buying price plus OFA and CERF to be performed. If your dog is bred with a limited registration I may not agree to convert the limited registration to full.

8. Having both parents on the premises should not be an important criteria for choosing a puppy. The use of outside stud dogs is often necessary to better a breeding program.

9. Although AKC papers are no indication of the quality of the puppy, avoid other US registries. As AKC has required DNA on frequent sires and raised fees, new registries have been popping up with no requirements other than paying a fee to register even a mixed breed dog.

10. If you are told the parents eagerly fetch a tennis ball or a retriever trainer dummy, that is not indicative of hunting instinct, birdiness, or the ability to be trained for field competition.

11. Purchasing a puppy should be a family decision and not done on impulse. The adults should BOTH want the puppy and participate in its training. This means if Dad wants a pup and Mom is overwhelmed with children or babies, wait unless Dad will accept full responsibility for the care of the puppy. The puppy should be prepared for, and cared for properly. The purchase price of the puppy can end up being very small compared to veterinary bills that accumulate from buying on impulse from a mall store, newspaper, or back yard breeder. Most reputable breeders frown on Christmas pups as gifts because many end up in shelters and rescue when the work starts in raising a puppy. Also, Christmas pups suffer because there is too much commotion in the house at that time and going to their new homes may be the most stressful time in their lives. Plan for your dog and look for the best dog to suit your needs rather than making a quick decision, because that dog becomes your responsibility for the next 10-15 years.

12. Please be realistic about getting a puppy if you have small children, or children that may have been frightened by dogs. Although you may think they are ready for responsible pet ownership, if they move quickly, erratically, scream a lot, and suddenly wake the puppy from a nap they may scare the puppy and cause behavior problems. Puppies bite their litermates and even though I correct them here, you might have to do the lip pinch. Puppies are also a lot of work, especially in the beginning. Please wait until your children are more mature. Older children and their friends should be forbidden to tease the dog and be taught to leave him alone when he is in his crate and wants a time-out. Supervision may be necessary with visiting children. Even a puppy with a good temperament has limitations with misbehaving or hyper children. If your children are hyper that will make the puppy hyper. 

13. Field, Show, British, English, American. It gets real confusing. Basically, there is a huge split between field Labs and show Labs on how they look and function. At one time, prior to the late 60's, field and show dogs looked similar and British field and show Labs looked similar. The first Labradors in Newfoundland were described as similar to our field Labs today. Form follows Function. The show Labs changed dramatically in the late 1960's when Sandylands Labradors from England were brought over and bred, and subsequently U.K. show judges were brought over to judge them. BIS CH Shamrock Acres Light Brigade (Briggs) had 12 BIS wins. Since the introduction of the Sandylands Mark & Midas to the scene, Labs are hard pressed to even get a group placement. Brigg's grandfather was Ch. Whygin Poppitt whose grandson 1966,1969 NFC Whygin Cork's Coot sired FC/AFC Trumarc's Raider from which the top field Labradors of all time come from, Honcho, Zip Code, Raiders Piper Cub etc. Show people claim the dogs follow the standard but even to the casual observer, they are overdone and heavy. They are referred to as English Labs, or English type Labs. British Labs are field Labradors from the U.K. American Labs originally descended from British Labs, but have been in the U.S. for many years. Field trials are much different in the U.K. than here and our field dogs have evolved to highly intellectual, magnificent athletes.

14.  I often hear people say "they are just looking for a pet and not a show dog" so they don't want to spend much. My advice then is look into a rescue dog. The same care and medical certifications go into a dog purchased for competition or a pet. The money you spend on a pet with a reputable breeder will pay off with a healthier dog and fewer vet bills. Although some people luck out with a nice pet from a backyard breeder, remember, many don't and look for a reputable breeder next time. People selling inferior stock rely on impulse purchases. You may have your dog for 10-15 years, and saving a few hundred dollars on the purchase price may look like nothing over the course of the dogs' life.

15.  If a website has no names or addresses there is a reason they don't want to be found.