Choosing a Breeder

When it comes to choosing a breeder, there are a number of things to consider. The first is the type of breeder. The first is the more common, easy to find, and typically you can find a puppy straight away… these are known as backyard breeders. Most backyard breeders start off as pet owners who either have an unexpected litter,  or are starting to breed for some extra cash. These dogs are typically not genetically tested, and the breeders are fairly hands off. While this is more desirable than a puppy mill, for a service dog, this is not something that is wanted.

Alternatively,  there are established breeders,  that work off a known line of dogs, and work to better the breed. Not change it, but to ensure illness, and ill-tempered dogs do not breed.  These breeders are more expensive, and getting the dogs takes longer, but especially when you are looking for a service dog, temperament is what is important, so making sure you have the right breeder is also important.

The breeder we have chosen is local to us, has been breeding labs of all colors for 14 years, has all the dogs genetically tested for ALL genetic diseases not only those common to Labradors.  The breeder also does 2 different early stimulation techniques with their puppies, called Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Puppy culture. Both of these techniques introduce different sights, sounds, smells, textures, and experiences. These two programs help create socialized, balanced dogs! Research is showing that Socialization is more than just introducing dogs to other humans and dogs… but starts very early, and some research is suggesting that by the time the puppy is 12 weeks old, it’s too late to fully socialize them. This is why a good breeder, who understands the science is important.

During the process of finding a breeder, one thing I wanted to be sure to do before putting down a deposit on a puppy was visit the breeding facility. I did this with my wife and kids, and we were able to meet the owners of the facility, and hear their stories. We were able to meet a sweet little puppy named ‘Merica who was joining them as a future momma. We were able to talk about what I was looking for, how they could help, and what the process would look like. We also met Luna, who was a very sweet, even tempered, patient charcoal lab who was due to halve puppies A few days before valentines. We talked about the deposit and how the deposit could apply towards a litter, then if none of the puppies met the temperament testing I would need to do, it could apply towards another litter! This is important to me, because I want to be sure to get the RIGHT dog, not just any dog.

The breeder I have chosen to work with is Tip Top Labradors, in Queen Creek, AZ. I made the decision to work with them as they have had service and therapy dogs in their lines, have been highly responsive in communication, do extensive genetic testing, and have excellent socialization programs for their puppies.  While their website needs updating, they do an excellent job at updating their Facebook page. Their puppies are their priority, one of the breeders is an RN, the other is retired and his sole job is the dogs now!

A litter of puppies was just born, that is my first litter to be able to choose from. The Dam, Luna, had 8 puppies, 7 males and 1 female. One of the males was born sleeping. They were born on Feb 13, 2022. I am looking forward to them growing and seeing if any of them meet temperament!

Next post, Choosing a puppy.