Bringing home an American Labrador begins long before the car ride and the first cuddle on the couch. It starts with pointed, confident questions that illuminate the Labrador breeder’s standards, your puppy’s early experiences, and the support you can count on after pickup.
Ask with purpose, listen for clarity, and choose the program that values sound health, stable temperament, and transparent communication.
Health Testing
Start with the parents’ orthopedic and eye certifications. Request OFA hip and elbow results and current eye exams performed by a board-certified ophthalmologist. Ask for registration numbers to verify independently. Review DNA results for breed-relevant conditions like EIC, PRA, HNPK, and CNM, and request written copies rather than summaries.
Key prompts:
- Do you have OFA hip and elbow certificates for both parents with IDs I can check online?
- Are current eye clearances available from a board‑certified ophthalmologist?
- Can you share DNA panel results for EIC, PRA, HNPK, and CNM, with each parent’s status?
Temperament and Working Drive
American Labrador puppies are athletic, purposeful, and bred for field work and trainability. Ask how the breeder evaluates drive, focus, and recovery after stimulation, and how they balance energy with calm, biddable personalities for family life. Request examples from past litters that excelled in hunting homes and as steady companions indoors.
Ask:
- How do you test and score puppies for retrieve desire, startle recovery, human focus, and noise resilience?
- Which lines in this pedigree consistently produce tractable field dogs that settle indoors?
Socialization and Early Exposure
The first eight weeks shape confidence. Ask for a day‑by‑day picture: novel surfaces, car rides, household sounds, short field walks, gentle water introductions in season, and structured human handling. A thoughtful breeder can describe specific exposures and how pups responded.
Clarify:
- What is your week‑by‑week socialization plan from 3 to 8 weeks?
- Have pups met children, seen crates, ridden in the car, and heard recorded gunfire at a safe distance?
- How do you document individual progress?
Vaccines, Deworming, and Veterinary Records
You should receive a vet‑signed record listing deworming dates, fecal results, vaccine lot numbers, weights, and any treatments. Ask who administered the shots and when the next boosters are due, then schedule your new‑home exam accordingly.
Confirm:
- Which vaccines have been given, by which clinic, and what is due next?
- Do you send home a health certificate and a copy of the medical chart?
Contract, Guarantees, and Breeder Responsibility
Read the sales contract slowly and ask practical questions. Reputable programs outline a health guarantee for congenital or hereditary conditions for a defined period, plus a take‑back clause should you ever be unable to keep the dog. Clarify what happens if your vet finds a concern within the first two weeks.
Ask:
- How long is the health guarantee, and what conditions are covered?
- What are my obligations for the timing of the first exam and puppy care?
- Will you accept the dog back at any time if life circumstances change?
Pedigree and Purpose
American field lines vary in speed, intensity, and off switch. Ask why the sire and dam were paired, what they contribute to nose, water attitude, marking, and trainability, and how siblings have performed. A breeder who plans litters with intention can explain the match without fluff.
Probe:
- What goals guided this pairing, and how does it compare to your past crosses?
- Do you have references from owners of pups out of the same parents or related litters?
Environment and Daily Routine
Clean spaces, purposeful enrichment, and daily human interaction matter. During your visit, observe the kennel or home areas, water access, footing, and how pups transition between rest and play. Ask about weather exposure, shade, and supervised outdoor time.
Questions:
- What does a typical day look like for the pups from wake‑up to bedtime?
- How often do they have structured handling, short training games, and quiet crate time?
Feeding and Transitions
Diet impacts growth plates and focus. Ask what brand and formula the breeder feeds, how portions are adjusted by weight, and what treats are used in training. Request a written transition plan and at least a few days of the current food.
Cover:
- What food and amount are you feeding now, and how often?
- Do you have a seven‑day transition schedule if I change brands later?
Matching Process and Pick Order
Smart placement beats first‑come first‑served. Ask how the breeder matches puppies to homes using temperament notes, retrieval tests, and household goals. Clarify your role in the pick process and how they advise against a pup that does not fit your lifestyle.
Confirm:
- How do you decide which puppy suits a hunting home, sport home, or laid‑back family?
- Will you recommend against a choice if the fit is poor?
Training Foundation Before Go‑home
Small skills prevent big problems. Ask about name recognition, recall games, start‑line manners for fetch, polite sits before gates, and early crate calm. A few minutes a day at the breeder’s program can set your pup up for rapid progress.
Ask:
- What pre‑training will my puppy have, and how do you document it?
- Do you offer continued training options or referrals to field trainers near me?
Spay, Neuter, and Breeding Rights
Policies vary with field breeders. Clarify if your puppy is placed on limited registration, any age guidelines for altering, and the conversation required before lifting limitations. Responsible homes respect commitments made on paper and in principle.
Discuss:
- Is my puppy sold on limited registration?
- What are your expectations for the timing of spaying or neutering for a field‑bred Lab?
Red Flags That Deserve a Pass
Trust your instincts. Avoid breeders who refuse visits, dodge health documentation, maintain dirty facilities, push multiple litters, or pressure quick decisions. Reputable Labrador breeders welcome questions, schedule visits, and provide records transparently.
Watch for:
- No verifiable OFA or eye results
- No written contract or guarantee
- Puppies leaving too young or with incomplete records
Talk to Twin Lakes Kennel
At Twin Lakes Kennel, we raise American field labs with superior DNA that excel in the marsh, perform beautifully in the field, and settle calmly at home. We are a husband-and-wife team in our 70s, and we have been breeding and training American Labrador Retrievers for over 45 years. Our decades of hands-on experience shape every puppy we raise, focusing on hunting, competitions, and loyal companionship.
Each puppy receives structured socialization, early exposure to varied terrain, and careful handling to build confidence and focus. Although we ship puppies nationwide, we encourage visitors to see and select their puppy in person. We do not keep a live inventory of available puppies online. Once you choose your puppy, it will be flown to your local airport for pickup.
Our program has a long-standing reputation for excellence. We had a show featured on ESPN for three years, we have multiple dogs in the Hall of Fame, and we were part of the team that helped save the lives of U.S. Marines in Afghanistan through training IED detection dogs. Every puppy benefits from the same expert breeding and training principles that produced these accomplished dogs.
Led by Master Trainer Woody Thurman, our program has produced over 200 AKC Master Hunters and qualified 47 dogs at the Master National. Each puppy comes with a strong health guarantee, ongoing guidance, and the foundation for a lifetime of performance, loyalty, and companionship.
Call 910-462-3246 or visit 9965 McFarland Rd to discuss upcoming litters, colors, genders, and your ideal match.
