Because my thread seems to have been eaten...here we go again! ^^
If all goes as planned, I'll be adding a Lab pup to the family next summer/fall. I've been eagerly waiting for two years now, so I've jumped the gun a bit and started looking at breeders (have been for quite awhile now, actually LOL). The problem I am having is finding a breeder whose dogs I'm happy with "type" wise. I'm almost beginning to think my ideal look doesn't exist, which isn't really a big surprise...I'm rather picky.
I want an "english" style Lab and I am a firm believer that Labs should be the medium sized breed the breed standard calls for...not the 90+ pound tub of lards I've been seeing. Most of the breeders I'm finding don't have dogs that structurally I am happy with. I also want a black Lab, so some breeders I've found are automatically out because they don't breed that color. I'm not planning on doing any hunting (or any other sports), so a highly driven dog is not what I want.
I pulled some pictures off of google of the look I really like in Labs. Most of these are guide dogs because those are the ones I could find that seem to be middle of the road in type:
When all is said in done, I'm going to care more about the temperament and the health of the dog than the looks...but I'd still rather try to find a breeder that is breeding the type I like.
I have been drooling over Kelrobin Labradors for quite awhile now, but I'd really like to find a breeder who would be willing to let me keep future-boy-puppy intact until I feel it necessary to neuter him. A neuter-by-X-age contract isn't a deal breaker for me, but I would prefer not having one just because I'd like to have that choice.
Does anybody have any breeder suggestions? I'm north west of Indianapolis by about 45 minutes. I'm willing to drive up to a day (8-10 hours) in any direction to get a pup, but I'd really prefer to not ship, so I'd like to limit myself to breeders in my general area.
If all goes as planned, I'll be adding a Lab pup to the family next summer/fall. I've been eagerly waiting for two years now, so I've jumped the gun a bit and started looking at breeders (have been for quite awhile now, actually LOL). The problem I am having is finding a breeder whose dogs I'm happy with "type" wise. I'm almost beginning to think my ideal look doesn't exist, which isn't really a big surprise...I'm rather picky.
I want an "english" style Lab and I am a firm believer that Labs should be the medium sized breed the breed standard calls for...not the 90+ pound tub of lards I've been seeing. Most of the breeders I'm finding don't have dogs that structurally I am happy with. I also want a black Lab, so some breeders I've found are automatically out because they don't breed that color. I'm not planning on doing any hunting (or any other sports), so a highly driven dog is not what I want.
I pulled some pictures off of google of the look I really like in Labs. Most of these are guide dogs because those are the ones I could find that seem to be middle of the road in type:
When all is said in done, I'm going to care more about the temperament and the health of the dog than the looks...but I'd still rather try to find a breeder that is breeding the type I like.
I have been drooling over Kelrobin Labradors for quite awhile now, but I'd really like to find a breeder who would be willing to let me keep future-boy-puppy intact until I feel it necessary to neuter him. A neuter-by-X-age contract isn't a deal breaker for me, but I would prefer not having one just because I'd like to have that choice.
Does anybody have any breeder suggestions? I'm north west of Indianapolis by about 45 minutes. I'm willing to drive up to a day (8-10 hours) in any direction to get a pup, but I'd really prefer to not ship, so I'd like to limit myself to breeders in my general area.