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October 28th, 2008 by KittyKitty

Typically Labrador puppies are considered wonderful family pets because of their loving natures and playful demeanors. Most people love Labradors and you have probably seen a few energetic Labradors that have attracted you to the breed. However you should be wary of buying Labrador puppies from just anyone and expecting a sweet tempered dog. The popularity of the breed has meant a lot of unscrupulous people now breed Labrador puppies.

The upside is that you can get a puppy easily and it may not be as expensive as some other breed dogs. The advantages stop there however, because unscrupulous breeders often produce neurotic Labradors that do not have the typical easygoing nature expected of Labradors. You need to be careful about how to choose the right Labrador puppy. You may have to pay more but this is better in the long run. Paying the extra money means getting a good puppy that will have the typical breed characteristics that you want.
When you buy from a pet shop you will not be able to see the parent’s of the Labrador puppies on sale. This is already an obstacle in choosing the right Labrador puppy. Puppies in pet shops are often not properly socialized because they are taken away from their mothers too young. Pet shops cannot answer everything about a puppies’ ancestry, for example are there hip problems three or four generations ago?

You are also not able to observe the puppy in its natural environment, with its mother and brothers and sisters. A good breeder will be able to provide you with all the certificates you ask for without hesitation. This may seem like a lot of trouble to go to, but you want a puppy that will grow into a healthy dog. Otherwise you could have a puppy that grows up to have hip problems, eye problems and other health problems.
Labradors puppies are prone to eye diseases and can develop blindness. This can be avoided if your puppies come with CERF certificates. A puppy with a CERF certificate has been certified as free from heritable eye diseases. CERF should also certify the parents of your pup. When choosing Labrador puppies you should examine the eyes of the puppy carefully. The eyes should be clear and free from any mucus.

Additionally you should check that your puppy comes with certification from OFA. This is to make sure that there is no history of hip problems in your pup’s bloodline. The history should go back at least three or four generations. Just because your puppies’ parents don’t have hip problems doesn’t mean that there is no possibility of your puppy having hip problems. It can be extremely sad to watch your puppy grow into an adult that has hip problems. It will not be able to run and play the way it used to.

Buying the perfect Labrador puppies becomes easier when you educate yourself and practice caution. You will learn the basics on how to choose the right Labrador puppy from this article.