Our Policies & Frequently Asked Questions
What do puppies cost?
Our puppies are currently priced at $4000 plus CT Sales Tax. This is a typical price point for a well bred Labrador Retriever from a preservation breeder who shows their dogs and completes all necessary health testing.
Can I place a deposit?
The first step in purchasing a puppy is filling out an application. Please contact Jessica via text at 203-240-7265 when your application is complete. After your application is approved, we require a partial deposit ($250) to be on our official waiting list. This partial deposit secures your spot and ensures that we will contact you when we have a puppy for you. If you decide to proceed at that point, the second half of the deposit is then due ($250). Partial deposits are "rolling" but the 12 month limit does start over for each litter you decide to pass on. Deposits are only refundable at our discretion, if we choose not to sell you a puppy, or if a puppy of the color and sex you requested is not born within 12 months. All deposits are paid via an e-mailed Quickbooks Invoice. You may pay with a credit/debit card or ACH transfer. All remaining balances are due the day BEFORE puppy pick-up and must be paid via ACH transfer unless you bring a certified bank check.
Can I choose my puppy?
We match puppies to families according to temperament of the puppy and the unique needs of each family or individual. Your preferences on temperament and physical attributes are of course taken into account, but please know that we always have the final say. You will most likely not know which puppy is yours until they are almost 8 weeks of age. Our puppies visit the veterinarian around 7 weeks of age and picks are not made until we know that the puppies have no underlying health concerns. A reputable breeder evaluates the conformation and temperament of each litter around 7-8 weeks of age, which helps us to decide which puppies to hold back for our program. We do not breed solely to fulfill a pet market, so we ask that you are patient as we go through the process of deciding where each puppy will be placed.
When can I bring my puppy home?
We send puppies home starting at 8 weeks of age in accordance with CT State Law. Please be prepared to pick your puppy up at 8 weeks of age before committing to purchase. We do not hold puppies past 8-9 weeks of age without boarding & training fees.
Can I visit the puppies or meet the parents?
We do not allow prospective families to visit our home before pickup day. We take biosecurity very seriously and puppies must be limited on possible bacterial and viral exposures before they receive their first vaccine at 7 weeks of age. More often than not, our litters are conceived via artificial insemination with a sire (father) that could live anywhere in the country or even the world. We do whelp litters with co-owned dams (mothers), and they sometimes have returned home by the time puppies are 8 weeks of age. If the mother and father do live with us, you are welcome to meet them on pickup day.
Do you sell puppies with breeding rights?
We typically only sell puppies with AKC limited registration for companion homes. If you are an established breeder, you are welcome to inquire but any show quality puppies usually stay here with us or are placed with breeders we already have an established relationship with.
Do you sell puppies as service dog prospects?
While we have bred and placed many successful service dogs, and we invite you to fill out an application, please know that service dogs are not the main goal of our program. We are very picky about placing puppies as service dog prospects and usually prefer to refer clients out to reputable service dog programs.
Are your dogs English or American Labradors?
There is only one breed standard for Labrador Retrievers. The terms "English & American" are outdated, incorrect terms - typically used by less than reputable breeders as marketing terms. The dogs we produce are what the general public often refers to as "English", but please understand that unless a dog was physically imported from and born in England, they are not actually "English". Our dogs are correct, bred to standard, Labrador Retrievers that possess physical breed type as well as the hallmark Labrador temperament that our breed is known for. There is a distinct split in our breed among conformation/companion bred dogs and field/hunting bred dogs. Although we do not agree that there should be a split because a well-bred Labrador should be able to do everything Labradors are known for, most strictly "field bred" dogs are not suitable for typical companion homes. These dogs have a much higher prey drive and do not usually posses the hallmark traits of the breed when it comes to the stocky physical attributes and easy going temperament.
Do you breed Silver Labs?
Absolutely not. Any dilute coloring in our breed (silver, charcoal, champagne) is due to cross breeding with Weimaraners at some point - usually several generations into the dog's pedigree which means those dogs are not purebred Labradors. Breed testing such as "Embark" only goes back 3 generations, which means that these dogs can and do unfortunately test as purebred Labs, however they are not. The only naturally occurring colors in Labrador Retrievers are black, yellow, and chocolate. Any breeder that produces any color other than these 3 is unethical in more ways than one. The physical coloring of "dilute labradors" is the least of the problems with these crossbred dogs. "Silver Labs" are afflicted with many serious, life-altering health problems, with the most prevalent being color dilution alopecia. CDA causes severe and uncomfortable hair loss on certain areas of the dog's body. You can easily see where the coloring is thicker and darker next to large areas of thinning hair loss, sometimes right down to the bare skin. There is no cure for this condition and no way to prevent it from happening in a dilute dog. Dilute dogs do not possess the hallmark temperament or structure of a well bred Labrador, or the thick double coat and "otter tail" that is described in our breed standard. There is no such thing as a reputable or ethical breeder of dilute colored or dilute-carrying Labrador Retrievers and AKC Registration is in no way a testament to a dilute dog being purebred.
What is health testing?
Health testing is a list of specific tests that are completed and graded/recorded with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals on every dog or bitch before they can produce puppies. The required health testing for Labradors is hips, elbows, eyes, heart and a genetic panel. Hips & Elbows are radiographed for a final grade at 24 months of age and are recorded if a passing grade is achieved. Passing grades for hips are fair, good and excellent. The only passing grade for elbows is "normal". Eye exams are completed by a board certified canine ophthalmologist and can be done after 8 weeks of age. Heart exams are completed by a board certified canine cardiologist and are considered permanent if done after 12 months of age. The gold standard for a heart exam is a color echocardiogram via doppler. The genetic tests that we perform (these can also be cleared by parentage) are done by an OFA certified lab with a cheek swab and are Exercise-Induced Collapse, Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis, Centronuclear Myopathy, Degenerative Myelopathy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Retinal Dysplasia and Skeletal Dysplasia. All breeding dogs must also be clear of the dilute gene (D Locus).
What is a "carrier" of a genetic disease?
You may have noticed that some of our dogs are listed as "EIC Carrier", "HNPK carrier", etc. There is a list of genetic diseases that we test for in Labrador Retrievers and many dogs have one copy of a particular disease, which means that although they carry the disease, it is not expressed and the dog will therefore never be affected or diagnosed with that particular disease. Part of being an ethical breeder is testing your dogs for these inheritable diseases so you can be sure to breed to a stud dog that is clear if your female is a carrier (or vice versa). Labrador Retrievers have a vast and healthy gene pool, and part of keeping it that way is avoiding a "genetic bottleneck" which would most certainly occur if all carriers were removed from the equation. Not only would the gene pool be made much smaller, but many stellar representatives of our breed would be eliminated from passing on their genetics. Any good breeder understands this simple concept and utilizes genetic testing to create the best pairings to produce non-affected puppies. The possibility of your puppy being a carrier for a disease has zero impact on their ability to be your companion. It is only relevant if the dog is to be bred, in which case you would be utilizing genetic testing to make breeding decisions.
Do you offer boarding and training?
We now offer boarding exclusively for dogs we sold and their “siblings”! Boarding is $70 per day, all-inclusive, and available on a very limited basis. Contact us for more detailed information or to book a boarding stay.
We currently only offer very limited “puppy head start” training on a case-by-case basis. This would include crate training, leash work, and socialization. For a great balanced training focused board & train option, please contact our good friend Adrienne with Mondio Pup.
Our puppies are currently priced at $4000 plus CT Sales Tax. This is a typical price point for a well bred Labrador Retriever from a preservation breeder who shows their dogs and completes all necessary health testing.
Can I place a deposit?
The first step in purchasing a puppy is filling out an application. Please contact Jessica via text at 203-240-7265 when your application is complete. After your application is approved, we require a partial deposit ($250) to be on our official waiting list. This partial deposit secures your spot and ensures that we will contact you when we have a puppy for you. If you decide to proceed at that point, the second half of the deposit is then due ($250). Partial deposits are "rolling" but the 12 month limit does start over for each litter you decide to pass on. Deposits are only refundable at our discretion, if we choose not to sell you a puppy, or if a puppy of the color and sex you requested is not born within 12 months. All deposits are paid via an e-mailed Quickbooks Invoice. You may pay with a credit/debit card or ACH transfer. All remaining balances are due the day BEFORE puppy pick-up and must be paid via ACH transfer unless you bring a certified bank check.
Can I choose my puppy?
We match puppies to families according to temperament of the puppy and the unique needs of each family or individual. Your preferences on temperament and physical attributes are of course taken into account, but please know that we always have the final say. You will most likely not know which puppy is yours until they are almost 8 weeks of age. Our puppies visit the veterinarian around 7 weeks of age and picks are not made until we know that the puppies have no underlying health concerns. A reputable breeder evaluates the conformation and temperament of each litter around 7-8 weeks of age, which helps us to decide which puppies to hold back for our program. We do not breed solely to fulfill a pet market, so we ask that you are patient as we go through the process of deciding where each puppy will be placed.
When can I bring my puppy home?
We send puppies home starting at 8 weeks of age in accordance with CT State Law. Please be prepared to pick your puppy up at 8 weeks of age before committing to purchase. We do not hold puppies past 8-9 weeks of age without boarding & training fees.
Can I visit the puppies or meet the parents?
We do not allow prospective families to visit our home before pickup day. We take biosecurity very seriously and puppies must be limited on possible bacterial and viral exposures before they receive their first vaccine at 7 weeks of age. More often than not, our litters are conceived via artificial insemination with a sire (father) that could live anywhere in the country or even the world. We do whelp litters with co-owned dams (mothers), and they sometimes have returned home by the time puppies are 8 weeks of age. If the mother and father do live with us, you are welcome to meet them on pickup day.
Do you sell puppies with breeding rights?
We typically only sell puppies with AKC limited registration for companion homes. If you are an established breeder, you are welcome to inquire but any show quality puppies usually stay here with us or are placed with breeders we already have an established relationship with.
Do you sell puppies as service dog prospects?
While we have bred and placed many successful service dogs, and we invite you to fill out an application, please know that service dogs are not the main goal of our program. We are very picky about placing puppies as service dog prospects and usually prefer to refer clients out to reputable service dog programs.
Are your dogs English or American Labradors?
There is only one breed standard for Labrador Retrievers. The terms "English & American" are outdated, incorrect terms - typically used by less than reputable breeders as marketing terms. The dogs we produce are what the general public often refers to as "English", but please understand that unless a dog was physically imported from and born in England, they are not actually "English". Our dogs are correct, bred to standard, Labrador Retrievers that possess physical breed type as well as the hallmark Labrador temperament that our breed is known for. There is a distinct split in our breed among conformation/companion bred dogs and field/hunting bred dogs. Although we do not agree that there should be a split because a well-bred Labrador should be able to do everything Labradors are known for, most strictly "field bred" dogs are not suitable for typical companion homes. These dogs have a much higher prey drive and do not usually posses the hallmark traits of the breed when it comes to the stocky physical attributes and easy going temperament.
Do you breed Silver Labs?
Absolutely not. Any dilute coloring in our breed (silver, charcoal, champagne) is due to cross breeding with Weimaraners at some point - usually several generations into the dog's pedigree which means those dogs are not purebred Labradors. Breed testing such as "Embark" only goes back 3 generations, which means that these dogs can and do unfortunately test as purebred Labs, however they are not. The only naturally occurring colors in Labrador Retrievers are black, yellow, and chocolate. Any breeder that produces any color other than these 3 is unethical in more ways than one. The physical coloring of "dilute labradors" is the least of the problems with these crossbred dogs. "Silver Labs" are afflicted with many serious, life-altering health problems, with the most prevalent being color dilution alopecia. CDA causes severe and uncomfortable hair loss on certain areas of the dog's body. You can easily see where the coloring is thicker and darker next to large areas of thinning hair loss, sometimes right down to the bare skin. There is no cure for this condition and no way to prevent it from happening in a dilute dog. Dilute dogs do not possess the hallmark temperament or structure of a well bred Labrador, or the thick double coat and "otter tail" that is described in our breed standard. There is no such thing as a reputable or ethical breeder of dilute colored or dilute-carrying Labrador Retrievers and AKC Registration is in no way a testament to a dilute dog being purebred.
What is health testing?
Health testing is a list of specific tests that are completed and graded/recorded with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals on every dog or bitch before they can produce puppies. The required health testing for Labradors is hips, elbows, eyes, heart and a genetic panel. Hips & Elbows are radiographed for a final grade at 24 months of age and are recorded if a passing grade is achieved. Passing grades for hips are fair, good and excellent. The only passing grade for elbows is "normal". Eye exams are completed by a board certified canine ophthalmologist and can be done after 8 weeks of age. Heart exams are completed by a board certified canine cardiologist and are considered permanent if done after 12 months of age. The gold standard for a heart exam is a color echocardiogram via doppler. The genetic tests that we perform (these can also be cleared by parentage) are done by an OFA certified lab with a cheek swab and are Exercise-Induced Collapse, Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis, Centronuclear Myopathy, Degenerative Myelopathy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Retinal Dysplasia and Skeletal Dysplasia. All breeding dogs must also be clear of the dilute gene (D Locus).
What is a "carrier" of a genetic disease?
You may have noticed that some of our dogs are listed as "EIC Carrier", "HNPK carrier", etc. There is a list of genetic diseases that we test for in Labrador Retrievers and many dogs have one copy of a particular disease, which means that although they carry the disease, it is not expressed and the dog will therefore never be affected or diagnosed with that particular disease. Part of being an ethical breeder is testing your dogs for these inheritable diseases so you can be sure to breed to a stud dog that is clear if your female is a carrier (or vice versa). Labrador Retrievers have a vast and healthy gene pool, and part of keeping it that way is avoiding a "genetic bottleneck" which would most certainly occur if all carriers were removed from the equation. Not only would the gene pool be made much smaller, but many stellar representatives of our breed would be eliminated from passing on their genetics. Any good breeder understands this simple concept and utilizes genetic testing to create the best pairings to produce non-affected puppies. The possibility of your puppy being a carrier for a disease has zero impact on their ability to be your companion. It is only relevant if the dog is to be bred, in which case you would be utilizing genetic testing to make breeding decisions.
Do you offer boarding and training?
We now offer boarding exclusively for dogs we sold and their “siblings”! Boarding is $70 per day, all-inclusive, and available on a very limited basis. Contact us for more detailed information or to book a boarding stay.
We currently only offer very limited “puppy head start” training on a case-by-case basis. This would include crate training, leash work, and socialization. For a great balanced training focused board & train option, please contact our good friend Adrienne with Mondio Pup.