How to Pick a Labrador Retriever Puppy

It takes planning to pick the right puppy.

Selecting a Labrador retriever puppy is not as simple as going to a Lab breeder and picking the cutest one in the litter. You must be able to judge the temperament of the puppy, how well socialized he is and whether he will fit in your home with your family. You must also know about the health of the puppy's parents and whether the breeder has been diligent in caring for the mother and her litter.

Things You'll Need

• Documents certifying health of Lab parents
• Documents certifying health of the Lab puppies

Instructions

1. Examine the entire litter of Lab puppies as a group. Watch how the puppies interact with one another, paying particular attention to the pups that are aggressive and energetic and the pups that do not roughhouse with their littermates. A bold puppy who runs right up to you and starts chewing on your shoelaces or tugging at the leg of your trousers most likely will be difficult to control and hard to train when you get him home. A shy puppy that backs away at the sight of you or whimpers when you try to hold him is also a poor choice, especially if you have children. A shy, nervous puppy will probably grow up to be a shy, nervous dog that may snap or bites someone who startles it.

2. Ask the breeder to let you interact with each puppy individually, away from its littermates. How a puppy acts when left alone with you at the breeder's home is probably how he will act when he arrives in your home. Look for a Lab puppy that is friendly, affectionate, not fearful, but not aggressive either. If the puppy is energetic, he should calm down when you pet him gently.

3. Inquire about the health of the parents. The breeder should provide you with certificates or other documentation that the Lab puppies' parents do not suffer from any hereditary diseases of the eyes, heart or thyroid, or have malformed hips or elbows. Also ask for documentation that the puppies have been examined by a veterinarian who has given them their first shots and wormed them.

Tips & Warnings

• Tell the breeder about your routine, lifestyle and the number and ages of the members of your household, then ask him to recommend puppies that would be a good fit.

• Do not adopt a puppy from a breeder who breeds his female Lab every time she goes into heat, or is offhand about how he selected a male Lab to sire the litter. Such breeders are irresponsible, and this can lead to problems.

References

• Labrador Retriever Club of Greater Boston: How to Choose a Puppy
• Your Purebred Puppy: How to Choose a Good Puppy (Picking The Best Puppy in a Litter)