Importing - Do your homework
We certainly live in a world where everyone wants instant gratification, when we want a coffee, a new laptop or puppy we want it now! :) I am an Amazon Prime member so ... "I feel you!". I like to think of myself as being smart and certainly wise when it comes to choosing a puppy or prospect to be a future show star or breeding prospect, it is a slippery slope when you find that perfect puppy online that appears to have all your boxes checked but is located in another country or continent.
During Covid we had our foundation stud become sterile, the infamous Thor! So we were on the hunt for a new prospect. Also, during covid we really sat down and planned our future dogs with the potential to increase our visibility on the show circuit. That being said in 2020-2021 we literally imported 8 prospects (I know we are crazy lol) :) out of those 8 only 1 was as she was advertised, with health clearances and a breeder that was willing to stand behind her dogs. After almost 2 years and 3 potential replacements to fill our precious "Thor's" place in our program all 3 males had significant issues 1 male had bad elbows at 6 months and hip dysplasia, another male had severe elbow dysplasia that required 7k in surgeries, the other male had TVD which is a cardiac issue.
I accept blame in trusting breeders that did not supply physical documentation of health clearances, despite some of these breeders having a huge fanbase on social media, with various show wins and lots of "likes" of course everyone loves photos of beautiful dogs and puppies and breeders that are in the lime light you would think would be trustworthy.
If you are looking for a full registration puppy to show or use in your program, I realize the struggle can be real - many breeders keep their best prospects that is just common sense - but those willing to work with people wanting to get their foot in the door do not price gouge! They typically charge the same as their pet prospects and ask for a puppy back if all works out with the prospect. They also have documentation they share with you as a potential colleague. You can gain trust by hitting the show scene and meeting and talking to all the wonderful Labrador families there. We have met some of the most wonderful people and made lifelong friends. Don't be intimidated, even if your current dog isn't necessarily what you feel is show worthy get out there meet people and have fun with your dog.
If you are in a rush for a family pet and you feel everyone has a waiting list... which by the way is a GOOD THING! If you decide to import because of instant availability, please ask for official health testing documentation ask for a health warranty and also ask for references that you can contact directly!
If you need additional information or details of what I have gone through which was very EXPENSIVE! I am happy to discuss and offer great breeders that I know would love to help you or at least have proven and health tested lines.
During Covid we had our foundation stud become sterile, the infamous Thor! So we were on the hunt for a new prospect. Also, during covid we really sat down and planned our future dogs with the potential to increase our visibility on the show circuit. That being said in 2020-2021 we literally imported 8 prospects (I know we are crazy lol) :) out of those 8 only 1 was as she was advertised, with health clearances and a breeder that was willing to stand behind her dogs. After almost 2 years and 3 potential replacements to fill our precious "Thor's" place in our program all 3 males had significant issues 1 male had bad elbows at 6 months and hip dysplasia, another male had severe elbow dysplasia that required 7k in surgeries, the other male had TVD which is a cardiac issue.
I accept blame in trusting breeders that did not supply physical documentation of health clearances, despite some of these breeders having a huge fanbase on social media, with various show wins and lots of "likes" of course everyone loves photos of beautiful dogs and puppies and breeders that are in the lime light you would think would be trustworthy.
If you are looking for a full registration puppy to show or use in your program, I realize the struggle can be real - many breeders keep their best prospects that is just common sense - but those willing to work with people wanting to get their foot in the door do not price gouge! They typically charge the same as their pet prospects and ask for a puppy back if all works out with the prospect. They also have documentation they share with you as a potential colleague. You can gain trust by hitting the show scene and meeting and talking to all the wonderful Labrador families there. We have met some of the most wonderful people and made lifelong friends. Don't be intimidated, even if your current dog isn't necessarily what you feel is show worthy get out there meet people and have fun with your dog.
If you are in a rush for a family pet and you feel everyone has a waiting list... which by the way is a GOOD THING! If you decide to import because of instant availability, please ask for official health testing documentation ask for a health warranty and also ask for references that you can contact directly!
If you need additional information or details of what I have gone through which was very EXPENSIVE! I am happy to discuss and offer great breeders that I know would love to help you or at least have proven and health tested lines.
