Field Tested & Hunter Approved

Breeding Philosophy

At Guns Up Labradors our priority is to produce healthy Labrador Retrievers that are structurally and genetically sound, and demonstrate the true Labrador Retriever temperament which makes the breed such wonderful family members.

We also strive to maintain the hunting instinct/drive that Labradors Retrievers are known for, and why they’re such exceptional gun dogs and working companions.  Even so, our puppies do have an “off switch”.  Meaning they can make excellent performance dogs and hunting partners, as well as calm reliable house dogs and wonderful family pets for non-working homes.  

We Do Not place puppies in kennel only or outside only living situations.

We rarely breed, approximately every 5 years, and only when we want to add a new dog or dogs to our family.  We’re mostly performance people who spend a lot of time training and competing, so we keep a limited number of dogs. We like them to live as house dogs/family members.  Once retired, our performance dogs remain part of our family.

Health & Structure

Colors We Breed

Our breeding program focuses on Black and Yellow puppies only.  We do not produce Chocolate Labradors.

Please Note:  We also DO NOT breed Silver, Charcoal or Champagne Dilute Retrievers.  These colors are the result of the introduction of the dilute gene.  This gene is not natural in the Labrador Retriever breed.  These “colors” are a disqualification based on the published AKC and the LRC’s breed standard.

Please visit our “Designer Dogs Page” for more information about the Dilute gene, as well as other Designer breeds.

Health Clearances

To help ensure soundness, all dogs used in our breeding program are at least 24 months of age, and will have the following final health clearances.  We Do Not breed on pre-liminary Hip or Elbow clearances.

We use the following screening processes and genetic testing laboratories to health test the dogs in our breeding program:

  • Hips – Screened through OFA and/or Penn Hip.
  • Elbows – Screened through OFA.
  • Eyes – Examined by a Board Certified (ACVO) Veterinary Ophthalmologist at 7 Weeks / Annually
  • prcd-PRA – Tested through Optigen or Paw Print Genetics
  • Heart – Screened for Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD) Cardiac Auscultation and Color Echo Doppler by a Board Certified Cardiologist
  • Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) – Tested by University of Minnesota, DDC or Paw Print Genetics
  • Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM) – Tested by Alfort, DDC or Paw Print Genetics
  • Retinal Dysplasia-Retinal Folds / OculoSkeletal Dysplasia (RD/OSD) – Tested by Optigen or Paw Print Genetics
  • Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) – Tested by Optigen or Paw Print Genetics
  • Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK) – Tested by Optigen or Paw Print Genetics
  • Skeletal Displaysia Type 2 – Tested by Optigen or Paw Print Genetics
  • Copper Toxicosis – Tested by Paw Print Genetics
  • Coat Colors & Dilute Gene – DNA based D LOCUS Tested by DDC or Paw Print Genetics
  • Long Coat Gene – Tested by DDC
    • If breeding prospect’s Parentage genetic status is unknown, and they may be a suspected Carrier of the gene.

To learn more about health issues that may affect the Labrador Retriever Breed visit our Labrador Health page. 

Veterinary Care & Micro-Chips

Puppies go to their new homes at 10 to 12 weeks of age and have received the following Veterinary care:

  • Inoculations for Infectious Disease starting at 9 weeks.
  • Treated for Internal Parasites at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks using Strongid-T.
  • Treated for fleas using age appropriate Sentinel flea prevention.
  • Dew Claws removed.
  • 7 Week Eye clearance is performed by a Board Certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist (ACVO).
  • Micro-Chipped:
    • Micro-chip will be registered prior to puppy leaving Guns Up Labradors, and we remain a secondary contact for the life of the dog.
    • The cost of registering the micro-chip is included in the purchase price of the puppy.

Socialization & Enrichment

All puppies are born and raised in our home and get the necessary handling, socialization and exposure to the sounds of day to day life from birth.

We also utilize the following additional techniques as part of our puppy socialization and enrichment experience:

  • Bio Sensor or Super Dog Neurological Stimulation
  • I-Calm and Calm Dog Sound Conditioning
  • Rule of 7’s
  • Environmental Enrichment Play
  • Introduction to Birds
  • Introduction to Swimming

Puppy Culture

We are excited to announce that starting in 2019 all future litters at Guns Up Labradors will be raised using the Puppy Culture protocols.

To learn more about Puppy Culture visit their website at Puppy Culture.

Screening Process & Questionnaire

Puppy Buyer Screening process

Labradors Retrievers are intelligent and active dogs that require training, exercise, and proper socialization to become a welcome addition to any home. It is very important for prospective puppy buyers to carefully think through all of the factors involved in adding a puppy (dog) to their family and lifestyle.  A new puppy (dog) means added responsibilities.  When someone brings a Labrador Retriever into their family, they are making a commitment to raise, care for and train the dog throughout its lifetime (10-15 years). 

The goal of our screening process is to ensure that the dogs produced by Guns Up Labradors are placed in the best possible lifetime homes, and receive optimal care and training to become wonderful companions.  We also strive to protect against indiscriminate, unethical breeding practices; to maintain the outstanding qualities of health, temperament and versatility of all Labradors Retrievers produced from the Guns Up line. 

Since our kennel is also our home, the following is a summary of our Puppy Buyer Screening Process, and what to expect when inquiring about a Guns Up Labradors puppy.

  • We breed our girl and ensure that she is actually pregnant.
  • We pre-screen puppy inquiries.  If they initially sound like a potential match, we provide access to our Puppy Questionnaire.
  • We review completed questionnaires, and schedule a phone screen with the potential puppy family.
  • If the phone screen goes well, and the potential puppy family is interested, they are added to our waiting list.
    • We understand that each puppy buyer/family may be working with/interviewed by other breeders.
    • We ask if you choose to obtain a puppy from another breeder that you let us know as soon as possible so we can remove you from our waiting list.
  • Once you are added to our waiting list, we will provide a copy of our Puppy Purchase agreement for your review.
  • If you remain on our waiting list, once the litter is born, and we know the sex and colors of puppies we have available, we will notify you.
    • Again, if we do not have the sex or color of puppy you were hoping for, and you would like to be removed from our list, please let us know as soon as possible.
    • When the puppies are 5 weeks old potential families will be invited to visit our home.
  • During the visit potential families will meet us, the puppies, the mother dog, (we mostly breed to boys who are not local), and all our other dogs.
    • We also review our Puppy Purchase Agreement to answer any questions regarding our placement terms.
    • If potential puppy families are interested in speaking to the Stud dog owner, we will make arrangements for them to do so.
  • If the visit goes well, approved families will need to provide a $500.00 non-refundable deposit to reserve a puppy.
  • Puppy families will be invited to visit the puppies on a weekly basis if interested.
  • Puppies will be available to go home at 10 weeks, after we do a structural and temperament evaluation with Pat Hastings, and decide which puppy/puppies we plan to keep.
    • We also do a bird evaluations when the puppies are 6 to 10 weeks.
  • At that point, we go through the process of matching puppies to each family.
    • We do not allow families to pick their puppy, unless we have more than one puppy available that would be a good match for that family.
    • Our goal is to ensure the long term success of the puppy’s placement with potential families. For example, we want to avoid a busy puppy in need of a job going to a non-active pet only home.

 

Puppy Questionnaire 

The purchase of a puppy is a long term commitment. All interested puppy buyers must complete the Guns Up Labradors Puppy Questionnaire and go through our screening process.

Our Puppy Questionnaire helps puppy buyers think through the factors involved in becoming a puppy (dog) owner, and for Guns Up Labradors to make the best decisions regarding the placement of our puppies.

Our questionnaire is available in 3 formats: an on-line form, by PDF or MS Word. We only make our Puppy Questionnaire available when we are expecting puppies, or still have puppies available as part of our current litter. 

Completing our Puppy Questionnaire is not an obligation to purchase a puppy from Guns Up Labradors, nor does it guarantee a Guns Up Labradors puppy will be placed in your home.  The questionnaire is simply a means for Guns Up Labradors to get to know prospective puppy buyers and is used as a screening tool. 

We are sure that all potential puppy buyers will agree the puppy’s (dog’s) overall welfare is the foremost consideration in placing one of our puppies.  We ask that all prospective puppy buyers answer the questions honestly and to the best of your ability. 

Once a completed questionnaire has been submitted and reviewed we will make arrangements to speak with prospective puppy buyers by phone.

 

Waiting List

Once you have successfully completed our screening process, and if you are still interested in obtaining a puppy from Guns Up Labradors, you will be added to our waiting list.

  • We understand that each puppy buyer/family may be working with/interviewed by other breeders.
  • We ask if you choose to obtain a puppy from another breeder that you let us know as soon as possible so we can remove you from our waiting list.
  • Once our litter is born, if we do not have the sex or color of puppy you were hoping for, and you would like to be removed from our waiting list, again please let us know as soon as possible.

Terms & Conditions

Purchase Price

Guns up Labrador Puppies are sold on a Limited AKC registration for a total purchase price of $2,500.00.

Non-Refundable Deposit

Once a litter is born and we know the number and types of puppies we have available, you will be notified.

See our screening process above including the timing for submitting a $500.00 non-refundable deposit to reserve a puppy for your family.

 

Terms & Condition

Once the screening process is successfully completed, all prospective Puppy buyers must sign a Guns Up Labradors Puppy Purchase Agreement.

Our Puppy Purchase Agreement includes the following Terms & Conditions:

  • AKC Limited Registration – Spay or Neuter Contract.
    • Please Note: We do not place puppies on a Full AKC registration, and will only do so as a Co-Ownership arrangement.
  • Health Guarantee – At Time of Purchase
  • On-Going Puppy Care Obligation – Care Requirements for a Safe, Happy, Healthy Dog.
  • Replacement Guarantee – If Functionally Unsound Due to Hereditary Defect Before 2 years of age.
  • Return Policy – If Necessary to Re-Home the Puppy/Dog, it Must be Returned to Guns Up Labradors.
  • Periodic Updates – Minimum Semi Annual Updates on Status of the Puppy/Dog During its Lifetime.
    • This can be done through social media, periodic photos or in person.
    • At Guns Up Labradors we are committed to every puppy we breed for its entire life, and want to ensure they are leading happy, healthy lives. We also respect the privacy of our Puppy Buyers and have no desire to be intrusive.
    • The goal of receiving periodic updates is only in the best interest of the puppy’s (Dog’s) welfare.

Puppy Binder Contents

All puppies will go home with a Guns Up Labrador Puppy Binder. Our Puppy Binder includes:

  • Copy of Signed Puppy Purchase Agreement (Spay / Neuter Contract with Limited AKC Registration)
  • Puppy’s Pedigree / Copies of Certified Pedigrees of Dam and Sire
  • Copies of Dam & Sire’s Health Clearances
  • Copies of Dam & Sire’s AKC Registration and Titles
  • Photos of Dam & Sire
  • AKC Puppy Registration Paperwork.
  • Puppy’s Health Records
  • Micro-Chip Registration Verification Paperwork
  • Puppy Care & Information Booklet
  • Training and Reference Materials

 

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