Yellow, Chocolate and Black Labs

Within the USA, there are a lot of breeders of Labradors, but when it comes to answering the question ‘who are the top Labrador breeders in the USA?’ there are differences of opinion. That’s to be expected, because a lot of people like the specific breeder that they have or they only use a breeder that’s near them. They might not realize that there is a better breeder, because that person is clear across the country from them. It’s difficult to travel that far for a puppy, and most people won’t do that. They’ll simply look for the best breeder near them, and that’s who they’ll purchase from. For example, Chambray Labradors claims to be the best breeder in Florida when it comes to champions. There is also a company called Premium Breeders that you can visit online so you can find the best breeders in your area.

How to Pick the Best Breeder

When it comes to determining who the top Labrador breeders in the USA are, there are questions you’ll want to ask. The best way to know what to ask is to research Labradors and research the breeders that you’re considering. Breeding Labradors isn’t something that just anyone can do in his backyard – not if he wants to have champion dogs. The conditions should be very clean, the dogs should be well-cared-for, and their shots should be up-to-date. The papers should be in order if you’re looking for a dog registered with the AKC or another dog-registering body. If you haven’t done your research, you might end up with a Labrador that isn’t capable of showing well. That’s fine if you just want a family pet, but it’s not good if you’re looking for a champion dog that you can take to shows.

Knowing Who to Trust for Your Labrador Puppy

Any breeder that you consider may or may not be the best, because that’s a matter of opinion. The Internet is full of companies and individuals claiming to be the best breeder. The truth is that there are thousands of people and companies out there that breed Labradors and other types of puppies. To pick the right breeder you need to make sure that you do your research, ask the right questions, and travel out of your local area if you need to. Picking a top breeder in the USA isn’t the same thing as picking the best (and possibly only) breeder in your area. If you choose a breeder simply because of location you may end up with a puppy that has problems, isn’t in good health, or struggles with behavioral issues.

Labrador puppies are hard to resist

For people who show Labradors, getting a puppy from one of the top Labrador breeders in the USA is very important. It helps to assure them that the dog will be healthy and will have a good temperament, which gives it a better chance of becoming a good show dog that can win prizes and make its owners very proud.

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Ear infections are easy to detect. It is a good idea to visit your vet the first time you suspect a problem. Your dog may continually attempt to scratch their ear, or shake their heads violently in an attempt to ease the discomfort an infection can cause. There may be a foul odor, wax build up or a brown or yellowish discharge coming from the ear. The normal pink coloration of the ear may look red and irritated. Any of these signs are good indications of infection, and if left untreated, an ear infection can cause serious damage.

Yeast infections, mites, allergies, excess moisture and foreign substances can all contribute to infections. Labs also love water, and when water seeps into their ears, it causes a breeding ground for germs. You should routinely check and clean your labs ears. Your vet can demonstrate the proper way to clean and maintain healthy ears, and suggest a good cleanser that is safe for your lab.

Although you can purchase medication from your vet or pet store, you can also make your own cleanser using a few common ingredients. This formula is from “Woodhaven Labs”, and the “We Love our Labs” website.

Purple Power Ear Solution

16 oz. bottle of Isopropyl alcohol

4 tablespoons Boric Acid Powder

16 drops Gentian Violet Solution

Just combine all ingredients in the alcohol bottle and shake well.

At the first sign of an infection:

Treat 2X daily for the first 2 weeks, then treat 1X daily for the next 1-2 weeks, and as a preventative use once a month. Just fill your dog’s ear with the solution and gently massage the medicine in the ear. Use cotton balls to clean out any dirt, or discharge from the inner ear. Make sure that the cotton ball doesn’t go any further than the part of the ear canal that you can see. Fill ear with this solution a second time without massaging it in. This solution will stain your carpet, so make sure to use it in a tiled bathroom or outside to minimize any damage. You may also need a helping hand with this task. This is probably not going to be very comfortable for your pet who may already have some pain and discomfort due to the infection.

Remember if you have any questions, or your lab does not seem to be improving, call you veterinarian. The health and well-being of your dog may depend on it.

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My passion is Labradors. I have 2 females, Sammie who is 2 years old, and Jessie who is 5 months.  Each adds so much joy to my life, and each has a special place in my home and in my heart.  They are, however, a lot of work, and can be very destructive as puppies.  Sometimes owners don’t know what they are getting into, and sometimes owners don’t realize that when puppies are given the time and attention they need, they turn out to be great pets, and loving companions.

While doing research for this article, I realized that Labs are the most common dog in the US, and there are Lab Rescue resources in every state and major city.  All rescue dogs are spayed or neutered, and usually microchipped.  Because Labs are people oriented, they quickly adjust to their new surroundings, and their new families.

If you are not able to foster or adopt,  There are other ways to support Lab rescue.

Meet Sheila Wedegis:  Sheila paints beautiful portraits of Labs to raise awareness and support Lab rescue.  All proceeds from her sales go to that organization.

“I was born in Boston and now live in Palm Bay, Florida. Art has been my passion and expression since I was a child. I feel it contains an unmistakable spiritual essence. ‘To touch the soul of one other person, to know they are not alone on this journey is the dedication of my art and the reflection of my life’s journey. I share my home with a menagerie of dogs and cats who inspire me to capture the essence of their souls’. The window to the soul is through their eyes and hence people comment about the eyes of the paintings I do.”

You can see Sheila’s artwork at http://savingalabaday.blogspot.com/ or http://www.labradorretrieverart.com

You can also check with your local pet stores to see if they have fundraisers for rescue pets and shelters.  I know that in my area, Operation Kindness and several Rescue groups visit the local stores with information.  You can always donate there.

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