Breeder and Buyers Knowledge

Before You Buy
​What to expect from your breeder and how to pick the right dog for you

Please take the time to thoroughly read through this page. It will help answer a lot of your questions and bring to mind questions you should be asking your breeder

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​INFORM YOURSELF
      I'm not writing this to push a sale of either types of dogs. I've owned purebred labs and mixed labs, rescue, and breeder pups. Bottom line, I love them all and still have no problem taking in rescues just because I'm a breeder. I've seen good and bad reviews on all sorts of Labradors, right down to the prejudice of the color of their coat. Sad but true this doesn't just happen between the human race, but between humans and animals too. Our Labradors are 100% Labradors with genetic papers to prove so. I do NOT and will NOT discriminate any color Labrador. I respect all views and choose to carry all Labradors regardless of what color they are. 
      Jungle Lake Labrador Lodge knows each person has different ideas about what they are looking for in a dog. The great hunter, a house dog, your best friend, or maybe a combination of all of them. I'm here to help you make the best choice you can, not only for you and your family, but for the puppy as well. 

MY BACKGROUND
      I have a bachelors of science and degree in psychology. Behaviors and Science have always been a passion for me. It wasn't until after working with people and kids with special needs for many years that I decided to pair up my education and experience with my other love, Labradors. I continually take courses in genetics and behaviors for dogs to help me improve our genetic principles that we base our breeding rules off of. I currently work with two geneticists, Dr. Leigh Anne Clark and Sarah Murphy, in South Carolina who are working directly with Embark identifying new markers to improve DNA testing in finding more genetic diseases.  Although I think every Labrador is perfect in their own little way, it's the things we don't see that I endlessly work at trying to improve, genetics.
     Behaviors are usually apparent to most of us, especially when our dog is acting out in a destructive way, which can be corrected with time and training. Genetics on the other hand are with us for life and not as easily identified. I can't change the fact that I have brown eyes and carry a green eye gene or change the fact that I would carry a gene that genetically marks me for heart disease, diabetes, or any other health issue for that matter. I can take medicine, eat right, work out....anything to help me not end up with the problem, but it's still there waiting for just the right time to happen. Same with Labradors, Labradors have many health issues that they are known for as well.
​     Genetically testing and pairing the right sire and dam together drastically reduces the chances of the litter having any of the common genetic diseases. Pedigrees and fancy titles don't mean a thing to me in the end if my dog is carrying a disease that could kill him or debilitate him in any way. I test as thoroughly as I possibly can to make sure that our litters are not carrying any genetic diseases. I want our pups to thrive and have happy, healthy, long, lives. Being a smart breeder is a standard that I hold myself accountable for. ​

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I'm not lowest priced and I'm not highest priced.
You'll find that my prices fit average for an above average dog
​that has all the fixings of health clearances, guarantees, and breeder support.
Why are we not the cheapest? What happened to the $500 Labrador?
It's as simple as this, ethics and genetics!
Back in the day when I would get a dog it was by word of mouth and I'd stop over and go into the backyard and pick a puppy. These Labs weren't taken to vets to check hormones for when to be properly bred, they didn't get special diets, ultrasounds, X-rays, fecal testing, they didn't get air conditioned rooms, or heat regulated whelping pens. The pups weren't seen by a vet, wormed, or even vaccinated. You bought the pup and the rest was up to you to keep it in good health. 
Most of all back then, we knew absolutely NOTHING about genetics! When we went to pick out a pup back then, our first questions were not "are they OFA tested"? "Have they been genetically tested for exercise-induced collapse (EIC)"? "How many genetic markers is it carrying that can cost me a ton of vet bills down the road"? It was how much is the puppy? And the cheaper the better. 
Over the years, we've come to know that Labradors can carry many genetic diseases and it wasn't until recently that it became a BIG thing!
There are people who test for the main four or five genetics like CNM (Centronuclear myopathy) , DM (Degenerative Myelopathy), EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse), etc.
But some of us go the whole 9 yards and run a full panel testing for over 190 genetic markers, on top of hips, elbows, and eyes.
So when you put all of these things together on top of other new costs like better, but expensive dog food, expensive vet costs, and time and training, you're looking at a lot of money put into "just dogs"; our dogs are not "just dogs", they are our extended family.
So is "The cheaper the better", really better?
For us, no.....and for the person buying one of our pups.....NO!
​~Steve & Claire in honor of Jamie

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  What should you look for from a breeder & pup...and what fits you and your family?                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Understanding Health Guarantees, Genetic Testings, and Basic Health Screenings

•  Orthopedic Foundation for Animals stated that on average, a Lab with excellent hips bred to another lab with excellent hips will yield dysplasia 6% of the time. There's always a chance something could happen. There are over 190 common Labrador diseases that can be avoided at most if properly bred, but when something does go wrong the buyer can depend on the guarantee that the breeder offers. I must state here that anytime with breeding from any animal, mutation to genes (chromosomes) can happen, even when they don't carry a "flag".  Not all genetic issues have markers that have been discovered yet and can appear in later litters. While this can be a heartbreaking experience for the puppy, your family, and the breeder, most breeders will replace the dog if it contracts a genetic disease with-in a certain time frame. Always talk to the breeder about this and ask if they have a written contract you could go over with them and discuss the possibilities and process if something were to happen. If I was going to buy a dog, I would want a health guarantee.  Most well-bred Labradors are going for around $2,000 - $3,500 dollars. In fact in my searches for dogs, I find that $5,000 is not uncommon for pedigreed dogs. That is a lot of money to spend and not have a health guarantee. ​

​Does the Breeder Care about their animals? 

• Do the pups spend time with people and other dogs? Do they spend time in the home getting use to sounds? Do the dogs look clean, happy, and healthy? Does the breeder treat his animals as if they are pets or are they treated as if they are used strictly just for making puppies? What kind of conditions are the puppies living in? It goes without saying that it is a bad idea to support a puppy miller or a backyard breeder who is not taking care of the puppies, dam, or sire as should be. But it's also things to watch for with any class Labrador breeder you're working with. Socialization and happiness of the pups are detrimental for the growth of a well rounded dog.

​There are many excellent breeders out there. There are lots of good genetics out there. Take the time to talk with the breeder. Get to know them, their ethics, and the dogs they raise. I Personally enjoy talking one on one to get to know the buyer. Building a relationship with a buyer helps me understand what they are looking for and instills trust of where my pup is going. If a breeder doesn't have time to talk with you or answer all of your questions, I would do a little more research and possibly look for a breeder who will take the time to build that relationship with you. Obviously there's a lot more information out there for you to look up and educate yourself about breeders and buyers and I encourage you to do so. BEFORE making a "life long" purchase make sure you make an informed decision that will be the best for you and your family so your puppy has the best life they can have.

​Good Dogs~ For ~Good People

Because there are LOTS of excellent people raising excellent dogs out there, the world of dog breeding has become a giant competition. People from all over compete in sanctioned activities with their Labrador retrievers. Awards and trophies show just how great a dog can be. This allows breeders to separate their puppies from everyone else's, proving their dogs are great. This also causes breeders to increase the price of pups because of the cost it took to title their dogs. In fact some people actually breed just by pedigrees, AKC calls this kitchen table breeding. Just because the pedigree has titles in it doesn't mean the genetics of the dogs are "clear" or the best combination to breed together. ALWAYS ask for proof of DNA Testing. The fact that your dog will be a pedigree pup won't matter if he ends up with one of the 190 common Labrador diseases that can kill them or debilitate them.

Why do I breed the way I do? For myself I feel that breeding dogs that do not carry genetic disease markers is the smartest way to breed. Always breed to better the breed. All of our dogs are health tested and cleared before we carefully plan a litter. Having a dog that has been cleared of over 190 diseases is a good feeling and puts my mind at ease that our dogs won't have common health issues, and the people who buy them can have some peace of mind that they picked a healthy pup. While our dogs have loads of titles in their history and some with just a few, I personally do not push our dogs to achieve several titles at sanctioned events. Why? Because of costs. Every time I put thousands of dollars into training a dog to compete and win titles, the cost of the puppies would go up. Some of our dogs have been through professional training while others have none. Our pups have a great combination of being an amazing hunter, specialty dog (search and rescue, seeing eye, or emotional support dog), house dog, great companion or all of the above. It's up to you as the owner to help them grow into their new life with training and unconditional love.

​What class do I fit in as a breeder?
 It's not always one class or the other for all breeders. I offer a variety of Labradors and fall probably in the A and B class. I have A class hunting dogs, loaded with titles in their pedigrees, some even imported directly from Ireland and other parts of the world. They come with all the clearances, testing, and breeder support of the A class. What they don't come with is the A class price tag, it's all the bang for less of the buck. Most dogs in that category can go for an average of $5,000, ours are less then half the price.
 I also have B class Labradors that have a few titles in the pedigrees and are great dogs for hunting and companionship. They are a little less pricey than the stellar A class, but have some of the A class highlights to make them amazing dogs! They also come with the A class clearances, testing, and breeder support.

  The classes below do not mean one dog is better than the other.
It's just a guide of what should be expected or usually found in a dogs pedigree, general prices, and what is offered with the dog such as guarantees, health testing, and support. ​​

• "A" Class Labrador: If you're not limited to an amount of money to spend on a dog, then the more titles the better. The best of the best! Loaded with drive and ambition, this is a stellar class of the Labrador Retrievers. Polish up the walls, between trophies, ribbons, and hunting mounts, you're about to load them up! Titles are your (the buyers) way of verifying that the dog in question is in fact capable of what the breeder claims if you want proof. Most pedigrees can go back as far as 5 generations, some even further. There you should be able to see what is in your new pup's lineage. What good are pedigrees? Pedigrees are the papers of what future your dog holds for you. Dogs that have multiple titles such as Master Hunt (MH) or 4x Grand Master Pointing Retriever (4x GMPR), for example, prove that they have excelled above and beyond the general hunting world.  They are the breed of Labradors that are born to succeed. Beware of breeders who breed just for the pedigree (titles) and do not health test. AKC calls this kitchen table breeding. There should be at least a 2 year guarantee on the dog, proof of health testing, registration, and breeder support. Usually this is the priciest dog because of all the training and time spent in the parents to get them titled and well worth it in the end, you'll get more bang for your buck!
• "B" Class Labrador: If your looking for a great dog, but have a  budget, try looking for a dog that has some titles in the lineage or one or two titles in a parent. Having less titles may help keep the price down. Having one or two titles of Junior hunt (JH) or Master Hunt (MH), for example, shows that somewhere in their lineage there were dogs that had some good drive and instincts that may have been passed down to your pup.  This class should also come with some type of guarantee, some type of genetic testing, registration, and possible breeder support. 
• "C" Class Labrador: If you're looking for the average dog and have limited funding, you can usually find what breeders call the "backyard" breeder. The dog sometimes can be registered with AKC at most. Usually not planned out or researched before the breeding takes place. So chances are low that they have been health tested. The chances of it getting a genetic disease just from the common 190 is pretty high. It's basically Russian roulette, pay low now and then hope you don't pay high later in vet bills, which will end up costing way more than what you would have paid for an "A" class dog. This category is for family pet and possibly hunting. Usually no guarantee, no health test, no titles, and no breeder support. 
• "D" Class Labrador: Puppy Milled or Store dogs, I do not judge if you prefer a puppy milled dog, but ethically the way most of these dogs are treated, I personally do not support puppy milling. This can also happen with pedigreed dogs, they are used simply for breeding and then the owners are done with them. Please check your local humane society and animal shelters if the background or upbringing of the pup does not matter to you. In fact it doesn't hurt to check first before going to a breeder, including myself. I also have information for rescue labs if you are interested. Please contact me for more information, I'm glad to give it to you.

Good Dogs~ For ~Good People