Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: 5kjohnson on March 25, 2013, 08:55:10 PM

Title: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on March 25, 2013, 08:55:10 PM: I'm looking for a labrador puppy for this early summer. I've been recommended 3 Washington breeders: Arlington Kennels out of Grandview, Silver Bow Labradors from Benton City, and Cimarron Farm near Chehalis. Does anyone know about any of these breeders? Can you recommend any others to look into. I am looking for a female yellow or black lab with bird hunting heritage. I waterfowl hunt but also do a lot of upland hunting.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Goldeneye on March 25, 2013, 09:10:07 PM: There is a site sponsor on here who is a breeder. His handle on here is Ireland Farms. I have a female chocolate from his stock who has all the traits I want in a bird dog / family dog. She is 2 now and hunts both upland and waterfowl. He raises all 3 colors of the breed. There are other site members with dogs from his lines. I have heard no complaints from any of them.

This is his website: http://www.irelandfarms.com/index.php (http://www.irelandfarms.com/index.php)
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on March 25, 2013, 09:44:16 PM: Thanks for the recommendation. I checked out the site and they have great looking dogs! I like the English style too. It even looks like a couple of litters will be ready by summer. Do you know of other satisfied owners that can recommend them?
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Goldeneye on March 25, 2013, 09:51:05 PM: Quote from: 5kjohnson on March 25, 2013, 09:44:16 PM
Thanks for the recommendation. I checked out the site and they have great looking dogs! I like the English style too. It even looks like a couple of litters will be ready by summer. Do you know of other satisfied owners that can recommend them?

Talk to ghosthunter on here. He has a yellow from them. My girl is out of Whidbey and Ben.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 26, 2013, 08:29:07 AM: I've not heard good things about your first two mentioned. Cimmaron and Ireland are good choices.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 26, 2013, 08:31:09 AM: When you are buying "English" lines you are buying show dogs without proven trial capabilities 90% of the time.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Bluemoon on March 26, 2013, 09:02:43 AM: Laura at Cimmaron raises very nice dogs. I have trained a few from her kennel they were all very easy to work with and willing to please and learn. Another nice thing about her dogs, is that she is a also a great Vet. So you can be assured of a very healthy and sound puppy.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on March 26, 2013, 01:15:58 PM: Thank you for the info guys. I am getting in contact with the breeders now. It looks like Cimmaron and Ireland will be my top two picks right now. I appreciate your advice and input.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on March 26, 2013, 01:18:56 PM: Happy Gilmore - You haven't heard good things about Arlington and Silver bow? Does that mean bad things or haven't heard anything?
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 26, 2013, 01:57:40 PM: Quote from: 5kjohnson on March 26, 2013, 01:18:56 PM
Happy Gilmore - You haven't heard good things about Arlington and Silver bow? Does that mean bad things or haven't heard anything?

I have not heard "positive" reviews about their facilities and breeding program for labs. I don't hold "Labradoodle" breeders in high regards. Breeding mutts to sell for high dollars and no other purpose is a trend breeder. I don't know if Silver Bow has gotten the health clearances up to par yet. I've heard complaints in the past. I don't see them advertised and most people who breed multiple litters and do health clearances are pround of the clearances they offer.

If you're going to pay over $600 for a lab, the parents should have these four minimum tests done; Hips/elbows, PRA(genetic eyes), CNM and EIC. Get a set of parents with good results on all of the above and you'll be much better off in the long run.

If the breeder tells you it "isn't important" or that "it doesn't run in my lines" those are good reasons to say, "thank you for your time, I'm not interested".
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on March 26, 2013, 06:14:35 PM: I'm not too crazy about labradoodles either. It sounds like a good idea at first, but they look a little weird to me. I guess after having labs all my life it would be hard to get used to. I also thought about pointing labs, since my other hunting dog is a German Shorthair, but I've heard they can have problems too. I've known people that have paid big bucks for a pointing lab and they ended up with genetic problems. Maybe they were unlucky, but I'm a little worried about that.

It definitely makes sense to check the health of the parents in order for you to have the best chances with the puppies. I unfortantely haven't always done that and ended up with some dogs that had hip problems, epilepsy, and cancer (not all related to genetics though).
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Happy Gilmore on March 26, 2013, 06:24:02 PM: Find a breeder who trains and titles the dogs they breed themselves and you'll likely come out ahead. Also, if you run into a problem they'll probably help you at no cost. When "website breeders" hang their hats on the accomplishments of the stud dog they don't own and the grandparents they've never even seen run in competition for the titles they brag about its likey hooey
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on March 29, 2013, 03:41:06 PM: I made my decision and will be getting a Ireland Farms lab this summer. The deposit is already in the mail. It seems to be a good fit for us and I was totally impressed with the amount of feedback I got from Warren's references. The other places may have been just fine also, but what sold me was how responsive everyone related to Ireland was. Thanks Goldeneye for the idea and Happy Gilmore for the advice.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: wildweeds on March 29, 2013, 04:04:18 PM: Good for you,homework is paramount,My daughters boyfreind wanted a lab really bad,he knew the stud he wanted a pup from,called the lady who owned the stud,she referred him to another woman who had bred to the dog,he specifically asked this woman " This puppy is from so and so's big black lab named moose right? She replied yes.They bought the pup and went to register it,noticed that they paid 800 for a dog with limited registraition which was never discussed and come to find out..................... the dog they bought is sired by a different dog.Now the woman he bought the dog won't return his emails or his phone calls.She even had the audacity to insert her kennel name in the registration papers.I looked at the papers and couldn't find a field dog in 5 generations,but didn't have the heart to rip the kids a new one about it,they love the dog but are kinda miffed about it not being what they wanted and the limited registration.See what happens when you don't do homework.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: WRL on April 14, 2013, 06:24:21 PM: Quote from: Goldeneye on March 25, 2013, 09:51:05 PM
Quote from: 5kjohnson on March 25, 2013, 09:44:16 PM
Thanks for the recommendation. I checked out the site and they have great looking dogs! I like the English style too. It even looks like a couple of litters will be ready by summer. Do you know of other satisfied owners that can recommend them?

My girl is out of Whidbey and Ben.

Yeah Warren does breed some good dogs.....Doncha Warren?? **wink wink** :)
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Goldeneye on July 03, 2013, 01:34:10 PM: Quote from: 5kjohnson on July 03, 2013, 01:28:17 PM
We picked up our new puppy from Ireland Farms yestetday. I ended up getting the only black female available. She is tiny and adorable. I can't wait to start working with her. No luck posting any pictures for some reason.

Congrat's! They are real fun when their that size and discovering the world around them. Got a name picked out yet?
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Goldeneye on July 03, 2013, 01:46:53 PM: Quote from: 5kjohnson on July 03, 2013, 01:42:37 PM
Her name is Kilo. We had to go with the "K" theme since everyone in our family starts with a K.

LOL! I understand. Could have named her Killer? Nah, that's not a name for a lab... ;)
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: 5kjohnson on July 03, 2013, 01:47:36 PM: Here she is coming home.
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: Goldeneye on July 03, 2013, 01:49:40 PM: Quote from: 5kjohnson on July 03, 2013, 01:47:36 PM
Here she is coming home.

Good looking girl! She looks excited...
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: dallygirl on July 03, 2013, 08:46:32 PM: :yeah: She looks fantastic! Seeing her makes me very anxious to pick up her sister on Saturday morning!!
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: wildweeds on July 03, 2013, 09:08:01 PM: I picked one right out of the air for her when I saw that the call name is kilo............... I say it should be 5ks kokane queen

Quote from: Goldeneye on July 03, 2013, 01:34:10 PM
Quote from: 5kjohnson on July 03, 2013, 01:28:17 PM
We picked up our new puppy from Ireland Farms yestetday. I ended up getting the only black female available. She is tiny and adorable. I can't wait to start working with her. No luck posting any pictures for some reason.

Congrat's! They are real fun when their that size and discovering the world around them. Got a name picked out yet?
Title: Re: Looking for a labrador puppy for this summer
Post by: DBHAWTHORNE on July 03, 2013, 10:35:26 PM: Heard nothing but great things about these breeders:

http://www.blueskylabradors.com (http://www.blueskylabradors.com)

http://karemy.com (http://karemy.com)