Generally all LegaSea puppies are spoken for prior to birth. I only breed when I plan to keep a puppy for my own program, which is about every 18 months. Email Carrie to inquire about getting on a puppy list, or older puppy/adult availability and/or breeding plans. At this time, I will not have puppies available until Fall- Winter 2024 at the earliest
I have a closed Facebook Group for LegaSea families and potential puppy buyers. If you'd like to join, please send a request: LegaSea Labradors
The following local breeders are members of DFWLRC and have puppies available as of 20 Nov 2023:
Rebel Land labradors: Adults available
Please take the time to educate and research breeders rather than purchasing the first available puppy. The committment of a dog ownership lasts 12-15 years and the time that the puppy will need you most is when he/she is 6 months to 2 years of age. Please read the below information to help guide you in your search.
Every breeder raises pups differently! Be sure to ask about the parents' temperaments, the goals for the litter, and the breeder's philosophy.
Whether you get a pup from LegaSea or another breeder, please take the time to download and read two free booklets offered by Ian Dunbar, Before You Get Your Puppy; and After You Get Your Puppy. A newer website and video program, Puppy Culture, is also a great place to learn about socialization of litters and the impact the breeder has on each puppy in each litter.
LegaSea Labradors is a passion and a hobby; not a business. All of my dogs are house dogs and I only have a litter when I plan to keep a puppy to show/work, which usually works out to be every 18-24 months and I always keep 1-2 pups from each litter as my prospective next generation. I typically keep 2-3 intact adults and they each have a litter or two around their show and performance careers and then are retired from breeding and usually are certified as therapy dogs or continue their performance careers. I love old dogs and typically keep my dogs for their entire lives. While some breeders are able to retire brood bitches into other homes, my 'old ladies' help raise their grand- and great-grandkids and absolutely love it!
All of my dogs are shown in AKC conformation events and worked in AKC performance events (hunt tests, obedience, agility, tracking or rally). All of my breeding dogs are not only sound (i.e. have health clearances) but they are usually titled in either performance or conformation events, and ideally are championship pointed if not already a champion prior to breeding. It is very important to me that all breeding dogs conform to the AKC Standard for the Labrador Retriever -- brains and beauty. At LegaSea, all of my breeding dogs have had extensive genetic testing as well as breed-appropriate orthopedic, opthalmologic and cardiology clearance.
All
breeding dogs are certified
All
of my dogs all have their eyes certified cleared
All of my dogs have had their hearts cleared of TVD by echocardiogram by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
All
of my dogs have been tested for the absence of the gene that causes
prcd-Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).
All of my dogs have been tested for the gene associated with Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) and carrier dogs are only bred to dogs who do not have the gene to ensure all resulting puppies are genetically free from being affected by EIC.
All dogs are tested for Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK) and are clear of the genetic mutation.
All dogs are tested for Macular Corneal Dystrophy (MCD) and are clear of the genetic mutation.
All dogs are tested for Stargardt Disease and are clear of the genetic mutation.
All dogs are tested for the genetic form of Copper Toxicosis (ATP7B) and any At Risk dogs are only bred to dogs tested clear of the genetic mutation.
While genetics cannot be predicted and I cannot guarantee that puppies from cleared parents will be free from orthopedic disease, I only breed dogs who have all of the above mentioned orthopedic and genetic clearances. All results are posted to OFA for verification, and copies of original results are available upon request.
When I decide to have a litter, my life basically gets put on
hold while I raise the puppies. All LegaSea pups are born and raised in
the home and are treated as family members, just as the adult dogs are.
Temperament and health are first and foremost in
my breeding
program. While they will bark at the doorbell, my adult dogs are therapy dogs and they greet strangers
with wagging tails and a toy if they can find one. I absolutely will
never breed a dog with anything less than the perfect Labrador temperament as I
hope to keep puppies out of every litter. All of the stud dogs chosen are
observed in conformation and performance activities, and then met in person and
meet the same standards as dogs in my home.
Each breeding is carefully planned and anticipated for months prior to arrival. A whelping box is set up in my guestroom and pups are born and live there for the first two weeks, then moved to the family room for the next seven to ten weeks of their lives. From days 3 to 16, they are exposed to Early Neurological Stimulation. When they are old enough, they are moved outside to a covered puppy yard off the back porch or into an indoor/outdoor run in the kennel every morning and left out for the day with plenty of visits from mom, other adult dogs in the home and humans. Each evening, they come back into the house to sleep in an indoor pen. When they are old enough, the pups all go for a morning and evening walkabout with the adult dogs and learn to explore, but come back when called. All of my puppies will be exposed to children, adults, the vacuum cleaner, the garden hose, a couple doggy doors and even the neighbor's pond before they leave my home!
The pups are started on a de-worming program at 2 weeks of age and are de-wormed at 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 weeks with Nemex, as needed. A slight modification to Dr Jean Dodds' minimal vaccination schedule is used at LegaSea. Between eight and nine weeks of age the pups are all vaccinated for Distemper and Parvovirus with a high titer vaccine. They should receive DA2PP vaccines every three to four weeks until they are 16 weeks and then they should receive their rabies vaccination no less than 3 weeks after the last DA2PP. Dr. Dodds' vaccination protocol will be in the puppy packs for you and your veterinarian to discuss. If you live in close proximity to other dogs, I also give an intranasal vaccine for Bordetella/Parainfluenza at 7 weeks. The first dose of Heartgard Plus will be given in the puppy packs, and during flea season, puppies are given their first dose of Advantage at 8 weeks. All puppies will be examined by my vet and a health certificate will be provided with all vaccination dates, de-worming, fecal and physical examination records.
At seven weeks your puppy will also be microchipped. This is a safeguard to help you get your dog back should it ever be lost or stolen and also to help keep our dogs out of shelters or rescue groups. By working with Lab Rescue, I have seen cases of dogs reunited with families YEARS after they are lost, due to the identification by the microchip. All of the chips are pre-registered and I will also be contacted in cases that a LegaSea-bred dog is in need of re-homing. Complete paperwork will be in the puppy packets and will be registered with AKC by the breeder.
All of my
puppies begin to go to new homes the after a minimum of 9 weeks, and more often
10-11 weeks, after de-worming, one vaccination, microchipping, a well-puppy vet check and an eye
examination. Puppies will go home with a 5 pound bag of food, toys,
treats, and a blanket or crate pad that smells like the litter in addition to a very large
puppy packet with a full pedigree, copies of health clearances for both parents,
and many articles and tips for raising a puppy. I do not take deposits prior to 6 weeks of age, but please email me for
a puppy questionnaire and to set up a time to talk about what you are looking
for in a lab.
I spend a lot of time and energy socializing pups and shaping their future in the puppy pen. You'll see a variety of obstacles, toys, and surfaces in my puppy pen and I change them out regularly to keep the pups on their toes!! I believe in "The Rule of 7." Pat Hastings, AKC judge and author of The Puppy Puzzle offers these hints for socializing very young puppies:
By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old it should have:
I keep puppies at least 9 weeks and preferably closer to 10 weeks old. The following articles from Gun Dog Magazine will help to explain why I like to keep them until that age:
Producing Behaviorally Sound Dogs
ALL of my puppies are sold on an AKC limited registration which means the puppy cannot be bred or shown in conformation but may compete in obedience, agility, hunt tests or any type of performance event. This is just one way that the AKC has helped responsible breeders fight against overpopulation of dogs and irresponsible breeding. All show quality puppies will remain here at LegaSea. I will register all pups from every litter and the registration paperwork will be mailed to the buyer's home within a couple weeks of purchase.
All puppies should be checked by a veterinarian within 72 hours after getting home (Sunday not included in the 72 hours). If there is any medical problem with the dog not specified in the contract, you may return it for a full refund or a different puppy if one is available, within 24 hours with a letter from the veterinarian describing the condition. I will take back a dog I have sold at any time in its life and require that I be given first right of refusal if you must dispose of your dog for any reason at any age. I know that sometimes circumstances require the re-homing of your dog and if you ever need to place one of our dogs, I require that I am notified, as there is often a list of families looking for adult dogs as well.
As
you will see when you visit, all of
my dogs are house dogs and I require that all of my puppy-buyers allow their dogs
to sleep in the home, crate train puppies,
and take every puppy to a beginning obedience class.
A few words about price... You will find Labrador puppies on Craigslist for free, rescues for $400 and 'rare colors', 'started dogs' or those on full registration for $5000 and up. The hobby show breeders in this area currently sell puppies for $3000-$5000 and many of these puppies are raised primarily outside, while adults are living in kennels. Every single dog I own lives in my home, and puppies are raised in my family room. Everyone raises dogs differently and it is important that prospective buyers get to know the breeder, the adult dogs in the home and meet the mother of the litter to see her temperament and health. Oftentimes I use sires in another state or even country, or a deceased dog via frozen semen, so it is a myth that potential buyers should expect to see the sire on premises. Breeders who breed for 'rare' colors or have different pricing for males and females are typically not hobby show breeders and I would never refer a buyer to a breeder who does not compete with their dogs.
A lot of money and sweat equity goes into each litter, even before the litter is conceived. All of my bitches are proven in the show ring and in performance events and are mentally and physically sound and healthy. I rarely use local stud dogs and have costs associated with breeding via artificial insemination, and the meticulous care for the puppies and dams in the home as described above. The relationship with your dog and breeder will hopefully last 12 to 15 years.... please shop wisely!!
In 2024, all of my pups are the same price ($3500) regardless of color, sex, championship status, and whether or not they are show quality. Older puppies and healthy adults are sold for no less than 'puppy price'.
I DO NOT SHIP PET PUPPIES AND DO NOT SELL TO OTHER BREEDERS.
ALL PUPPY BUYERS MUST VISIT MY HOME AND PICK UP PUPPIES IN PERSON.
I PREFER TO PLACE PUPPIES WITHIN A 6 HOUR DRIVING RADIUS.
If you are
interested in purchasing one of my dogs, please email me
for more information
Thanks! Carrie Eberhardt
Recommended Labrador books and Recommended puppy items
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Puppies are raised in JonArt whelping boxes in my guest room (where I sleep) for the first couple weeks.
Raising pups is a group effort around here. I was so blessed to start
with a foundation bitch who not only adored her babies, but taught her daughters
well.
Below left, Diva's 2008 litter was three weeks old and had moved into their big
pen and Diva's daughters, Gussie and Twister in back, and Halle at the entrance, help
care for their 1/2 siblings!!! Below right, Twister's 2012 litter at the
same age being watched by Twinkle (who was a puppy in the box on the left!),
aunt Halle and Grandpa Easy!
Puppies enjoy playing with adult dogs as well as littermates!
Day two at the milk bar... got this down pat!
I don't have puppies often enough to warrant a permanent 'puppy yard' so the pups take over part of the backyard when I have a litter. They are feet from the kitchen door and are never left unattended in the yard. They love the variety of toys, tunnels, slides and obstacles in the puppy pen-- and the big dogs visit from their yard and beg to be let in and play with them too!
Some pictures of other LegaSea bred dogs growing up....
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