LegaSea Puppies

Please feel free to email for references to other local breeders with puppies. The following breeders have pups or older dogs available:

Ann Garmon (Anthem Labradors) in Northern Illinois has a 13 month old black male pup sired by Dapper available: www.anthemlabradors.com "Bart" would make a wonderful obedience dog and has basic training.

I only have one to three litters a year and all of our pups are born and raised in the home and are treated as family members, just as the adult dogs are (except they don't get to sleep on the bed until they're housebroken!). 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. I only breed to dogs over the age of two with OFA Hips, Elbows, and preferably Heart clearances, ACVO/CERF annually, Optigen testing for our prcd-PRA carrier girls, and EIC testing for our DMN-1 E/E or E/N tested girls. I take the entire litter in to a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist (ACVO) between 8 and 9 weeks of age (or later) to have them screened for retinal folds and examination results will be provided in the puppy packet. I encourage puppy buyers to freely communicate with me throughout the life of their dog, as I can only improve the breeding stock with feedback about the entire litter, rather than just the one or two that are in breeding homes. If at any time during the dog's life, he or she is diagnosed with a hereditary disease, including allergies, joint problems, eye problems, thyroid problems, or temperament issues, I would like to be notified.

All of my breeding dogs have had all of their joints x-rayed clear of any hereditary joint disease and their heart cleared of hereditary disease by echocardiogram. All breeding dogs are certified by the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) on their hips and elbows after 2 years of age and have received a permanent OFA number. These numbers are all verifiable online and should not be confused with "preliminary" ratings that are given prior to 2 years. My oldest stud dog was also x-rayed by the Wind-Morgan program and his hips, elbows, shoulders and hocks are free of hereditary diseases. All of my dogs all have their eyes certified cleared by a board certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist (ACVO) annually and the results are registered with CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation). All of my dogs also have their hearts cleared for any hereditary heart disease by echocardiogram by a board certified Veterinary cardiologist and results are also posted on OFA. All of my dogs have their eyes cleared through Optigen for absence of the gene that causes prcd-Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). All PRA Carrier dogs are only bred to Normal/Clear dogs to ensure that all resulting puppies are genetically free from being affected by 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. 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 clearances.

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 above mentioned 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!

Each breeding is carefully planned and anticipated for weeks prior to arrival. A whelping box is set up in my bedroom and pups are born and live there for the first two weeks, then moved to the sunroom for the first four to five 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 puppy yard or into a pen in the garage every morning and left out for the day with plenty of visits from mom, other adult dogs in the home and humans, as well as swimming time in the pool when the weather is good. Each evening, they come back into the house or into the climate controlled garage to sleep in an indoor pen. All of our puppies will be exposed to children, adults, the vacuum cleaner, the garden hose, a couple doggy doors and even the swimming pool 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, Adenovirus-2, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza (DA2PP) virus with a high titer vaccine by Intervet. They should continue to 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 8 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 our chips are pre-registered and we will also be contacted in cases that our dogs are in need of re-homing. Complete paperwork will be in the puppy packets and AKC now has a place to enter the microchip number on the registration forms as well.

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 DA2PP vaccination, microchipping, a well-puppy vet check and a ACVO 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 will place you on a list and keep you updated as the puppies grow, and will send you photos of the litter each week. I have a webcam on the litter from the day of birth until they go to new homes, so you and your extended family and friends can peek in on the pups at any time! I usually select our pups at seven or eight weeks and will determine at that time if there will be any show quality pups that will stay here and/or go to other breeders. Most litters only will contain 1-3 show quality pups. I keep one or two show/breeding potentials from each litter, regardless of sex or color, so many times puppies will become available after the litter evaluation around 8 weeks of age and sometimes even later if I'm torn between two puppies. I will let you know when you can come visit the litter and ultimately take home your puppy.

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:

Been on 7 different surfaces, such as: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips, newspaper, etc.

Played with 7 different types of objects, such as: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy balls, squeaky toys, metal items, wooden items, paper/cardboard items, milk/soda jugs, etc.

Been in 7 different locations, including: front yard, backyard, basement, kitchen, car, garage, laundry room, bathroom, crate, kennel, etc.

Been exposed to 7 challenges, such as: climbed a box, climbed off a box, gone through a tunnel, climbed up steps, climbed down steps, climbed over obstacles, played hide and seek, gone in and out of a doorway with a step, etc.

Eaten from 7 different containers: metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china, pie plate, frying pan, etc.

Eaten in 7 different locations: crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bedroom, x-pen, etc.

Met and played with 7 new people, including children and the elderly.

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:

Another Look at the 49th Day

Giving Pups a Head Start

Producing Behaviorally Sound Dogs

ALL of our 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.

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 we have sold at any time in its life and require that we 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, we require that we are notified, as there is often a list of families looking for adult dogs as well.

All of our dogs are house dogs and we also require that all of our puppy-buyers allow their dogs to sleep in the home, crate train puppies, and take every puppy to a beginning obedience class. I have found that this combination makes for well-behaved, happy, healthy pets. Furthermore, my contract specifically states that dogs shall not be left outside for over 12 hours a day, and shall not be tethered in the yard.

All of our puppies are sold for $1600-$1800, depending on the litter but regardless of whether or not they are show quality. Older puppies and healthy adults are sold for no less than 'puppy price'. A lot of money and sweat equity goes into each litter, even before the litter is conceived. All of our bitches are proven in the show ring and in performance events and are mentally and physically sound and healthy. We rarely use local stud dogs and have costs associated with breeding via artificial insemination, and the meticulous care for our 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!!

WE DO NOT SHIP PET PUPPIES AND DO NOT SELL TO OTHER BREEDERS.

ALL PUPPY BUYERS MUST VISIT OUR HOME AND PICK UP PUPPIES IN PERSON.

WE PREFER TO PLACE PUPPIES WITHIN A 6 HOUR DRIVING RADIUS.

If you are interested in purchasing one of our dogs, please fill our a puppy buyer questionnaire or email me for more information!

Thanks!

Carrie Eberhardt