Dear Looking: What a wonderful feeling to have a cherished dog as a family member for the past 12 years. Because you would like to go back to the breeder of this dog and get a relative speaks volumes to the level of satisfaction you have with his temperament and companionship.

While returning to your dog’s breeder seems justified and following common sense, unfortunately, that journey may become a tangled web. The reality of the situation is that your pet, while wonderful and treasured, may have come from a breeder that is not easily located or willing to sell you another puppy.

The Middleman

Most, but not all, puppies that are sold in pet stores are brokered through middlemen, or wholesale commercial dealers, who buy direct from the breeder and then resell to pet stores. Breeders of this nature sell in high volume at bulk prices and are commonly referred to as “for-profit” breeders. Many times they breed multiple breeds of dogs, not just Labrador Retrievers, and have large breeding facilities that do not sell directly to the public.

I’m not suggesting that these types of places, sometimes called “puppy mills,” are always in horrible conditions and sell sickly puppies, but I’m just pointing out that this is how they sell their puppies since it would be counterproductive to try and sell the large quantities they produce directly to the public to turn a profit.

The breeder of your dog may not even deal in your breed anymore, may have gone out of business or may not sell directly to the public. With all these negative possibilities it might be easier for you to find a reputable breeder, closer to home, that can provide you with a quality Labrador Retriever with all the value added. That value added includes a built-in mentor to help with any puppy-raising questions, a contract that backs up the health of the dog and an interaction unparalleled at a pet store.

Where To find them?

Hobby breeders, passionate about their puppies, will likely interview you to make sure you will provide a good home for their labor or love.

Yes, it is easier to drive to the nearest mall or shopping center pet store, walk in, and within an hour your bundle of joy is home with you. It plays to the increasing cultural attitude of “instant gratification” we Americans have come to expect in our society. But taking the time to go with the hobby breeder, where you can ask to see the parents, visit the kennel and ultimately develop a rewarding relationship is worth the wait.

To begin your breeder search, go to www.akc.org to the parent club breeder referral section. Ask the contact person for a list of breeders in your area. You can also use the tutorial in the Online Breeders Classified section to learn more about responsible breeders. Going through this process will be a valuable educational tool to learn even more about your breed and about breeders. In a breed as popular as Labs, breeder quality will run the gamut.

A few quick tips on what makes a quality breeder include parent club membership – which includes signing a code of ethics – health screening of parents for known genetic diseases in the breed, a written contract with lifelong return policy of the dog, and availability for any questions 24/7.   

  If you take the time to research breeders and develop a lifelong relationship with one breeder, you can be almost guaranteed, that as a devoted, loving and responsible dog owner, your new breeder will keep you in Labs, from the same family, for as long as she is breeding. When a breeder is lucky enough to find owners like you, you will always find a spot on the top of any waiting list when it’s time to add another puppy to your family.

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.