I am looking to take on a new addition to our family in June (this being when I am giving up work and can spend time with a new pup.) I know I am being a bit premature but I was hoping to hear from any labrador breeders who are planning to have puppies ready to leave their mothers at this time. I live in Cheshire and as you can probably tell, I like to plan ahead!

You are not being premature at all,. as many reputable breeders have a waiting list for theire litters. It also means you can visit breeders when they don't have puppies already there to tempt you. this means you can get to know the breeder, and decide if you like Mum, perhaps arrange to see prospective Dad. as a breeder i love the owners that I have built a relationship with inadvance, gives me more confidence when placing the puppy.

I would contact your nearest Labrador breed Club. The secretary will know who is possibly planning a litter, or who breeds most years. You can get the Breed Club Sevretaries details from the KC Tel. 0870 600 6750!

Thanks, your advice is really helpful - I didn't think about actually visiting before the puppies are born, but now you've said it, it's a really good idea!

Hi Zoe,

We joined the waiting list for a puppy in November and we went to see the breeder last month. We were so glad that we went to see him as it gave us an opportunity to see the dogs and to meet the breeder and his wife.

The visit was a huge success and we left there feeling very confident in his methods and how he treated his dogs. It also gave us a chance to see the mother of our puppy and her mother in a calmer situation than it would have been if we'd been surrounded by puppies.

14 yrs ago my parents went to see a Cocker Spaniel breeder AFTER the puppies had been born. The place was absolutely disgusting and the puppies were kept in truely awful conditions. My dad was left with no alternative but to inform this breeder that he worked with the RSPCA and that he would be prosecuting her on grounds of cruelty and neglect. The breeder actually offered him a discount on the puppy if he didn't report her!!! Had my dad not been in the RSPCA he would have undoubtedly bought a puppy to get it away from those conditions.

Obviously the bad breeders are very rare but seeing the mother and breeders without the distraction of puppies gives you a chance to have a proper conversation and to allows all your questions to be answered without being distracted by cute little puppies with big eyes and very licky tongues.

Good luck in your search for the right breeder and the right puppy.

Fiona

Thanks for your reply fiona, its really encouraging to hear from others, and know that planning in this way is going the right way about finding the right dog for us