FAQ

Where are you located?

We live in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania. We live on a large property with lots of room for our boys and dogs!

What testing do you do to ensure healthy puppies?

It is vitally important to us to produce the healthiest puppies possible, so all of our dogs are OFA tested or preliminary tested for their hips and elbows and must have a FAIR, GOOD, or EXCELLENT rating for their hips and NORMAL for their elbows. We also genetic test our dogs through Embark Vet. Before any puppies go home we take them to our vet where they do a nose-to-tail evaluation and fecal test.

Are you open to the public?

No, we are not open to the public. Our dogs live on our home property with us and we are not equipped to handle traffic on our property. We also value one-on-one time with customers so they can meet the puppies and have a more personal experience.

Do you have puppies right now?

Please click on the PUPPIES tab at the top to see our available puppies.

Are you a puppy mill?

Absolutely not! Dogs are worthy of respect and care just like any other animal, so we ensure our dogs are treated well. We are compliant with state and local ordinances and are a registered Pennsylvania kennel #17480. All of our dogs get outside every day and live in air conditioning in summer and heat in winter. All of our dogs are AKC registered and we do genetic and OFA testing to ensure they are healthy and that by breeding them we will improve the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever breeds. Labs and Goldens are social, so it’s important that they are able to spend plenty of time with us and with each other – we do life together!

What does it mean for a lab to be ‘English’?

We breed for English features versus American features. English is what most people picture when they think of Labs; broad head, otter tail, and deep chest. While English Labs tend to be slightly shorter and stockier, American Labs tend to be tall, slender, and have a pointier nose. American Lab are typically field bred, which means they thrive hunting and tend to have a higher energy drive while our English Labs are bred for a more medium energy (love to fetch and play!) and do well in the show ring as well as the home.

How do I reserve a puppy from an upcoming litter?

If you are interested in reserving a puppy from us, please contact us so we can walk through the process with you and make sure a puppy is a good fit. We try to make it a seamless and enjoyable process! Once you decide you would like to purchase a puppy we ask for $200 to reserve a puppy and we like to know your gender preference for your puppy. We take reservations in the order of the deposit. If the litter is born and the gender you prefer is not available, you have a few options   1 – You can choose any of the other puppies that are still available  2 – You can keep your name on the list for a future litter to be able to get the gender you prefer 3 – we gladly refund your deposit.

We like to stay in close contact with those that have reservations, and they get the first details once the puppies are born! We send out weekly text updates as your puppy grows so you can watch them change from newborn to spunky 8 week old puppies. At this time we schedule a time for you to come meet the available puppies and pick out your puppy. If you aren’t able to make the trip at 6 weeks old it’s no problem! We will send pictures and videos along with descriptions of their personalities. If you aren’t able to come in person then we will have a few questions for you to answer of what you are looking for in your puppy so we can guide you to the best puppy for you.

Then at 8 weeks old it’s time for Gotcha Day! This is a wonderful time to look forward to and plan for all the puppy things. Here is a blog post of some of my favorite things we use with the puppies that you might want to bring into your home as well. After your puppy goes home we always love to stay in contact and love to see updates as they grow!

What forms of payment do you accept?

For deposits we typically take a debit or credit card over the phone. For the remaining balance due at pickup we accept cash and credit/debit card payments. If you choose to use a card for the remaining balance there is a 3% service fee. This ensures we do not receive bad checks, which unfortunately has occurred in the past, so we work hard to prevent it in the future. The 6% Pennsylvania Sales tax is already included in the price.

How should I prepare for you puppy?

As you look forward to enjoying your new puppy, here are a few things to remember to do to be prepared for you new addition fo your family.

Schedule a visit with your veterinarian. We recommend getting your puppy to the vet within 1 week of bringing them home. Your vet will be able to guide you on his health (vaccination boosters, dewormers, etc.) and will be a wonderful resource to answer any medical questions you have.
Puppy proof – If you don’t want the chance of your puppy chewing on it, knocking it over, or eating it, put it away! Eventually your puppy will be trained, but in the meantime it is best to be over-prepared than risk losing a valuable family heirloom.

What items should I purchase to get ready for my new puppy?

Here are a few things we recommend:

• Crate – a puppy thrives with a consistent, structured area, and a crate becomes that for them. It also makes potty training so much easier!
• Puppy food – we feed Purina Pro Plan Puppy food (chicken & rice) and we’ll send a small ziploc bag home with you.
• NuVet Plus – We use Nuvet wafers for our dogs and puppies, and we love it! We love the softer coat they get with it, so we recommend it if you’re looking for a supplement for your puppy. Feel free to give them a call at 1-800-474-7044 and our code is 425087. *We do get a small affiliate commission, but we only share this because we love it and purchase it for our own dogs.

Is now a good time for me to buy a puppy?

Sometimes I find this similar to “Is now the right time to have a baby?” In some aspects there will never be the perfect time to bring a puppy home. We all live busy lives and things come up, but if you know you have a big trip or something important you need to be away for, it is best to wait until after that to get a puppy. Additionally, if you are in an extra busy season (this typically lasts months, not years) then it is wise to wait until a more steady season to bring a puppy home. I always tell people that the time and energy they put into their puppy the first year will pay off for the next decade! With all that being said, there is rarely a perfect time to bring a puppy home, so I encourage families to fit their new puppy into their lives and into their routines. A puppy is very adaptable, and we want them to join our lives, so as they grow up let’s bring them along to soccer practice, date night, and picking up the kids from school!