The Labrador
Frequently Asked Questions About
Labradors
What do
you test your breeding stock for?
All parents are tested for genetic
tendencies relating to hip, elbow, eye and thyroid disorders. And our dogs
are Optigen tested for prcd-PRA.
Are your
Labs American or British type? Are they long legged or short
legged?
There are generally two different types
of Labs. Show (also known as conformation or English) and field
trial. Show Labs tend to be smaller with heavier bone, nice broad heads
and have thick coats. These dogs tend to be lower activity than their
field trial counterparts. Field trial Labs are generally much taller and
leggier and have leaner heads. These dogs are bred for working hard in the
field and tend to have a higher activity level. We breed show
labs.
Are your
dogs temperaments high drive or laid back?
At Terrarust, temperament is one
of our top concerns. We breed for show, obedience, service and therapy
dogs and great family pets. Most of our dogs have laid back temperaments
and all are very willing to please. We have donated nearly twenty dogs to
PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society) as service dogs for the physically
disabled and they just love their temperaments and trainability.
Are we
able to view the parents or pups from previous litters?
Yes, we encourage this.
Just as you want to ensure the puppy you bring home is right for you, we want to
ensure each puppy we place goes to a good home where it will be loved for
life.
Do you
require a signed contract and a return policy?
Yes we do and will be glad to show it
to you.
What age
do you let your puppies go?
We let them go at 8 weeks of
age. When they go home with their new families the puppies have had their
first set of shots, a full series of de-worming, dewclaws have been removed,
tattooed and the litter has been CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registered
(individual CKC limited registrations are submitted when you purchase your puppy
listing you as the owner and will be forwarded to you shortly). When you
get a puppy from us they are raised in the house, not a kennel. They are
very well socialized with people and children. We also recommend a
training school. Also, we recommend a good read for new people (since most
raining classes won’t take the puppy until after 12-16 weeks, at which time most
of the socialization should already be done) one of the best tools we’ve come
across is the Ultimate Puppy Toolkit from Urban Puppy (http://www.urbanpuppy.com/) it comes with booklets on training, socialization, fun and games,
housetraining and a wall poster on the different socialization phases a puppy
will go thru.
What
colors do you breed?
Chocolate, Yellow and Black.
Do you have a waiting list? How
can I get on your waiting list? How long will I have to
wait?
We do have a waiting list. We
take a $100.00 non-refundable deposit and that will put you on the waiting list
and it depends on how long a wait depending on what sex and color you
want. I can give you an approximate time when you place your
deposit.
I want a dog for breeding. Will
you sell me one?
We only sell our show/breeding stock to
known reputable breeders. This is to keep the overpopulation down and only
the best dogs get bred in our programme.
Are Labs good with
children?
They are excellent with children when
properly socialized to them from a young age. Like all dogs, Labs
should never be left alone untended with small children. They love to go
for walks, rollerblading, hiking, swimming and running.
Are Labs good watch
dogs?
They will warn you when strangers come.
However, once the visitor is inside your home, they are more likely to be licked
than anything else. After the first warning, the Lab’s tendency is to make
friends.
Do you offer a health
guarantee?
The puppy must be taken to a vet within
72 hours of purchase and if there is anything wrong we will refund your full
purchase price or replace it with another puppy.
