When I ????

[scar_11]

With all the great people on this board I figure I would ask for help as I have never bought a Pup and don't really know what all questions I should ask the breeder? I plan on getting a pup in the fall/ winter so I want to be a wealth of knowledge before I get Her. I am planning on getting a female yellow lab.

[scar_11]

I forgot to mention I want to train her to be a hunting dog.

[Labber]

There are plenty of good trainers and breeders selling labs of a quality of top notch to sub par here. It's your job to make an informed decision.
The advice that James Lamb Free gave in his book from more than 50 yrs ago still holds true today.
Buy the strongest field trial breeding you can afford and you likely won't go wrong. Field trial dogs and hunting dogs should be trained no differently for the first year or even two.
You can get a Field Champion sired pup out of a Field trial bitch with all age accomplishments for the same price as a nothing breeding if you are patient and know where to look.
Good luck in your search.
You will likely hear other opinions about field trial breedings.
Do yourself a favor and try to hook up with a group of experienced people BEFORE you put your money down on a pup.

[MAD MALLARD]

My advice it fresh in my mind seeing as how I went through this not long ago. I bought the best Field Trial lineage (that I could afford), and everyones disposable income is different so this may be different for each individual. I also made an effort to contact individuals that had dogs from the same breeding (if possible). I also sought out, through training partners the opinion of a pro that was familiar with the breeding. Lastly and most importantly, for the first time in my life I was patient and made sure that I bought what I truly wanted. There are more breedings going on out there than you can imagine and you can get a dog shipped to you from just about anywhere. With that being said, good luck and in the end it is all still a gamble as to what you will get, there is no guarantee on the personality traits of a dog. I went by the philosophy that if I bought the best that I could afford, than I would at the least, increase the odds that I was going to get what I was looking for.

sleep well until the fall you might not sleep much once the pup arrives! HAHA

[Tim]

This may be a different spin on it, but since you are taking the time to look for a pup, I'd suggest going to a few Hunt Tests or Field Trials to see the dogs in action. If you are looking for a dog that will hunt the place to find them is where they are being judged on their abilities.

Talk to the people running the dogs that you like and you might get pointed in the direction of an upcoming litter.

One last thing, don't accept "vet checked" in lieu of proper health clearances. If a breeder does not or will not provide the health info for the Sire and Dam...walk away.

[scar_11]

Thanks guys and girl keep the good info coming

[just chessies]

One more thing that I look for, if you find a good breeding and like the stud and bitch I like to look at who was the stud and bitch of the dogs that did the breeding, just a little more insight. my 2cts. worth.