With the addition of all of the New Labrador Breeders in Washington State, I have a word of caution to all prospective buyers in the market for a new puppy. Over the many years that I have been breeding Labradors, I have seen a lot of breeders come and go, and have had many challenging puppy situations that I have had to overcome. One obstacle that I have not had to deal with is Parvo, thank God! This is a viral disease that is fatal for puppies. Once they get it, the whole litter will die an awful and painful death by dehydration. Once this virus gets into the soil, primarily by fecal material, that breeder is done! Any attempt to have a litter on that property will end the same way, with all of the puppies dying a gruesome death, and this virus will lie dormant in the soil for the next seven or more years.
Many of the new breeders are not aware of the dangers of parvo and how easily it can be transmitted on to their property. Breeders who allow customers to come and look at their puppies before committing to buying their pups, are in fact, exposing their property to the potential of being infected with parvo. Years ago this used to be the standard practice, where customers went from kennel to kennel looking at puppies, not realizing they were actually transferring this dreaded disease from one kennel to the next. A lot of breeders went out of business as a result, and those that survived began to adhere to a policy of only allowing buyers who have already committed to buying their pup to come onto their property, and usually not until they pick up their pup. If a breeder is willing to let you come and look at their puppies, especially at a young age (under 6-7 weeks) that should be a red flag to you, the customer. I don't let anyone see or hold my puppies until my pups have at least had their first vaccine shots.
Parvo can be transmitted onto a property by a people as well as their dogs. That is why I have this policy of reserving your pup with a deposit until the day you come to take your pup home, where customers show up in the order that their deposits were made. That limits the amount of traffic onto my property and reduces the risk of my property being infected by parvo. I don't allow other dogs onto my property, and I don't allow my dogs off of my property. Its a policy that has worked well for me over the years and allowed me to stay in business.
Parks are a potential breeding ground for spreading parvo. Parvo only affects dogs under a year and a half, however, an adult dog can be a carrier and not be affected by it, but still spread it where ever it goes. Recently, I had a lady call and ask if she could come look at my pups because she has 5 year old twins that wanted to experience little puppies, and probably had no intention of buying a pup. I told her that I was sorry, but I can't do that. I have no way of knowing what other kennels she may have gone to that day, and for me, its just not worth the risk.
Hopefully you will benefit from this information as you seek to add a valuable new family member to your home. Be careful and selective in your search for a new puppy.
Many of the new breeders are not aware of the dangers of parvo and how easily it can be transmitted on to their property. Breeders who allow customers to come and look at their puppies before committing to buying their pups, are in fact, exposing their property to the potential of being infected with parvo. Years ago this used to be the standard practice, where customers went from kennel to kennel looking at puppies, not realizing they were actually transferring this dreaded disease from one kennel to the next. A lot of breeders went out of business as a result, and those that survived began to adhere to a policy of only allowing buyers who have already committed to buying their pup to come onto their property, and usually not until they pick up their pup. If a breeder is willing to let you come and look at their puppies, especially at a young age (under 6-7 weeks) that should be a red flag to you, the customer. I don't let anyone see or hold my puppies until my pups have at least had their first vaccine shots.
Parvo can be transmitted onto a property by a people as well as their dogs. That is why I have this policy of reserving your pup with a deposit until the day you come to take your pup home, where customers show up in the order that their deposits were made. That limits the amount of traffic onto my property and reduces the risk of my property being infected by parvo. I don't allow other dogs onto my property, and I don't allow my dogs off of my property. Its a policy that has worked well for me over the years and allowed me to stay in business.
Parks are a potential breeding ground for spreading parvo. Parvo only affects dogs under a year and a half, however, an adult dog can be a carrier and not be affected by it, but still spread it where ever it goes. Recently, I had a lady call and ask if she could come look at my pups because she has 5 year old twins that wanted to experience little puppies, and probably had no intention of buying a pup. I told her that I was sorry, but I can't do that. I have no way of knowing what other kennels she may have gone to that day, and for me, its just not worth the risk.
Hopefully you will benefit from this information as you seek to add a valuable new family member to your home. Be careful and selective in your search for a new puppy.
