Morgan comes home on September 22

My new Labrador Retriever puppy, Morgan, will come home on September 22.  Yesterday I visited with the breeder.  I wanted to meet her and her dogs in person before I agreed to buy.  I found her to be everything her website and her e-mail communications with me represented.  She called me the day the litter was born.

I really did not enjoy the puppy search.  Finding the right breeder can be daunting.  A couple of times I almost gave up.  Some breeders have the mindset, "Just send your deposit check and I'll let you know when you can pick up your puppy."  One breeder sent me a lengthy questionnaire to return, "so that she could determine if I am a suitable dog owner."  I'm ashamed to admit that I complied.  In the past, I knew of someone who bought a puppy, got home with it and discovered the dog could not stand up or walk.  The breeder refused to accept any responsibility for it.  If a breeder would not allow me to come visit and meet them in person, they quickly got scratched from my list.

I have owned a Lab since 1985, three of them, Teri, Cash, and now Molly. . . Morgan will be #4!  Dog owners have their own ideas about what is the right dog, a mixed breed, a specific breed, or. . . as one person told me proudly, "We have a designer dog."  I had never heard that term before.  It's just another term for "high priced mixed breed."

The bottom line, whatever dog makes you happy and that you feel a bond with, is the right dog for you.  I have found the Lab to be highly intelligent with a loving personality and a desire to please.  I will be devoted to this breed until the day I die.  It is my belief that when you buy from a reputable breeder, you know what you are getting.  A good breeder is selective in which dogs they choose to breed and they are not in it to make a lot of money.

If you are searching for a quality Labrador Retriever puppy, I highly recommend Campbell Yard Labradors in Amherst, NY.