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The Labrador Retriever is a strong and very active dog. A Labrador Retriever is easy to train and is very good with children and other dogs. A Labrador Retriever is good natured, loyal and hardworking. They are good tempered and very agile and make a devoted companion who has a strong will to please.
Picking out your puppy - We are happy to help you pick out your puppy. We let our customers pick in the order the deposits are made. When the puppy is about 5 weeks old, we will send you a picture of the puppies (male or female) and you can choose from there. If you are looking for a puppy with a certain temperament (hunting, good with kids, etc.) we can help you out there too! We spend a lot of time getting to know our puppies so we can match them to their new owners.
Paying for your puppy - We prefer payment through PayPal, a link is provided at the bottom of the page. We need $100 (non-refundable) for a deposit. Our puppies cost $350. Shipping price is also your responsibility. The balance must be paid by the time the puppy is 7 weeks old so we can arrange shipping. You deposit in non-refundable and goes towards your total. The balance for the puppy is non-refundable after the puppy is 8 weeks old. Your airfare can be refunded at any time prior to shipping.
Shipping - We fly our puppies out of Sioux Falls, SD. We use Delta and Northwest Airlines. Puppies can be shipped when they are 8 weeks old and we try to ship them as soon as possible after that. Shipping to most major airports in continental US will cost you $275. If we have to use VIP shipping it will cost an additional $50-$100. (Price includes price of kennel, flight insurance and health papers.) The airlines have very strict rules for shipping. We provide a traveling kennel, health papers from the veterinarian, food and water. The airline may cancel if the weather is too hot or too cold. We will notify you if this happens and reschedule the flight. Please call the airport to find out where the Air Cargo area is. When you pick up your puppy from Air cargo, remember to bring water (for drinking and cleaning), paper towels and/or some old towels. The trip gets long for the puppy and cleanup is often needed. We freeze water for it's trip so it will be able to get some liquid, but it is often gone before the puppy arrives at its destination. We tape your puppy's registration paper and shot record in an envelope on top of the kennel. PLEASE DO NOT THROW THESE AWAY! You will need the papers to finish the registration process for your puppy and your vet will want to see the shot record.
Vet Care - If your puppy is being shipped, we provide a health certificate from our vet. (If you pick up the puppy from our farm, we can get one if requested in advance.) We remove dew claws when the puppies are 3 days old. The mother and puppies are wormed at 2,4 and 6 weeks old. Your vet will need to continue this treatment. We also begin the vaccination process for your puppy. We give your puppy Duramone Max 5 which is a Canine Distemper - Adenovirus Type 2-Parainfluenza-Parvovirus Vaccine at 6 and 8 weeks. You will need to consult your veterinarian to finish the vaccination process and get a rabies shot for your puppy. Registration Information - All of our puppies are AKC registered.
Feeding your puppy - We have started your puppy on Diamond Puppy Chow. We suggest that for the first week you continue to use that brand. If you decide to switch brands later follow the directions on the bag of food to help with this transition. A puppy 8 weeks old needs about 1 cup of food twice per day. As it grows it will need more. Watch your puppy and follow it's signals. If it cleans up it's food and is looking for more, it's time to increase the amount!
Training your puppy - Your puppy will want to make you happy so the best way to train your puppy is to praise and pet it! Never allow your puppy to bite, even when you are playing. If you want your puppy to come when you call it's new name, always use the name when praising. Never use the puppy's name when punishing. Toys can be used when training your puppy and also helps your puppy bond to you! They give the puppy something to chew on and carry around besides your shoes! Rotating toys keeps your puppy interested. One of our dogs favorite toys is a pop or water bottle without the outside wrapper! We put water in them and toss them for a fun retrieving game. The puppies enjoy rolling, crunching and carrying an empty bottle around. This is an easy toy to keep clean because you just throw it away and give them a new one!
Housebreaking - To be honest, all our dogs are outside so we haven't had the pleasure of housebreaking them! Our kennel has doggy doors and the puppies learn to "go" outside, because they don't like a mess where they sleep! We have had several customers tell us that training went pretty smoothly! Puppies will have accidents. Their bladder is very small and not always easy to control. If you puppy has an accident, don't punish it, but if you catch it in the act, startle it (hopefully shocking it enough that it stops!) and take it to your desired location! From what I have researched, training your puppy is similar to training a toddler! Establish a routine. Take your puppy to it's potty spot every 2-3 hours when you start, wait with it and watch for that special moment. Then praise your puppy when it goes! If the puppy doesn't go, return to the house but watch it carefully! It will give you signals and once you learn them, you can grab the puppy, run outside, and the praise it for going in the right place! If you cannot be home with your puppy during the day, you will want to confine it to an area that is easy to clean. Don't scold it for not waiting for you, it probably couldn't. Let it out the minute you get home so that it learns your routine.
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Send mail to KandL@goldenwest.net with
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