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By Alden & Jennifer Little

There is nothing quite as cute as a fuzzy little puppy with a red ribbon on Christmas morning. The oooohs and ahhhhs abound as the pup unwittingly charms everyone with sleepy yawns and stretches, countless licks in the face, and even the innocent tinkle on the floor by the tree.

But after the wrapping paper is thrown out and the gifts are put away, you're left staring at the new little creature which is about to become a controlling factor in your life for the next several years. This is why some homework and research is very important in your puppy decision. A little information can go a long way in your quest for that perfect puppy.

In all fairness to yourself and the pup, you and your family should be prepared to make adjustments in your lives to accommodate the new family member. Too often puppies are bought on impulse or because of the latest fad without any forethought as to what will happen as they grow. Primarily, your education should begin by choosing the breed that is right for you. Understanding the breed and its needs and behaviors could save both of you a lot of heartache down the road. Of course, all puppies are precious in the beginning, but they do grow up. For example, you shouldn't buy a dog that will be large or need lots of exercise and room to roam if you live in a limited space with no yard. Just as you shouldn't buy a small nervous dog with a house full of rambunctious children.

Dogs have personality and behavioral traits just as humans, so compatibility between the two is a must. Information on different breeds can be found at pet shops or bookstores, your local veterinarian office, or even on the Internet.
Our breed of choice, of course, is the Labrador Retriever. The lab is, in fact, one of the most popular breeds in America because of its temperament and versatility. As a whole, their trainability levels are so high that they are used in a wide range of fields such as sight therapy and rescue dogs to hunting dogs specializing in water fowl, upland game, deer tracking and even pointing.

There are two basic varieties of labs: show dogs and field labs. Show dogs are larger and bred for show standards, like those you may see on television in the show rings that conform to a certain height, weight, and form. The field labs are bred somewhat smaller for stamina and drive, not necessarily for a certain look, like the shape of the head or the length of the tail. Of course, there are many traits from either variety that are desirable no matter what your purpose. Many pedigrees will prove that sometimes the best of both worlds can produce a top notch dog. That's why it's good to know what you're looking for before you set out. Being one of the most popular breeds does have its downfalls, however. There is what we call the "I have a lab, and you've got a lab, so let's..." syndrome. Often, there are individuals that produce litters with no regard of standard or purpose for the breed completely ignoring the need for the selective breeding process. Their only objective is to sell puppies to anyone with a little cash. The Christmas season provides a bonanza of opportunity for this. So you the consumer should know what to look for.

The best way to find a quality pup is by referrals from happy owners. If you like what you see in a buddy's dog, just start asking questions about where he got it. These are by far the most honest opinions you can get. If you are depending on the classifieds for guidance, preferably from a reputable magazine or Internet source, not your local penny trader issue, you must know what you are reading. A lot of times, as in many ads, abbreviations (sometimes confusing) are used to save space. We'll try to give you a brief run down on the most frequently used:

AKC-American Kennel Club, a breed registration service which certifies the breeding and pedigree of a litter, www.americankennelclub.com

UKC-United Kennel Club, a breed registration service which certifies the breeding and pedigree of a litter, www.ukcdogs.com

OFA-Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Inc., a non-profit organization that upon submission of x-rays, certifies or rates the joint conformation of animals identifying any problems that may affect future breeding or indicate anticipated health risks

CERF-Canine Eye Registration Foundation, an organization that certifies or rates the eye condition of dogs

DNA Profiled-identifies that the dog has a certificate of DNA analysis on file with the breed registry for the purpose of proper and exact lineage

Prefixes HR and HRCH-Hunt test titles Hunting Retriever and Hunting Retriever Champion earned through UKC in a series of hunting competitions

Prefix CH-Show ring and conformation title earned through AKC in a series of competitions

Suffixes JH, SH, and MH-Hunt test titles Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, and Master Hunter earned through AKC in a series of hunting competitions

There are other catchy abbreviations that may be used in ads, of course. Don't hesitate to ask what they mean. The person who placed the ad should be knowledgeable and not mind explaining them to you. And, remember, you are most likely buying a six or seven week old puppy, so other phrases such as "field ready" or "obedience trained" should just be ignored. Traits like that cannot really exist in pups so young. "Champion bloodlines" is another phrase you may see quite often. If a person is going to use this as a selling point, they should be able to back it up with official papers and/or pedigrees.

Once you have narrowed your choices, jot down a few points of interest to discuss with the seller just so you won't lose your focus and inadvertently miss some vital information once you arrive. For instance, ask about the parents and if they are both on the premises for you to view. In cases, where a stud dog (sire) from another location or kennel was used, ask for information, pictures and a phone number where the owner of that dog can be reached also. Get clarification of championship titles, if any, whether field or show. And find out what kind of vet care the pups have received up to that point.

Some breeders are able to vaccinate their puppies without a vet's care, but should be able to provide you with the name of a vet who is familiar with them and who can provide a positive referral in their behalf. When you visit the puppies' home, make sure that the place is clean and well kept. Naturally, anywhere a litter of puppies is kept cannot be spotless or without some "dogginess", but you will know when they are genuinely being cared for and when they are not. Be sure and ask for proof of breed registration and eligibility of full registration. Limited registration may apply for a dog for a host of different reasons, but should be discussed at length with the seller before any transfer of registration takes place.

On that same note, we strongly recommend that when you choose a name for your dog, be sure and send in the registration certificate with the appropriate fees as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the applications can be misplaced or lost which causes mounds of red tape for the breeder as well as unnecessary delays and additional fees or you. It's always better to get that part taken care of early on.

Once you have actually chosen a breeder and are faced with a litter of puppies, another controversy begins. Which one? Male or female? Black, yellow or chocolate? Do you pick the one that is thrashing your shoe strings or the one that is asleep in the corner? Any of these topics alone can fuel a never-ending debate on puppy choice. But we'll try to sum up some of the high points. The choice in gender should depend on personal preference and with regard to future puppies, if desired, as well as what other dogs you may already have at home. Females do require more forethought for obvious reasons. Color...well there's a point to ponder. Everyone has a favorite, and no one is at a loss to express why they feel that way. It has been our experience to train more black labs which could simply be due to a larger gene pool. But, we have also had many successes with labs of both yellow and chocolate alike.

Some people like one color over the other for "camouflage capability", although this has never been a valid factor in any of our past choices. Again, personal preferences and opinions play a huge part in that. But, please, when discussing the color choices, never refer to the yellow labs as blondes. They hate that.

Aggressive or passive? Or somewhere in between? This, we feel, means more than anything. Depending on what your purpose for having a lab may be, a conscious decision can pay off in the long run. Some puppies are more playful and outgoing than others and what you may see in the short time you share with the litter, may not be a fair example of their behavior for the most part. It has been our experience that a lively, eager tends to respond better to training than a lethargic and slow dog. Nevertheless, an extremely dominant dog will not take well to formal training because of its reluctance to accept anyone as its leader.

It is a good idea to handle all of the pups in the litter, just to see which ones seem to want you and appear to not mind being handled. Keep in mind that most children do not know the proper way to pick up or handle puppies so it is best to remind them to look on from a safe distance and only be allowed to hold a puppy while sitting down under close supervision by you or by the breeder. Litter owners will get real nervous and a little testy when their puppies are being mishandled or put in precarious situations, and it is perfectly understandable. So please be courteous and respectful of the breeder's rules and if you take your children along, explain to them in advance why it is important for them to be patient and obedient during the whole process. It will make for a much more enjoyable experience from everyone's perspective when these general guidelines are followed.

Aside from everything we have covered here so far, the most important factor to how your pup will mature, is the way you raise it. Proper socialization is vital to a well adjusted dog. If your dog is introduced to a wide range of positive situations as a youngster, it will develop a healthy attitude for new things. It is okay to introduce your pup to other dogs, as long as you know that the other dogs are disease-free and will not act aggressively toward the little one. Puppies can be annoying to older dogs, so please keep the meet-and-greets supervised. Balance the pup's time with you with time spent alone to help build confidence and independence. The most important thing is to develop a bond of love and trust with your little friend. When you brought him home, he was taken away from his family to be a part of yours. So live up to his expectations of you and keep him healthy, keep him safe and warm, and above all, keep him.

We hope that this article will provide you with some thoughts and guidelines to choosing a puppy so that he will be a permanent part of your life. Talk to your vet about the proper time to spay or neuter according to your plans for formal training or breeding. Be a responsible pet owner and not a contributor to our already overcrowded animal shelters.

For information on obedience and retriever training, breeding, or referrals, please call Tru-Line Retrievers at (334) 366-4732 or visit us on the web at www.tru-line-retrievers.com. Thank you for your continued support and business throughout this year. We look forward to working with you in the future. From our family to yours, Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!