Ness Lake Retrievers
  • About us
  • Labradors
  • Planned Litter for 2023
  • Planned litters for 2024
  • Contact us to Reserve a Puppy
  • Dams
    • Breyer
    • Charlee
    • Dallas
    • Mia
    • Sawyer
    • Willow
  • Sires
    • Charlie
    • Otis
    • Wilson
  • Other Stud Dogs We Use
  • How we raise your PUPPY
  • Puppy Selection Policy
  • Our Written Warranty
  • Puppy Sales Contract
  • Genetic Testing
  • Inherited Disease Screening
  • Some Common Health Problems in Dogs
  • Puppy Pictures
  • Dog Talk Information
    • A Letter From YOUR Puppy
  • Our Police Dogs in Canada
  • Police Dogs in the USA
  • Our Dogs With Other Jobs
  • No To Silver Labradors
  • Our Clients Brags & Photos
  • Pawsitive Links ~ Not For Profit
  • Our Retired Pals
    • Roxie
    • Stella
    • Abby
    • Miki
    • Tilly
    • Keely
  • The Beautiful Dogs We Miss
    • Tech
    • Burklee
    • Brooklyn
    • Jazz
    • Mackenzie
    • Jackson
  • References
Dog breeders have different puppy placement policies and procedures. Some breeders allow families to pick their puppy, often in the order they received deposits. This practice may seem fair, but it doesn't take into consideration the temperament, confidence level, training attitude, sound sensitivity, or activity level of each puppy in the litter.

We carefully select the puppy for the new owners.
I spend a lot of time with the puppies 24/7, and can identify the energetic puppy, a bold one, the sound sensitive puppy, and the easy-going one. Most prospective owners lack the time and experience required to properly evaluate the puppies.  First impressions of young puppies can be misleading. A mellow, easygoing puppy may have a brief burst of energy during the visit. A high energy puppy that was active while the other puppies were napping may be resting quietly during a your visit. This energetic puppy may seem to be mellow and easygoing to the visitors.
My puppy selection policy is based on more than 35 years of experience breeding Labradors. . For many years, I've been matching my puppies with their new families.


The selection process begins with information from the prospective owners about their lifestyle, family dynamics, the activities and expectations they have in mind for their new dog, and the characteristics they are looking for in their canine companion. 

This information is an essential part of the selection process. I observe and evaluate my puppies as they grow and develop. I spend time with each puppy individually during the last 2 weeks they are with me. I evaluate their temperament, activity level, interaction with their litter mates and visitors, and responses to new sights and sounds. My litters are also temperament tested by an unfamiliar tester when the puppies are 7 weeks old. Traits like independence, assertiveness, training attitude, confidence level, touch sensitivity, and sound sensitivity are evaluated during the standardize testing procedure. 
 

The puppy for a family with young children requires careful consideration. 
A p
uppy and young children can be a very challenging combination. Both require close supervision. Puppies tend to interact with young children as if they were litter mates, and that includes rough and mouthy play. Jumping, nipping, and chewing are common problems. Puppies love to chew and they don't know the difference between their toys and your children's favorite ones. Also, an excited puppy can easily knock over a young child. Both the puppy and the child are vulnerable to injuries. At times, the puppy and a young child might be running in different directions, and no one can be in 2 places at the same time. However, with close supervision and ongoing training, of both puppies and children, motivated parents can keep both their children and the puppy safe and happy. I recommend waiting until the youngest child in the family is at least 5 years old unless clients have
significant Labrador experience.

A good match will benefit both the puppy and their new family. 
  • A sound sensitive puppy is not a good match for a busy household with several active children or a family living in a busy urban setting. 
  • A mellow easy-going puppy is a good match for seniors. 
  • A dominant puppy needs a home with an experienced dog owner. 
  • An active outgoing puppy is a good match for an active family. 
  • The independent confident puppy is more likely to adjust to being alone during the work day. 
I consider the preferences of the prospective owners as well as the needs of the puppies. 
  • I strive to place each puppy in the home that I feel will provide the puppy with an optimal environment to thrive. 
No placement decision is final until the temperament testing results are available. 
  • Based on the test results, my evaluations from copious notes, and the information from the prospective owner, I will identify the puppy or puppies in the litter that will most likely meet the needs and expectations of their new families. 
  • There may not be a puppy that will be a good match for some families in the litter.
  • Sometimes, there may be more than one puppy that will a good  match for a family. Occasionally, the prospective owner may be able to select their puppy.