| All Contents and Photographs copyright (c) Eromit Labradors 2009. All Rights Reserved. Website Design by Kinderdoggin Web Design. |
1. What kind of Labs do you raise?
Our dogs are "American", "Field Trial" Labs in Black, Yellow and Chocolate. They are all Canadian Kennel
Club registered and in some cases also registered with the American Kennel Club. Our breeding dogs are
selected for performance traits: easy to train and live with, confident and sociable (TEMPERAMENT),
instinctual, birdy retrievers with good eyes, nose and perseverance (NATURAL HUNTING ABILITY), long
lived, sound, and free from genetic disease (HEALTH) and quick, high-drive, and agile (ATHLETICISM).
2. How much do puppies cost and what does the price include?
Our puppies cost $1000-$1500 (CDN). This price includes CKC registration, tattoo &/or microchip, first
vaccination, deworming, a starter puppy kit with food, collar, and training references, a vet check prior to
leaving our home and a 30 month health guarantee. We also offer up to $300 in rebates in the form of
Titling Incentives- this is to encourage you to become involved in a dog sport, which our labs LOVE to do!
In addition to all of this, our puppies receive our full-time attention from the day they are born and go through
our 'super-socialization' program -this results in a well-adjusted, easily trained and cooperative puppy for
you!
3. What do all the health certifications mean, and what are they good for?
A detailed description of this is on our Health page. Here you will learn what health tests Labs should have
before being bred, and where you can go to confirm tests results. Be sure that any puppy you buy is from
health certified parents. This is different than being checked by a regular veterinarian and being up
to date on shots. A healthy puppy is important to every family, whether you are looking for a hunting dog,
sporting prospect or pet.
4. We would like to buy a puppy but won't be able to pick it up. Can you deliver it?
No, we don't deliver puppies. We can usually arrange to have it shipped by air, depending on where you
live - shipping costs around $150-200 within Canada and you will also need to purchase a crate (~$65).
Other costs associated with shipping include a veterinary certificate and an airport delivery fee
($50). The cost of the flight & crate is subject to change so please contact us for a current quote. In order
to have your puppy flown to you, we will need AT LEAST 2 weeks notice, however if you think this might
be a possibility that you are considering, tell us at the time of purchase so we can confirm that a flight is
available to your area. We prefer to ship by West Jet or Central Mountain Air for domestic flights. It is best if
you can find a way to pick your puppy up - that way we can meet you, you can meet us, and you can meet
your puppy's older relatives - we can usually hold your puppy for a little while longer if that will help
accommodate your schedule, but we do need to know if this will be the case well in advance. *** We will
need to confirm your travel arrangements are (time of pick-up or shipping) by the time your puppy is 6
weeks of age so that we can co-ordinate appointments, drop-off at the airport, and vet-checks. ** If you are
inquiring about shipping a puppy the U.S., please inquire as the requirements are slightly different.
5. How do you raise your puppies?
Good question - one of the most important ones you should ask a breeder. Complete information about
how our puppies can be found here. In short, our puppies are raised in our home, around the hustle and
bustle of daily activity, and are handled individually each day from birth. They undergo early neurological
stimulation which helps to promote brain activity and growth, and when they are a bit older, we introduce
them to TONS of new things so that they are very well socialized before they go to your home. These
include loud noises (gun shots, bad music, vaccuums, etc), other animals (cats, horses and older dogs), lots
of new people (children, seniors, people in funny hats!), water or snow and ice, grooming practices, different
types of flooring, lighting, smells, toys, etc. Puppies are also started on obedience training and crate training
prior to leaving our home. This full-time attention allows us to get to know the puppies very well and bring out
the best in them. Eromit puppies are outgoing, willing to accept change and new situations, and have a
friendly, confident attitude that results in an easy to train and enjoyable dog.
6. How far in advance do we need to reserve a puppy?
Once a planned breeding is announced on our future litters page, we start to accept puppy reservation
requests. We accept 6 advanced reservations per litter and usually have a waiting list for 'extra' puppies.
Therefore it is best to contact us as soon as you start thinking about adding a puppy to your family.
There are a couple of advantages to planning ahead when seeking a Lab pup. Selection order is partly
based on the order in which we receive your deposit (also taking into consideration your color, sex and
personality preferences and the traits of the available puppies). Also, reserving a puppy from a future litter
will allow you time to puppy proof your home, make pick up arrangements, and plan around your babies
schedule. Buying a puppy isn't a decision to be taken lightly and shouldn't be an impulsive choice.
7. Is my deposit refundable?
Your deposit is refundable up until the time that the pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound. After that, there is
only one instance in which your deposit would be refunded. That is the situation where we are not able to
provide you with a puppy that will meet your needs. When you place your deposit, you are indicating to us
that you are seriously committed to purchasing an Eromit Labrador. If there is an unusually small litter where
there are not enough puppies to meet our reservations, you will have the option of having your deposit
refunded or you may choose to transfer your reservation to an upcoming litter. However, if a puppy matching
your request is available but you change your mind for whatever reason, your deposit will not be refunded.
8. Do you sell your puppies with breeding rights?
Puppies sold as competition prospects, or to reputable breeders may be sold with full registration and
breeding rights upon request at our discretion. Please ask if you are interested in this option. All other
puppies are sold on a non-breeding agreement. This agreement is reversible per our contract once your
puppy turns two years of age. You will have the option to regain full registration and breeding rights provided
that your puppy has successful met the health testing requirements listed in the purchase contract, and that
you have forwarded the results to us. In some cases there may be a fee to reverse the agreement - the full
details will be outlined in your puppy purchase contract. In any case, breeding Labs is not something to be
undertaken lightly and therefore we DO NOT sell puppies with breeding rights to first time dog
owners.
9. Do you sell adult dogs or older puppies?
Occasionally we may have such dogs. Typically, they would fall into one of four categories:
1) an older puppy that has been held back from a litter but is now available either for co-ownership or for
regular sale.
2) a young started dog who has undergone basic training (6 months to a couple years old)
3) an older female retired from our breeding program. (usually 5-7 years old)
4) Rescue dogs
The price of an older puppy or young dog is typically more than that of an 8 week old puppy, and is set
individually depending on what level of training they have achieved. Retired dogs are made available at a
very reasonable price to approved families looking for a family pet or hunting dog. Retired dogs are
house-trained, obedience trained and may even have some advanced training in either field work or
agility, and make great dogs for first time dog owners or someone looking to skip all the puppy
nonsense.
Rescue dogs will vary in age and training level. When a dog comes to us from a rescue type situation,
they are completely health checked by our vet, spayed or neutered, and then spend time going through
basic training before being made available for adoption. The adoption fee for a rescue dog is quite low
and simply covers the costs incurred in getting the dog ready for adoption. All rescue efforts are not-for-profit.
10. How many litters have you had? How long have you been breeding Labradors?
Labs have been in my family for many generations. As a youngster, I helped my Dad train his dogs and
became a dedicated assistant in the whelping and rearing of the puppies. The first litter I raised about 15
years ago under the guidance of my dad was from my sweet black female named Flash. A few years later, I
purchased Nestle as the foundation for my current line, and she had three beautiful
litters for me prior to retirement. All of my females are currently related to Nestle. You can see pictures of
most of the puppies we produced on our happy tails page. In addition to Labradors, my
family was involved in competitive dog sled racing for several years so I have been involved with several
litters of Alaskan Huskies as well.
11. What about Dewclaws? Do you remove them?
No no no!!! Removing dewclaws is the old-school method of preventing dewclaws tears in the field.
However, recent research indicates that dogs without dewclaws are much more likely to end up with
front leg injuries, including arthritis in the wrist. This is suspected to be because the front leg can not
stabilize itself on sharp turns and quick stops without having a dewclaw present.
We have had dogs with and without dewclaws and I can tell you that we have not had any problems
hunting our dew-clawed dogs. It is very important to keep up with the trimming on these nails, as with all nails.
We have noticed a significant reduction in turning and stopping speed from our dogs who do not have
dewclaws, compared to our dogs who are 'fully fingered'. Because of these above reasons, we are no longer
removing dewclaws from our puppies. If you are seriously concerned about tearing your dogs 'thumb' while
hunting, we recommend using 'vet-wrap' to wrap the area. However, for most scenarios this is not necessary.
If you are still wondering why I do not remove dewclaws, please click on each thumbnail photo below to
see how dogs are using them to keep themselves upright at great speeds. Front dewclaws are indeed
a useful appendage and we do not feel the risk of tearing one justifies intentionally increasing the risk of
other injuries through dewclaw removal.
Our dogs are "American", "Field Trial" Labs in Black, Yellow and Chocolate. They are all Canadian Kennel
Club registered and in some cases also registered with the American Kennel Club. Our breeding dogs are
selected for performance traits: easy to train and live with, confident and sociable (TEMPERAMENT),
instinctual, birdy retrievers with good eyes, nose and perseverance (NATURAL HUNTING ABILITY), long
lived, sound, and free from genetic disease (HEALTH) and quick, high-drive, and agile (ATHLETICISM).
2. How much do puppies cost and what does the price include?
Our puppies cost $1000-$1500 (CDN). This price includes CKC registration, tattoo &/or microchip, first
vaccination, deworming, a starter puppy kit with food, collar, and training references, a vet check prior to
leaving our home and a 30 month health guarantee. We also offer up to $300 in rebates in the form of
Titling Incentives- this is to encourage you to become involved in a dog sport, which our labs LOVE to do!
In addition to all of this, our puppies receive our full-time attention from the day they are born and go through
our 'super-socialization' program -this results in a well-adjusted, easily trained and cooperative puppy for
you!
3. What do all the health certifications mean, and what are they good for?
A detailed description of this is on our Health page. Here you will learn what health tests Labs should have
before being bred, and where you can go to confirm tests results. Be sure that any puppy you buy is from
health certified parents. This is different than being checked by a regular veterinarian and being up
to date on shots. A healthy puppy is important to every family, whether you are looking for a hunting dog,
sporting prospect or pet.
4. We would like to buy a puppy but won't be able to pick it up. Can you deliver it?
No, we don't deliver puppies. We can usually arrange to have it shipped by air, depending on where you
live - shipping costs around $150-200 within Canada and you will also need to purchase a crate (~$65).
Other costs associated with shipping include a veterinary certificate and an airport delivery fee
($50). The cost of the flight & crate is subject to change so please contact us for a current quote. In order
to have your puppy flown to you, we will need AT LEAST 2 weeks notice, however if you think this might
be a possibility that you are considering, tell us at the time of purchase so we can confirm that a flight is
available to your area. We prefer to ship by West Jet or Central Mountain Air for domestic flights. It is best if
you can find a way to pick your puppy up - that way we can meet you, you can meet us, and you can meet
your puppy's older relatives - we can usually hold your puppy for a little while longer if that will help
accommodate your schedule, but we do need to know if this will be the case well in advance. *** We will
need to confirm your travel arrangements are (time of pick-up or shipping) by the time your puppy is 6
weeks of age so that we can co-ordinate appointments, drop-off at the airport, and vet-checks. ** If you are
inquiring about shipping a puppy the U.S., please inquire as the requirements are slightly different.
5. How do you raise your puppies?
Good question - one of the most important ones you should ask a breeder. Complete information about
how our puppies can be found here. In short, our puppies are raised in our home, around the hustle and
bustle of daily activity, and are handled individually each day from birth. They undergo early neurological
stimulation which helps to promote brain activity and growth, and when they are a bit older, we introduce
them to TONS of new things so that they are very well socialized before they go to your home. These
include loud noises (gun shots, bad music, vaccuums, etc), other animals (cats, horses and older dogs), lots
of new people (children, seniors, people in funny hats!), water or snow and ice, grooming practices, different
types of flooring, lighting, smells, toys, etc. Puppies are also started on obedience training and crate training
prior to leaving our home. This full-time attention allows us to get to know the puppies very well and bring out
the best in them. Eromit puppies are outgoing, willing to accept change and new situations, and have a
friendly, confident attitude that results in an easy to train and enjoyable dog.
6. How far in advance do we need to reserve a puppy?
Once a planned breeding is announced on our future litters page, we start to accept puppy reservation
requests. We accept 6 advanced reservations per litter and usually have a waiting list for 'extra' puppies.
Therefore it is best to contact us as soon as you start thinking about adding a puppy to your family.
There are a couple of advantages to planning ahead when seeking a Lab pup. Selection order is partly
based on the order in which we receive your deposit (also taking into consideration your color, sex and
personality preferences and the traits of the available puppies). Also, reserving a puppy from a future litter
will allow you time to puppy proof your home, make pick up arrangements, and plan around your babies
schedule. Buying a puppy isn't a decision to be taken lightly and shouldn't be an impulsive choice.
7. Is my deposit refundable?
Your deposit is refundable up until the time that the pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound. After that, there is
only one instance in which your deposit would be refunded. That is the situation where we are not able to
provide you with a puppy that will meet your needs. When you place your deposit, you are indicating to us
that you are seriously committed to purchasing an Eromit Labrador. If there is an unusually small litter where
there are not enough puppies to meet our reservations, you will have the option of having your deposit
refunded or you may choose to transfer your reservation to an upcoming litter. However, if a puppy matching
your request is available but you change your mind for whatever reason, your deposit will not be refunded.
8. Do you sell your puppies with breeding rights?
Puppies sold as competition prospects, or to reputable breeders may be sold with full registration and
breeding rights upon request at our discretion. Please ask if you are interested in this option. All other
puppies are sold on a non-breeding agreement. This agreement is reversible per our contract once your
puppy turns two years of age. You will have the option to regain full registration and breeding rights provided
that your puppy has successful met the health testing requirements listed in the purchase contract, and that
you have forwarded the results to us. In some cases there may be a fee to reverse the agreement - the full
details will be outlined in your puppy purchase contract. In any case, breeding Labs is not something to be
undertaken lightly and therefore we DO NOT sell puppies with breeding rights to first time dog
owners.
9. Do you sell adult dogs or older puppies?
Occasionally we may have such dogs. Typically, they would fall into one of four categories:
1) an older puppy that has been held back from a litter but is now available either for co-ownership or for
regular sale.
2) a young started dog who has undergone basic training (6 months to a couple years old)
3) an older female retired from our breeding program. (usually 5-7 years old)
4) Rescue dogs
The price of an older puppy or young dog is typically more than that of an 8 week old puppy, and is set
individually depending on what level of training they have achieved. Retired dogs are made available at a
very reasonable price to approved families looking for a family pet or hunting dog. Retired dogs are
house-trained, obedience trained and may even have some advanced training in either field work or
agility, and make great dogs for first time dog owners or someone looking to skip all the puppy
nonsense.
Rescue dogs will vary in age and training level. When a dog comes to us from a rescue type situation,
they are completely health checked by our vet, spayed or neutered, and then spend time going through
basic training before being made available for adoption. The adoption fee for a rescue dog is quite low
and simply covers the costs incurred in getting the dog ready for adoption. All rescue efforts are not-for-profit.
10. How many litters have you had? How long have you been breeding Labradors?
Labs have been in my family for many generations. As a youngster, I helped my Dad train his dogs and
became a dedicated assistant in the whelping and rearing of the puppies. The first litter I raised about 15
years ago under the guidance of my dad was from my sweet black female named Flash. A few years later, I
purchased Nestle as the foundation for my current line, and she had three beautiful
litters for me prior to retirement. All of my females are currently related to Nestle. You can see pictures of
most of the puppies we produced on our happy tails page. In addition to Labradors, my
family was involved in competitive dog sled racing for several years so I have been involved with several
litters of Alaskan Huskies as well.
11. What about Dewclaws? Do you remove them?
No no no!!! Removing dewclaws is the old-school method of preventing dewclaws tears in the field.
However, recent research indicates that dogs without dewclaws are much more likely to end up with
front leg injuries, including arthritis in the wrist. This is suspected to be because the front leg can not
stabilize itself on sharp turns and quick stops without having a dewclaw present.
We have had dogs with and without dewclaws and I can tell you that we have not had any problems
hunting our dew-clawed dogs. It is very important to keep up with the trimming on these nails, as with all nails.
We have noticed a significant reduction in turning and stopping speed from our dogs who do not have
dewclaws, compared to our dogs who are 'fully fingered'. Because of these above reasons, we are no longer
removing dewclaws from our puppies. If you are seriously concerned about tearing your dogs 'thumb' while
hunting, we recommend using 'vet-wrap' to wrap the area. However, for most scenarios this is not necessary.
If you are still wondering why I do not remove dewclaws, please click on each thumbnail photo below to
see how dogs are using them to keep themselves upright at great speeds. Front dewclaws are indeed
a useful appendage and we do not feel the risk of tearing one justifies intentionally increasing the risk of
other injuries through dewclaw removal.
| Frequently Asked Questions about Our Breeding Program & Policies |
