There are several types of Labrador Retrievers as their are people and you must decide what type you are looking for in order to be sure you have the right dog for your purposes.
Labrador Retrievers are bred for several purposes as a companion dog, gun dog for hunting and retrieval, for a particular field of expertise, a competitor in professional dog shows or simply as a pet.
The resources are many for all purposes and like any other dog you choose you must look into their characteristics.
Many hunters prefer the Labrador Retriever and as their name suggests they are bred for retrieving.
If you wish a dog for this purpose then you should look into a qualified kennel who has a know reputation of that particular breed sometimes known in this case as active working stock.
This assures that a Labrador Retriever that is bred from this line will have the natural instincts and the motivation or desires to be a very serious retriever.
The puppies will probably already been exposed to the sound of gun shots, appear vital, bold and in good trim ready for to chase after and with instincts to pick up a stick when thrown.
In other words all the characteristics of their purpose as a hunting dog are there even as a young pup.
Some people prefer to have a competitor to participate in professional dog shows.
This is where you would seek breeders for advice of who is actively competing and have a reputation for producing winners in this field.
Experienced breeders can only make a prediction based on the background of the pedigree of the dog and their evaluation of what they see in the puppy when they are young.
It takes not only a true to breed competitor but the owner must know how to instruct and nurture the dog to be his best in the field.
The competitor field is a gambling field because most puppies are attained at an early age as eight weeks with rapid growth and little time to mature physically therefore the true potential as a show dog cannot be predicted until later.
This is where the decision is based on pedegree and the breeder's knowledge of their dogs.
Sometimes it is better to wait until the puppy is older and a more reliable decision can be made but then it is known to all if the puppies are showing the true quality of showmanship resulting in a higher price.
Labrador Retrievers make excellent pets.
Some of these dogs that do not make the grade as showmanship dogs because of some minor fault make excellent pets because they are well bred, have a good pedigrees of both parents and have been given great care.
These can be obtained through pet stores but be sure they came from a reliable breeder and not a puppy mill.
Some local kennels often supply the respectable pet stores and doing some research should tell you where your puppy came from.
Another source is your neighbourhood litters where you also get quality at a more reasonable price but it is still a good idea to check out the parents.
The parents should be registered or eligible for registration which means you are buying a purebred Labrador Retriever with the price reflecting this.
All these ideas should be taken into consideration when looking for the dog of your dreams.
You want the right dog for the right purpose or both you and the dog will be disappointed.
The main concept is do your research, know your lifestyle and what you want in a dog because they deserve your love, respect and loyalty the same as any other member of your family.
Choose wisely.