Buying a Labrador? What health certificates and papers do I need?

I presume you mean they do NOT screen for the conditions? I would be very cautious about buying such a pup when there is an opportunity is there to purchase from screened parents - why are these breeders not screening their breeding lines? It may be as simple as never having experienced any of them in these lines but without proof there is little else to go on. Remember that no screening test is 100% proof that the condition could not arise in an individual but it does reduce the likelihood. I would also urge you to consider adopting a pup or young adult unless you intend showing or breeding pedigree lines - there are many many dogs in need of good, responsible homes!

Most importantly I would check that your puppy is coming from a reputable breeder. You should be able to see at least the mother with the puppies and if not this would be a major red flag. When visiting the puppies should look bright and in good condition. The breeder should be able to tell you when the puppies were wormed. You can also ask the breeder about whether there is any history of conditions such as elbow or hip dysplasia in their dogs. If you are unhappy about anything I would walk away. In terms of feeding I would recommend feeding a good quality food specifically for puppies such as Hills science plan.

Hip scores range from 0 to 106 and the lower the score the better. So 0/0 and 7/3 are very good scores. Here is good information on the respective health tests from the UK Kennel Club. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/glossary/health-tests.aspx This will help you in making your decision.

Here is an excellent article about breeding Labradoodles and health conditions for the breed: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/dog-breeds/labradoodle I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Oakley. You will want OFA certification of his joints done to start. This needs to happen after two years of age. X-rays are taken under anesthesia and then the films are evaluated by a board certified radiologist. Typically you will need an evaluation by a cardiologist and ophthalmologist as well. You can reference the AKC website though as they will list all the requirements per breed. Great job being a responsible breeder!

Unfortunately we cannot tell if a pet is 100% anything without a DNA test. Also a pet this young is impossible to tell what breed it is. I would recommend having the pet grow up a bit and then have him tested when he is about 4-6 months of age. You can go to any vet of your choosing, although it may require you to drive a bit to get to if there isn't one that isn't affiliated with the breeder in your area. It sounds a bit ridiculous that your vet isn't willing to do a simple DNA test though, so I would look into getting another vet if this is the case. You need an unbiased opinion here and someone willing to do tests that you are requesting. I hope that you get things sorted out, and hopefully you have gotten what you have paid for. Best of luck to you! Take care.

Those colors can both darken and lighten over time. Generally speaking Labrador retrievers can be prone to hip dysplasia, ear infections, allergies, elbow dysplasia and as they get older certain types of cancer such as lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma. For this puppy you could discuss with the breeder if any testing was done on either parent such as OFA hip/Penn Hip radiographs, health guarantee or veterinary records for the puppy.