When I was vetting breeders for my second Labrador, I brought a written list of questions to every visit — not because I doubted my own judgment, but because it’s easy to get swept up by a litter of adorable puppies and forget to ask anything at all. The breeder I ultimately chose answered every question specifically and without hesitation; one I walked away from got visibly irritated the moment I asked for OFA numbers. That reaction alone told me everything.
- Why Asking the Right Questions Matters
- Questions About Health Testing and Clearances
- Questions About the Puppy’s Parents and Pedigree
- Questions About Early Socialization and Care
- Questions About the Health Guarantee and Contract
- Questions About Registration and Return Policy
- Red-Flag Answers to Watch For
- A Printable Question Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Asking the Right Questions Matters
A breeder’s answers reveal far more than a website or a cute litter photo ever will. Health testing, socialization practices, and contract terms are all things a bad breeder can fake in writing but struggle to answer specifically and confidently in a real conversation. Asking direct, specific questions — and knowing what a genuinely good answer sounds like — is the single best filter available to a prospective buyer.
Questions About Health Testing and Clearances
1. “Can you give me the OFA or CHIC registration numbers for both parents?”
2. “Have both parents had hip and elbow evaluations, an eye exam, and an EIC DNA test?”
- OFA hips/elbows: Screens for dysplasia, a genetic orthopedic condition Labradors are predisposed to
- Eye exam: Screens for inherited eye conditions that can affect vision over a dog’s lifetime
- EIC DNA test: Identifies carriers of exercise-induced collapse, preventing affected litters
- PRA-prcd DNA test: Screens for a specific inherited, incurable form of progressive vision loss
Questions About the Puppy’s Parents and Pedigree
3. “Can I meet the puppy’s mother in person?”
4. “What lines do the parents come from, show or field?”
Questions About Early Socialization and Care
5. “Where are the puppies raised, and what have they been exposed to so far?”
6. “At what age will the puppy go home, and why?”
Questions About the Health Guarantee and Contract
7. “What does your health guarantee cover, and for how long?”
8. “What happens if I can no longer keep the dog, at any point in its life?”
Questions About Registration and Return Policy
9. “Will this puppy come with full or limited AKC registration, and why?”
10. “Can you provide references from past puppy buyers?”
Red-Flag Answers to Watch For
- Becoming defensive, evasive, or annoyed when asked about health testing
- Multiple breeds or litters always “available now” with no waitlist
- Pressure to pay a deposit before you’ve asked any questions or seen the puppy
- Refusing an in-person visit or offering only to ship the puppy sight-unseen
- No written contract or health guarantee of any kind
Any one of these alone might have an innocent explanation, but more than one together is a strong signal to keep looking. See our full guides to finding a reputable Labrador breeder and spotting puppy mill warning signs for more on this.
A Printable Question Checklist
- OFA/CHIC numbers for both parents
- Hip and elbow evaluation results
- Eye exam results
- EIC DNA test results
- PRA-prcd/CNM DNA test results
- Met the puppy’s mother in person
- Asked about the father, even if off-site
- Confirmed show/field line background
- Asked where puppies are raised
- Confirmed 8-week minimum go-home age
- Reviewed written health guarantee
- Confirmed lifetime return policy
- Clarified full vs. limited registration
- Requested past buyer references
Once you’ve found a breeder who checks these boxes, our guide to choosing a Labrador puppy from a litter covers the next step, and our guide to common Labrador health problems gives more context on why each genetic test matters long-term.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I ask a Lab breeder before buying a puppy?
Ask for OFA/CHIC numbers on both parents, confirm hip, elbow, eye, and EIC testing, ask to meet the mother in person, clarify the health guarantee and return policy, and request references from past buyers.
How do I know if a breeder is health testing their Labs?
Ask directly for OFA or CHIC registration numbers, which you can independently verify on the OFA public database. A breeder who provides these immediately and specifically is health testing; one who gives vague reassurance without numbers likely isn’t.
What should a good breeder be able to tell me about the parents?
Specific OFA/CHIC health testing results, pedigree and line background (show vs. field), temperament, and any relevant medical history — confidently and without hesitation.
What questions reveal a bad Labrador breeder?
Questions about health testing, meeting the mother, and the return policy tend to reveal the most. Defensiveness, evasiveness, or an inability to answer these specifically are strong warning signs.
Should I ask a breeder for references?
Yes. A reputable breeder should be willing to connect you with past puppy buyers who can speak to their experience, including how the breeder handled any issues after the sale.
Found a breeder who passed every question?
See our guide to choosing a puppy from the litter →Sources
- The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. — CHIC Health Testing Requirements
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) — Canine Health Information Center
- American Kennel Club — Full vs. Limited Registration Explained
