AlaskaMagnum,I'll agree that the dude out east who dresses his dogs up for photos, and exploits his dogs to make money is a jerk,but there are good bloodlines out there.The popularity of the breed as a pet has not helped to preserve the good working bloodlines,but the labrador retriever breed has many,many more backyard matings and that breeds bloodlines are watered down imensely by overbreeding as well.Practically every vet or human society in the country has a lab or two to give away,and many are not nuetered.