I'm curious what the average cost is for a labrador puppy? Something with good bloodlines, excellent health (OFA, CERF, PennHip, Optigen, Heart), no allergies, etc. The prices I am seeing in the Northeast seem to vary by several hundred dollars. I wondered what other people/breeders are seeing for prices?

. . . Rob

Hey Rob, that all will vary, ave. started dog, 1000 - 2000, ob ff cc. I have a bird dog client that trains labs in Lapeer Michigan has a yellow bitch 7 mo. getting started, he can give you more details, sounds like a pleasure to work with, very workable brain, sounds like a nice bitch, call him, tell him Jonesy told you to contact Jeff Bryson 810-245-8503, Jeff does alot of hunt test stuff with his clients and their dogs, very honest man, Thanks Jonesy he'll tell you more about breeding I believe sire and dam senior hunters, bitch side lean mac is grandpa I believe he'll tell you more. Thanks Jonesy

For a puppy that qualifies those term'sw is gonnarun you around $600.00-$1500.00. Now you,ll find lotta pup in the newspaper for $200.00-$300.00 range......but i'd be a little leary of em...not saying ya can't find one in that price range....but I'd suggest you do a throughal[sp ?] history check on em...I find you generally get what ya paid for.....spending the extra $$$'s will never be a compleat inserance ...but you'll find your better off in the long run. I stole my pup for $600.00....other pup's with same sire went for $1500.00..

You seem to learn alot with each dog deal, I got burnt three years ago, from a big name next to memphis tenn. 10 mo old bitch, ob ff cc, had started blinds, was having problem cause she kept popping on him, boiled it down to to much pressure at the line and no confidence drills, got this bitch for 1250. prelim on hips, all the bells and whistles, bitch had early stages of heart worm, ouch!! He made it good but she had to sit for quite a while. Got her right and sold her to buddy in cali, no problems since, i dont' know where I am going so i'll shut up, just becareful on any purchase, and if they fuss and squable bout this or that, me personally i will walk on, there is alot of dogs out there. Word of mouth sometimes helps, just like the bitch i spoke of on the start of post, same deal as wayne, dog needs to move, that is when the deals seem to click in. Thanks Wayne, good post Jonesy

Thanks for the input guys. I'm pretty new at this dog stuff, so any advice is much appreciated. Is there anything specific I should be looking for or asking?

Basically allI am looking foris a smart healthy dog. I want to teach it to help me find shed antlers in the winter and spring. Perhaps train it to be a leashed tracking dog to find wounded/dead deer. I'm not a waterfowler, but I have had several labs over the years and just love the breed.

Thanks, Rob

Make sure the parent'ship's, elbow's and eye's have been certified, and i'd want a history of the family tree to make sure it come's from hunting blood.

.