Quote Originally Posted by *LabLoverKEB*
Please don't breed your dog! There are WAY to many Labrador Retrievers already out there, we DO NOT need anymore.
I second that! Every time I visit any shelter (which is often), the vast majority of dogs that I see are Labs or Pits. Most are purebred Labs!

IF you are breeding, I suggest you show Elly and compete in field trials (to prove her hunting abiltiy, as you should never breed a working dog that cannot work), THEN think about breeding. You will also need to health test her extensively, one of the reasons a huge percentage of Labs have congenital health defects (hip/elbow dysplasia, etc etc) is because so so many backyard breeders are breeding carriers of these defects. THEN you need to find her a stud who has also been shown and trialed and proven to be a superb example of his breed, along with passing his health tests, a stud of this nature will cost around $1000. Honestly, you need to print out as much about overpopulation, good breeding practices (which includes exhibiting your dog and health testing them), and whether your parents are willing to do this. Ask if you can volunteer at your local shelter, to get the real picture of just how many PUREBRED Labs from backyard breeders are being euthanized every single day. I know you're a kid, I am too, but I also know for a fact that after talking to them so much my parents would never dream of breeding dogs, they leave that to professionals who dedicate their lives to it.

I know it sounds like we're all lecturing, but I totally respect you for actually putting thought into this instead of breeding now and thinking later! It probably seems to you like breeding one litter will be ok, but what about those puppies? If you don't sell them on spay/neuter contracts, how many puppies will they be spewing into this world? And their puppies puppies? You need to think about that, and think about if breeding your dog is worth putting her and her future puppies through that danger. What if they all turned out to be painfully dysplastic at a young age, and you were sued by the owners? It HAS happened! So many horrible situations can arise, which will be immediately avoided by spaying.

I think, if you talk to your parents with a lot of concern and responsibility, if they have sense they will listen to what you have to say.