This litter has a fine labrador retriever pedigree and should make for some great hunting dogs, hunt test hounds or a pup to sit on the couch with.

Please check out our site and facebook page for more information about our labrador retriever breeding program.

The episode itself centered on finding a responsible breeder, how to pick a puppy and was loaded with a bunch of great shots of the dogs in action….and ofcourse puppies! 

I will update the blog once we have confirmation that this is the date.  I hope you all get a chance to see it!!!

Dog breeder Jeff Fuller of Delavan, shown with his Labrador retriever Lily, wants to teach people how to find the right dog.

For Jeff Fuller, owner of Soggy Acres Retrievers in Delavan, making sure people walk away with the right dog for their families is important.

At the Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Fuller will give a seminar on “Picking a Pup and the First 6 Months.”

According to Fuller, doing some research is one of the most important steps to finding the right dog.

“It’s more than picking a puppy, it’s finding the right breeder,” he said.

Fuller and his wife, Robyn, started Soggy Acres in 1998 with their first Labrador puppy, Lily. They started with only one or two litters a year. But, after a squad car accident forced Jeff to retire from his position as a police sergeant in Muskego in 2005, the couple expanded their breeding program and training facilities.

Whether you’re looking for a Labrador retriever or any other dog, there are a few things to keep in mind.

When selecting a breeder, Fuller said it’s best to narrow down your search to about four or five breeders. It’s important to find out the pedigree of the dogs, seek a quality health guarantee and look at the fine print. Some breeders will offer a health guarantee, but if a dog has health issues, they will make owners return the dog – which may have already become part of the family.

And, there are other warning signs.

“The first thing that would stop me in my tracks is if they didn’t want me to visit their kennel,” Fuller said. “Second would be that they don’t want us to see all their dogs.”

Once you feel like you have found the right breeder, the next step is letting the breeder know exactly what you want.

“My suggestion is to tell breeders what you’re looking for in terms of personality,” Fuller said.

Breeders will be the ones spending the most time around the puppies and will have notes on each dog.

“You can tell which one’s the little stinker, which one’s the bold one and which one cowers in the corner,” he said.

Although it’s hard to tell what kind of dog a puppy will grow into, Fuller said he wouldn’t suggest the cowering puppy for a hunter; instead he’d go with the bold one.

Does it mean the cowering dog will not become a good hunting dog? No. But the bold one would be a better choice.

At Soggy Acres they not only want you to get a good hunting dog, they want you to get a good companion.

“Here, we breed for temperament first because if (a dog) can’t perform in the house, it doesn’t matter how great they are in the field,” he said.

He said although some breeders ask you to select a dog weeks before you take it home, Fuller likes to wait until the day a customer comes to take home their puppy.

Fuller selects three puppies he thinks would be a good match and then lets customers play with the dogs for about an hour to really see which one is best suited for their new family.

Taking the time and not making an “impulsive” decision is key.

During his Sports Show session, Fuller will bring one of his latest “success stories.”

Lucy, a 19-week-old chocolate Labrador, was one of a litter of 15 who had suffered from a bacterial infection and was nursed back to health by the Fullers. Now, their newest family dog is training to run American Kennel Club and Hunting Retriever Club hunt tests this summer.

Fuller also will give tips on how to research breeders, more things to look for when selecting a dog and how to begin training your dog. He will have a question-and-answer portion, too.

“They will get tips on finding a pet as well as a hunting dog,” Fuller said. “We’re trying to help people find the right breeder and the right dog.”

Jeff Fuller will give a seminar on Picking a Pup and the First 6 Months at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The original article, written by Ana M. Menendez, appeared on jsonline.com on February 27, 2009.