re: What to look for when buying a labrador puppy

I have a good bit of experience with labs and I can tell you to get the best bloodlines that you can afford...it is nice to have a dog that looks good, but that is not what is really important...try to stick with dogs from bloodlines that have done well in field trials...even if you have no interest in that kind of thing (I don't), the traits and instincts that allow a dog to do well in field trials are the same that allow you to train one to be a top notch hunting dog...

as for what to look for, that will depend on what you plan to do with the dog...if you are hunting where long retrieves in rough water are the norm, you'll want the biggest and strongest male you can get....if you are hunting from a pirogue in flooded timber, you'll want a smaller, less clumsy dog that can be kept calm and hide well...