re: What's the scoops on "white labs"?

I saw a HRCH work once at a trial and fell in love with her. I've always wanted one.

There are some great fox red kennels throwing litters with great bloodlines and superior breeding. You can often- but not always- tell the standards that they adhere to by the # of non-fox red pups they have had for sale. Unfortunately, because it's a "specialty," the vermin that are puppy mills are always lurking with litters for sale. Their dams are nothing less than cattle for them (except dog chit smells way worse than a cow's).

Like any other pup, if you're serious about working them in the field- (and that is the major factor here: serious about field work) then look at the pedigree, look at the sire and dam for their demeanor and build (this is the best method to determine what your getting, and IME, especially with what you see in the dam), ask to see them work (if they can't and I'm serious about it, that's a big strike), ask for references on people who work their pups, look for reviews and don't be afraid to set the cute, cuddly little thing down and drive hours back home empty handed.

I love a black male labrador like the one above about as much as any other breed type, save a goofy male German Shorthair with good hunting stock and pure drive to hunt anything that I say is okay to hunt, but my next field dog will probably be a thoroughbred fox red. And I'll pay dearly for it!