Interview with Jean O'Connor, Labrador Retriever Breeder

My husband and I had to have our 13 ½ year old yellow Labrador Retriever put down due to a serious health issue. By day three without her, we knew we wanted a new puppy. I was on-line searching for a breed other than a lab when I spotted the link for Hat Creek Farms. There on the homepage was a beautiful photo of two yellow labs. I had to read more and as I looked through the site I found out there were still puppies available from the current litter. All thoughts of a breed other than a lab flew right out the window!

At that time they were just about 9 weeks old and that there were two boys and 4 girls available. I chatted with the owner, Jean O'Connor, several times. My husband and I planned to take the 4 hour ride the next day to pick out a puppy and bring her home.

Our goal was to let the puppy pick us, and that she did. The smallest one was the first one to venture over to check us out. I picked her up and held her, my husband held her and then she went back to her siblings. A few minutes later she came back to us and that began our journey with Ruby. My husband named her; he says she's our little jewel!

Jean O'Connor had a very interesting set-up and she produces high quality pups. We are extremely pleased with our lab and I wanted to pass the information on in case anyone else is looking for a lab puppy. Feel free to call her or e-mail her with any questions. She will be happy to talk to you about her labs.

Following is an interview I conducted with Jean. You can also check her website and be sure to read the testimonial section and look at all the photos!

Abby: How long have you been breeding dogs?
Jean: Approximately 14 years.

Abby: How did you get your start breeding?
Jean: My first two labs were Gus and Belle; I bred them on suggestions from my professional trainer at that time for they had outstanding pedigrees and terrific talent in the field. We had 11 puppies and I loved every minute of raising them and realized it was something I would really like to get seriously involved in.

Abby: Why did you choose labs to breed?
Jean: It was a no brainer deciding on labs to breed for once you own a lab you fall in love with the attributes of the breed.

Abby: What is the best part about being a breeder?
Jean: The best part of being a breeder is the feedback I get from my clients. It genuinely warms my heart when folks send pictures and updates and thank me profusely for giving them the dog of their dreams. It lifts my soul.

Abby: What is the worst part?
Jean: Labradors have relatively few problems delivering puppies but on rare occasion a pup can be born dead or have a congenital issue and not survive, it is very upsetting to say the least. Any woman who has given birth can also relate to a first time momma going through the stages of labor, it is somewhat stressful and I always breathe a sigh of relief when that first pup emerges!

Abby: How do you stop from becoming attached to the puppies?
Jean: I never stop becoming attached to a litter of puppies, I nickname them all! This also helps me remember exactly which pup a person has picked even though they chose their own name. Years may pass but I always consider them "my" dogs.

Abby: How are the techniques you use different from other breeders?
Jean: Now this question poses a dilemma for me, there was an old saying, "Macy's doesn't tell Gimbals", and today I guess it would be "Apple doesn't tell Mac".There are numerous things I do to socialize my litters. One example is I make very early eye contact even while the pups are still in the whelping box. A dog that will look you in the eye is a lot easier to train and willing to please their owner. I also know what a working dog will encounter in his early training so suffice it to say he knows what a duck sounds like and much more before he ever goes home!! And of course I spend hours daily just plain handling the pups and loving on them. That's the best part, pup hugs and belly rubs!!

Abby: How many liters do you breed yearly?
Jean: Usually I average three litters a year. I have only four breeding females at this time. To me if a lab breeder owns 20 to 30 bitches they should be considered a puppy mill even if the pups have a decent pedigree, for that is just mass producing and in my opinion, detrimental to the breed.

Abby: How many pups does a liter normally produce?
Jean: An average litter is between 8 and 10 puppies

Abby: If someone is interested in a lab puppy, can they place an order for an upcoming liter?
Jean: I do accept deposits once a breeding has taken place. If for some reason it does not "take" I will return the deposit or one can transfer it to another breeding.

Abby: What do you do differently from other breeders?
Jean: Probably one of the biggest differences in Hat Creek Farm and most other breeders, is I really do whelp the pups right in my kitchen/living room and sleep on the couch a few feet from them for the first week of life. I don't get a lot of sleep and chores are put on the back burner until I am comfortable my puppies are thriving.

Abby: What is the best advice you can give to someone in the market for a puppy?
Jean: People in the market for a quality puppy and an honest, caring breeder should take the time to study a website and call and talk to the breeder and ask questions. Ask other folks where and whom they purchased their pup from and if they were satisfied. If a breeder won't take time to hear your story or cuts you short and changes the subject when you ask questions about how many litters and how many breeding females they own, perhaps it is a telling sign the importance is more on the dollar than the dog. A call to their local vet can also be reassuring, my vets know my dogs and how I treat people, in turn they send me clients!!

PS: Someone once wrote: " Happy, indeed, is the person who owns a good dog."

Thanks Jean for your time and especially for Ruby, my little Hat Creek Farm yellow lab puppy!

Source:

Hatcreekretrievers.com

Jean O'Connor

Personal Experience