About Us
Northern Wisconsin Labrador Breeder
Here at Borealis Labs we take great pride in our dogs. Our breeding program is focused on providing your family with the best possible Labrador Retriever. Each of our dogs are DNA tested and have a genetic health clearance. Sire & Dams are OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified for hips & elbows. Our dilute stud, Kodak, has Master & Junior Hunt Titles on his pedigree.
With over 9 years of breeding experience, and a 26-month health guarantee, you can be certain that you are purchasing the best quality Labrador available. Each of our pups are handled daily and well socialized. We breed for good temperaments and quality conformation. Our farm is located near Lake Superior and most of the dogs love to swim! Our puppies make excellent family pets or great hunting companions. Not only are our puppies beautiful, many of them have gone on to become successful bird dogs!
Our dilute dogs are a mix of American and English Labs, so you get the blocky look with the athleticism for field work, all in one pretty package! Our standard colored lines are English-bred. All puppies are vet checked, dewormed, current on vaccines, and come with a new puppy packet, litter certificate, AKC registration, and lifetime breeder support. If you’re looking for a beautiful, loving, puppy to add to your family or be your next hunting partner, you have come to the right place!
We love our dogs like family and when we say, “small,” we mean it. We never have more than eight dogs, so each can get the attention they deserve. Our dogs are apart of our family and kept inside with us, when we are home.
To us, it’s about quality not quantity.You can be confident in your purchase from Borealis Labs that you will have a great companion for years to come!
A few important notes:
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We do not ship our pups
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We can meet you at the airport to carry-on your new pup
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We do not offer a stud service
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Pups have a 26-month health guarantee
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*Pups go to their new homes after 7 weeks of age
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Pups are vet checked
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We do not implant a microchip
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We do not remove dew claws (this is like removing a thumb and because front dewclaws serve an important purpose, they should not be removed unless there is a good reason to do so).
* “Most veterinarians and breeders agree that 7-to-8 weeks of age is the prime time for a puppy to meet its new family.
A primary factor in choosing when to send a puppy to a new home is the socialization period. The socialization period in puppies typically lasts from 6-to-12 weeks of age. During this time, puppies are learning the norms of the world around them.
It is best for puppies to enter their new homes as soon as possible during this age to give them the best chance at adapting to their new environment. The first behavioral fear period in puppies also occurs during this time at around 7-8 weeks, and sending a puppy home during this time helps it to build resiliency to new experiences.
Socialization of puppies should be done thoughtfully. Pups need positive exposure to the world’s sights, sounds, people, and animals can go a long way in keeping puppies in their home for a lifetime. Many studies show that owners’ relinquishment of dogs tends to happen when the dogs are 6-to-8-month-old “teenagers.”
Exposure to new things and individual attention are very important if breeders choose to keep puppies past the age of 8 weeks. Puppies that stay in the comfort of the litter during their fear period may miss out on the chance to learn to cope with new experiences, as well as they potentially could.
A puppy that is too sheltered during this time could become anxious or fearful around new things and take longer to adapt to new situations. Another potential concern when keeping litters together for too long is the individuality of each puppy. “Those puppies are not accommodated for their own individual needs.
Separating puppies from their mothers too soon, as well as weaning too early, can have unwanted effects. From 3-to-6 weeks, puppies are in an early socialization period, learning to be dogs.
Through their mother and littermates, puppies begin to learn appropriate play behaviors. They also learn rudimentary impulse control and bite inhibition from the feedback of their siblings and mother. A puppy separated prior to 6 weeks may miss out on some of this early learning.
It’s clear that what happens during the weeks between is what matters. This sensitive period for socialization shapes a young puppy’s future as a dog. As important as blood lines, proper socialization will give a puppy the head start it needs to be a behaviorally healthy partner, in the home, show ring, or field.”
Dr. Sally Foote is a veterinarian and International Association of Animal Behavior consultant. She also is Low Stress Handling and Fear Free certified and is the current head of Cattle Dog Publishing. She practices at Okaw Veterinary Clinic in Tuscola, Ill.
Claire Apple is the owner of Golem Kennels in Pittsboro, N.C. She selectively breeds Shetland Sheepdogs and teaches obedience and herding to all breeds.” — AKC.ORG