05/31/2026
Don’t be fooled by all the puppies being blown up on Facebook right now.
Everybody’s posting cute faces, but cute doesn’t equal quality.
If you’re serious about bringing a Labrador into your family for the next 12–17 years, you need to be asking the right questions and making sure your breeder is actually doing their due diligence — not just producing puppies because “there’s a market.”This is what real due diligence looks like.Start with structure and certificationsHip, elbow, and eye certifications are non‑negotiable.
Not “my vet said they look fine.”
Not “they’ve never had issues.”I’m talking about actual OFA certifications on every single dog they breed.
OFA Hip & Elbow Classifications
Excellent
Good
Fair
Borderline
Mild dysplasia
Moderate dysplasia
Severe dysplasia
If they’re not breeding from the top classifications (Excellent, Good, and sometimes Fair with context), you should not be getting a dog from them. Period.
And this isn’t just for the female.
This needs to be done on both the male and the female — and ideally you’re seeing it in past generations too. That’s how you build strong, sound bloodlines that last.
Eye Certifications — The Most Overlooked OFA Requirement Most breeders don’t even mention eye certifications, but they’re just as important as hips and elbows.We do our eye certifications through iCare for Animals, which is an OFA‑recognized ophthalmology exam performed by a board‑certified canine ophthalmologist — not a general vet.These exams check for:
Retinal defects
Cataracts
PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
Structural abnormalities
Hereditary eye diseases
Developmental issues
A dog can look perfectly normal and still carry hereditary eye disease that shows up later in life — and gets passed to every puppy.If a breeder isn’t doing OFA‑recognized eye certifications through a specialist like iCare, they are not covering their bases.
At Teton River Retrievers, every single breeding dog has OFA hips, elbows, and eyes before they are ever considered for breeding.
Now let’s dig into genetics — the part most breeders avoid A lot of breeders will say, “We test for EIC and CNM,” and stop there.Yes — EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse) and CNM (Centronuclear Myopathy) are absolutely essential. Any responsible breeder should be testing for those at a minimum.
"But that’s the bare minimum".
That’s the floor — not the ceiling.
Here’s where we stand apart: We don’t just do EIC and CNM.
We run a full 274‑genetic‑marker panel on every dog.We only breed 100% Labrador Retrievers that pass all 274 markers.What the 274‑marker panel actually is
Most people have no idea what this panel covers.
It’s not “a few extra tests.”
It’s the entire genetic blueprint of the dog.It includes:
Every known Labrador‑specific genetic defect
Every recessive mutation that can hide for generations
Coat‑color
genetics
Breed‑purity markers
Ancestry markers
Structural markers
Neurological markers
Immune‑system markers
Organ‑function markers
Metabolic markers
This panel tells us everything about the dog’s genetic health and purity.
Why carriers matter
Many breeders will breed a carrier to a clear dog and say:“It’s fine, the puppies won’t be affected.”Maybe not in that one litter — but every carrier puppy becomes a genetic landmine if it’s ever bred to another carrier.If two carriers are bred together for the same defect:100% of the puppies will have that defect for life.That’s how genetic diseases explode in a breed.
We’ve removed that risk entirely.We have bred out every single Labrador genetic defect that modern DNA and ancestry‑level testing can identify. That is extremely rare and extremely difficult to do.
It takes years of discipline, saying no to shortcuts, and walking away from dogs that don’t meet the standard.
It protects:The breed, The dog, And you, the buyer
Why most breeders DON’T run a 274‑marker panel Here’s the truth nobody else will say: Most breeders are afraid of what they’ll find.They don’t want to discover: Hidden recessive diseases Structural defects Neurological markers Immune‑system issues Breed‑purity problems Or anything that would force them to stop breeding a dog Because stopping means: Losing money Losing a breeding dog Losing a planned litter Losing a stud fee Losing a bloodline they’ve invested in So instead of doing the right thing, they avoid the test altogether.
If you don’t test, you don’t have to face the results.
Why “100% Labrador Retriever” actually matters — and why most breeders can’t prove it This is something almost nobody talks about.There are so many breeders claiming they have “100% Labrador Retrievers” — but they’ve never done the DNA work to prove it. Here’s the truth: A dog can look like a Lab A dog can be registered as a Lab A breeder can say it’s a Lab…but unless they’ve done the genetic testing, they don’t actually know. I’ve had people send me photos of dogs that look incredible — perfect heads, perfect coats, perfect structure — and then they send the DNA results……and the dog is only 90% Labrador Retriever.
Still registered with AKC as a “purebred.”
Still being bred as a “purebred.”
Still being sold as a “purebred.
”This is why we emphasize that we only breed 100% Labrador Retrievers — because we can prove it.We’re not guessing.
We’re not assuming.
We’re not taking someone’s word for it. We’re covering our bases and making sure you get exactly what you’re paying for. Ask the breeder real questions (not just “when can I pick up?”)Don’t just ask if they have puppies. Ask questions that actually reveal the quality of the program: Why did you pair this mom and dad together? What makes them a good match in temperament, structure, drive, and pedigree? What titles or accomplishments are behind these dogs?What are you breeding for — specifically? Can I see the OFA results and genetic panel? What is your policy on carriers and affected dogs? How are the puppies raised and socialized? What support do you offer after pickup? What happens if something goes wrong? If a breeder can’t answer these clearly and confidently, that’s your sign.
Why we stand out At Teton River Retrievers, we don’t just check boxes — we’ve built our program around doing everything possible to protect this breed and produce top‑tier dogs: 100% purebred Labrador Retrievers (proven through DNA)OFA hips, elbows, and eyes on every breeding dog 274‑marker genetic panel on every dog Zero carriers, zero affected dogs Carefully planned pairings Champion and field‑proven bloodlines Generational focus on health, longevity, and working ability Puppies placed nationwide A reputation built on integrity, not marketing We’re not trying to be “just another breeder.”
We’re building a legacy.The bottom line You only get one shot at choosing the right breeder.If you care about: Health,
Longevity,
Temperament,
Structure,
Genetics,
and Breed integrityThen you should be just as picky about your breeder as you are about your puppy.We’re doing everything in our power to be the best of the best — and we stand behind that. If you want a well‑bred Labrador, not just a “Facebook puppy,” this is where you start.
