Find the Right Labrador
The Greenstone Way: Heritage & Heart
At Greenstone, we take great pride in being AKC Breeders of Merit. For our family, breeding is a dedicated passion and a long-standing tradition—not a commercial business or a full-time income. Because we are not driven by profit, we are able to prioritize the health of our dogs and the integrity of our program above all else.
What sets a Greenstone Labrador apart is the depth of knowledge behind every litter. Our program is built on decades of experience and a multi-generational understanding of our specific bloodlines. This history gives us a clear insight into the temperament and health of our dogs—a perspective that only comes from years of careful, hands-on study.
Because we maintain a balanced family life, we only raise a few litters each year. While this means we can only welcome a small number of families into our community, we remain committed to being a helpful resource for the breed. Whether or not you welcome a Greenstone puppy into your home, we are happy to share our expertise to help you find the Labrador that is the perfect fit for your life.
Finding the Right Labrador
Deciding to bring a Labrador Retriever into your home is a 10-to-15-year commitment. Labradors are loyal, intelligent, and devoted companions, and choosing the right dog helps ensure a happy, healthy relationship. Before beginning your search, we encourage you to learn about the breed, ask plenty of questions, and observe dogs in person to understand true Labrador temperament and structure.
It is also important to consider that the ideal age for a dog varies for every family. While many seek out puppies, a young adult or a retired champion may be the perfect match for a household looking for a companion with a more established personality and settled energy.
Our Available Life Stages
BABY PUPPY (8 Weeks) Our 8-week puppies are raised in our home with intentional early socialization from day one. Our hands are the first to hold them, creating a strong foundation of trust and human connection.
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Foundation: Crate routines, early house-training, and neurological stimulation to build confidence.
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Price: $4,000
ADVANCED PUPPY (3–6 Months) These top-quality pups are retained for evaluation in our show and breeding program. They receive continued training and intentional socialization in our Advanced Puppy Program.
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Training: Basic obedience, recall, house manners, and exposure to new environments.
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Price: Varies
STARTED DOGS (6–24 Months) These are potential prospects we have decided to place in select homes. They are leash trained, have reliable recall, and are seasoned travelers—ideal for companionship, service, or therapy work.
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Socialization: Confident, adaptable companions with no known health issues.
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Price: Varies
TRAINED & RETIRED (Adults) Our adults transition seamlessly into new homes with reliable manners and solid obedience. Some are retired AKC Champions; most have full health clearances and are completely house-trained.
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Experience: Ideal for families seeking a well-prepared companion without the "puppy phase."
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Price: Varies
Why Greenstone?
At Greenstone, we take great pride in being AKC Breeders of Merit. For our family, breeding is a dedicated passion and a long-standing tradition—not a commercial business or a full-time income. This distinction is important; because we are not driven by profit, we are able to prioritize the health of our dogs and the integrity of our program above all else.
What sets a Greenstone Labrador apart is the depth of knowledge behind every litter. Our program is built on decades of experience and a multi-generational understanding of our specific bloodlines. This history gives us a clear insight into the temperament and health of our dogs, a perspective that only comes from years of careful, hands-on study of our own lines.
Because we maintain a balanced family life, we only raise a few litters each year. While this means we can only provide puppies to a small number of families, we remain committed to being a helpful resource for the breed. Whether or not you welcome a Greenstone puppy into your home, we are happy to share our expertise to help you find a responsible breeder and the Labrador that is the right fit for your family.
Choose a Breeder Carefully
Serious Hobby Breeders
The best source for well-bred Labradors are ethical hobby breeders, who carefully plan each litter and prioritize health, temperament, and lifelong placement. Key characteristics include:
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Screening prospective owners to ensure a suitable environment.
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Evaluating puppies’ personalities and recommending matches based on family needs.
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Active involvement in the breed through clubs, shows, obedience, or field events.
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Breeding to the AKC breed standard (not non-standard traits)
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Providing health records, vaccination information, and feeding guidance.
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Testing both parents for hereditary conditions.
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Selling puppies with AKC Limited Registration under a spay/neuter contract, ensuring the dogs are placed strictly as companions.
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Offering lifelong guidance and support for owners.
These breeders focus on producing puppies that are healthy, well-socialized, and true to breed standards.
Backyard Breeders
Backyard breeders typically produce litters without long-term planning, proper health screening, or socialization. AKC registration alone does not guarantee quality. Puppies from such sources may be sold online, in newspapers, or parking lots, and should be approached with caution.
Pet Stores and Puppy Mills
Puppy mills are commercial breeding operations that prioritize profit over animal welfare. Dogs are often kept in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, bred continuously, and receive minimal veterinary care. Puppies sold in pet stores are commonly sourced from these mills and should be avoided.
Let's Talk about Adoption.
Ethical Breeding and Rescue: United in Purpose
Ethical breeders and rescue organizations are not in opposition—we are on the same side, working toward the shared goal of healthy, well-cared-for dogs in loving, permanent homes. Sadly, much of the rescue community is exposed almost exclusively to the fallout of irresponsible backyard breeders and puppy mills. As a result, some individuals within rescue—through no fault of their own—have limited exposure to truly responsible breeding programs and may mistakenly view all breeders through the same lens.
In reality, the vast majority of dogs entering rescue originate from irresponsible sources, not from ethical breeders who take lifelong responsibility for the dogs they produce. Millions of dogs enter shelters and rescue organizations in the United States annually, and responsible breeders work to prevent this cycle by prioritizing health and temperament, carefully screening homes, microchipping puppies, and ensuring every dog has a safety net for life. If a family can no longer care for a dog, an ethical breeder will take that dog back rather than allowing it to enter a shelter.
Rescue organizations play a vital role by saving lives and providing second chances for dogs in need. Ethical breeders preserve the future of the Labrador Retriever by producing sound, healthy dogs, placing them in prepared homes, and providing ongoing support, AKC Limited Registration, and spay/neuter agreements. These efforts are complementary—not competitive. Rescue addresses immediate need, while ethical breeding prevents future suffering and stands firmly against irresponsible breeding practices. Together, both are united in opposition to backyard breeders and puppy mills.
Avoid Unethical Breeding Practices
Ethical breeders prioritize health, temperament, and strict adherence to the Labrador Retriever breed standard over rare or trendy colors, ensuring puppies are well-bred, structurally sound, and suited for lifelong companionship. We strongly recommend avoiding breeders who breed specifically for color. Any dog advertised as dilute—such as Silver, Charcoal, or Champagne—is not bred to the Labrador Retriever breed standard and these colors are not recognized by the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. or the AKC. These dilute colors are the result of crossbreeding with other breeds, most commonly the Weimaraner, which introduced hereditary health risks not typical of purebred Labradors, including color dilution alopecia and other related conditions.