After 2 months of being dog-less I couldn't stand it anymore. I had decided that our next dog would be a Labrador Retriever and it would come from a reputable breeder. I wanted a dog that had been properly socialized as a puppy and under no circumstance will I ever own a breed that has a history of being aggressive again. Keeper and I have no time to train a puppy so I began to look for breeders that might have an older dog they are looking to retire.
I used Breeder.net and found about 9 breeders around the Valley that I sent emails to inquiring about older dogs. The response was overwhelming. We found one place that was looking to sell a 6 year old for $1,000 (her father WAS the Westminster Dog Show Champion)! Out of our league, to say the least. We ended up visiting 2 breeders in Apache Junction, AZ (foothills of the Superstition Mountains, about 45 minutes east of central Phoenix). Every dog we met, we loved. We met and played with a 2 year old, a 5 year old, a 6 year old and a 7 year old; all female. The 2 oldest dogs were retired from breeding and the 2 younger ones had either a hip or elbow that did not pass OFA excellent or good so they were not used for breeding, but kept as pets. I continue to get emails from different breeders so we definitely have a good selection, should we choose to get another one down the road.
2 and half weeks ago, we came home with Onyx, a 2 year old black lab. We knew an older dog would be more mellow but we also knew that labs only live to be between 10-12/13 years old so we were hesitant about getting a 6 or 7 year old. Onyx is a "people" dog. She has to be wherever Keeper and I are (this includes barging in bathrooms---she doesn't quite understand privacy). She loves her daily walks and loves to play fetch (in the apartment and outside in the grass) but she is content to put her head in your lap and cuddle the rest of the time. She listens so well and is SO well-trained. She makes friends with everyone she meets (both dogs and people). She is an angel to walk on the leash (and honestly, we probably don't even need a leash because she walks right with us anyway) and she is fine with just lying under the table when we take her out with us for a weekend morning breakfast/coffee.
She has already made some fast doggy friends, Nixon & Maggie, owned by a friend of mine from school, and Spencer & Kona, owned by Keeper's study buddy, Karen, and her husband, Mike. She also loves to play with Cooper, a 4 pound Chihuahua that lives in our complex.
We just love her and can't wait for everyone to come out and visit to meet her :)
