Dark Water Labradors

08/07/2024

We are pleased to share that Ash is confirmed pregnant via ultrasound! Black and chocolate puppies due around the end of August. This is a really special litter as the sire has been gone for quite a few years.

We are accepting waitlist families at this time. Please visit www.darkwaterlabs.com/puppies to read more and send an email.

07/29/2024

Not to be outdone by his sister, Cappy also earned his Working Certificate on Saturday. He could barely see with the duck over his muzzle! 🤣

GRCH Dark Water Endeavor El Capitan WC

07/29/2024

Livvy had a truly dual purpose weekend… picking up her Working Certificate on Saturday and then strutting her stuff in the ring on Sunday to finish her UKC conformation championship! 🥳

CH Dark Water Sea La Vie WC

07/11/2024

2024 BREEDING PLANS:

We have a black & chocolate litter due around the end of August and an all yellow litter planned for the fall.

We are currently accepting waitlist families for the yellow litter and for males from the black/chocolate litter.

Please read through the info on the puppies page and send an email for further info: www.darkwaterlabs.com/puppies

07/10/2024

Just a few of the reasons why we love this multi-purpose breed! ❤️

Eyes that are speaking without saying a word.
©️ John D. Jackson

07/03/2024

Last update for now… our handsome chocolate boy, Cappy, from the Chute x Tilley frozen litter. He’s sweet, handsome and sure loves his birds! 🥰

GRCH Dark Water Endeavor El Capitan

07/03/2024

Next up is Ash, who has really matured after her first litter. 😍 She is from our Rusty x Tilley litter.

GRCH SHR Dark Water Catch The Dream JH CA

07/03/2024

Some beautiful photos of our young Livvy, who will celebrate her first birthday tomorrow! Happy birthday to all of the Demo x Tilley kids!

Dark Water Sea La Vie

She’s on the board with conformation points in AKC, CKC and UKC and is having tons of fun in the field with birds. 🥰

06/28/2024

“Who, me? Nope, I wasn’t eating any grass….”

06/28/2024

Love this! It really hits home for anyone who is raising a puppy after having an older dog.

This is the picture I want you to look at the next time you’re frustrated or mad with your young dog.

On the left is a 6 month old labrador, Andaras (Andy) - she is a lunatic sometimes and will eat ANYTHING and then barf it up in your shoe. She wakes up every morning ready to GO. She wants to swim she wants to dig she wants to bark at the doll my daughter left face down on the sofa that could be the devil. She chews and jumps and does all the things a young dog should do, even with a crooked jaw.

On the right is 11 year old Labrador, Sam. He is here because he lost his family and he is covered in lumps and bumps and it hurts to walk very far and stairs are really hard. He wants to play but gets tired easily and he sits at the door waiting for us to come in because he’s too old and weak to push it open and tear after us like Andy does. He does not have long left on this earth and he knows it, but he still enjoys his long naps and food snuck to him from a willing 6 year old.

The only difference between them is 10.5 years. That’s it. That’s nothing. While we luckily get upwards of 8 times that time, they get the short end of the stick. 10 years seems like a long time; but it isn’t. 10 summers, 10 birthdays, 10 Christmases. It goes by like that. This goes for ANY dog and ANY breed.

I look at Sam and I remind myself that all the energy and crazy that Andy has today won’t last forever. She isn’t my first puppy, she won’t be my last, but I am her ONLY person in her life and I need to give her the best possible one. Not get frustrated when she acts just as she should do at her age. One day, she won’t be able to, and God how I will miss it.

My love and advocating for senior dogs isn’t just because they are the most wise and loving animals out there, it’s also because they keep me humble and reminded of what’s to come. The fate that none of us can escape but comes much faster to our beloved best friends. We owe them so much for what they give us in their short time here. So I forgive easily, I laugh often, I stretch my patience and always train with kindness and respect to the animal. I stay grateful for every day with them, because the time I get with them is a privilege, not a right, no matter what phase it is. Cherish them.

- Helen St. Pierre

06/26/2024

1,000,000% yes!

06/25/2024

*He has gone to his new home!* ❤️

We have a black male available from the Silas x Tipsy litter, ready to go home in just a few days.

Read through the info on the Puppies page and send an email if you’re further interested. https://darkwaterlabs.com/puppies/

06/12/2024

The Silas x Tipsy puppies turned 5 weeks old and had their first outdoor photo shoot. 🥰

We still have a black female available, ready to go home end of June/beginning of July. Please visit darkwaterlabs.com/puppies for more info.

06/02/2024

Huge congrats to Weller and his owners on his Senior Hunter title! This handsome boy is sired by Silas, bred by Emerald Glen. 🥳

Weller and owner, Charlie O'Donovan

05/21/2024

The Silas x Tipsy puppies are two weeks old today and are opening their eyes! 🥰

We have a black female and a black male available from this litter, going home 6/28. This is an excellent pairing of multi-purpose pedigrees that should produce well-rounded companions and performance dogs for most venues.

Please read through the info on our puppies page (www.darkwaterlabs.com/puppies) and email us for the next steps if you’re interested. 🐾

05/15/2024

The Silas x Tipsy puppies have arrived and are doing great! 🥰 As of right now we have a black male available.

Please read through the info on the Puppies page (www.darkwaterlabs.com/puppies) and the litter page (www.darkwaterlabs.com/silas-tipsy) and send an email if you are further interested.

05/06/2024

Absolutely! ❤️❤️❤️

Did you purchase your puppy from a breeder? They should be a valuable resource when you have questions or problems about your new dog.

04/05/2024

Labrador Retrievers are the #2 breed in the US for the second year in a row and were previously the #1 breed for many, many years. As such, there are plenty of folks out there producing Labrador puppies who probably shouldn’t be.

Ensure that you find a breeder who is not only performing full health testing (OFA hips and elbows at 2yrs of age, OFA heart echocardiogram, yearly OFA eye clearances and full DNA panels on both parents), but is also proving their dogs in some venue (conformation “dog shows,” hunt tests, field trails, obedience, etc). Breeders should be working hard with their current dogs to obtain their goals and continuing to learn by working with other breeders and mentors.

If you are looking to get started in the world of Labrador breeding, get out there and do some things with your current dogs.. show that you are dedicated and serious. Find a breeder that has goals that align with yours and start a conversation. Don’t expect a responsible, reputable breeder to sell you their pick of the litter with no strings attached. They’ve worked hard and want to protect what they have.

Breeding is not for the faint of heart and for those doing it right, seeing all the folks out there ruining the breed is painful.

Do your homework and feel free to reach out if you have questions!

03/13/2024

If only every puppy had a great uncle Si. 🥰

03/12/2024

We are currently building our waitlist for puppies in all three colors for this summer/fall.

Please read through our puppies page (www.darkwaterlabs.com/puppies) to learn more.

03/09/2024

Silas, Carlos and Livvy had a blast on our training trip as you can see from the photos. 🥰

03/09/2024

Our friend at Emerald Glen Labrador Retrievers have puppies available sired by our Silas. 💕🐾

02/20/2024

Great Uncle Si showing the kids the finer things in life… like Jolly Balls! ❤️

02/19/2024

We hope to see you at this year’s beginner field training events. Bring out your puppies and try it out. 🙂

We are thrilled to announce the beginning field training sessions for 2024. Please visit https://huronriverlrc.com/field.htm for further info. We hope to see you!

02/14/2024

Happy Valentine’s Day from Silas! Photo from 2yrs ago but had to share it again. 😘

02/14/2024

Love this little chocolate face 😍

02/07/2024

Sometimes you just have to air it out… 🤣

02/03/2024

Uncle Silas is the best nanny there is! He squeeze himself onto that tiny raised bed. 🤣🥰

01/19/2024

Registration closes tomorrow… make sure you sign up if you’d like to attend. 😁 This is great for all dog owners!

Happy New Year! We hope to see you later this month. Pre-registration closes on 1/20.

Link for registration & payment: https://tinyurl.com/2024labcpr