How we chose our puppy...

My fiance (see end of post) and I have wanted a puppy for a VERY long time. I am well known for squealing with delight at the sight of pretty much any dog. French Bulldogs strike a particular soft spot. Over the last two years, we emailed hundreds of puppy classified ads to one another, scoured shelter adoption sites, and researched different breeds. I reviewed the French Bulldog Rescue Network website daily. We eventually decided a Labrador would be the perfect fit for us for the following reasons:

• crazy smart and responsive to training
• social
• loyal family dog
• duck hunting partner
• could run/walk with us around Green Lake, our busy neighborhood park
• would not cause embarrassment for Justin to be seen with him

Those last two issues came up a lot. Unfortunately, labradoodles are "not manly" to Justin and french bulldogs can't make the 3 mile running loop (though I think this little guy looks rather sporty).

We are lucky to have a large yard and easy access to the lake, a dog park, and safe walking spots. A Labrador will definitely take work to exercise, but we're up for the challenge and motivation to keep our schedules more active.


Friends provided a few recommendations for finding a Labrador and we decided to connect with Sunnydaze Farm in Bellingham. I know purchasing from a breeder isn't very Seattle of us, but after careful consideration, we decided we wanted to better ensure the health of our puppy, purchase from a responsible party, and have the lifetime support that a quality breeder can provide. Justin and I struggled with this decision for a while, knowing there were plenty of Labrador and Labradorish puppies in local shelters needing homes. Ultimately, the decision to work through a reputable breeder was the right choice for us and few articles, including this one in Forbes, helped to lessen my guilt.

We have been communicating with Sunnydaze Farm for a couple months now. They have a thorough application process and after patiently waiting through 3 litters, we received word today that our black male Labrador puppy has arrived! He is one of six puppies; 2 black males, one yellow male, and three black females. We are beyond thrilled! And if things couldn't get any more exciting, Justin popped the question today as well! So begins the start to our family...

Images c/o 321dogs.com