At Upper Cumberland Labradors, we’re committed to ensuring that every puppy we raise is well-prepared for their new home and that every new owner feels confident and supported throughout the process.
Welcoming a Labrador Retriever Puppy into Your Home
Our Puppy Program & Buying Process
We’re here to guide you every step of the way. Our process is straightforward and designed to ensure that each puppy is matched with the perfect home.
Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting journey!
the puppy application process
When the puppies are old enough, we’ll work with you to select the perfect puppy based on temperament testing and your specific needs.
puppy selection
We may follow up with questions or schedule a phone interview. Once your application is approved, we’ll notify you and request a deposit to secure your spot on our waitlist.
Approval and Deposit
Complete our application form to let us know about your family, lifestyle, and what you’re looking for in a Labrador puppy. We carefully review every application.
Submit Your Application
Our commitment to you doesn’t end when you take your puppy home. We offer lifetime support and are always here to answer questions or provide guidance.
LIFETIME SUPPORT
Your puppy will be ready to go home at 8 weeks old. We will work with you to arrange pickup or delivery and ensure that you have everything you need for a smooth transition.
puppy pick up day!
We’ll provide you with all the information you need to prepare for your new puppy, including training tips, recommended supplies, and more.
prepare for your puppy
Our puppy program is built on a foundation of care, socialization, and early training to ensure that every puppy is well-prepared for life in their new home. We follow the Puppy Culture and Empowered Breeder programs, adding our custom training program to give each puppy the best start possible.
A Comprehensive Puppy Raising Program
From Our Home to Yours:
From the moment our puppies are born, they are raised in a clean, loving environment with constant supervision. We ensure that both the dam and her puppies receive the highest level of care during the whelping process.
Our mommas stay with their puppies until the day they leave for their new homes no sooner than eight weeks. This allows Momma time to influence, interact with, and train her young.
01. Whelping
PHASE 1
“Puppy School” begins at 3 days old. We follow the Puppy Culture, Empowered Breeder, and our custom training program for our puppies. This gives them a head start to learning how to be the best pup they can be! Our puppies go through an extensive socialization and training program, starting with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI). We expose them to various sights, sounds, and experiences to build their confidence and adaptability.
02. Puppy School
PHASE 2
Temperament testing is an important part of our placement process, conducted at seven weeks of age to help predict each puppy’s future personality and ensure they are matched with the right family. The evaluation includes testing how the puppies socialize with people, explore new environments, respond to stimuli, and their levels of dominance and physical energy. In addition to the formal testing, we continuously observe and take notes on each puppy’s behavior throughout their time with us. This helps us gain a well-rounded understanding of their temperament as they grow. We strive to match each family with at least two puppies to choose from.
03. Puppy Selection
PHASE 3
Go home day is always so bittersweet for us! By the time your puppy is ready to go home, they will have a solid foundation in basic commands, crate training, and potty training. We also provide a puppy care package with essentials (supplies vary based on availability but will always include a snuggle puppy, transition food, and blanket) and detailed instructions for their first few days at home.
We strive to make the transition process as smooth as possible not only for the puppy, but for our new families as well.
04. Go Home Preparation
PHASE 4
Our relationship with you doesn’t end when you take your puppy home. We encourage our puppy/dog parents to contact us anytime they have a concern or encounter a problem no matter the age of their puppy/dog.
We are fully committed to every puppy we produce for their ENTIRE lifetime. We offer lifetime support and are always available to answer questions, offer advice, and help with training tips.
05. Lifetime Support
PHASE 5
Your new Labrador puppy will come to you having received their first vaccinations, de-worming treatments, and a thorough physical examination by a certified veterinarian. Our puppies receive a parvo vaccination at 6 weeks, followed by a second dose of parvo and their initial Distemper and leptospirosis vaccinations at 8 weeks. To validate our comprehensive 26-month genetic health guarantee, we require that your puppy has a follow-up check-up with your veterinarian within 72 hours of going home.
We require that all our puppies be spayed or neutered no sooner than 24 months of age. This ensures that your dog has fully developed physically and mentally, which is important for their long-term health and well-being.
Bringing a new puppy into your home is an exciting journey
our health guarantee
under construction! virtual tour coming soon.
We believe in transparency and are proud of the environment in which our puppies are raised. Take a virtual tour of our kennel to see the care and attention we provide to every dog in our program.
See Where Our Puppies Are Raised
INTRODUCING OUR DOGGY PARADISE!
let's get started
SOUND LIKE YOU?
You’re looking for a versatile dog that can excel in hunting, service work, or as a family companion.
You appreciate a breeder who prioritizes health testing, ethical breeding practices, and lifetime support.
You are committed to providing a loving, responsible home for your new puppy.
You value a healthy, well-bred Labrador that has been raised with care and attention.
We're a Good Fit for You If:
not every breeder is right for everyone...
APPLY here
info@uclabradors.com
have more questions for us?
Q:
We understand that bringing a new puppy home is a big decision, and you likely have questions. Here are some common questions we receive:
Puppy FAQs
Deposits are non-refundable after 4 weeks, except on a case-by-case basis at our discretion. Please note that refunds will not be issued solely based on a preference for a specific puppy from photos, as our primary focus is on ensuring the best match in temperament and suitability for each family.
If a refund is provided, you forfeit the right to apply for a puppy from any future litters. However, deposits can be transferred to future litters and never expire, allowing flexibility for finding the perfect match at a later time.
Are deposits non-refundable?
Our puppies are raised following Puppy Culture, Empowered Breeder, and our own custom training program. This ensures they are well-socialized, confident, and prepared for their future homes.
How does your puppy program work?
Our puppies go through an extensive socialization and training program, starting with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI). We expose them to various sights, sounds, and experiences to build their confidence and adaptability.
When can puppies go to their new homes?
By the time your puppy is ready to go home, they will have a solid foundation in basic commands, crate training, and potty training. We strive to make the transition process as smooth as possible not only for the puppy, but for our new families as well.
We work closely with each family to find the best transport solution for their needs.
What are your transport options?
We test our puppies at 7 weeks old to provide an accurate understanding of their temperament as they develop. This evaluation helps us match puppies to their future homes by predicting their adult temperament.
What is temperament testing?
HOW DOES THE PICKING PROCESS WORK?
Sedey Family
"A loving and reputable breeder who cares."
Kind words from Our Happy families
It was our first time working with a breeder, and right from the start, Trisha put us at ease with her warm and caring approach. She kept us updated at every step of the adoption process, providing regular communication, and sending us adorable photos of Bosko. Her dedication and attentiveness made us feel confident and reassured throughout the journey. It was evident that she and her family genuinely loves the puppies as if they are their own, and that level of care and commitment was truly heartwarming. Since bringing Bosko home, we have been amazed by his incredible temperament. He is friendly, well-behaved, laid-back, and has adjusted seamlessly to our family.
Pence Family
"If you're looking for a special lab, look no further!"
Kind words from Our Happy families
Trish and Cory are so passionate about breeding labs! They spend so much time with them by the time Marshall was in our arms, he was conditioned to walk on all surfaces, he was fine on the car ride back to Indiana and actually enjoys rides. Trish and Cory also sent Marshall home with a blanket that smelled like his mommy and he loves it to this day, a bucket of toys, training help, homemade puppy treat recipes. The entire buying process was smooth sailing. I also wanted to add how wonderful their communication was. We talked almost daily and we were sent pictures of our baby boy. By the time we picked him up, we were already attached.
Norris Family
"We could not recommend them more!"
Kind words from Our Happy families
Since first connecting with Trish, she has gone above and beyond giving information about her process, providing updates, helping us with different home training tips, and more! Loa is our first family pet and we didn’t want to get her from just anyone. Trish takes care of the mom and she breeds ethically and responsibly. Our pup Loa has been the sweetest girl, easy to train, loves to play fetch, and so much more! Loa is now such a special part of our family and wouldn’t have been possible without connecting with Trish!
Madison Family
"Trish was so helpful and communicative!"
Kind words from Our Happy families
You will be getting a lab who has known love since the day the came into this world. It is so clear how much passion and heart Trish has for breeding and raising these dogs! The time and effort put in to producing healthy and secure puppies is so evident in their looks and behavior. My partner and I had never adopted from a breeder before, so finding an ethical one who not only did health testing and puppy socialization, but also one who truly cares for each puppy like family, was important to us. We felt that we were given so much helpful guidance and information, as well as take home goodies for help Violet’s transition.
Cowden Family
"The most caring and thoughtful breeders!"
Kind words from Our Happy families
Trish and Cory are amazing people who truly love Labs. Trish was fully transparent throughout the entire process, and was always happy to answer my (many) questions! They did personality testing on the puppies to ensure an ideal match, and it was spot on! Huck has the exact personality we were hoping for – he loves to run but also loves to lounge and cuddle; he’s a total goofball and SO smart! By the time we picked him up, he was fully crate trained, started on potty training, and desensitized to all kinds of sights and sounds. This allowed him to adjust rapidly to his new home, and set him up for success in his future training.
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