About Us
Our breeding program focuses on incorporating the traits that are essential in breeding a dog that will become a lasting, contributing member of your family. Dams and Sires are all AKC registered. They have all been screened and have received passing hip scores from either the Orthopedic Foundation (OFA) or from PennHip. They have normal eyes and CERF certificates. None of our Labradors are known to carry any genetically predisposed conditions such as heart murmurs or epilepsy. Our dogs are well cared for, healthy members of our family.
First and foremost, our breeding program is centered on temperament. Our Dams and Sire, as well as other Sires that we use, are very calm, well mannered and socialized family members. It is our strong belief that if a canine is not treated as a member of the family, socialized from birth and taught some basic manners, they will not make the "Ultimate Family Companion".
Our Labradors have all of the inherent traits desired in a fine dog, both family and sporting. They display an un-yielding desire to please. This translates into a dog that is a pleasure to work with and own, whether they are performing in the pheasant field or goose field, duck blind or playing with the family. They are easy to train and catch on quickly with little effort. They perform best when a bond of trust and friendship is established versus a forced training. There are numerous National and International Field Trial Champions and Winners throughout their pedigrees.
Our dogs are very athletic with good British Labrador confirmation. Our males usually run between 75 and 80 pounds and our females between 55 and 65 pounds. To us, this is the perfect size. They not only excel in the field as a working retriever but they are not so large as to dominate your home and family life.
Our puppies are whelped in our home with our family. They are exposed to all of the sights, sounds, and smells associated with any family environment. They are handled multiple times per day by our whole family. When they go home with you, they will be well socialized and ready to explore life!
Rough Water Retrievers is nestled on the East Shore of Seneca Lake, in beautiful Western New York. Our family farm has over 150 acres of diverse terrain ranging from fields to mature woods, ponds to brushy draws, pastures to lake front. A great environment for labradors.
We are a small, family operated breeding kennel typically breeding 1-2 litters per year. Our whole family takes a great deal of pride in the outcome of our puppies. Our dogs are part of our family. They live, play, train, and hunt with us.
