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Chicago Area Labradors & Labradoodle Blog

Check in to see more info on the breeds, new litters, and other happenings!

Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago

5.0

Based on 315 reviews

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Had an amazing process with Mike. He was very helpful and responsive and he has been checking in weekly for the past 6 weeks.During the process he answered all our questions and ensured that the puppy will have a good life with us.Happy to recommend Mike as a breeder.

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We've had our sweet pup for about two months now. He's just what our family needed. Mike is a wealth of information and cares for his pups. We spent a great deal of time interacting with our pup when we went to meet him and talking to Mike about the Australian labradoodle breed.

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Mike made the whole process of getting our puppy seamless. He was so knowledgable, which helped us feel super comfortable taking our pup home. He is very kind and definitely recommend him. Our dog is also the cutest!!

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Mike was the quintessential professional and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience with him. We absolutely adore our dog!

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We purchased Huntley from Mike in October 2023. At the time Huntley was 7 months old, now a year old this month I decided to write a review.Huntley has been nothing short of a joyous experience. From the moment we met him, we knew he was special. His eagerness to please especially around children is truly remarkable.Coming from a well-bred lineage, Huntley embodies all the qualities one could hope for in a canine companion. His calm demeanor and gentle nature make him a natural fit for our family. One of the things that has impressed us is his adaptability- whether it’s travelling in the car or learning new commands, Huntley excels with ease.What truly sets Huntley apart is his exceptional obedience. He listens attentively to commands, making training sessions a breeze.In the short time we’ve had Huntley, he’s filled our hearts with love and laughter. Losing a beloved pet of 11 yrs was undoubtedly difficult but Huntley’s arrival brought new light into our lives. His presence has not only enriched our family but has also left a lasting impression on those around us. Two family members have even been inspired to welcome retrievers into their homes after meeting Huntley.We’re grateful to Mike for breeding such a remarkable companion, and we look forward to many more years of love and adventures with Huntley by our side.

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We had such a wonderful experience with the puppy we got from Mike! Being first time dog owners we had lots of questions and Mike was able to answer them all.We got our puppy as a stage one trained puppy, and he was turned out to be a perfect fit for our family. After we got him, Mike followed up with us and stayed in contact to ensure the transition went as smooth as possible. We would highly recommend Mike for anyone looking for a quality edition to their family.

Lawrence Weippert

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Nathaniel Sharpe

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Mike is highly knowledgeable and has been incredibly helpful since bringing our new puppy home. If you’re looking to add a new fur friend to your family I would highly recommend Mike!

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Mike is really knowledgeable and we love our sweet lab puppy so much!!!

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We have had such a wonderful experience with the purchase of our puppy from Mike! As first time dog owners we had lots of questions and Mike has been available every step of the way. And we just love our new puppy. He has such a wonderful temperament. So nice and calm yet playful with the kids, and very easy to train. I 100% recommend Mike!

Jennifer Oryszczak

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We got our Ace from Mike in December. He is the most amazing dog. Mike was so helpful and kind. We lost our two labs both almost 15 and it had been many years since we got a puppy. He was patient with us and answered all of our questions. We drove pretty far to pick up our little guy. I believe it was fait that brought us there. Ace is a true gift and we are so grateful to Mike for this experience.

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We had an amazing experience with Mike from the start. He’s so knowledgeable about dogs and specifically labs. We picked up our Charlie boy on 10-28 and he’s been such a great addition to our family. Mike is always available for questions and training tips and continues to check in on Charlie often. If your looking for a breeder who really know what he’s doing hands down go with Mike! It’s been just the best!

Jennifer McDonald

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The overall experience of purchasing our family’s first puppy from Chicago Area Labs was awesome! I found out about Michael Martinez through the AKC website. He was very prompt and answered all my questions the same day. We eventually adopted Duke, a black Labrador retriever in December. Furthermore the whole process was smooth and just felt right. Michael is very knowledgeable when it comes to his dogs and he presented all of Dukes papers including pedigree, DNA testing of the parents, etc. After speaking with Michael over the phone and in person I knew that my family and I made a great decision. If we ever decide to get another dog we will be back to Chicago Area Labs. Can’t thank you enough Michael for answering all of my question and still checking in and answering my questions. Keep doin what you’re doin!

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Our family was looking for a labradoodle due to allergies. We’ve always had labs in the past. We found Mike on the internet and my husband was so impressed with his extensive knowledge, where I just see the cutest puppies and want all of them. 😋 When we went to see a puppy we were interested in, we were very impressed with his extensive knowledge of the breeding of labradoodles, training and over all care. I fell in love with the pup we went to see. She is extremely smart, beautiful and lovable. We were very weary after losing our previous 2 labs and now having younger children. But our CoCo is such a blessing in our lives. Even through the puppy stages. I highly recommend getting a pup from Mike.

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Mike was first rate with great communication from the moment we reached out to inquire. We couldn’t be happier with the new addition to our family.

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We've had such a great experience with Mike. Our Sadie is such a great addition to our family, and see gets really excited when we bring her back for boarding. I know she is loved, and her tail shows how much she loves visiting her mother and father. Thank you, Mike for such a great dog. Our kids love her so much!

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We couldn't be happier with our labradoodle puppy! Mike is very knowledge, answered all of our questions and gave us a ton of paperwork verifying the genetic quality of our puppy! if you are looking for a great puppy, and great service, give Mike a call!

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Mike does a great job with these animals. He does all the genetic work and gives us copies of it. He also follows up with us every few days. If you need a great puppy you gotta see Mike.

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Mike and his dogs are amazing! Mike is extremely knowledgeable. He has exceptional customer service and was wonderful to work with when we got our dog Daisy. Daisy was one of his trained labradoodles, and was perfect fit for our family. We have 6 kids ages 2 up until 18. Mike listened and recommended Daisy based on all of our needs & concerns. Daisy was wonderfully trained by Mike, and that aged us tons of time and money in the long run on adding a new dog to our family as seamlessly as possible. I highly recommend getting a dog from Mike!!!

Danielle Tomczak

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Suki is the sweetest pup I’ve ever known. We’re incredibly happy to have her join our family — in just a few weeks she’s brought so much joy and adventure into our lives. As a first time puppy mom I’m so grateful to have a puppy coach like Mike whose been amazing answering my random questions, calming any worries, and encouraging us every step of the way. Mike is an incredible wealth of knowledge and truly cares for all of the pups he helps bring into the world.

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We got our puppy, Nero, from Mike back in October and we love him! Mike was really easy to get in touch with and always reached out and checked in to make sure Nero was doing well. He made the process really easy and we highly recommend Mike if you’re looking for a great labradoodle. Thanks, Mike!

Povilas Golokvoscius

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From the first time I contacted Mike I was met with a great customer service and a very knowledgeable breeder. We added a handsome male chocolate lab to our family this fall and he could not be more perfect. Our experience with Mike was exceptional, he is very knowledgeable, extremely friendly and always responsive. We were able to meet our little Lenny when he was about 6 weeks old and also meet his mom and dad. Mike home and facility is very nice and clean and all his dogs are very well taken care of. After we picked Lenny up to go home Mike continued and continues to check in not only on Lenny but on us and how training is going. Mike also shows you all the genetic information from both parents and provides a family tree for each puppy. This was great info and it is reassuring to know that he comes from a long line of healthy labs. When we add another lab to our pack we will most definitely be contacting Mike again!

Arden Pangandian

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Mike was an awesome breeder to work with. Very easygoing and informative. He was very knowledgeable about the different types of Labradoodles. He also provides a well-thought-out document on how to properly care for your puppy when you first bring them to their forever home. Thank you so much Mike for my Eddie!

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We recently purchased a black Labrador puppy in November from Mike. Mike was super responsive to my emails from the beginning and he was so helpful throughout the entire process! He provided us with a ton of educational/training materials prior to receiving the puppy (Macie) to make sure we were well prepared. He also provided a ton of paperwork and information regarding bloodlines, microchipping, vaccines etc. Mike was very thorough and spent a long time talking to us. Mike also followed up with us several times afterwards to make sure Macie was fitting in well at her new home. I would definitely recommend Mike for anyone looking for a puppy! We were able to interact with a few of the other dogs while picking up Macie, they were all super friendly and lovable. We love Macie and she’s the perfect new addition to our family.

Kristin Bragiel

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Our new puppy was selected after losing our last Labrador retriever to cancer. We waited a year before selecting a new pup. We contacted a bunch of breeders before selecting Mike. We are so pleased with our new pup. Mike has been there anytime we wanted to ask a question. He is a valuable source of information. He takes his breeding seriously and his dogs reflect his careing.Now 7 months later she is 9 months old and is an absolute joy. She is a big girl over knee high and 75 pounds. We enjoy her every day and she is a little spoiled. We are very lucky and easy to train.

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Mike matched us up with the perfect dog. Our Charlie is only 7 months old but came well trained and cared for. Even our vet has remarked on more than one occasion how great a job Charlie’s breeder has done. If it’s a lab you want I don’t think you could find someone more caring and devoted to giving you the best possible experience both prior to and after sale.

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Update 10/25/23. Betty is almost 3.5yrs now. Best forever friends! She's a good girl and we'll trained off leash. It took 1.5yrs till she knew it. A lot of time and patience to get there. The free spirit loves to socialize with the pack and their parents. She challenges alpha and plays hard to win.Thanks Mike! It really means a lot to share our adventures with you.Thanks Mike, for your professional experience and honest assessment of where we are in the doggy world today.Our journey to meet you, by chance on the internet, was rife with disappointment and fraud. It had been 12-years since we shopped for a puppy and best-friend Jackson R.I.P, in 2008. When I spoke on the phone with Mike, he listened as I admitted my experience since early May, and aided me in the realization that I would be spending more than planned for a quality dog.Mike indicated I could find a puppy in my price range, but, the dogs will most likely not be DNA and OFA certified. He went on to explain his quality breeding service and convinced me that I should consider his advice and read through the information in his website, along with his Google reviews, to see what others had to say.We ended up with our beautiful, sweet, intelligent Betty! I understand the point’s people have made in the Google reviews- and I have to say I now understand why and confirm their accuracy with my own experience.Mike calls to check on the pup. Mike has been breeding dogs for 15-years. The care and knowledge he possesses are vast, freely shared and greatly appreciated. Having had dogs all my life it is reassuring that his calls are of concern for his puppy’s and clients.Mike is well read and experienced in puppy matters such as; health and safety, nutrition, doggy habits, training, discipline, etc. His breeder skills are top notch and delivers well-bred pups that are healthy and smart.The “puppy prep sheet” Mike emails you is a good read and suggested reference when bringing a puppy home. The requirement sheet provides valuable and useful info for new puppy’s and owners, and older lifetime owners that may read some good info about quality pup care.The care that goes into breeding Mike’s pups is proven science and a love for his dogs. His dogs are well cared for with walks and swims in Lake Michigan, and they are fit and trim. The dogs and pups live with him. Duly noted in another review is how clean and odor free his house is. His dogs are trained, very friendly and the puppies are born into a nurturing environment.Betty is 8-weeks now. She goes to the door to go out, shakes paw, sits and her biting is down to a minimum, except when she’s in mad-dog mode and wants to play hard. She learns fast. She knows her name and is starting to come when called. I have started training, explaining; sit, stay, down, heel, leave it, on the double and no mud. Never too early to start, I believe she may be voice command trained very quickly!Thanks Mike, A week and a half, and we are best friends. Betty’s personality is fast becoming loyal and trusting. She tries to please us with the skills she is learning, and loves obtaining our praise and kindness! The treats help too.I may call to inquire about quality trainers to assist in Betty’s development. She’s smart and I would like to see her achieve her potential.Bill GibbonsChicago, IL

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This is an abusive business that makes money abusing of the animals. Plain animal abuse. This business should be ban and cancel.

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Mike was very helpful with my daughter and I. He thoroughly explained everything and followed up to make sure everything was going well. I would highly recommend.

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I just recently lost my beloved lab Bella and wanted to get another dog. I started contacting breeders in IL and came across Mike's contact information. I was impressed with him from the first phone call. I liked his professionalism and customer focus. We went to meet Mike and his puppies and was impressed how well behaved and well taken care of are all of his dogs. Mike spent a lot of time talking to me and educating me about his breeding business and showing me around his property. I ended up getting my Labradoodle Luna from him at 8 weeks old. She's been an absolute joy and I am continuously impressed with how smart she is. She is now 12 weeks old and is almost completely potty trained and we are working on the basic training commands and she picks it up quickly. Since I got Luna from Mike, he's been always in contact, making sure the puppy is Ok and seeing if I have any questions or issues. I highly recommend him and his dogs for anyone looking for a high quality Lab or Labradoodle.

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We brought our Bailey Boy home August 6th. He is our first dog so it has been a learning experience for us all. Mike has been spot on with information and guidance which has made the experience that much easier! Bailey has made our family complete and we have to thank Mike for that! Mike checks in and is always available for questions and concerns. He is honest, reliable and a wealth of knowledge. Could not have asked for a better breeder and a more beautiful dog!! Thanks Mike!

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Quality breeder, quality person, quality puppies. You can’t go wrong getting a puppy from Mike.

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My pup Daisy was born on 3/6/23 and I have had her since July. I went to meet Mike to talk about an upcoming litter and Bailey was sitting by herself. I pretty much changed my mind and wanted her immediately. She was introduced to a 6 year old cocker spaniel with and IVDD condition and they became best friends. Great Temperament, Incredibly smart and absolutely beautiful addition to my family. Mike has been following up since I got her checking to see if I had any issues. His training packet was detailed and if you follow the crate training and feeding regiment you will have no problems. You won’t be disappointed.

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I brought home an F2 labradoodle from here. My pups has already learned several commands within a few weeks of having him. The breeder has plenty of space for the pups and you can tell that there is a lot of care put into the environment. My dog has a great temperament and deals with people well. Upon the first meeting my pups was excited to greet people you can tell he had been socialized well. Mike does well with communication and answers any questions. Highly recommended!

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Got my black lab from Mike trained. He is very good and is comfortable with a crate, walking and great temperament. Overall an awesome dog from a great breeder!

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My 12 year old son did all the research on Mike and his company. He had 5 star reviews across the board. Once we saw the picture of Zoey, a Chocolate Labradoodle, we knew we had to meet her.Mike's business is clean, the dogs are all loved by him and well trained. (Zoey was Stage 1 trained). This is my first dog as an adult and Mike was excellent in providing advice and recommendations. After we adopted Zoey, Mike would periodically check-in on how Zoey was adjusting to her new family and home. As you can see in the pictures, she is very happy. Mike knew her personality well - smart, sweet and social. A perfect fit and addition to our family.

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Mike was great at communicating/ following through and helping us find ways to adjust our new puppy to our household. He worked on training with the puppy before we brought him home, which was a big help in the adjustment! I would recommend Mike to anyone looking for a labradoodle puppy. Our puppy has been the best addition to our family and we have enjoyed working with Mike.

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We were looking for a labradoodle puppy from a reputable and experienced breeder. Mike was super helpful, and we really appreciated that he cared so much about things like genetics and DNA testing for the dogs. Mike has always been available to answer our questions and to give advice. We love our puppy Henry, and absolutely recommend Chicago Area Labradors & Labradoodles.

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We found Mike to be very professional, knowledgeable, and helpful when we purchased a puppy from him. His kennels are clean and organized, and his puppies are well cared for. He really loves his career and it shows! He has followed up with us on numerous occasions regarding the health and well-being of our puppy, and I always know I can reach him if I have questions. Thanks for everything, Mike!

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I have bought a stage 2 F1 labradoodle from Mike. His name is Zen, and just like his name, he is a well-behaved and well-trained little man. Not only does he sit, lay down, stay quietly in his crate during the night, he is also almost 100% potty training. He only cried about 15 - 30 minutes during the first few nights and later he was sound asleep. He loves to cuddle in his mom’s arm (me) and he is very gentle/friendly with other dogs/strangers. I highly recommend Mike as a breeder because not only he deeply cares about the dogs, but also he has the expertise to make the dog the perfect match for you.

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Mike was absolutely wonderful to deal with and very helpful with adding a new puppy to our family. Nala is an amazing chocolate lab, we love her so much and couldn’t be happier with her! He continues to check in with us and make sure that everything is going well and any questions we’ve had, he’s always had the answer! We won’t be getting a new puppy for quite some time at this point but hope when the time comes, that we will be able to work with him again! If you are looking for a lab to add to your family we would highly recommend working with Mike.

Michelle Balchunas

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Mike was a great help with our new puppy, Archie. Mike was great to work with and Archie’s basic trading was in great shape when he came home. Great experience… and a great dog.

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Found our F1 Labradoodle (Junie) with Mike 2 months ago. Junie is gentle, kind and very loving. She's also extremely athletic and smart. Working with Mike was a very smooth process and his "dog siting" service has proved helpful as I do travel on occasion. Having someone I could trust to care for Junie is super helpful.

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I recently had the fortunate privilege of working with Mike to find my next pup.While losing my last guy was tough, I really think I found the best breeder/ambassador of labs/poodles/ and labradoodles in the country, or at least that I’ve ever met - and I’m a regular shelter volunteer and this is my fourth pup.For multiple reasons, the breed is perfect for me - the temperament, lifestyle (often on the water), and hypoallergenic fits a tough lifestyle. But more importantly, Mike’s commitment to raising and providing the best pups has been unbelievable. He does his homework ensuring he’s only breeding with the healthiest and most compatible dogs - and it shows. My girl is a beautiful chocolate with a temperament I’ve never seen at a young age. He doesn’t miss a detail, he’s a great behaviorist as well and you can expect to get a smart, kind, and loving pup. Additionally, Mike has proved to have been there with support and advice whenever I’ve needed it. I’m no rookie and date an animal behavioralist as well, but he always has fresh advice when I need it post adoption. I’m in Boston and was happy to fly to Chicago and drive back knowing I was going home with a healthy beautiful labradoodle. She’s great with everyone - my nephew who’s a toddler, to my elderly parents, to my neighbors and all the other dogs at the park. I without hesitation recommend you work with Mike if you are looking for an amazing pup and great support network. I’m also to answer any questions as my experience was so awesome. Five stars++++. A++ experience.

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I’m so glad I got my puppy, Charlie from Mike. Charlie is so gentle. He was just outside getting petted by his fan club, the neighbors. He doesn’t jump on your legs he doesn’t do the hard puppy bite. He licks. He’s smart he can find treats in a puzzle toy. I got him the week of July 4th he was outside during that noise. He looks at noise. You tell Mike how gentle he is & Mike acts surprised. One of his other puppies was the same way, gentle.Day one he knew the trail through the woods back to our house. Charlie is a beautiful Chocolate lab with the softest hair. He’s a Stage 2 dog and worth every penny. I got him at 16 weeks. Mike trained him on: “potty outside” come, sit, wait, beginner leash walk, down & most important of all “leave it”. You have no idea how helpful that is. I appreciated Mike’s genetic testing because it’s so sad to put a dog down. Of course you want a healthy dog. The Vet loved him & told the assistant “ he’s a purebred.” He sat & let him examine him. Took the shots like a champ. The Vet remarked how firm his joints were. He loves a bath, or shower, hair brushing & tooth. Yes he lets you brush his teeth! He’s crate trained & goes from 8:00 pm until 4-6 am. He goes to the door when he has to go. I didn’t teach him that he just did it. Another reason I wanted a 16 week pup. I didn’t want to get up every 2 hours! He’s in crate when I’m home too per Mike’s instructions but we are working on longer intervals. The book “Dog Training Revolution” is what I’m using to continue his training. Peanut butter to continue gentle licks on my fingers. He sits & waits on the trail while bikes, people & dogs go by all of above is with small treats of course. Mike taught him sit & wait & Im continuing. He always gets small chicken or liver for COME. You should see him come. Is Charlie gentle because some hunting dogs have a gentle mouth or is he gentle because Mike treated him right? I think it’s Mike!Family gave me heck for what I paid for him until they met him then they all agreed “ that gentleness and intelligence is worth every penny.” Thanks Mike! Oh do exactly as Mike says on the take home instructions, he knows his dogs! Yes he’s waiting off leash in the grass in that picture!

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Mike was great to work with as we welcomed our puppy in to our home. Highly recommend!

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We found Mike just by driving by and can’t believe how lucky we got! Mike has educated us so much on what to be on the lookout as far as breeders (ones who say they DNA test but can’t provide results or lab name, ones who over breed etc). We brought our pup home with all the documentation of his superior genetics. Mike also sends several handouts which help prepare you for puppy ownership and ensure a smooth transition for your pup to his new home! In addition to his exceptional breeding he is exceptionally well-trained. We opted for a stage 2 puppy and not only does he sit, lay down, stay, he has an incredibly calm demeanor and his additional exposure to other dogs was also incredible. He doesn’t even bark at other dogs! He is so well-tempered and well-behaved due to his additional training. Our neighbors can’t get over how good he is. We are so happy and in love with our sweet boy! Can’t recommend Mike enough!

Kaitlin Kirchberg

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We were looking for a chocolate lab puppy for a long time from a reputable breeder and our experience with Mike was wonderful. He took time to get to know us and make sure that the dog was going to a good home and is always available to answer questions, give advice, etc. I highly recommend Mike and his puppies!

Brent Viditz-Ward

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Mike is a fantastic breeder. He’s very knowledgeable about labradoodles and dogs in general. We got an F1 puppy from Mike. She is a sweet beautiful girl. Before she was born Mike knew what the puppies would look like generally, and was really easy to communicate with. He is very responsive when I had a lot of questions.He is like that even now that my puppy is 4 months old…available to answer questions and be supportive . I’m also confident in the health and genetics of my puppy since Mike does OFA and DNA testing on his dogs.

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We stumbled on this website when we were looking for our next fur baby. All the reviews speak truthful about Mike. He calls us to check on Nala for updates and gives us pointers on how to take care of her. We have a wonderful experience with our new addition to the family and are so grateful to come across Mike’s website. Nala is such a lovable puppy and we are so happy to have her. We highly recommend!

Josie Palma-Aurelio

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