Nutrition
Nutrition Info
Our domesticated dogs are 98.8-99.9 identical in DNA to wolves and are classified as the same species- Canis lupus. Although the two are so closely related that small percent difference accounts for major changes in some areas.
DIET
While wolves are carnivores our domesticated dogs are able to eat more of a human based diet due to having multiple copies of the AMY2B gene- (pancreatic enzymes) anywhere between 4-30 copies, while wolves only carry two copies. This allows our domesticated buddies to be able to break down starches into simple sugars. Wolves carry 2 copies of the AMY2B gene.
ADDITIONAL GENES
Dogs also highly specialized versions of other starch processing genes- specifically MGAM- which helps break down starches and complex carbs and SGLT1- which absorbs sugars in the gut.
OPTIMUM DOG DIET
High quality proteins such as chicken, beef, turkey, fish.
LIVER
Liver is extremely nutritious for dogs and is like a multi vitamin for them- however, too much can cause vitamin A toxicity. Give in proportions of 1 ounce per 20 pounds of bodyweight.
FATS
Healthy fats include omega 3, 6, 9 fatty acids- although dogs can produce omega 9 on their own. These fats are essential for energy, anti-inflammatory properties, and provide structural support for cell membranes. They promote a shiny, healthy coat, relieve dry skin, reduce joint inflammation and support a healthy heart, brain and immune system functions.
CANNED DOG FOODS
Most of these are void of nutrition and contain upwards of 80% water. Big money makers for dog food companies but most are garbage.
** I recommend and use salmon oil daily in my dogs a.m. and p.m meals.**
Treats & Snacks
Plain cooked meats, fresh vegetables like carrots and green beans and cucumbers fruits such as blueberries, apples and watermelon.
QUALITY
Store bought snacks such as beef, duck, turkey, chicken jerky- things higher in protein.
Trusted by Families Across the Country
Our pup is the most adorable! He is so loving and cuddles ! He has made such a wonderful difference in our household His pleasant nature and intelligence is exactly what we wanted !
Response from the owner:Hi Gayle, thank you for the great review, kind words and for giving the professor a loving home! I'm so glad you guys are happy with him! Reach out anytime with any questions or concerns!
We had a really good experience getting our Labradoodle puppy from Mike. Excellent communication and follow ups as well. I reach out to Mike to get his opinion about taking care of my puppy from time to time. He is always prompt to respond and shares his knowledge. Overall a topnotch breeder.
Response from the owner:Hi Abby, thank you for the great review and kind words! You are doing a terrific job with Leo! Keep up the great work with him
Our experience was exceptional!!! The breeder, Mike Martinez , was truly great. Was very thorough in his work explaining the dogs lineage, how he trained the dog, complete look at vaccines, the dogs DNA, we were with him for 4 hours and it was totally worth while. We love our dog LEO, and can highly recommend this person and his business.
Response from the owner:Hi Dave, thank you guys for the great review, kind words and for giving Leo a terrific furever home! I'm glad things are going well!
We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Mike! We brought home our F2 Labradoodle, Daisy, and she has been an absolute joy from day one. Mike raised her for 8 months before she came to us, and the care and dedication he put into her upbringing is evident in every way.
Daisy arrived already crate trained, which made the transition into our home so much smoother than we ever expected. She is calm, confident, and incredibly even-tempered — a true reflection of the time and effort Mike invested in her early socialization and development.
What really sets Mike apart is his commitment to responsible breeding. He provided full genetic testing of both parents, giving us complete peace of mind about Daisy’s long-term health. It’s clear that Mike genuinely loves Labradoodles and Labradors — this isn’t just a business for him, it’s a passion. He truly cares about the breed, the dogs he raises, and the families they go to.
If you’re looking for a healthy, well-adjusted, thoughtfully bred Labradoodle, look no further. Mike is the real deal, and Daisy is living proof of that every single day.
Daisy arrived already crate trained, which made the transition into our home so much smoother than we ever expected. She is calm, confident, and incredibly even-tempered — a true reflection of the time and effort Mike invested in her early socialization and development.
What really sets Mike apart is his commitment to responsible breeding. He provided full genetic testing of both parents, giving us complete peace of mind about Daisy’s long-term health. It’s clear that Mike genuinely loves Labradoodles and Labradors — this isn’t just a business for him, it’s a passion. He truly cares about the breed, the dogs he raises, and the families they go to.
If you’re looking for a healthy, well-adjusted, thoughtfully bred Labradoodle, look no further. Mike is the real deal, and Daisy is living proof of that every single day.
Response from the owner:Hi Anand, thank you for the great review and kind words! You guys are doing an amazing job with Daisy! Reach out anytime to say Hi or with any questions or concerns!
We recently took home a chocolate lab from Mike. We did extended training with him and didn’t bring our puppy home until around 4 months. Mike did an amazing job with his training - he is amazing with commands and the use of his crate. Numerous people tell us what a good puppy he is! I would highly recommend Mike. Very knowledgeable of the breed, training, etc. thank you Mike!
Response from the owner:Hi guys, thank you for the great review and kind words. I really appreciate you adopting J.B from me and letting me train him. Enjoy him!
We got a furever puppy from Mike a few weeks ago, and very happy about it. It is our first puppy and we didn't know where to start and what to expect from it. Mike was very attentive to all of our questions and he took time to explain everything we needed to know to transition from having no pup to a new, exciting life with our little guy. Even after we left his house with our puppy, I still had some questions. Texted Mike and he responded quickly with answers.
Mike takes a very good care of his pups. He has a huge backyard space just for them to run around and have fun. He does DNA and orthopedic testing, all appropriate vaccinations etc.
If you're planning to adopt a pup, I recommend this place with all five stars.
Thank you Mike! You're one of a kind 🙂
Mike takes a very good care of his pups. He has a huge backyard space just for them to run around and have fun. He does DNA and orthopedic testing, all appropriate vaccinations etc.
If you're planning to adopt a pup, I recommend this place with all five stars.
Thank you Mike! You're one of a kind 🙂
Response from the owner:Hi guys, thank you for the kind words and great review! I'm so glad you were able to give Moki a loving home! Enjoy him and please reach out with any questions or concerns anytime!
Mike is amazing just as all the reviews state. To say he is a reputable puppy breeder is an understatement. Mike is experienced, trustworthy and caring. He loves and cares for these animals. I've learned a lot from him to better care for my new puppy. Mike is also there to support me and my puppy after. Mike is a treasure just like all the healthy and wonderful puppies he breeds. Thank you Mike! - Stacey and Semper (our new puppy)
Response from the owner:Hi Stacey, thank you so much for the great review and kind words. I really appreciate you adopting one of my pups and giving him a loving furever home AND driving all the way from Peoria! Enjoy little Semper!
I truly cannot say enough amazing things about Mike and this breeding program. After losing my soul dog, getting another puppy felt emotional and overwhelming, and Mike showed me more kindness, compassion, and understanding than I could have ever expected. He was so patient with me through the entire process and genuinely cared about making sure we were ready and comfortable every step of the way. You can tell immediately that this is not “just a business” to him, he truly loves and understands his dogs. The amount of knowledge, care, and dedication he puts into raising his puppies is honestly incredible. I have never met or heard of a breeder who is this attentive, responsible, and passionate about what they do.
Our new puppy Jaxon is beautiful, healthy, well cared for, and already so loved. Mike made such a difficult chapter in my life a little brighter, and I will forever be grateful for that. If you are looking for a breeder who genuinely cares about their dogs and the families they go to, Mike is truly one of a kind. I would recommend him a thousand times over. ❤️
Our new puppy Jaxon is beautiful, healthy, well cared for, and already so loved. Mike made such a difficult chapter in my life a little brighter, and I will forever be grateful for that. If you are looking for a breeder who genuinely cares about their dogs and the families they go to, Mike is truly one of a kind. I would recommend him a thousand times over. ❤️
Response from the owner:Hi Caitlin, thank you for the hearfelt review and kind words. I understand how difficult of a time it is for you after losing Oakley. I'm so glad we were able to connect and that you were able to adopt one of my pups to help lift your spirits. Enjoy Jaxson!
Mike is an amazing breeder and great to work with! He is very knowledgeable about the dogs and helpful with care after purchasing a puppy from him. I higjly recommend you work with him to find a lab for your family.
Response from the owner:Hi Liz, thank you for the great review and kind words, and for giving little Gigi a loving home! I always enjoy the updates and fresh pics of her..She's so cute!
Mike made the whole process very easy and was great to work with and communicated the whole way through. He spent a good amount of time with us when we went to select our pup. He obviously spends a lot of time doing research and shared his vast knowledge with us.
We end up bringing home Marty and he is so adorable and a great addition to our family. We are in love with him!!
We end up bringing home Marty and he is so adorable and a great addition to our family. We are in love with him!!
Response from the owner:Hi Jenny, thank you for the great review, kind words and for giving Marty a loving home! Congrats to Marty on graduating from his puppy clases! Great job Marty!
We worked with Mike to find exactly what we were looking for and found it all and more in "Connor". Amazing dog, gentle spirit with the athleticism of a gold medal gymnast. Well trained, obedientt and just an all around great dog. Working with Mike throughout the process was the hidden gem as his knowledge and experience shows with all he offers and moreso delivers. Thanks again Mike for making this an easy experience with an awesome Dog in Connor.
Response from the owner:Hi Edward, what can I say other than thank you so much for the great review, kind words and for giving little Connor a loving home! He is a very special little guy who stole my heart from the time he was 5 weeks old.. climbing out of his puppy pen and becoming the super athlete that he is! We really miss him around here. I'm glad you found him and he found you!
Just got our 3rd pup from Mike. Each one has been playful, smart, & a great addition to our family. Mike is very knowledgeable & helpful with the process and has been there for us to ask follow up questions. We highly recommend getting your pup through Mike.
Response from the owner:Hi Cynthia! Look how cute these little guys are..lol Two peas in a pod..lol.. Thank you for the continued support of adopting multiple pups from me, and the love you give all of them.
We got a beautiful male Labradoodle from Mike 2 weeks ago. We can’t say enough good about both Mike and the Pup/ Murphy. He cares who gets his dogs and when you get them they are healthy and clean and all records and tests are in immaculate order. Our Vet even said, He is a wonderfully put together animal and he had nothing but praise for the folder we were given w/ all Murphy’s documentation. Murphy seems as smart as a whip and is learning the basic instruction and lead walking right by your side already at 3 months old. I can proudly say, Mike is the Best I have ever dealt with.
Response from the owner:Hi Art, thank you for the great review, kind words, and for giving Murphy a great home! I'm excited about keeping in touch and following his training with both you and Al. Murphy is one hell of a dog!
I cannot say enough about Mike or his puppies. When we went to see him, we originally intended to purchase a Labrador. Mike spent a lot of time with us talking about what we were looking for in a pet (e.g., personality, size, energy, shedding level, etc.). We ended up reserving an F1 Labradoodle. Mike also handled two stages of training for our puppy. He kept us updated with pictures and videos throughout the training process and when we brought our puppy home with us, he was housebroken, crate trained, leash trained, and slept through the night. Even after we brought our puppy home, Mike has continued to check in and to be available when we have puppy questions. Our little guy is growing healthy and happy, which is unsurprising considering how much attention Mike pays to his puppies' breeding and genetics. Truly cannot recommend Mike more highly.
Response from the owner:Hi guys, lol.. love these pics of Sammy- they all tell a story about his young life- love his little perm hairdo.lol.. He was such a fun guy to train and work with. So smart and a huge personality and great disposition! Thank you for making the experience so wonderful. I miss you guys picking him up at 7 a.m. every Saturday!
We had a wonderful experience with Mike as our dog breeder. He was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, taking the time to provide us with all the important information we needed before bringing our puppy home.
What really stood out was how much he truly cares, after we took our puppy home, Mike personally called to check in on us and see how our puppy was adjusting to the new environment. That level of support meant a lot to us and made the whole experience even more reassuring.
We highly recommend Mike to anyone looking for a new furry family member. You can tell he genuinely loves and cares for his dogs, and it shows in everything he does.
What really stood out was how much he truly cares, after we took our puppy home, Mike personally called to check in on us and see how our puppy was adjusting to the new environment. That level of support meant a lot to us and made the whole experience even more reassuring.
We highly recommend Mike to anyone looking for a new furry family member. You can tell he genuinely loves and cares for his dogs, and it shows in everything he does.
Response from the owner:Hi guys, thank you for the kind words and great review and thank you for giving Lucky a loving furever home! Enjoy him
Great people,we got our dog 3 weeks ago and Mike still helping with advises and check on him every few days.
Dog is healthy and happy you wont regret getting dog from Mike.
Dog is healthy and happy you wont regret getting dog from Mike.
Response from the owner:Hi Nick, thank you for the kind words and great review! Enjoy little Lucky and give him hugs for me! Please reach out anytime with any questions!
We love our little Cocoa! Mike is a careful breeder and clearly loves his dogs. He spent plenty of time talking with us and was supportive in helping us learn how to bet care for our new fur baby. She's been home for three weeks now and Mike is still staying in touch, giving us tips and offering support. We couldn't be happier with Cocoa or with Mike.
Response from the owner:Hi Sue, thank you for the great review and kind words AND for giving Cocoa a loving furever home! You have done great with her training! Keep it up!
We searched many different breeders and finally were fortunate enough to stumble across Mike. We were looking for a slightly older puppy that was hypoallergenic, great with kids, and great with other dogs. We hit a home run with Maizey. We got her at ten months- she is incredibly well trained and well behaved thanks to Mike’s efforts. She has acclimated very well and is an important part of the family. Would highly recommend Mike to anyone seeking a dog. He cares about his dogs and his customers and has been a pleasure to work with. Taking all my will power to not call him up and ask for a second dog!
Response from the owner:Hi Marc, thank you for the kind words and great review. I'm so glad you adopted Maizey and that she has been a great fit for your family!
If you are looking to add a new fur baby to your family….look no more! We highly recommend Mike and Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago. Mike keeps you in the know from day one and still after a month is reaching out to check on our little man Maverick. We are so lucky to have Maverick in our life!!! Thank you Mike❤️
Response from the owner:Hi Tracy, thank you for the kind words and great review. You guys are doing a terrific job with Maverick! labs can be tough little buggers, but you guys have done a great job!
We had a great experience adopting our labradoodle from Mike. From the start, he was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. You can tell he truly cares about his dogs and takes pride in the quality of his breeding.
What really stood out was that he continued to check in with us after we brought our puppy home to make sure everything was going well. That level of care and support meant a lot and gave us a lot of confidence as new puppy owners.
If you’re looking for a responsible breeder who genuinely cares about both his dogs and the families they go to, I would highly recommend Mike.
What really stood out was that he continued to check in with us after we brought our puppy home to make sure everything was going well. That level of care and support meant a lot and gave us a lot of confidence as new puppy owners.
If you’re looking for a responsible breeder who genuinely cares about both his dogs and the families they go to, I would highly recommend Mike.
Response from the owner:Hi Tim, thank you guys for the kind words, great review and for giving Redd a terrific furever home! It's nice to get the updates and pics of Redd!
My husband and I adopted a labradoodle from Mike and we are so happy we did! We left our puppy with Mike for a couple weeks for basic training, and that made it easier when we brought Ozzy home!! Mike is very easy to work with and he loves what he is doing!
All his dogs are well taken care and healthy and happy!!
All his dogs are well taken care and healthy and happy!!
We couldn’t be more excited to welcome ANOTHER amazing puppy from Mike @ Chicago Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies. Firstly, this is not a business, but a truly extended family. Mike ensures that families are educated and supported throughout the entire process of welcoming a dog into their homes. Then how about welcoming a second dog - he ensured that the personalities of the new puppy and current dog were well matched. His thoughtfulness is seen in every puppy that he breeds. Also having confidence in the overall health of our dogs because of Mikes commitment to DNA and orthopedic testing is great. If you are looking for a hypoallergenic, well-tempered, absolutely adorable lab or doodle look no further!!
Response from the owner:Hi Russell, thank you for the great review and kind words! Definitely an extended family. Our goal is to make 100% certain that we are bringing the healthiest puppies into the world. This can only be done by full panel genetic testing and orthopedic testing. Unfortunately, 90% of breeders' are not doing this testing, and are blindly bringing innocent puppies in to the world. It's up to breeders to be responsible and take every step necessary to ensue they ae breeding happy, healthy puppies!
We got our puppy from here. Overall, the experience was great. Mike was and still is very responsive. I had placed my deposit over a year ago but unfortunately, there were a few people before us in line for a female chocolate lab as well and we weren’t able to get her in the first litter. We did have to wait a few more months for the next litter but throughout, Mike was keeping me updated and answered any questions I had. We got to go meet our girl at around 4 weeks for the first time. And then, we picked her up at 7 weeks to bring home with us. Mike sent us individual updates and posted updates regularly on his business social media pages. Overall, it was an easy process and Mike was friendly and responsive throughout.
Response from the owner:Hi guys! Thank you for the kind words, great review, and for giving little Dama a loving home! Also- thank you for waiting a year to adopt a pup. I truly appreciate your support, patience and understanding!
One just wasn't enough! We lost our beautiful Goldendoodle a few years back. She has several health issue's. When we decided it was time to get another dog we were very concerned that we might get another dog with health issues. It wasn't until we found Labrador and Labradoodles of Chicago that we learned about DNA and orthopedic testing. We adopted a beautiful little mini Labradoodle. We were so happy with her that we decided to adopt a second mini Labradoodle from Mike, best decision ever. Knowing they will live a long healthy life makes us so happy! Thank you Mike for all the work you put into breeding such amazing dogs.
Response from the owner:Look at little Loki and Bandit! Two peas in a pod! lol.. Thank you for the great review, kind words, and for giving two of our pups loving furever homes!