About Mike

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About Mike & His Puppies

Labrador & Labradoodle Puppies Chicago is located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, in Mundelein, IL. I'd like to begin by thanking ALL who have adopted my pups, giving them loving and caring homes, as this is my number one goal! I am very cautious to who I adopt my pups out to & do a thorough phone interview before I let anyone come and meet my pups or put a deposit down. I think it's important to establish a relationship with those looking to add a four-legged family member to their family.  I have always prioritized DNA & orthopedic testing on all my breeding dogs. There is no way to tell if a dog is carrying genetic disease or has orthopedic issues without doing the appropriate testing.

I began breeding Labradors about 25 years ago & added in Labradoodles a short time later. As the years passed, I have been extremely fortunate to have had top notch veterinarians show me crucial things in advanced puppy care, as well as how to achieve optimum health through things like nutrition & exercise.  I am constantly educating myself, striving to breed the most genetically perfect pups out there! Labradors & Labradoodles can suffer from a variety of genetic diseases as well as orthopedic issues such as hip & elbow dysplasia, which is why I focus greatly on proper gene mating, in other words, breeding two dogs that are genetically perfect! I DNA test ALL of my breeding Labradors & Labradoodles.

I also OFA certify the hips & elbows when they reach two years of age. All of my pups have coefficient of inbreeding (COI) of between 0% and 20%, which is the icing on the cake of a genetically sound dog. I take a great deal of pride in my dogs, and pups! I have over 30 years' experience in both nutrition and fitness, which I have incorporated into my breeding program. Nutrition and exercise are just as important to dogs as they are people! I focus on a few things- DNA, orthopedics, low COI, proper nutrition and exercise & of course, lots of love & care! This is the ONLY way to breed SUPER PUPPIES, which become SUPER DOGS!!

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Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago5.0
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Cynthia R
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.
Art Steuwe
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.
Prerna Patel Pasulka
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.
Jelena Nikolic
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.
Nebojsa Campar
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.
Susan McCowin
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.
Marc
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!
Tracy Mastrocinque
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❤️
Tim Whalen
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.
Sue coyle
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!!
Daniel Church
Russell Smith
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!
Jeanette Medina
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!
Robert McDowell
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!
Elizabeth Ball
We feel so lucky to have found Mike and Chicago Labs! We greatly appreciated how Mike handles the whole process from application to pick up - he really cares about his puppies and it shows! Mike has so much knowledge and his website has great details & tips. We are so lucky to have found our girl Mia💗
Alyssa hornbuckle
We adopted our moosey boy from Mike back in early Feb! Mike is very responsive and you can tell his pride is in his career, he loves his animals so much. Even weeks later he is still reaching out to check on him!
Moose had an accident and took an injury to his eye so he is blind in an eye, but other wise healthy and happy! We couldn't have asked for a better pup.
Mladen Mojsilovic
We wanted to surprise our kids with a puppy for Christmas and we didn’t know where to start. Went on google and started searching for golden and labradoodle breeders in the area. Labrador and Labradoodle puppies Chicago came up and it was the closest to our home. After going through the website and talking to Mike on the phone, we felt comfortable and very confident about his puppies. He is very knowledgeable, happy to share all the information, always available to chat and once we brought our puppy home he was always there to walk us through all the steps of adaptation for both our puppy and our family. Can’t believe we had Rollo for 2 months now, he is such a sweet boy, super smart and playful, very energetic and loving… He is just what our family needed.
Thank you Mike !
Sarah Mangan
We got Cooper about 4 years ago and recently got Reggie. Mike was very thorough and thoughtful. He takes the time to explain each dog’s background and the significance of their DNA testing. Mike also took time to follow up on both dogs to check on how they were doing weeks, months, and years after we got them. We have two very happy and healthy labradoodles!
Veronica Pinedo
Huge thank you to Mike for helping us find our fur baby! Mike is extremely knowledgeable about labs and their health. We learned so much from him in a short amount of time. If you’re looking for a lab or doodle, Mike is your guy!
Response from the owner:Hi Veronica! Thank you for the great review and kind words! It was a pleasure working with you and finding the perfect pup for you and your family! Little Oso is living his best life!! Feel free to reach out anytime with questions or concerns!
Bish Krywko
Mike is a very conscientious breeder who knows his way around dogs. We obtained our Labradoodle from him in December 2024 and we are throughly satisfied with our Lady Bella, a mini Labradoodle. Three years ago we had to put down our 14 year old Labradoodle, it was very hard to do. Getting another furry friend was also hard because we knew there would never be a furry friend like her again. Mike knew our story and guided us to a few dogs that would fit our needs. He took all the time needed to tell us about each dog’s personality. We never felt rushed or pressured with our decision.

When we took our new friend Lady Bella to our veterinarian in Grayslake, for her rabies shot and initial office visit, the doctor exclaimed that Bella’s paperwork was the best she had ever seen. Detailed, highly organized, and right on target for other shots. She was extremely impressed and confirmed everything Mike told us to do for our new puppy’s future care.

The DNA and other testing he does on the dogs he breeds is really going the extra mile. You know what you’re getting.

Mike’s follow up with us after we took our puppy home, really put us at ease. He would call and text frequently to see how we were getting along with our Bella. He truly cares about his dogs!
Response from the owner:Hi Bish, thank you so much for the great review and kind words! It was great working with you and helping you find the perfect fit for your family. Little Bella was such a sweetheart, and we miss her, but are glad she found a wonderful furever home!
Matthew Godawski
Just happen to come across Mikes website while looking for a chocolate lab. And I reached out to him via phone and couldn't be any happier that I did we talked on the phone for an hour plus while he explained the process of acquiring a puppy and that his experience in breeding dogs expanded 25 plus years. while talking on the phone he invited me over to see the operations of his facility and his interactions with his dogs! I left leaving a deposit for my future companion and he made my decision that much easier!! that's how comfortable I was after meeting him!!
Thanks Mike!
Matt @ Trinity
Response from the owner:Hi Matt, thank you for the great review and kind words! I really appreciate you putting your trust in me to help you bring home Trinity! I always strive to breed the highest quality pups possible by doing DNA and orthopedic testing on my breeding dogs. Thank you again!
Jennifer Cordova
We are so happy to have found Mike Martinez of Labrador and Labradoodle puppies in Chicago. We bought home Willow in October and she has been an amazing addition to our family. We love that when we go out of town Willow can go back home with her sister Dixie mom Jade and dad Zeus. I would highly recommend buying a dog from Mike.
Response from the owner:Hi Jenny, thank you for the great review and kind words! It's great that you guy's are so close that Willow can visit when you guys travel. She always has a blast here!
Lyness Milupi
Mike knew from the very beginning that this was our family’s first puppy, and he treated us with so much care and patience. We have a five-year-old and a nine-year-old, and he took the time to make sure every single one of us felt comfortable, informed, and excited about bringing Teddy home.
He talked us through everything we needed to know, from what to expect those first nights to how to help Teddy settle in with the kids. He sent us home with everything we needed for those first days, which made such a difference and took so much stress off our shoulders. He never rushed us, answered every question, and made sure we truly understood how to care for our new puppy.
What meant the most was that his support didn’t stop once we left. He checked in frequently to see how Teddy was doing and how we were adjusting as a family. Whenever we had a question, he would send helpful links and recommendations for anything we needed, from small adaptations at home to training tips as Teddy grew and changed.
He turned what felt like a huge step for our family into something that felt natural, supported, and joyful. Because of Mike, Teddy’s transition into our home was smooth and full of happy memories instead of stress. We are absolutely in love with our Teddy, and we are so grateful to have found a breeder who clearly loves his dogs and the families they go home to.
Response from the owner:Hi Lyness, thank you for the great review and kind words! I'm happy that the entire process was seamless and smooth. Owning a puppy for the first time is a bit challenging. You guys are doing a terrific job with Teddy!
Jane Hoffman
We adopted a labradoodle from Mike and he has been a great addition to our family. Mike was responsive to our needs and detailed in his breeder information.
Response from the owner:Hi Jane, thank you for the kind words and great review! I'm so glad that Bear has been such a great addition to your family!
Nicole Kresal
If you are looking for a Chocolate Lab in the Chicagoland area, look no further than Mike at Chicago Area Labs.
We recently brought home our new pup, Bear, and I cannot recommend Mike enough. From the very first phone call, it was clear that he isn’t just a breeder—he truly cares about the health, temperament, and future of every dog he raises.
Why We Chose Mike:
• Knowledgeable & Transparent: Mike was incredibly patient with all our questions. He walked us through the lineage, health clearances, and what to expect during the first few weeks at home.
• Nice Facility/Home: Visiting his setup in Mundelein, you can tell the dogs are raised in a clean, loving, and professional environment.
• Perfect Temperament: Our pup is not only stunning (that deep chocolate coat is gorgeous!) but is also calm, socialized, and clearly well-adjusted.
• Seamless Process: From the initial deposit to the day we picked him up, Mike kept us updated and made the entire experience stress-free.
It’s rare to find someone so dedicated to the breed. If you want a healthy, happy Lab from a breeder with integrity, Mike is your guy. We are so in love with our new family member!
Response from the owner:Hi Nicole,, thank you for the kind words and amazing review! You really covered everything, and I could not be more appreciative! Bear is living his best life and I'm happy for him and your family!!

Not Just Puppies - Future Companions with Purpose

My pups are extremely intelligent, social, playful, loving, and are great with adults and children. Many of my pups go on to be trained as professional service and therapy dogs, due to their intelligence and quality breeding practices. My pups have been adopted by people in many states, and while I do ship my pups, I am very cautious about the process. I have received calls from Hawaii, Canada, and even Sweden. My pups go on to be amazing family companions, as well as service, therapy, hunting, and emotional support dogs.

I encourage you to check out my Google reviews, as they will give you a clear insight to both myself & my pups. Virtually all who end up adopting my pups have read through my website, read at least some Google reviews, and have also educated themselves on the breed they are interested in, including the general health, disposition, and character of the dog they are considering. I'm very proud to say that most who ultimately adopt my pups have done their due diligence & are very well informed by the time they contact me.