Why a Labrador Retriever?

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 !

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

My husband & I have been looking to buy a puppy for some time & came across Mike’s website. We read about labradoodles & saw his videos & were so impressed of how well he takes care of his puppies & dogs! We saw a puppy on his website that we were interested in & we called Mike to set up an appointment. The following day, Mike explained in detail what DNA & orthopedic testing mean & why it’s so important to have this information. We brought home a healthy, playful, active female 8-week puppy & named her Star (Estrella). Mike has been wonderful to work with! We have been very satisfied & super happy with our little Star ⭐️

We highly recommend Chicago Area Labs for your new furry family member. We were so impressed with the genetic and orthopedic testing Mike does to ensure his pups are healthy. We lost our buddy Harley to osteosarcoma, so the testing Mike does was very important to us.
Mike has stayed in touch with us since we bought Mackenzie. He’s offered advice and shared training videos.
I took Mackenzie to the vet for her rabies shot, and the vet said that she knows Mike. She said that Mackenzie is so sweet, like all of Mike’s dogs.
Thanks Mike!!

Our family is so very happy that we adopted a dog from Mike at Labrador & Labradoodle Puppies Chicago! We walked into this journey expecting to adopt a very young puppy but couldn’t be happier that we welcomed home a trained 7 month-old Australian Labradoodle. It is truly the best decision a young family like ours could make. She is an absolutely delightful companion — attentive, well-mannered, calm, friendly and eager to please. She has been excellent with all people and dogs inside and outside of our home. It is a testament to the environment Mike raised her in. We get so many compliments on how well-trained and personable she is, and we couldn’t be happier about how smoothly she has joined our family. She has also been very respectful and gentle toward our elderly Yorkie-Poo.

We spoke with several breeders prior to finding Mike’s website and were immediately impressed by the information and videos provided. Mike is very personable and truly cares about the health and well being of his dogs, and we greatly appreciate that he highly values full panel genetic and orthopedic testing. It also meant a lot that he cared about the home she was going to and that we are conscious pet owners. Mike was welcoming at his home and made it easy for our three kids (12, 8, 5) to interact with many of his dogs, all who were pleasant and personable toward us. He patiently spent time answering our long list of questions after our meeting and took extra time to provide information that ultimately made us feel confident in our decision.

Since adopting our girl almost a month ago, Mike has kept in touch, checking in to make sure everything is going smoothly. He has readily answered our questions and is genuinely interested in her development. We highly recommend reaching out to Mike!

I’ve had sweet Dolly for less than two weeks and am already in love! Mike is fantastic, from the initial lengthy phone call to taking home my puppy. He spent hours with me and answered all of my questions. Sent me home with everything she needed and lots of followup contact. It’s incredibly reassuring that the dogs have been genetically tested, gives peace of mind. Will definitely return if I decide to get a second dog!

Awesome dogs, both of ours are from here and they’re super sweet, healthy, and happy

Our family had been searching for the perfect four legged family member for a long time! We were looking for a breeder who offered DNA and orthopedic testing, and discovered how difficult that was to find! One breeder even went so far as to say "Labradoodles do not get genetic disease because they are a mixed breed dog! " As a biology teacher, I can assure everyone that any dog can be born with an inherited genetic disease and the only way to check for them is to do DNA testing on the parents. The same holds true for orthopedic testing. We found Mike in Illinois.. We are in Colorado. Mike is a wealth of knowledge and is extremely adamant about the importance of both genetic and orthopedic testing. We read some of his reviews, checked out his website- which explains everything one should know about the genetic and orthopedic testing, and finally gave Mike a call. He spent over an hour on the phone with us, and we then knew Mike was the guy we were looking for! We ended up with a beautiful Stage 3 trained puppy from Mike. He is simply a wonderful puppy! We cannot recommend Mike enough. Please do your own research when looking for a puppy, as we discovered that the majority of breeders are not doing the appropriate health testing which can cause a big problem a few years down the road.

Our experience with Mike with Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago was fantastic. Mike is very passionate about what he does and it shows. His attention to details, the care he takes to ensure his dogs are healthy and happy and the follow up with his puppies after they have gone to their forever homes is impeccable. Mike was very accommodating in helping us get our pup Max home for a special Christmas surprise! We highly recommend Mike!

We looked into several breeders before deciding on Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago. Mike was very responsive to questions before, during and after we purchased a silver Lab from him. We have had Baxter for a month now and still communicate with Mike. If you're interested in a Labrador puppy, I highly recommend considering this breeder!

Our family has been looking for a Labradoodle for over a year. We were highly advised by our vet to make sure the breeder we choose did genetic and orthopedic testing on the parents. Our quest left us with what seemed like little hope. Every breeder we spoke to either said they did no testing or if they claimed they did it, they couldn't produce test results which told us that the testing was never done. When all seemed lost we came across Mikes website and all of his information and videos were AMAZING! We even let our vet look at Mikes website, and they were so impressed that they reached out to Mike to commend him on his OUTSTANDING breeding practices! Mike not only does full panel DNA testing through Embark, but he does OFA hip/elbow testing AND gives copies to all those who adopt his pups! He is by far the most transparent breeder we have ever come across! Mike is absolutely meticulous in the care he gives his pups and adult dogs, as well as the information packet he gave us! He really missed nothing! If you are looking for the highest quality and best customer service you will not find anyone remotely close!! Check out Mikes website and give him a call! You won't be disappointed!!

We couldn’t have been more fortunate to have found Mike Martinez of Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago! Mike is extremely knowledgeable, patient, and absolutely loves what he does. All of his experience and kindness made the process both easy and enjoyable. And while we were originally looking at a specific trained puppy, the little guy who chose us is the perfect addition to our family! Mike provided us all the information and supplies we needed to ensure our puppy’s transition from his home to ours was seamless, and he even keeps in touch to this day offering us advice during this harsh Chicago winter. This speaks so much to his big heart, and we couldn’t be more appreciative. We would absolutely recommend Mike to anyone who’s looking to add to their families. It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made, and we’d give 6 stars if we could!

- Michael

We couldn't be happier after having worked with Mike. He's an excellent breeder who genuinely cares about his placements. He follows up regularly weeks after the puppy enters your family to help ensure a smooth transition.

As for his puppies? Incredible temperament, quick to train and absolutely beautiful. Our sweet girl is a pure bred silver American Field Lab. Her parents Zeus and Jade, I'm convinced, make the most gorgeous labs. If you're looking for an athlete, look no further. The father, Zeus, is an absolute beast in the best possible way and Jade is incredibly sweet. The perfect combo. Thank you, Mike! You've given our family a gift.

After losing our dog and finally deciding we were ready for a new puppy, my wife and I spent a lot of time researching breeders. That’s when we came across Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago. I reached out to the owner, Mike Martinez, about a puppy we were interested in, and he got back to us quickly. From the start, Mike was great to work with.

When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Mike and were also able to meet the parents of the puppy we ended up bringing home, Andy. The entire process was smooth and comfortable, and Mike took the time to share a lot of valuable information with us, including DNA test results and helpful tips on training and maintaining our puppy’s health.

We’ve had Andy for a few weeks now and couldn’t be happier to have him as part of our family. We truly had a great experience and would highly recommend Labrador and Labradoodle Puppies Chicago to anyone looking for a puppy.

We had a wonderful experience with Mike and all his dogs, very transparent and very caring and thorough in the dog breed and the dog health. He also has insured that we’re very comfortable with our new family member. I would highly recommend him.

We would 100% recommend Mike and Chicago Area Labrador's without reserve for those looking to add a new furry member to their family. Now that we have our little labradoodle, Piper, at home we can’t imagine having worked with anyone else. Our search started in phone interviews with other breeders in the area and after visiting Mike’s home and business in Mundelein we knew we didn’t need to visit any others and he was the guy for us. The cleanliness of his facilities, knowledge about dog breeding and genetic testing, and the care/ attention he provides to his dogs and their puppies is top notch. Mike was exceptionally patient with us in the questions we asked as first time dog owners and made us feel confident in providing the essentials necessary for a smooth transition for our puppy back to the city including shots, microchip, kennel, food, leash, etc. 


Not only did we get the chance to meet the puppy and Mike, but we also were able to interact with our dogs mom and dad who are incredibly sweet and well behaved making us feel confident that we would be getting a good, well mannered, and healthy dog. Our little puppy is now 3 months old and we are so in love. We get constant compliments on how well behaved, loving, and calm she is for a little puppy and we greatly credit her coming from a great home with Mike! 


The relationship with Mike as a breeder is anything but transactional, he goes out of his way to stay in touch and follow-up with you after bringing your dog home to ensure they are doing well and answering any questions you have and remains genuinely interested in their development. In addition to Mike’s breeding services, we have used him for overnight boarding which we also highly recommend. We feel so much more comfortable leaving our dog with Mike as opposed to a standard service knowing she will be under good care/ supervision, playing with other well-mannered dogs, and having lots of room/ grass to run…. Plus, he gives her a bath before we pick her up making her super soft and smelling good. : -) 


We feel so fortunate for our little puppy and are so grateful for the positive experience that Chicago Area Labs has provided!

We brought home our sweet Milo 6months ago and could not be happier. Milo has been such a great addition to our family. More importantly was Mike and the valuable information he not only gave us when we picked up Milo but also when he would check-in via text, Mike does extensive genetic testing which our vet was very impressed with. I cannot recommend Mike enough. I know when we are ready to add to our family we will absolutely be coming back to Mike.

Mike was incredibly helpful and attentive, sharing all the important details with us. His puppies are absolutely wonderful, and it was very important for us to know that he performs all the necessary health tests. This gives us confidence in the high quality of his puppies and reassurance that our new family member will truly meet all our expectations! We are very happy, thank you so much!

We can't speak highly enough about Mike overall professionalism! We had been searching for a reputable breeder for months, and then we came across Mike website. Mike has been featured on WGN a couple times, and is all about the quality! He accomplishes this by educating people on the importance of DNA and OFA testing. Most of the breeders we spoke to did no DNA or orthopedic testing. We even had one breeder tell us that because a Labradoodle is a mixed breed dog- genetic testing is not needed! WOW! We discovered, from speaking with Mike, that DNA and orthopedic testing is the ONLY WAY to know the quality of a dog. We adopted both a trained Stage 3 Labrador and Labradoodle from Mike, and they are both perfect in every respect! Mike goes above and beyond in his adult dogs and puppies, and from our research, there is nobody close to him! If you are serious about adding a quality family member to your home, call Mike! You won't be disappointed!