Higher Ground's Frequently Asked Questions

We are pleased to offer our customers a 28 month extended warranty on hips and elbows for our puppies.  We offer a lifetime guarantee that your puppy will not be affected by certain diseases known to Labradors.  We also offer a puppy lifetime take back guarnantee.  This is how much we care about our HGL families and our puppies.

At Higher Ground Labradors, we are committed to breeding in accordance with the AKC high quality standards for the Labrador Retriever.  Therefore, Higher Ground Labradors will only ever breed the black, chocolate and yellow Labradors.  Please learn more about the standard colors of the Labrador Retriever, and why we choose this in the link below.

Puppies from Higher Ground Labradors are sold with limited registration, which means, you do not have breeding or showing rights with your puppy.  We do offer full registration to approved confirmation or breeding homes.  There is an extra fee for full registration, so please contact us if this is something you would be interested in.

You can reserve a puppy with us before or after they are born.  We require a $300 non-refundable deposit for limited registration and a $500 non-refundable deposit for full registration.  Your deposit holds the puppy you choose and it is applied to the purchase price of your puppy. Your deposit is transferrable to a different Higher Ground litter, only if we do not have exactly what you reserved (if your reservation was made prior to your puppy being born).  HGL reserves the right to first pick of males and first pick of females from each litter, otherwise, first reserved, first served!

We enjoy meeting new people and introducing our dogs and puppies to them. Plus we encourage you to visit and see where and how our puppies are raised. Since this is our private residence, we do not have regular business hours, therefore, all visits must be scheduled. We do not allow visitors prior to the puppies receiving their first set of vaccinations and we do not allow your pets to come visit the puppies. All visits must be scheduled. We would love to meet you and so would our puppies, so please contact us to make an appointment.

You will be able to pick out your adorable, Higher Ground Labrador puppy when the puppy is six weeks old. Your pick day is Higher Ground Labrador's "Gotcha" days. We offer "Gotcha" days via phone, in person or streaming online. You may also pick out your puppy at eight weeks on our "Coming Home" days, whichever is more convenient for you.  Please remember picking order is based on order of reservation; first reserved, first pick and so on. If your puppy is not picked up at eight weeks old, there is a $25 a day holding fee that will be applied.

We care very much about you, your family's health and safety, and our puppies.  This is why each puppy that leaves HGL will be all up to date on their current vaccinations and dewormer treatments.  We also have them examined by our registered veterinarian prior to leaving us.  We will give you health papers showing all the medication your puppy received while at HGL, and also info from a registered vet to take home for your personal records.

Higher Ground Labradors allows you to take your puppy home on our "Coming Home" days. These begin at eight weeks old. Puppies need this time to continue learning from their mother and playing/socializing with their litter mates. Going home at eight weeks, gives your puppy an healthier, happier start, and helps your puppy to adjust better to its new, happy home. All "Coming Home" days and deliveries must be scheduled.  

HGL will personally hand deliver your puppy within a 100 mile radius.  We also use a trusted pet transportation service or flight nanny, and they will hand deliver your puppy anywhere in the United States. We will also meet you at our local airport.  There is an extra fee for these transportation options.  If you are interested, please talk with us about it at the time you reserve your puppy, so we can schedule your delivery accordingly, as this option does take time to plan.

Higher Ground Labradors is pleased to offer an active military discount, a veterans discount, and a police officer and first responder discount.  We appreciate all that our military, police officers and first responders do, and have done for our country.  This is just our small way of saying, “Thank you!” If you think you are eligible for one of our discounts, please let us know, as identification is required.  We also offer occasional, holiday discounts, discount for those purchasing more than one puppy and repeat buyer discounts.  

As another courtesy to our customers, your puppy will come to you weaned, and will be well socialized with people of all ages. We use Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI), to help your puppy adjust to life well. We also socialize them with other animals, introduce crate training, house training, and leash training.  There is an extra fee for any additional training.  Some customers want to do their own training, so please talk to us about your training desires prior to the puppies being whelped so we can customize your puppy's training according to your training desires.

A puppy care package will be sent home with you, which will include all your paperwork, micro-chip and health info associated with your puppy.  You will receive an AKC registration where you can register your puppy at your convenience, and you will be able to sign up for AKC Re-Unite at that time if you want.  You will also take some food home with you that your puppy has been eating so you can slowly transition to another food if you choose to. We are pleased to be the breeder you chose for your new puppy. Thank you for choosing to love an HGL puppy!