Thanks so much for your interest in my puppies and or dogs. If you are on Facebook please click our Facebook link on this page and LIKE our page at Empress Labradors Homestead for 24/7 updated information and everything that typically goes on here. Adopting one of our puppies comes with instructions and READING this page could possibly answer any questions that you may have before emailing me.... so please again READ and review this page to it's entirety.
All puppies sold as family pets and limited registration through the American Kennel Club.
Where in Northern, IL are we located?
North of Rockford, IL.
Do you have English style Labradors?
I'm sure through all your research of American and English style Labradors and by looking at my dogs you should be able to tell they are 100% English style... I will never have the American style for I don't prefer their temperaments.
What size and weight will our adults labradors be ?
Do you ever have older/retired dogs ?
IF we have any older/retired dogs available it WILL be on this page or on our Facebook page Empress Labradors Homestead...my older/retired dogs are $4,000.00 and will be spayed or neutered before leaving my kennel. On occasion we have older puppies that we kept from previous litters and have decided to part with them for reasons only breeders would understand. Of course there is nothing wrong with them for a pet home.
How much are your puppies ?
8-12 weeks old $3,500
4-6 months old $3,500
6-12+months $4,500
Price differences depend on age from shots administered and depth of training.
(subject to change even if you have a deposit currently with us). A $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required to get put on my waiting list. What does non-refundable mean ? If a puppy of color or sex is NOT born to your wants, your deposit is then carried over to the next litter that would have the color and sex you prefer. All puppies are sold on AKC limited registration and you will sign a contract stating that your puppy will be altered at their proper age. The future and health of our dogs are very important to us along with keeping our bloodlines untouched by unnecessary breedings, not to mention possible dogs ending up in shelters from not breeding them correctly. We DO NOT sell any of our dogs on FULL AKC registration.
Is there a questionnaire to fill out to get one of our puppies ? NO
Making a deposit and getting a puppy from my kennel come with many instructions that are clearly written on this page and following instructions properly tells me a lot about you and I don’t need a puppy questionnaire to be filled out. Along with us meeting face to face at puppy play date will tell me weather you and your family are the right fit for one of my puppies.
How do I make a deposit ?
Zelle look for DawnNacey
Venmo look for @Dawn-Nacey (myself with a Yellow Labrador)
Once in Zelle or Venmo there is a NOTE section.
Please physically type in the section the following:
1.) Your email address & phone number with area code.
2.) First choice color/sex and second choice color/sex.
3.) Lastly, that you understand that this deposit is NON-refundable
*** After you have refused 3 puppy offerings your deposit is forfeited.
Can you predict if I will get a puppy from the next litter? Future litter ?
When do you recommend spay or neutering ?
How do we get to pick our puppy?
Please keep in mind that we as breeders have no control of what color or sex is born, so please be willing to accept a different color and or sex. With our litters, the breeder will always have first and second pick to choose puppies that will continue our breeding lines.
How you get to pick your puppy is determined by when your deposit has been received. ie: Senerio #1 If you are 3rd on my waiting list for a yellow male and only 2 yellow males are born then either your second choice sex or color comes into consideration, and IF you don't have a second option then your deposit gets carried over to the next litter whenever that will be. Senerio #2 If you are 3rd on the waiting list for yellow males and there are 5 yellow males born then on pick up day the two families that have deposits before you get to pick their puppy before you.
Having a second choice of color and/or sex which of course could increase your chances of getting a puppy from a particular litter. Please keep in mind that most of my puppies are sold BEFORE they are born and just because I have your deposit does not mean that I can order what color and/or sex that I have deposits for.
Another recommendation is please do not discuss the first stages of puppy buying with your children until about a week before first visitation which is at 5 weeks old. Anything can happen during birth and the first couple weeks, and I would hate to cause any heartbreak.
When can we visit our puppy ?
When can our puppy go home ?
Gestation for dogs is 63 days and your puppy will be able to go home around 8 weeks old. Pull out a calendar and review to make sure that your schedule works with puppy pick-up dates. Anyone who needs a puppy to stay here over 8 weeks will be charged a $ 10.00 a day boarding fee.
NuVet is required with every Empress Puppy, Older Puppy, or Dog that goes home. Please order prior to puppy pick up day so there is no digestive upset once you puppy gets home.
As a breeder, puppy health is my top priority. That’s why NuVet Plus immune system builder is required as part of your Health Guarantee. Simply put, it is the best nutritional supplement available today.
To assure your puppy gets off to the right start, they have been enjoying NuVet Plus every day as a treat (they love the taste). Continuing this daily regimen is the easiest and best way to keep your pup on the path to perfect health!
Hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are using NuVet to support their immune system and provide optimal health. A strong immune system will protect them from environmental and food toxins such as back yard pesticides, hormones, germs from public places, and even toxic formaldehyde in furniture and carpeting. NuVet Plus will not only protect but also help them maintain a beautiful skin and coat.
This is not just a vitamin. It’s an immune system builder with a precise balance of vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, amino acids and high-potency antioxidants. That’s why it works so well through all three stages of a dog’s life.
For puppies - Fills the immunity gap all puppies experience. Shortly after birth maternal antibody effectiveness is greatly reduced. By 8 weeks your puppy’s immune system is at a vulnerable point. Once in their new home, the immune system is weakened by the stress of adoption and exposure to novel bacteria and viruses in their environment. This is also when the vaccine series is started. Vaccines are most effective if the immune system can respond properly. Starting NuVet Plus now is important to helping your puppy grow into a healthy adult.
For dogs in their prime - Improves the luster of their skin and coat while providing the necessary antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, mineral and more to sustain their body’s peak performance during the prime of their lives.
For older dogs – Helps provide the nutritional requirements to help them live long, happy, and productive lives in their senior years. NuVet also offers cardiovascular support, can improve energy and overall quality of life.
NuVet is not available in stores, and is only available to the general public with an order code from an authorized pet professional.
For your convenience, you may order directly from the manufacturer by calling 800-474-7044 and using Order Code: 19387, or ordering online at www.nuvet.com/19387
You can also save an additional 15% and assure you never run out of NuVet by choosing the “AutoShip” option at check out which can be edited, changed, or stopped at any time.
I get a notification when this is ordered by family so it needs to be done before puppy pick up day.
Do all Empress Pups go home with micro-chips ?
Yes !
Can I come visit your dogs and puppies?
Sorry but the answer is no and for many reasons. We schedule one puppy playdate when the puppies are over 5 weeks old and vaccinated. It is also very risky for all of my dogs and puppies anytime I allow visitors to set foot on my property due to carrying and spreading diseases that can easily do harm to very young and older dogs. Outside working a full time job, we try to send as much time with the dogs as possible. If we had visitors all the time, that would shorten time doing chores and working dogs. If you are interested in coming to meet an older available dog, I do allow you to visit after you send a deposit. If you do not fall in love with the dog I will refund your entire deposit.
Do you have any dogs or puppies that can become service dogs or emotional support dogs?
Yes my dogs and puppies have great temperaments and, with the proper training, can go on to be service dogs, ESA dogs, and therapy dogs. If you are looking for a dog to train yourself, my puppies and older dogs are priced the same. I only donate dogs to the following service dog organizations: Paws With A Cause in Michigan and Fidos for Freedom in Maryland. Feel free to reach out to one of these organizations to learn about their processes in being matched with a service dog.
Do you have the laid back temperament Labradors ?
Yes ! We have generations of wonderful dispositions and temperaments.... Our dogs are quite versatile so if you are a couch potato you Labrador will be right by your side... if you are very active your Labrador will be right there with you.
Health and genetic testing done?
How much can we exercise our puppy/dog ?
Please consider Labrador puppies grow up to close to 2 years old.... try to limited high jumping up (ie: for a toy/frisbee) jumping down (ie: out of vehicle/couch/bed) and running (ie: beside you/golf cart/bicycle) Once all their growth plates have closed and they are physically mature (usually around age 2) and once they are conditioned enough for heavy exercise like jogging with you, etc.... it's a process just like you starting to run... they will need to build up to it and it will not happen over night.
What food do you feed ?
There are not many companies that have "true" research on the needs of a growing puppy other than Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy. Why is this important ? Would you feed your baby adult food ? NO for baby food is designed for a growing baby and is the exact reason why I recommend Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy food until at least a year old. Your puppy will go home on Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food. After you are halfway through that bag, you can slowly switch over to Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy Food.
After a year old there are many great foods on the market, just please stay away from foods such as Pedigree, Iams, Ol Roy, Dog Chow, etc.
Temperament
We believe that temperament has a very large genetic component and therefore we only breed dogs that exhibit a wonderful Labrador temperament, conformation, retrieving instincts and intelligence. We breed only the English lined Labradors with stellar temperaments. People ask me this all the time how is the temperament of your puppies? I really don't know how to answer this other than they are wonderful... just come and see for yourself!
Puppy Guarantee
The tests that we do is our best effort to ensure that our puppies are free of common congenital disorders. However, most congenital disorders have a polygenic mode of inheritance, meaning there is multiple gene involvement, making it impossible to determine with certainty that any puppy will be completely free from any disorder. Nutrition, exercise and other conditions will play a role in determining whether the puppy will develop certain disorders as well as help puppies grow into happy, healthy adults. We also encourage every puppy buyer to have their new puppy examined by their veterinarian within 48 hours from the date of purchase. If it is determined that the puppy is not in good general health, with a written veterinarian statement and the puppy returned, the entire purchase price will be refunded.
Page Updated: 9/5/2023
Available Puppies
Upcoming Litters (Confirmed)
Planned Litters
(These girls could be bred but pregnancy is not confirmed yet.)
Libby & Dap Jr for an all yellow litter - Accepting Deposits Now - Ready December 2023.
Babble & Dap Jr for black and yellow litter Early 2024.
Harriett & Chaos for black and chocolate litter Early 2024.
Please LIKE our page on Facebook for updates.