Trident Retrievers: Additional Info

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is "OFA" and why is it so important?

OFA stands for "Orthopedic Foundation for Animals". Through the use of x-rays, OFA looks at the animal's joints (in Caliber and Fargo's cases both the hips AND the elbows) and declares if there is any evidence of dysplasia. This is important because you want to take every precaution that you are not buying a dog that will have hip or elbow dysplasia. While it is impossible for anyone to completely guarantee that an animal will not come down with some degree of dysplasia, you have the evidence that we have gone above and beyond to reduce the chance to near zero.

What is "CERF"?

CERF stands for "Canine Eye Registration Foundation." Just what OFA does for dysplasia, a CERF veterinarian determines if the dog has any signs of inheritable eye disease. Again, we have both Caliber and Fargo tested before each breeding and both have clear, normal eyes. Ask around and you'll find out that it is very rare to find a Lab with all three - hips, elbows and eyes - all registered.

What do all those letters mean in Caliber and Fargo's pedigrees?

Those letters represent all the field trial and hunting titles that the particular dog has won. For a complete listing of what each title is, please Click Here. Even if you are not going to hunt your dog, these titles are proof that your dog comes from solid, championship bloodlines.

Will my puppy have papers?

Absolutely. All Dogs that come from Trident Retrievers are purebred, AKC (American Kennel Club) registered dogs. Each litter is registered with AKC and you receive all the paperwork necessary (and them some!) to register your purebred dog. Additionally, we provide a 36-month genetic health guarantee with EVERY puppy. This guarantee tells you that we are so confident in the quality of dogs we are raising, we will put it in writing! Click here to view the Sales Agreement and Health Guarantee.

How do I get ready for my puppy?

While there are several good resources that will guide you through bringing a puppy home and raising him/her, one of the absolute best books we've found is called The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of New Skete. It may sound like an odd group of authors but we have found this book to be the best, most comprehensive guide to caring for and properly training the young puppy. Whether you are looking for an excellent hunter or a faithful companion, this book will help you raise a well-disciplined, happy dog.

Be sure to download the Trident Retrievers P uppy Checklist to help you get ready.

We also recommend purchasing the Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. This is an excellent reference to help you care for your best friend.

What are some good resources for learning how to train a hunting/field dog?

Some of the other resources we recommend are:

Tri-Tronics Retriever Training by Jim Dobbs

The Working Retrievers by Tom Quinn

Retriever Training Tests by James B. Spencer

and of course

Any of the books by Richard Wolters

What if I don't have the time to properly train my dog for the field?

A great question. There are several good professionals that put on training seminars but, if you really want a polished dog, we recommend contacting Cherylon Loveland at Hunt-Field Retrievers. Cherylon is one of the top trainers in the industry, has trained both Caliber and Fargo and we enthusiastically recommend her program. Cherylon can be reached at 970-568-9044 and is located in Wellington, Colorado.

As an added service, we give every client a copy of Cherylon's book Retriever Puppy Training: The Right Start for Hunting

Why do the puppies have colored collars on so early?

As soon as the puppies are born, we need to identify each one for two important reasons. First, from a health stand-point, we track each puppy's daily progress (weight, feeding, movements, etc.) to make sure that all are healthy. Second, we take great care to "personality match" each puppy with its new home. We want to make sure that your dog will be the best fit for your home and life. We take the job very seriously of placing the right dog in the right home.

What medical procedures are performed before a puppy goes home?

Trident Retrievers employs 2 of the top veterinarians (DVM's) in Northern Colorado to care for all the dogs through every step of their lives. Every dog is routinely checked by these Labrador experts and all aspects of health, diet, and care are monitored and documented with the utmost detail.

Every dog receives the following in the first 7 weeks of his/her life:

Dew claws removed by day 5
Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine after 3 weeks
De-worming at 4 weeks
1st Vaccine at 6 weeks

Can you ship a dog to my home?

Absolutely. We can ship via commercial airline to anywhere in the U.S. Please contact us directly to inquire about airports and costs. We are located in Northern Colorado and can fly your dog out of Denver International Airport or the Cheyenne Regional Airport.

Do you provide boarding?

Yes. In fact, if you become the proud owner of a Trident Retriever and are in need of boarding (vacations, business trip, etc.), we will board your dog free-of-charge for the first year of it's life. After the first year, we will gladly board your dog for half of our normal daily rate. Our boarding is limited and very exclusive. Your dog will be treated as one of the family, sleep indoors at night, and receive the same top-notch feeding and exercise program that we afford Caliber and Fargo.

Have a question that is not answered here?

Testimonials	The $700 Puppy vs. a $350 Puppy
Trident Retrievers Puppy Checklist	History of the Labrador
Purina Pro Plan Website	Map to Trident Retrievers
Deposit Agreement	Pictures of dogs from previous litters
Puppy Aptitude Test	Article: Power of Nutrition
Article: Bloat	Working-Retriever.com