Our Story
Mary Jo and I have enjoyed raising dogs for over 40 years here at Whispering Pines. Our kennel is located on a secluded 60 acre wooded hobby farm near Milaca, Minnesota. Raising AKC Registered Black, Ivory, Yellow and Fox Red Lab puppies has been a wonderful experience.
We enjoy being around attractive, intelligent dogs that have ample retrieving drive with pleasant, easygoing personalities. The Labrador Retriever genetic lines we choose produce these traits. We are AKC, county, and state inspected and in excellent standing.
Our puppies are born in a specially designed birthing room. They remain in this room for approximately two weeks where they are weighed and handled each morning and evening. When we are sure all is well with mom and the pups are growing well, we move mom and her babies to our roomy nursery.
The puppies receive social stimulation from the day they are born until the day they are chosen and placed. Socialization includes Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) followed by Personality Tendency Testing (Volhard Method) three times each week. We introduce them to a porta-kennel as well as steps. ...Due to the time involved to do both ENS and especially the Personality Tendency Testing, most breeders don't do both of these.
We strongly feel all the extra effort we put into socialization at an early age makes for a well-adjusted puppy. Details of our socialization and personality assessment work can be found on our Philosophy Page.
Client Comments
"We couldn’t be happier with our pup Riggs (8 months)! He has been an incredible addition to our family and has exceeded all our expectations starting at an early age. Whether in the field hunting or at home, he excels in every way. His temperament is gentle and loving, but when he knows it’s time to hunt, he is ready to work."