I'm Cathy N., the breeder behind Briar Hill Labradors PA 12145 located in Roaring Spring, PA. Briar Hill is passionate about the Labrador breed and loves to work on improving the breed. We stay true to breed standards and focus on quality over quantity. We test our breeding dogs to bring you healthy, beautiful puppies. We only have 3-5 litters a year as we do not breed our girls every cycle. We breed for the English type Labrador which is the broader, thicker type.
PA 12145.
Q. & A. with Cathy
Why did you start breeding?
I was involved with the beautiful Labrador breed since I was a very young child. We always had a Lab tagging at our heels on our family beef farm. I have fond memories of many hours spent swimming in the creek with our Lab. I am very passionate about this breed. In 1996, at the age of 16, I saved up $100, (yes, my aunt spoiled me) and proudly presented it to my aunt, for my very first yellow female Lab. I named her Cookie. In 2005, I bought my first breeding pair and from there it continued, and as I learned more about the breed, I delved into more research on health and breed standards. I was/still am grateful for Anastasia Alston from De Soleil Labradors as my mentor.
What makes your program special?
Briar Hill Labradors has been breeding English Labs since 2005. We are very focused on breeding correct, beautiful, healthy Labradors. Briar Hill tests their breeding stock OFA or PennHip, Heart, and for numerous genetic diseases. We do not breed our girls on every heat cycle, and on average have 3-5 litters a year. We prefer to stay small and focused, with 1 male and 3-5 females in our program. This allows us time with each of our Labs, giving each one undivided attention and socialization.
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies include black and yellow. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Where do your breeding dogs live?
They live in my home and a kennel on my property.
Getting a puppy from Cathy
Cathy has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Price
Puppy prices include a $500 non-refundable deposit and between $1,000 - $2,000 final payment, before taxes & fees.
“Includes: AKC reg. papers (limited/non-breeding/pet only), health guarantee, vet check, immunization, deworm including heartworm, flea and tick prevention, copy of parents pictures and health clearances, health record, treats, toy, and sample of the current puppy food they're on. Non-refundable unless color and sex is not born, dies or is deemed unfit for sale by my veterinarian.
Non-refundable gives me the assurance interested parties put thought into the care and keeping of a puppy.
If the specified sex or color of your puppy is not born, dies, or is unfit for sale you have three options:
1. Full refund of $500 deposit
2. Place deposit on any other available puppy of the litter
3. Place deposit towards any upcoming litters.”
Contract & health guarantee
Cathy may provide a written contract or
health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps
protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you
both have a clear understanding of the terms of your
puppy purchase. If Cathy offers a contract
or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them.
If you have any questions or want to know more,
don’t hesitate to reach out to Cathy directly.
Briar Hill Labradors PA 12145 meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
Responsible breeding practices
Health of breeding dogs and puppies
Puppy environment and enrichment
Buyer education and policies
Parent dogs
Willow, mom
Labrador Retriever
About Willow
Willow is a pretty girl with a deep red colored coat. She is not a huge girl, but put together beautifully. She has a nice broad head and deep chest. She is not overly tall in stature but solidly built. Willow is a good girl with a bit of naughtiness that comes through now and then. She is intelligent, cute and playful. I would not classify Willow as a lazy, couch-potato kind of dog, she likes to be active.
Autumn, mom
Labrador Retriever
About Autumn
Autumn is a stunning girl. She is a beautiful example of the English type Labrador. She is a very solid, thick girl. Her face and head are gorgeous. She has some sass and spark, but is kind and intelligent.
Abby, mom
Labrador Retriever
About Abby
Abby is a sweet, young lady. She loves time spent outdoors playing at leisure around in the yard. She's an expressive girl and has youthful energies. She enjoys her big old beef bone.
Max, dad
Labrador Retriever
About Max
Max....where do I begin describing our well-loved boy?! Most importantly perhaps is that he is a stunning specimen of an English Labrador with a beautiful, expressive face, wide blocky head, broad chest, good shoulders and a thick smooth coat. His temperament is eager to please, happy, playful and kind. He'll tire you out playing ball before he's ready to quit. He has very strong retrieving instinct as well. Max has produced some very beautiful puppies. We hope to have a few more of his babies before he retires.
Lacy, mom
Labrador Retriever
About Lacy
Lacy is our beautiful light yellow girl. She is a 4th generation Lab and has the same very calm, sweet and kind nature as her 3 previous generation did...her dam, grand-dam and great-grand-dam. She is a heavy, very chunky English girl. She is well-boned and solid. lacy has produced some beautiful babies in the past and we are very excited for her planned litter with Gabe.
Lacy has her clearances, hips, elbows, heart and is also clear on many genetic diseases. Gabe also has a full panel of disease testing clearances, so this means your puppy will never be affected with any of the diseases that both Gabe and Lacy are clear on.
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Excellent level
Briar Hill Labradors PA 12145 reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Labrador Retrievers.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd), Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), D Locus (Dilute) DNA test
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).