I'm Julie M., the breeder behind Shadowmyst Labradors located in Oskaloosa, IA. With over 28 years of experience in Labradors, we strive for a well-balanced Labrador with looks, health, temperament, and ability. Our dogs are bred so that they can truly represent the versatile breed that they are -- Labradors! We want our puppies ready for their new homes, so we work hard on early learning to prepare them for that. We look forward to connecting with you!
Q. & A. with Julie
Why did you start breeding?
I had always wanted a purebred Labrador and finally got one after college. I finally decided to breed him to a new female late in his life and learned a ton in that first breeding... I went to some obedience classes and was hooked on that. That evolved into conformation, hunt tests, and a plethora of other endeavors and led to my own business boarding dogs and teaching obedience classes.
What makes your program special?
A Labrador should have intelligence, kindness, willingness to please, and very sound temperament. Besides socialization, I also do a lot of training with the puppies before they go home, including teaching the entire litter to sit and wait for their release word before getting fed, going through doorways, and taking treats on place. I truly want my pups to have a great start, so I start here!
What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies include black, chocolate, 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 Julie
Julie 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 $400 refundable deposit and between $1,400 - $1,600 final payment, before taxes & fees.
“Included with your puppy are AKC Registration, a written warranty, the first vaccination, dewormings, crate introduction, training packet, and other intro foundational training and access after purchase. We match puppies up and there are no picks. We'll be very upfront about what we offer so you know where you stand. Puppies are matched based on the best match for the puppy and family.”
Contract & health guarantee
Julie 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 Julie 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 Julie directly.
Shadowmyst Labradors 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 health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Great level
Shadowmyst Labradors 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 (Preliminary), 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.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 1 (RD OSD), DNA Disease Panel, Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), 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).