Hi i’m new and would welcome any advice please.
After months of research and reading, we now feel ready to search for our first Labrador puppy. The problem is I have been given conflicting advice regarding health testing. Can someone please clarify as to whether both parents need testing or just the sire? Apologies if I have offended anyone. I have loads of questions and really want to get this right.

Definitely BOTH. both parents pass on their genes good and bad.  some conditions only require one copy of a bad gene, others two. 

Other conditions are complex and multifactorial, heredity, rearing and environment.

Do not accept anything but the full complement of both clinical (Hip Elbow and Eye testing) and DNA testing (though some dogs may be hereditarily clear with two clear parents, but it should show on their paperwork).

Information on health from the Labrador Retriever club http://www.thelabradorretrieverclub.com/health

Definitely both parents.  I have linked you to the KC page on Labradors which gives the tests that they suggest breeders undertake prior to a litter.  It also gives details of colours which they allow to be registered.  Good luck in your search, I'm sure you'll find 'the one'

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=2048&uDesc=0

Brainless and Ells-Bells thank you both for your prompt response and for clearing that up for me. I was sure it was both when someone said no one is ok, alarm bells rang. Thanks for the links too. I have registered with the Labrador Retriever Club now i’ll put a post on searching. Thanks again

If you sign up for a MYKC account(free) you can check the health tests done on not just the parents of any puppies but also grand parents, great grand parents, ggg parents & gggg parents. Labrador puppies should have at least 5 generations of hip scored dogs behind them if not more depending on how far back the KC updated records go, some dogs make not have their health testing recorded because they were registered before computer records were in place.

There should also be elbow scores recorded & TBH no Labrador with an elbow score that isn't 0 should be bred from as there are enough dogs in the gene pool for any dog with a higher to not be used.

They should also have a current clear eye test certificate done within a year of any litter being born) plus DNA normal or carrier(one parent only) tests for Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (prcd-PRA) & Skeletal Dwarfism (SD2).

This is a Kennel Club database for DNA testing in Labradors.

Temperament is also largely inherited so it is well worth meeting the breeder and all their related dogs so you will be able to judge how friendly and easygoing they are. A dog that stands back, barks and is reluctant to approach is not a good tempered dog. If you can meet the sire of any puppies then do so although this isn’t always possible as breeders often travel some distance to have the right male for their bitch

I was about to list what tests need to be done or at lesst hereditary clear for the parents on the dna tests.
Show abd working labs are not only very different in looks but also in their levels of brain engagement.
All need training thats a given.
Always meet a few breeders before they have litters if you can, not many breeders will own the sire of the litter so you should be shown photos and also contact of the owner if you wish to make an appointment to meet him too.

If you arent happy walk away!!

> If you arent happy walk away!!

Definitely!   Don't be tricked into thinking you are going to be rescuing a puppy from a bad situation.   We went to see a number of breeders when we switched, and one I couldn't get away from fast enough.   It was the only time, when handed one of the puppies to hold, I really didn't want to, poor thing.   And I always liked to be able to meet my prospective buyers ahead of the litter's arrival if possible - this is very often a friendship in the making although sadly it doesn't always work out that way.