Does anyone know of a breeder with a stud dog, that isn't already on this site based in or around the Lake District or Cumbria area? We are looking for a black labrador to mate with our chocolate bitch (February time).

Have you got in touch with the breeders of your bitch?  They would be the best people to offer advice!  Also, if your bitch is a good example of the breed to the extent you wish her to have a litter and you have been showing her, have you not seen any suitable studs at shows that you have attended?  You should also be mindful of selecting pedigrees that will compliment that of your girl and that she should have had all the relevant health tests done, otherwise no reputable breeder would allow you to use their stud dog.

I think that all people who say go back to your breeder should know that maybe the dog wasn't bought from a reputable show breeder at the start.........so why on earth would they want to help. Best way is to contact an expreienced breeder yourself & ask lots of questions as i'm sure they won't mind helping!

Just what I was thinking!

I'm sure we're all aware of that ...however when purchasing a prospective breeding animal the dog SHOULD be purchased from a reputable breeder and hence the advice is sound.
In the event of the breeder not being able to help then the first point of contact should be the breed club for advice
Archer

If ther dog was not brought from a reputable expereinced breeeder it is unlikely to be of breeding quality :D  So the advice holds good.  I always add the rider (If reputable and experineced).

I'm sorry angienelly, but if someone contacted me with a badly bred bitch, (not saying that this is what the OP has, I'm answering your post :) I've found my smiley list again!) I wouldn't encourage them and certainly wouldn't help them to find a stud dog.
If someone is interested in my breed generally, I will help/advise/encourage all I can.  I'd certainly invite them to come and meet mine - but help find a stud dog - sorry I wouldn't.  I think further ahead that the bitch's owner.  I think of the poor families who are buying the pups produced from an inadequate quality bitch.  I don't believe that our breed clubs would encourage breeding from a pet quality bitch either.
I had a really nice couple last year on my waiting list but the man couldn't wait and they bought a bitch elsewhere.  They are having all sorts of behaviour problems (knowing the pedigree I know it's in the breeding!) and they asked me, not the breeder for advice about mating her.  I have spent a lot of time with them, explaining why it wouldn't be a good idea.  I'm very grateful that they understand and agree with me.

Val i didn't mean the breeder would help find them a stud dog! but would help answer all questions they may have & actually take a look at the bitch & its pedigree, if its well bred & a good example of its breed (as lets face it sometimes we all let the wrong one go to a pet home!) maybe it would be worth doing all the genetic tests & taking a litter from her especially if the puppies may help other lines. Thus why i'd say visit another breeder as well as your bitches breeder(if possible) get as much information & an unbiased opinion, what your breeder thinks is a good dog may not be a good dog in another breeders eyes or vice versa.
There again even if its a fantastic example i'd still try to discourage them from breeding as things can & do go wrong & with a dog that is a family pet IMO they should remain so as its a heartache waiting to happen.
Whatever the poster chooses i hope its for the right reasons & they are happy with their decision.

There again even if its a fantastic example i'd still try to discourage them from breeding as things can & do go wrong & with a dog that is a family pet IMO they should remain so as its a heartache waiting to happen.
Agree completely Angienelly.  If I've put a beautiful pup into a pet home, then that's MY problem, but I still wouldn't encouraging breeding because I wouldn't want MY bitch at risk (they are always MY pups for ever because I was responsible for bringing them into the world!) having pups with an owner who didn't know how to look after a pregnant/whelping bitch.
Now if the owner want to learn about the breed, learn about mating, whelping, put the time and effort in and come over every week when I have my next litter - THEN maybe, just maybe ......;)

   Anne Taylor of Fabracken Labradors is in cumbria her Black stud dog is a worker and Championship show winner , she has been breeding Champions for aprox 30 years and will tell you if your bitch is suitable for breeding