Quail Chase Labradors

Quail Chase Labradors began in 1987... As a Sophomore in college, a friend invited me to spend the weekend at their farm in North Florida. Little did I know that trip would introduce me to the friendship of a life time. I come from a family of dog lovers so I was no stranger to the joy of a household with pets. I was unaware the family I was visiting recently had a litter of Labradors puppies that were now 8-9 weeks old, possibly the most irresistible things on the planet.

I remember my friends father letting them loose from the barn and seeing the entire litter come running around the house, between several pine trees and down past the picnic area where we were sitting. Chunky, dirty, smelly and very loud, these little things were too cute for words. At the time, I barely knew a dog's head from his tail but what I did know is when something special comes your way, you can't deny it. You can't explain it, you sense something that just feels right. There was one particular puppy, a beautiful, chunky, serious looking black male that kept coming to me for attention. All day long, no matter where we were, this dog was nearby paying no attention to anyone but me. It became so obvious, more than once I tripped over the little guy not knowing he was right beside me. That night during dinner, my friends father asked me, " so what do you think of that little black puppy? Of course he was adorable. "He's great" I replied. Then he said to me, " normally, I sell them for pretty good money, but if you want him, he's yours, no charge." I was shocked! Of course the puppy was great and we were having a good time that day, but I could hardly take care of myself much a less be responsible for the care and training of a puppy. Besides, the life of a college student is no place for a pet. Politely I said, "thank you but no". Then he said something I've never forgotten: "Relationships between people come and go but the closest thing to unconditional love is the bond between a man and his dog. Dogs can heal parts of you don't know are ailing and the lessons you'll learn from each other can change your life."

I thought about this the remainder of evening and later asked him why he offered me the puppy. He said, " a dog's instincts are a lot smarter than most men. That puppy sees something in you he either likes or needs. If he chooses you, no matter where you are or what you're doing, being with you is the best life he could have". I had never considered life from a dogs perspective. After dinner, the family let the dogs out one last time before closing them in the barn for the night. The barn door swung open and out they shot; around the trees and up the porch like a heard of clumsy kids with the wrong sized shoes. I thought to myself, "if this puppy comes to me again, maybe I should consider what my friends father had said". Maybe this dog is supposed to be mine or deeper still, maybe I belong to this dog. Was I supposed to come to this place at this time and have this little life enter mine? No sooner had these thoughts run through my head when, bamm! That chunky black puppy slammed into my legs, hopped into my lap, sat back on his haunches and looked me right in the eyes as if to say, "so, where we goin?" That night, Braffy entered my life and a friendship was started that would change my life. That chunky black puppy dug out an eternal spot in my heart and became the very best friend a person could have. Over the years we shared so much, at times in writing this story I type through a smile filled with tears. He's been gone for many years but the love we shared and the mark he made on my life has remained. Labradors have been part of my life for 20 years and not a day goes by that I don't consider myself lucky to share my time with them. My friends father was right: a dog can heal you in so many ways, the unconditional love they provide can change your life... Thanks Braffy... I miss you!

In 1998, my family was living in a small 2 bedroom apartment in South Florida. It had been a year since Braffy had passed away. I knew one day I would own another dog but I had no plans or intention of ever owning another Labrador. The memories were just too strong. One Saturday morning we stopped at a nearby puppy store we'd been to a hundred times before. The owners knew us and knew I was a firm disbeliever in puppy stores and in any breeding practice that does not advance the bloodline. But I was a dog lover long before I became a breeder and every dog deserves love and kindness.

That day the store was filled with children and families playing and drooling over all the puppies. As my family walked through the aisles, I noticed a Chocolate Labrador puppy in one of the pens. My family was busy playing with another puppy so I ventured over to the labrador's pen. I watched family after family come to his pen petting but he seemed very uninterested. Physically he looked great, but he acted so lethargic and tired I wondered if something was wrong with this little guy. I picked him up and all of the sudden he began panting and wagging his tail like propeller. "This is more like it" I thought. But then I realized, it wasn't me that got him all wriled up. The energy came when my son came to his pen window. Running around, barking, jumping on toys, this was not the dog the other children had played with.

We gave him a few minutes of attention and walked away as we've done 100 visits before. As we walked away, you could hear that chocolate puppy barking in the distance. I watched from across the room and noticed several children visit his pen but he hardly reacted to their voices or their touch. This went on long enough for me to wonder. Curious, I said to my son " go up to the lab puppy again and just stand with him. Don't pet him right away, just stand there." Sure enough, when my son approached his pen, the barking stopped and the tail started to wag. Other children and parents were drawn to his excitement, but the dog singled out my son and followed him back and forth around the pen. When my son went to pick up the puppy, the excitment if both their faces was unmistakable. I had experienced this 13 years earlier so I knew exactly what this was. My son belonged that dog and seeing them together, my heart warmed. I fell in love with the Labrador breed all over again. That day we welcomed  HERSHEY into our family. 

The relationship between Hershey and my son has grown day by day for the past 10 years.  The love and enjoyment we've shared spurred a dedication and commitment to the breed that became Quail Chase Labradors. Now we're breeding some of the finest lines of English Chocolate Labradors available. I guess my friends father is still right:
"Dogs can heal parts of you don't know are ailing and the lessons you'll learn can change your life." 


To learn more about Quail Chase Labradors please visit our Home Page
or email us (click the wagging chocolate)