Ownership & Guarantee
With over 21 years of breeding dedication since starting in 2005, bringing a Sterling Labrador puppy into your family is the beginning of a lifelong relationship. We stand firmly behind every dog we breed with a comprehensive written health guarantee and lifetime breeder support.
The Sterling Puppy Adoption Journey
Review Upcoming Litters & Submit Application
Browse our upcoming whelpings and active nursery page. Complete our online puppy inquiry form to tell us about your household, lifestyle, and preferences for color and gender.
Place $200 Reservation Deposit
A $200 deposit secures your selection spot on the litter. Selection order is determined strictly by the timestamp of deposit receipt.
Weekly Nursery Updates & Photos
Watch your puppy grow! We provide weekly photo updates, video clips, and developmental milestones as puppies progress through early neurological stimulation and socialization.
Puppy Selection & Go-Home Day (8 Weeks)
At 8 weeks of age, after completing their puppy vaccination timeline and microchipping, families arrive in Yuba City to select and take home their new family member! Once your puppy is assigned, we provide our Life's Abundance links with ample time to order and receive food before homecoming (with backup food on hand at the kennel if you haven't pre-ordered in advance).
Health Guarantee Coverage
Sterling Labs guarantees the health and well-being of our English Labrador Retrievers
Sterling Labs guarantees the health and well-being of our English Labrador Retrievers under the following conditions:
1Initial Health and Contractible Diseases
48 HoursCoverage: Your new puppy is guaranteed for 48 hours against contractible diseases from the time of purchase.
Action: If the puppy is diagnosed with a contractible disease within the first 48 hours, the owner must return the puppy to Sterling Labs for a full refund or a replacement puppy. Sterling Labs will then arrange for the puppy's veterinary treatment.
2Hip Dysplasia
Up to 25 Months of AgeCoverage: Your puppy is guaranteed to be free of Moderate or Severe Hip Dysplasia up to 25 months of age.
Purpose & Environmental Factors: Genetics account for only 30–40% of a dog's hip health; the remaining 60–70% is dependent on diet, injury prevention, and avoiding over-exercise, particularly when young. It is important to remember that a puppy's hips and joints require two full years to develop completely.
Diagnosis Requirement: To activate this part of the guarantee, the genetic defect must be positively diagnosed and proven to be genetic by a licensed veterinarian and through the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals).
Resolution: If all terms and conditions are met, Sterling Labs will replace the dog with another AKC puppy immediately or as soon as one becomes available. The replacement puppy will come with the same written guarantee. The replacement must occur within 2 years (24 months) from the date of diagnosis. No cash refunds will be made.
3Genetic / Hereditary Defects
Lifetime of the DogCoverage: Your puppy is guaranteed to be Not Affected by listed genetic/hereditary defects for the life of the dog.
Diagnosis Requirement: To activate this part of the guarantee, the genetic defect must be positively diagnosed as “Affected” and proven to be one of the previously listed defects by a facility accredited by an organization like the AAVLD or ANAB (via ISO/IEC 17025) and through an Approved Collection – Independent Collection and Positive ID methodology.
Resolution: If all terms and conditions are met, Sterling Labs will replace the dog with another AKC English Labrador Retriever immediately or as soon as one becomes available. The replacement dog will come with the same written guarantee. No cash refunds will be made.
Critical Conditions for Guarantee Validity
The following care requirements are essential for the validity of this health guarantee and your puppy's proper development:
Nutrition and Supplements (Nullifies Guarantee if not followed): The terms of this guarantee will not be honored unless the puppy is fed Life's Abundance dog food and given Life's Abundance Wellness Food Supplement or NuVet Plus® immune system builder, as directed by the manufacturer, for the entire guarantee period. Failure to adhere to this will void the guarantee.
Spay/Neuter Timing: The purchaser agrees not to spay a female pup earlier than 12 months of age and not to neuter a male pup earlier than 30 months of age. This is crucial for proper maturity and to help prevent orthopedic disorders.
No Injury/Neglect: This guarantee does not apply to dogs that have been injured, abused, neglected, used for breeding, or if proper feeding and care instructions have not been followed.
Sterling Labs is committed to these instructions as they represent the most responsible way to protect a Labrador's developing joints and immune system.
AKC Limited Registration & Lifetime Commitment
Our companion puppies are placed on AKC Limited Registration. This means your puppy is fully registered with the American Kennel Club as purebred English Labrador, eligible to participate in AKC performance events (Agility, Obedience, Hunt Tests, Canine Good Citizen), but cannot produce registered offspring.
Spay/Neuter Protocol: Because early hormone removal can negatively affect growth plate closure and bone density in large breeds, and to preserve guarantee validity, the purchaser agrees not to spay a female pup earlier than 12 months of age and not to neuter a male pup earlier than 30 months of age.
No-Shelter Return Policy: If at any point in the dog's life you are unable to keep your Sterling Labrador, we will always welcome the dog back into our home. No Sterling Labrador will ever end up in a shelter or rescue.
Go-Home Day Preparation Checklist
Essential documentation, microchipping, and pet insurance included with every adoption
AKC Limited Registration
Your puppy's litter is registered with the American Kennel Club. An official AKC Limited Registration certificate application is included in your take-home puppy binder. Completing the simple ownership transfer into your name is direct with AKC (AKC charges a nominal registration fee).
ISO International AKC Microchip
We microchip your puppy with an ISO International AKC microchip at no charge to you. You will register the microchip with AKC Reunite before leaving with your puppy (or online before delivery) for lifetime recovery protection (AKC Reunite charges a nominal enrollment fee).
30-Day Trupanion Pet Insurance
Every puppy departs with a complimentary 30-day medical insurance offer from Trupanion featuring waived waiting periods (immediate coverage!), no payout limits, and Vet Direct Pay.
⏱ Time-Sensitive Activation Window:
Coverage must be activated within 24 hours of go-home (or up to 24 hours prior). Your exclusive breeder offer code will be provided in your take-home puppy binder at pick-up.
Snuggle Puppy Calming Transition
We offer the original Snuggle Puppy for purchase directly at pick-up (or online). Equipped with a real-feel pulsing heartbeat and heat pack mimicking mama and littermates, it eliminates first-week night whining and separation anxiety in the crate.
Preparing Your Home for Puppy Go-Home Day?
Explore our curated shopping list of premium foods, NuVet Plus supplements, EzyDog training harnesses, gentle ear care, and organic stain cleansers.