About Us - Kishholm Labradors

As a family passion in 2009 and grew into a trusted, licensed English Labrador breeder respected for ethical breeding practices, careful health screening, and a nurturing home environment. We are a small, family-run breeder located in Monona, Iowa, committed to raising purebred English Labrador puppies that fit seamlessly into family life. Our program emphasizes temperament, structural soundness, and lifelong health through genetic testing, careful mate selection, and consistent care for mothers and puppies.

Our mission and core values

Our mission is to breed healthy, well-tempered English Labrador Retrievers that become lifelong companions for families. Core values that guide everything we do:

Ethics and transparency
We operate with full disclosure of health testing, breeding decisions, and placement policies. We do not support puppy mills or high-volume operations. Every breeding decision revolves around the dogs’ welfare.
Health-first breeding
We perform comprehensive testing on breeding stock, prioritize hip and elbow certification, and screen eyes and relevant genetic markers. Health guarantee documents accompany each puppy sold.
Family-centered socialization
Puppies are raised within our home environment. Early exposure to children, basic training, and controlled handling help develop calm, confident dogs ideal for family life.
Lifelong support
Our commitment doesn’t end at sale. We provide ongoing advice, troubleshooting, and help rehoming when necessary. We want every Kishholm dog to have a stable, loving home for life.
Education and responsible ownership
We work with each adopter to ensure they understand the needs of an English Labrador, from nutrition to exercise to training, ensuring long-term wellbeing.

A small, ethical breeder — why size matters

Large-scale breeding operations often focus on volume rather than quality. By remaining small and family-run, Kishholm Labradors maintains a hands-on approach to every litter. We never over-breed our females and ensure each dog receives the veterinary care, rest, and attention required. This model allows us to:

  • Closely monitor puppy development and temperament.
  • Provide individualized feeding and early training.
  • Keep open lines of communication with buyers.
  • Maintain accurate records and consistent follow-up care.

Licensing and registration

We are a licensed dog breeder operating according to Iowa’s regulations. Our dogs are AKC-registered when eligible, and we maintain transparent records for every breeding dog and litter. We take documentation seriously — breeding contracts, health certification, vaccination records, and pedigrees are provided to owners.

Breeding standards and health testing

We adhere to strict health and structural standards for our breeding stock:

✓ Hip and elbow certification

We obtain recognized certifications to reduce the risk of inherited orthopedic conditions.

✓ Eye exams

Dogs are tested for hereditary eye conditions to promote lifelong visual health.

✓ Genetic screening

We test for common genetic conditions in Labradors to reduce the incidence of avoidable diseases.

✓ Veterinary oversigh

Puppies are routinely vet-checked, dewormed appropriately, and receive age-appropriate vaccinations. We keep meticulous records and provide a copy to the new owner.

Temperament-focused selection

Temperament is central to our breeding decisions. English Labradors are prized for their calm, steady demeanor, and we actively select parent combinations to retain this trait. Our puppies are evaluated for sociability, independence, and adaptability, with an emphasis on producing dogs that are:

✓ Patient with children.

✓ Responsive to positive training methods.

✓ Comfortable in everyday family settings.

✓ Adaptable to both active outdoor life and relaxed home time.

How we raise our puppies: from whelping to adoption

Whelping and neonatal care

Puppies are born in a clean, temperature-controlled area with 24/7 supervision during the first critical weeks. We monitor weight gain, feeding behavior, and early reflexes.

Early handling and socialization

From day one, puppies experience gentle handling, brief exposures to varied sounds, textures, and supervised interactions with our children. This foundation builds resilience for later training.

Health management

All puppies are dewormed on a schedule, visited by our veterinarian for wellness checks, and receive age-appropriate vaccines. We document every intervention and share the records with buyers.

Nutrition and growth monitoring

We use high-quality puppy formulas and monitor growth curves to ensure healthy development. We will provide a detailed feeding plan for life stages beyond adoption.

Pre-adoption transition

Before puppies leave, we begin crate and house training basics, offer guidance on socialization milestones, and provide a starter kit with food, a scent blanket, and care instructions.

The Kishholm family commitment — lifetime support

Our relationship with buyers is ongoing. We provide:

  •  Training and care guidance for the life of your dog.
  • Referrals to reputable trainers, groomers, and veterinary specialists.
  • A rehoming guarantee: If, for any reason, you cannot keep your dog, Kishholm Labradors will prioritize rehoming rather than allowing placement in uncertain conditions.

Why English Labradors?

English Labradors are recognized for their block head, thicker body, and calm temperament—traits that make them particularly family-friendly. They typically have:

  •  A calmer energy level compared to some American lines, making them well-suited to families with children or older adults.
  • A sturdy build and coat that stands up to outdoor activities and family life.
  • A temperament that blends trainability, affection, and patience.

A: Typically between 8–10 weeks. We assess each puppy individually to ensure proper socialization and physical readiness. Puppies cannot be released before the minimum age required for vaccinations and developmental readiness.


A: We can share references from past purchasers and veterinarians upon inquiry and encourage prospective buyers to speak with current Kishholm families.

A: Each puppy receives vaccination and deworming records, a health certificate from our veterinarian, and AKC registration paperwork when applicable. Copies of parent health tests are provided.


Contact and next steps

Call (563) 380-3697 to speak directly with our family about upcoming litters or to request parent health records. We schedule visits by appointment to ensure your visit is focused and safe for our dogs and puppies.