I'm the breeder behind Little Helper Kennels located in Midlothian, VA. We are a small kennel in the making who raises and trains our puppies for their best life as a working dog or pet. We bred for performance ability with conformation & temperament in mind. Our goal is to breed excellent working dogs who make excellent family members as well.
About Tala
As a disabled, service dog handler, T understands first-hand the need for accessible, inclusive, and ethical dog training & breeding. T developed her childhood passion for dog training with time, research, and practice. Her experience includes apprenticeships from mentors with over 50 years of experience in: obedience, scent work, labradors, service and therapy dogs.
What makes Tala’s program special
We prepare our dogs as best as possible for a working life. This starts from health tested, proven dogs who match our goals. Our puppies develop in the perfect environment for a stable, well-rounded dog. This includes exposure to new sounds, smells, surfaces, items, and more.
Tala’s certifications & recognitions
Professional Dog Trainer, AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, CCPDT-KA (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers)
Tala has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies. You'll also have the chance to share a bit about yourself and what you're looking for in a new companion. Together, you'll choose the puppy that's right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Puppy prices range from $1,500 - $3,500.
Tala may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Tala offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Tala directly.
Our puppies are well-rounded, and well socialized dogs. Our puppies stay a bit later to begin basics of their future job with us. All puppies learn the basics of crate training, potty training, clicker training, and more. Puppies may enter our board & train service dog program by request. I utilize the following enrichment methods: Service Dog Prospect Evaluation, Puppy Temperament Evaluation, Scent Stimulation, Exposure to various items to retrieve including metal, Clicker training, Outdoors (when Weather permits), Puppy Culture , Avidog, Texture stimulation, Outdoors, e.g. rain, Car Rides, Noise desensitized , Fireworks , Various Surfaces , Noises , Strangers, Stores, Structures, e.g. Climbing, Scents, Chew, e.g. Bone, Toys, e.g. Ball, Touch Desensitization, Early Neurological Stimulation, Grooming Desensitization, Household Desensitization, Socialized with Elderly, Sound Stimulation, Socialized with Other Animals, Socialized with Cats, Socialized with Adult Dogs, Socialized with Children, Scent Introduction, Puppy Culture , Potty Training, Crate Training, Clicker Training, and Service Dog Training.
All puppies are vet checked with appropriate vaccines.
Your puppy may come with extra benefits, like a small bag of food or a toy carrying the scent of their littermates. While Little Helper Kennels hasn’t shared specifics yet, we encourage you to reach out directly to learn what thoughtful extras they may include to help your puppy transition comfortably into their new home.
Tala offers options to help you easily get your new puppy home.
If you’re nearby, you can visit in person to pick up your pup. If you’re far away, you can travel by car or plane.
Why Tala started breeding
Our kennel is still in the works under a breed mentor as we continue to title & test our dogs.
Tala has been a member of Good Dog for almost 2 years
Tala was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2023.
Tala’s program includes one color
Tala’s Labrador Retriever puppies are black. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Little Helper Kennels meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
Labrador Retriever
Excellent level
Little Helper Kennels reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Labrador Retrievers.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd), DNA Disease Panel, Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), D Locus (Dilute) DNA test
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).