Where It All Started
Our story started simply—before we were married, we brought home a tiny Chihuahua named Amber. At the time, we had big ideas about raising puppies and very little experience to back it up. We paired her with a chocolate male and raised a few small litters while living in town. It was a hands-on learning experience from day one, and even then, we knew we enjoyed the process more than we expected.
The Shift To Labradors
Everything shifted in 2014 when we moved to the country. My husband had always wanted a Labrador, so we found Cooper through a family in northern Indiana. Not long after, Lucy joined us, and the idea of raising Labs took hold. We thought we had it figured out—until Lucy refused Cooper for over two years. When she finally came around, she delivered 12 black Labrador puppies. Going from small litters to a house full of energetic Labs was a whole different level, but it confirmed something important—we were all in.
Built on Experience,
Driven by Purpose
Since 2017, we’ve continued raising Labrador litters with a clear focus: healthy, well-adjusted puppies that are ready for real homes. Each litter has pushed us to improve—from early training and enrichment to how we handle and care for them daily. We limit outside exposure early on to protect their health, and we put real effort into building confidence from the start. What began as trial and error turned into something much more intentional. Today, that commitment is the foundation of Doerner’s Star Labs.
