Labrador Retriever Breeders in Illinois

Illinois has 43 USDA-licensed breeders. A USDA license is required to sell puppies across state lines or to pet stores — these are typically the largest commercial operations and are subject to federal inspections.

Illinois also has 199 state-licensed breeders. Illinois requires state licensing and conducts its own state inspections. Illinois state licenses are public, but state inspections require a FOIA request to access.

10 Illinois breeders have been flagged on the Horrible Hundred — the Humane Society's annual list of the worst puppy mills in the country.

Illinois breeders are heavily concentrated in the central part of the state, particularly around Arthur and Arcola in Douglas County, where there is a large Amish farming community. You'll also find licensed breeders around Sullivan, Campbell Hill, and Humboldt, as well as in the Chicago metro area including Gurnee, Rockford, McHenry, and Libertyville. Wherever you're located in Illinois, you can search any breeder's full inspection record before you buy.