About Us

We can't wait to share some exciting news about Homestead Labradors.  Here's a Hint - Homestead Labradors is now a Family Business and Louis Vuitton (pictured above) has moved to Colorado. We will continue to honor both Iven’s and Suzie’s legacy by raising  exceptional English Labrador pups at Homestead Labradors in all three of  the basic colors- black, yellow, and chocolate.

 Iven  J. Rathbone, age 90, passed away on January 25, 2018 in San Antonio,  Texas.  Iven was best known for raising English Labradors over a period  of 39 years.  While living in Maryland, Iven served, for a 10 year  period, as the consumer member of the Maryland State Board of Veterinary  Medical Examiners Board and held the Board position of vice president.   When not serving, Iven enjoyed hunting his labs on Maryland’s Eastern  Shore and on his Carroll County farm.
While  residing for the past 12 years in Bandera, Texas Iven continued to  breed and train Labradors.  He was a strong proponent of training his  labs, using the “Richard Wolters” method and often recommended the  author’s books – Gun Dog, Water Dog and Family Dog for training  techniques.

Iven will long be remembered by his numerous lifelong friends, many of whom were initially his Labrador clientele.