About Us
The history of Chocolatin Labs, a professional Labrador Retriever kennel, began in 2012.
Back then, I could never have imagined that my life would become so deeply intertwined with these incredible dogs — or that one day, real Labradors, as if stepped out of the pages of a dream, would live with me in the very heart of Italy.
But, as with all great love stories, it all started with a spark, with something that seemed almost accidental…
Our First Encounter — Piper and Love at First Sight
In early 2012, I visited friends in the Alpine region of Valle d’Aosta, where Italy meets France and Switzerland.
It was there that I met Piper, a yellow Labrador girl of about seven years old. She followed us everywhere: on the snowy sled tracks, during long walks in the mountains, and even into cozy cafés and restaurants.
Her calm, wise, and sensitive presence touched me deeply. In her gaze, I saw something more than just canine devotion — I felt the beginning of a bond that could last a lifetime.
From that moment, I knew: I wanted to share my life with a Labrador Retriever.
Later, I learned that Labradors come in three colors — yellow, black, and chocolate. And as a true chocolate lover, I instantly understood: my dream was to have a chocolate Labrador. 🍫🐾
Our First Labrador — Holstep’s Backardy
Our family was going through a difficult time: my mother had lost her life partner.
I was working hard and raising my son, who was still in school, while my mother was left alone.
One day she quietly said to me:
“Please, buy me a chocolate Labrador…”
So our search began. My mother found the Holstep’s kennel and spoke with the breeder, but the price seemed too high. I decided to look on my own, visiting kennels around Kharkiv. Although I still knew little about dogs, something in the conditions or the puppies I saw elsewhere made me uneasy.
Friends advised us to consult Tatiana Lozinska — a respected handler and breeder. To our surprise, she also recommended Holstep’s, and especially its founder, Tatiana Sverchkova, a true professional of the breed and an international FCI expert.
We contacted the breeder again, and soon I traveled to Zaporizhzhia.
And so, in February 2014, Holstep’s Backardy, or simply Bacardi, came into our lives — our very first Labrador.
From that moment, everything changed forever.
My gratitude to Tatiana Sverchkova is boundless. To this day we are in touch, and I proudly call her my mentor in the world of Labrador Retrievers.
First Shows, Sweet Victories, and the Road Ahead
At first, we had no plans to show our dog. But every walk with Bacardi in Kharkiv brought the same reactions — people would stop us again and again to say: “What a beautiful Labrador you have!”
So we decided to try. And at his very first show, Bacardi won Best Junior. It felt like a miracle and the beginning of an entirely new journey.
Later, Bacardi produced his first litters, and in 2016 we kept his son, Kaytan Christmas Star, or simply Kai. With Kai came our deeper involvement in shows, training, retrieving, and field trials.
That same year, we attended the World Dog Show in Moscow, where over 500 Labrador Retrievers gathered. For the first time, we saw the true scale and diversity of the breed — and there we earned our very first working titles.
I realized that to grow as a breeder, I needed a strong, balanced, and promising foundation female. In 2017, our first chocolate girl arrived — Holstep’s Healt Resort, and in 2018 — a true black princess, Night Single Quick Win (Frida).
In 2021, Frida proudly won CAC and rCACIB at the European Dog Show in Hungary.
Our First Litters — The Birth of Our Lines
On July 27, 2020, our very first litter of chocolate Labradors was born, from Holstep’s Happy-Sappy and Holstep’s Healt Resort. From this litter, we kept a girl — Chocolatin Labs Gleam Emerald, at home simply Vasilisa.
On January 30, 2021, puppies were born from Happy-Sappy and Frida. From this litter, we kept a chocolate male — Chocolatin Labs Diamond King.
These puppies became the foundation of our future breeding lines — lines built with love, careful selection, and a vision for the future.
2022: From War to a New Beginning
On December 9, 2021, we welcomed a litter from Loretta Fine Line and Holstep’s Healt Resort. It was our first experience using chilled semen imported from Spain, and two beautiful girls were born — Bonita and Anita.
But then, on February 24, 2022, war broke out in Ukraine. We lived near Kharkiv, in an area that was occupied from the very first days. For several days we endured without electricity, heating, or communication — together with our dogs and puppies.
On March 1, we made the hardest decision of our lives: to evacuate. We loaded our dogs, puppies, and — most importantly — my son, my mother, my sister, and a close friend with her two children into two cars. We became a small caravan — people, children, and dogs, fleeing the war in search of safety.
Thanks to friends in Italy, we found a home and the chance to start over.
And so began a new chapter of Chocolatin Labs — on Italian land.
Rebirth and New Life in Italy
In the spring of 2022, we returned to the show rings.
Frida (Night Single Quick Win) won her class at the World Dog Show in Madrid, earned CAC, and became a Champion of Spain.
That autumn, we moved into a house in Piedmont — a place with enough space and freedom for our dogs.
Soon, Carlayal Black&Chocolate, or Bianca, joined us. I fell in love with her at first sight: her charisma, her style, and her success at European shows made her a true star.
Bianca came from the Black&Chocolate kennel of breeder Lilia Zierova — a person who taught us so much and greatly influenced our growth as Labrador breeders.
Later came In Heart Das Ist Fantastisch, or Kara — a granddaughter of our Holstep’s Healt Resort. And then a snow-white princess, Berti Fox For Chocolatin Labs Black&Chocolate, whom we call Julia. Her refined charm became the final touch completing our Chocolatin Labs family.
Our Puppies — Pride and Dreams Fulfilled
In 2023, we welcomed beautiful black and chocolate puppies from Frida, Vasilisa, and Barbie, sired by Canadian male Chablais Eugene.
On August 17, 2024, yellow and black puppies were born from Darker Power Bella Mare and Julia.
On October 14, 2024, we were blessed with a litter from Int. CH. Big Vegas Black&Chocolate and Chocolatin Labs Gleam Emerald (Vasilisa).
And on March 14, 2025, nine black diamonds were born — from our Bianca (Carlayal Black&Chocolate) and the legendary Memo (MBISS GCHB CH Lakeside Memoir of Gallivant TKN CGC).
For this very special breeding, I traveled with Bianca all the way to the USA. Together we made real a dream that had lived in my heart for many years: to welcome puppies from the Labrador who once inspired me with his victory at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
These puppies became not just a new litter, but a symbol — of dreams fulfilled, of a journey from Ukraine to the world stage, and of the belief that for Chocolatin Labs, nothing is impossible.
Who We Are Today
Today, our Labradors live all over the world — in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago… and many other countries. 🌍
We carefully and personally select the families we entrust with our puppies. For us, it is not only about where the puppy goes, but how it will live and whom it will bring joy to. We remain close to our puppy owners even after they leave our home — supporting them, sharing advice, and walking the journey together.
We constantly consult with experts and veterinarians, perform all necessary health checks, and never stop learning. Every show, every meeting, every puppy — is another step forward in our path as breeders.
We approach the breed with deep respect and love.
For us, the Labrador is not just a dog. It is a loyal friend, the soul of a family, and a reflection of the values we put into our work.
We firmly believe: every breeder carries responsibility for the dogs they bring into this world. And it is this sense of responsibility that leads us forward — toward new dreams, new victories, and new stories, written together with our beloved Labradors. 🐾💛
Our Mission
We create true Labrador Retrievers — healthy, balanced, with expressive eyes and bright temperaments.
Dogs that make people feel calm, loved, and truly happy.
Dogs that turn heads on the street and inspire the same question:
“Where did you find such a beautiful Labrador?”
And you smile and answer:
“At Chocolatin Labs. A kennel with a soul.
A place where dreams are born.”