Title: For The Love Of Labradors
Author: Maria J Cameron
Introduction
The following article is written with the novice Labrador puppy prospective owner in mind, and came about in order to assist with pre purchase considerations. It forms part of my book which is currently in progress which aims to help the potential puppy purchaser equip themselves with a foundation of knowledge on the breed. Moreover it suggests a number of considerations which helps to match their expectations with regards to suitability so that they may choose their puppy with confidence, from a responsible breeder.
The plethora of information available online and in publications can be rather confusing and is rarely found in one place. Unfortunately this can lead to misunderstanding. Many of the points formulated in this article and subsequent book have been included because they have been questions I have been asked by people who are seeking a Labrador puppy as a family pet and find themselves exasperated and disheartened. Similarly I have included a selection of criteria which I use to gauge suitability of a potential client when they approach me for a puppy.
It is noteworthy to mention that everybody has their own opinions when it comes to breeding dogs, and indeed buying them. The opinions within this article are my own and are based on many years of experience in both a professional and private capacity, along with a passionate desire to ensure that responsible breeding continues to be recognised along with responsible dog ownership. The two should support each other in attempts to minimise and ideally eradicate the needless suffering caused by the opposite end of the spectrum.
The Labrador Retriever is undoubtedly a very popular breed of pedigree dog. In fact the Kennel Club (UK) describes it as ‘’the most popular of all pedigree breeds’’. This depends on trends, however the breed possess a multitude of desirable characteristics such as a sociable disposition, coupled with intelligence, loyalty and a biddable attitude all which are attributes that render theLabrador breed ideal for a variety of functions such as family companions, Assistance Dogs, PAT Dogs, Guide Dogs and, Working Gun Dogs to name just a few. As this book is written specifically with the family pet in mind the material herein will focus solely on this.
A Brief History Of The Breed
The breed originates from Newfoundland. They were used to help fishermen retrieve nets and pull carts layden with fish in the 16th Century. The dogs from Newfoundland were reported to be smaller than they are today and were known as the St John’s dog. It is understood that the breed was crossed with hunting dogs taken to Newfoundland by English traders as they used the well established trading routes between Canada and England. The name Labrador originates from a region of a colony of Newfoundland. A selection of these dogs were then brought back to England from the colony where the sporting gentry utilised the dogs’ outstanding retrieving skills. The first breed club was reported to have been founded in 1916, and one of the early Patrons of the breed the Earl of Malmesbury gave the breed its name. The breed is within the Gundog group in the United Kingdom.
Breed Overview
The Labrador is a sporting active dog, who usually enjoys water and swimming and the coat has evolved in response to this activity being dense in texture and water repellent. The breed enjoys exercise and mental stimulation, amounts being dependent on each individual and its breeding.
The breed can be recognised by two types known as the Show/ English / Bench and the Working /Field/American type. Both types come in three recognised colours; the black, yellow and chocolate. The yellow colour has many varying shades within the colour yellow from champagne to the fox red.
The Show/English/Bench
This category is shorter in the leg and stockier in build with typically a quieter disposition.
The Working/Field/American
This category is typically taller, leaner and more athletic.
Some breeders choose not to mix the type whilst others do mix the types in their breeding practices. This is down to personal choice.
When you are considering a labrador puppy it is of the utmost importance to understand and be clear on what you want from your puppy and what role your new family member will be expected to play.
If you want a pet to enjoy, within the family ( with or without children) do consider the type or the breeding. Working dogs that are bred as Gundogs ultimately require a huge amount of exercise and mental stimulation, this is because they have been bred to work in the field all day. Whilst they are appealing ( all puppies are) a word of warning is these dogs really do need to be worked or have a highly intensive role to play such as agility or a farm type home. They can be very demanding and high maintenance for the average family.
Top considerations to help you determine if the Labrador breed is a realistic choice for your lifestyle.
- Do you have enough space inside and outside of your home to accommodate a medium to large dog. The breed needs the benefit of an enclosed outside space for its living requirements
- Your work commitments. This breed ideally does not enjoy or thrive being left alone for extended periods of time.
- The cost of looking after the dog, feeding and insurance vets bills and sundries
- The commitment to train the puppy. This requires patience and commitment to get the most out of your dog, and as its owner it is your responsibility to your puppy and to the wider public to train it well.
- Exercising commitments. This breed loves to exercise both on and off the lead. Do you have access to country walks to enrich your dog’s life on a daily basis
- This breed needs a moderate amount of grooming, they do shed hair constantly however they go through moult twice a year
The pros and cons of the breed.
Pros
Great level of intelligence
Easy to train using positive methods
Kind temperament
Good within the family setting if socialised correctly
Enjoy an active life
Usually a welcoming dog
Requires plenty of human interaction
Cons
Can be boisterous if not trained and exercised correctly
Can be subject to several breed specific inherited and acquired medical conditions
They are a medium to large breed
Require regular grooming
They need regular exercise and do best with plenty of opportunity for off lead exercise in open spaces
They can be destructive if left alone for extended periods
All Systems Go
If you have decided that this breed is a suitable match for your lifestyle and circumstances and want to proceed to the next stage, it is important that you plan. The best time to introduce a puppy into your life. Timings such as booked family holidays, or perhaps your house and or garden needs to be made secure. It is always advisable to plan well in advance because preparation will make for a much smoother transition for your new puppy.
Finding the Right Breeder
Again it is all in the preparation. Trusted sites such as Tailwise or The kennel club are good places to start. Most breeders will have an online presence in the form of a website either independently or as part of a platform. The important thing is to do your research at this stage and the following points may offer some guidance on this important part of the process. Many breeders ( myself included) breed to a waiting list rather than just have a litter of puppies. More often than not breeders lists become full before the pregnancy occurs. It is worth considering going on a waiting list. However there are also breeders that have puppies available. Whatever you decide suits you best it is essential that you prepare yourself by acquiring and understanding the most comprehensive information available to you in order for you to choose your breeder and puppy wisely always bearing in mind the suitability of the puppy to your needs and the temperament and the manner in which it has been bred. To follow are several additional important points to consider before you view any litters. I have not placed these in any particular order and points are listed with regards to the family pet only.
Points to consider and questions to ask the breeder: and know why you are asking them
Can I see the puppies with their mother?
This is an important question. Litters should be with their mum full time at least until weaning when some breeders begin to separate the litter from mum for periods of time. This is a personal choice of the breeder. I personally do not adopt this protocol and my litters stay with the mother until they go. You should always view the litter with their mother. Puppies' early socialisation milestones will only be achieved if they are with their mother. It is important for your own peace of mind to meet the mother to see her body condition and temperament and how she interacts with the litter.
How old are the puppies?
First viewings normally take place no earlier than 4 weeks, this allows for the puppies immune system to develop and minimises risks of contamination from the outside. Puppies should be no younger than eight weeks of age before they are ready to leave, and some breeders insist on them being older.
Have the puppies started the weaning process?
Weaning should have been completed by the time the puppy leaves the litter.
How old is mother?
The labrador is not considered mature enough to reproduce until the age of two years, however this is considered to be rather young. The bitch needs time to mature herself before the demands of pregnancy.
How many litters has the bitch had?
This is an important question, because once again the demands on the bitches body as she produces each litter can accumulate over time. Bitches do not undergo the menopause. The Kennel Club guidelines are that the bitch should not have more than four litters. The law states six litters is the maximum, but that is with respect to licensed breeders that have in excess of three litters in one year from a variety of bitches. Selective breeders who breed under this number must use their ethical judgement . It is their responsibility to make moral judgement for the wellbeing of their bitch.
Have the puppies received a worming protocol?
All puppies should be wormed correctly. There are a number of protocols breeders may choose to follow, but whatever the choice the puppies must be wormed before they leave for their new homes to avoid debilitating infestations of internal parasites, which if severe, will cause irreversible damage to the gut.
Will the puppies receive their initial vaccination? And is the Mother fully vaccinated?
The litter will gain some immunity from the mother via suckling the colostrum which is essential. Her own immunity will in effect provide some early protection for the puppies if she has been fully vaccinated herself. However the puppies will require their own set of vaccinations and the first one should ideally be given before they leave. This will not fully protect them, further injections will be needed but it is considered best practice for the breeder to have the initial vaccinations done.
Will the puppy have had a health check and come with a health certificate from a veterinary surgeon?
Most veterinary surgeons undertake this at the request of the breeder. Usually at the time of first vaccinations. It is a basic clinical examination which establishes overall health of and condition of the puppy at the time of examination.
Microchip implantation?
All dogs by Law must have a microchip, so it is the breeder’s responsibility to undertake this under their own name. The chip is then transferable to the new keeper.
What socialisation will the puppies have before they leave and were they born inside the home or in an external premises/environment?
This is an extremely important question because socialisation occurs within ‘’windows of opportunity’’ and socialisation can only be successful as part of a desensitising process which should be undertaken with knowledge and experience. It underpins the puppy’s ability to continue to adapt and function into adulthood. This is extremely important and relevant for the pet Labrador and the family home setting. Your puppy should have been born in the home and desensitised within the home environment if it is going to be expected to adapt within your home
Will the puppy come with an explanatory puppy information pack offering advice and support to aid in the settling in period once you welcome the puppy into your home?
Most breeders offer a puppy pack to accompany the puppy and assist the new owner. It is by no means mandatory but is demonstrates a duty of care and responsibility on the part of the breeder
What Health Testing / Screening has been performed and is the certification available for inspection at the time of the viewing and does the screening performed pertain to both parents?
This is a huge subject that goes beyond the scope of this article but will be included in my book ( from which this content has been taken)
The Hip scores(12 total) is an average score and the left and right hip should be as equal as possible in their scores
The Elbow scores (00)
Current Clear Eye certificate ( this should be done annually)
DNA testing ( most breeders elect to undertake these tests)
The reason why health tests are important is that they aim to minimise the risk of offspring being affected by inherited conditions.
Is there a sales contract in place?
Most breeders have a sales contract in place to provide clarity for both parties
Will the puppy have a period of insurance cover?
This is not mandatory but many breeders choose to provide this service
Will the puppy be registered with the Kennel Club?
If this fact is important to you then you should ask. For pet homes this in my opinion is secondary to temperament, socialisation, health testing with excellent scores and good breeding practice in general. There are two registers held at the Kennel Club, the Breed Register and the Activity Register. All documents will be registered in the breeder’s name and you will be required to change ownership details yourself once you have received the certificates. These should be handed over to you at the time of collection of your puppy along with all the other relevant documentation and your receipt for your payment.
It is my hope that you have gained some helpful information in this article. It has been taken from my book entitled the same, and is a complete guide for the novice labrador prospective owner.
‘’Throughout my life the Labrador has always played a massive part,
With each and everyone of them touching deep within my heart,
From the sometimes emotional rollercoaster of veterinary profession of which was my professional life, the caring of them and saying goodbye,
To loving my own Labradors and being guardian to the puppies they and I bring into this world, to know the joy this breed can bring gives me heartfelt gratitude,
For The Love Of Labradors’’
