Tapua

Thank Leanne I appreciate that.

Hi everyone my Labrador girl will be probably whelping pups in the double digets on or around 4/5 September. Tua successfully raised 12 last time and I didnt suppliment feed the pups - however I will this time - 12 was just too many! So which puppy milk do breeders find good for supplimening the pups. Biolac, Divetilac or Animalac? Also how much do you recommend each feed. I am only planning to suppliment ATM and I will rotate the pups routinely. Tua has 9 days to go she was 36kg two days after the mating and she is today 44kg. mmmm I used to average a guestimate at 500g per puppy & sack - that adds to 16 I doubt there is 16 there .... ugh I hope not! but certainly double digets. I will Xray Tua next Wednesday. All teats have colostrum in them now, she is well, healthy and content. After this litter goes I think I will book myself into the local psychiatric centre for a rest

GR's are generally softer dogs than Labs BB.. I suggest if you're serious you meet as many as possible. I think that there are as many temperament differences as there are physical ones. You should also look at Flat Coated Retrievers.. wonderful dogs and probably a bit softer than some Labs. I would ignore this advice. Choose your breed according to you preferences. Choose a breeder who is aware of temperament. Temperament tends to be hereditary in gun dogs and pretty predictable. There has been a rash of aggressive or posessive and bite-inclined Goldies over the last few decades, so don't take it for granted that a Goldie will be soft. See, eg. http://www.ygrr.org/...aggressive.html http://retrieverman....ore-aggressive/ Guide Dogs has done lots of breed temperament comparison studies, and they keep going back to Labs because the chance of finding rock solid temperament and high intelligence and trainability is high in Labs. PF uses Labs as strawmem. There's plenty you can dig up on individual Labs. They are, afterall, the most common pedigree dog in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, and very popular elsewhere. So even if they're proportionally very low in incidence of aggression, etc., you can always find a few exceptions, and they may come up numerically significant. If there were as many poodles as labs, there would be a lot more poodle attacks. Some work-oriented Lab breeders may aim for high drive for hunting and may produce some dogs who have more energy than you might want in your household. But in general, those breeders are happy to tell you what they're doing. Personally, I like a dog that is sufficiently solid that you feel something when you lean on them or pat them so hard it gives a good thump. And I'd rather see muscles than a flowing (care-intensive) coat. The flip side of this is young dogs that may bowl you over if they hit you from the backside, and who need to be trained not to jump up cause they are inclined to scratch the paint on a car . . . or scratch you if you have bare legs. Goldies and flatcoats are less satisfying to me than Labs. I agree 100% with Sandgrubber of course temperament vary when you look at individual dogs but having owned numerous breeds I would say Labs are one of the most steady and relaible dogs I have owned.

I believe the head size of the Lab in the original standard (trying to find it but not having much success) was supposed to be larger in proportion when compared to a curley coated retriever ... I think still hunting for the standard

Yes we are really noticing the difference in the brains department - and their general curiosity they are interested in everything - not in a destructive way just plain nosey - I really like it. My older pups that we have bred 5 months & 11 months are very smart and very responsive to voice control. Loving the difference!

Point taken about peoples response to colour - there is often a colour prejudice against blacks - it happens in the ring - but I am refering to the behaviour of the dog not the reaction of people to the dog.

I posted these in 'Those Crazy Labs' Pete and I are really happy to have this finished for our next litter. I thought that some of the trainers might like to see a breeder making an effort to stimulate and raise puppies so they are alert and smart. As well as experiencing ENS between days 3-16 plus all the indoor sounds of TV, Light, radio, vacuum cleaner people etc when they go outside they get this as well. The kindy has a kennel and the tunnel with wings whre they can explore and do hoonies and zoomies and ambush each other. In the larger pen they go for a walk each morning up to the day pen and get to meet the big kids through the fence and play in the gym. These are my older dogs in search mode trying to find the item I hid.

Interesting isnt it? Its not a negative thing IMO in any way just an observation -some of the old Lab book I have read prefer the blacks for their working ability and stability and generally did not like the yellows for the same reason though it appears that was more of an issue with the early developement of the yellows in the breed since they were initially developed under a separate register. Dont know how relevant it is now - I just find it a curiosity.

I would think that the problem with this breed is not the breed but the people who own the breed (and this applies to MANY MANY breeds (GSD, Rotty, ACD breeders have all had contact with people who are attracted to aggressive displays by their breed or any cross breeds) The lowest common denominator in the dog world IMO is not the dog but its owner. In this tragic case of the child being killed - the dog in question - came into their home - approached the children - bite a number of them and killed the child. My god - the DOG came into the home from next door.Doesnt the %%$#@@! owner has any accountability for this situation! The fact a dog of any breed has teeth and can bite is always an issue but I dont expect a pit bull to come into my yard but it did happen. My concern with the Bully, Pit, Mastif Terrier or any cross breed of the same is their stubborn determination to bull doze through a fence to get to what they want. About 12 months ago a register APBT pushed through our netted fence - it found a small hole and chewed through the fencing to get at my dogs. THANK GOD it just wanted to play with my guys and was friendly to the dogs but I was alerted to him in my yard when my dogs were barking in an unusual way. I looked out the window to find a young male medium sized tan Pit Bull playing with my dogs. OK thats fine - they were not fighting - no drama there so I come outside and call my dogs away (which they did immediately) and I placed them in a separate yard. On spotting me the dog went from playfull to excessively timid and growling. Obviously not socialised with people it was an unstable dog. I backed off - my dogs were safe and the ranger came and removed the dog - the dog was extreemely aggressive to the ranger. The owner has been given a dangerous dog order - it must be contained and walked on lead with a muzzle and the owner just didnt get that while the dog was fine with his family - he says - when out of his domain it was an unsocialised and dangerous dog. There was no harm to myself or my dogs which was more luck than mangement but the ignorance of the owner about dog behaviour just amazed me and just reinforces my opinion of some of the idiots who think they have a right to own an unsocialised, unstable dog. Regardless of the breed.

I admire the enthusiasm of the Lab but as far as bite work was concerned I would think his bite was insignificant - barely a deterant. The Lab was having a good time and bully for him. I only have bitches in my yard ATM howver my girls are far more territorial than I thought they would be. My oldest black(4yr old) will not tollerate anyone around our fence however she is OK if they come to the front gate. She certainly deters people. A question for the Lab breeders - I have only been breeding Labs for 4 years - I own black & yellow and have bred chocolates - just wondering has any other breeders noticed if there is the difference in temperament between the yellows and the blacks? ( I have bred and owned Kelpies, Cattledogs and GSD's and I would say there is a definate difference between red & blue ACD's and solid black & red or two toned Kelpies) Regarding Labs I have observed that the blacks are generally more aloof, bolder and more territorial than the yellow. My yellows are a bit more clingy, talk alot and physically demanding of attention. Certainly it may be my girls and not apply to anyone else's Labs - but I would be curious to know if anyone consider there is a difference between yellows & black. However given all the other variables of food, environment and attention are pretty much the same I find it interesting. I cant comment on chocolates - I havent kept any I have bred yet. Though I will be next year I think.

I would agree with that assessment - definately some sad bits in it but thats life - the underlying plot is about mentally healthy community, mutual support and acceptance and how the dog got people to be there for eachother. Its pretty cool IMO.

And your point is Tempus? Sorry I dont get the premis of your statement - there is a war on - a bloody dangerous horrible one - in this one - as in other fields of war dogs have been used to scent/ detect and protect - thier duty and willingness to serve is unquestionable IMO and I know they are given more attention and more affection than any companion dog will ever get. The dogs and the combat engineers who handle them save lives the lives of our service men and women. I loath the idea of any dog coming to harm for any reason - but I would prefer a dog having a purposefull if short life to an unwanted and stressed existance. As for 'washing out' from the military - are you suggesting we dont use dogs? As well as military service do you have any idea how many dogs work in the civilian areas as well? I hope you are not suggesting they shouldnt be worked in they way they do. All our sappers and their EED dogs are heroic and deserve all support and respect. Sorry if I am ranting - hubby is an X sapper, all be it a thousand years ago in the mid 70's I get defensive about sappers and what they have to do.

Fantastic movie - Koko is fantastic, great acting (surprisingly) by the humans, music is great, scenery is wonderfull. I laughed, I cried, I laughed. Well worth seeing!

Glad to see a journalist who is well edumacated Rosie sounds a real treasure - lovely story

Vet confirmed baby Labs in Utero - we gave up counting after 8 Pups due 4 or 5 September

These are just statements and all I am doing is sharing my opinion and the limits I know I have with my experience. I wonder sometimes as a breeder how much more I need to do. Personally - and I am strictly only talking about myself - my dog number limit is around 6 brood bitches +- 2. ATM we have 4 girls - 2 are active breeders with all the ducks lined up prior to breeding with hips/elbows/DNA/temperament/conformation/ability - and 2 youngster one is 10 months old and the other is 5 months old both yet to have Hips/Elbows/Aces done but the other 'ducks' for conformation, temperament and ability are all there - plus we had our girls independantly tested for ability and temperament. Its taken 4 years to get this far and $1000's in buidling, tests - be they DNA or temperament or ability. It will be another 2-4 years before we get the number I think makes a viable kennel of bitches - I havent even considered breeding a stud dog yet since I am focussing on breeding a strong bitch line. Then there is the whelping and management of a litter, ENS,sound sensitisation ,movement, handling,light, people, travel and general noise stimulation and more so that we have predictably stable and trainable pups. With only my husband & myslef doing all this I cannot imaging the time, cost, necessary resourses and overall stress involved in maintaining a standard that is viable for 84 dogs - not withstanding the number of staff. I would have to compromise my standards just to achieve reasonable healthy and happy pups just for the pet market and totaly ditch the idea of breeding viable pups for service needs. I place no judgement on someone with 84 dogs - I just know I cannot physically, finacially or emotionally cope with that level of breeding/socialising and feeding. I just couldnt do it.

That is my understanding too - dreadfull for the people who own the dog to come to terms with - not too crash hot for the dog either But there are broader community (as well as dog community) health issues regarding the virus.Also at this point the locus of transfer still isnt clearly established between horse/dog/human, wether the dog could transfer from dog - human or dog- dog. So there are many issues still to be researched.

See this sweet angelic face - dear Sapper - morphed into the spawn of Satan.

Ahhhh Monique I know that look - I have a Sapper baby shot that makes you realise he was destined for greater distruction!I can home from work and the day after his puppy pre-school graduation he got creative.

Baby Labs due 5/6 September

anytime I can tempt you - I have babies due in September they should be lovely

Hey Whiskedaway I thought it was one body with too heads - cool photo! Yes it took a while to get out of my chair they were sooo relaxed.

We have a strict rule that our labs are not allowed on our furniture - they have their own couch - but it was occupied so guess who had to sit on the floor.

I love most animals - though that love doesnt wears thin around critters with 6, 8 or no legs

too stupid for words