Tapua

Thanks for replying Lynette OK I guess this is the part I would like spelt out. I know the term is 'back-chaining' but specifically does that mean aiming to start just with the pup just holding the dumbell? I saw a Utude video clicker training just getting the dog to pay attention to the dumbell then lick, then mouth then hold then when he gripped the dumbell he was cured with the word 'hold', click and lots of food and praise. He will chase and retrieve anything I throw but as to sitting infront of me and giving it to me joke joyce!!! By 'Retrieving' I presume you meant the sport of Retrieving? I am interested in that too what does that involve?

Hi Everyone I have a young (20 week old) male Lab we bred called Dimples.Dimlpes. like many Labs is a good retriever, when do I start cuing bumbell retrieval specifically. I havent started cueing him to specifically retrieving a bumbell yet partly because he only just finishing teething - and secondly, not having trained Labs before ( Ive trained GSD'S,Kelpies,Border Collies) I am not sure when to start a Lab on retrieval. Whilst I plan to get his show title I am really keen to take Dimples through CDX obedience. I just trialed his mum at the Lab Nationals for 2 qualifying passes in CCD. I have trained numerous dogs to CD and 1 to CDX under the old trailing rule and 1 boy to CD under the new this is the first pup I wish to focus on to take thru CDX. I train with motivational,some clicker and food training. I train on my own becasue the nearest obedience club is 100km away. I trialed Dimples mum at the Lab National at th beginning of May, her results at the Lab National were lame 86 & 78 for CCD but I only started pulling the drill together about the time I put the entries in, we train on our own so the figure of 8 was 2 milk crates or a tree and she had only secure sit/stay the Wednesday before the trial, she had a litter in January and she came into season the week after the Nationals so I am damn impressed with her and pretty stunned she qualified at all. Anyway on with her son Dimples - I want to focus on some training with him too and hopefully bring them both out near the end of the year in obedience Mum to complete CD and him to maybe commence CCD. Any tips with the baby boy would be appreciated.

Ive got 4 Labs and 2 ring-ins our 11 year old ring-n was a return from another kennels after 8 year (long story) her teeth were dreadfull - the 2*4 cleaned up her teeth in a mater of a couple of weeks - I think they are a great!

Hey Julie hope you have a great day You rock Og and evryone wants to give you a big hug!!!! Pete and I both send you the best for the day

My husband solved the bed chewing problem by welding a steel frame with a mesh base to which we fitted -snuggly -conveyor belting - so far nothing destroyed - as yet! Not warm and cuddly like a blanket but they are off the concrete which works for me!

Well off to my first Lab National ever with our first home bred baby boy, his mum and his future wife. Tua the mum is also competing in CCD. Obedience is my prefered dog sport but hey gotta give the National a go eh! Best luck to everyone competing and I'll be there with camera in hand looking at the boys for future stud options. Which to me is the best part of going to a speciality show.

To me colour is a consideration that is taken into account when breeding - it is only one of the attributes of a dog but a most obvious one. The colour has no impact on conformation or lavability of any dog but colour can have impact on health and deviations from the breed standard. So take Labs there are 3 colours chocolate, yellow and black. However the mix of these colours behind the pedigree determine the quality of the colour in particular for yellows and chocolates. Of late there has been breeders here and more so in the USA claiming they are breeding 'blue' Labs. To get blue you have to dilute the black gene - so they Xed a Lab with a Wiemeraner and then crossed back to Labs selecting purely for colour not for conformation or other health issuues. Many breeders continue line breeding to retain or 'cement' the colour into the lines however also increasing the incidence of detremental recessive genetic traits not to mention behavioural issues anathema for a Labrador for the sake of colour. Then sold as 'rare' and at extreme prices - greed not the wel;fare of the dog is the motivation. Introducing two tone into a solid colour lines can and often does compromise the coat quality of the solids creating shading and ticking in the coat - some Kelpie breeders value the colours because they can sell them to the public at a higher price. Sheltie/Collie/Kelpie Breeders know not to mate to Merles or two recessive colour like Blue or Fawn because the colour gene is linked to health issues which might harm or kill a litter. And there are other examples that I cant think of right now. So yes colour is important in the breeding of a purebred litter - one of the many challenges and considerations when breeding purebreds.

OMG

Yup have finally worked out about the winter nose bit - I just hadnt heard about 'winter nose' before. The colour genetics behind the 2 1/2 sisters Lara's dam is a black and her sire is yellow she has good pigmentation. Mia shares the same sire and her dam is a yellow. I am hoping if I put her to a decent black her pigmentation will improve.

That makes sense - thanks for that Lablady- I am still getting my head around the condition - I will still be putting my girl to a black because I think she needs better pigment/substance in general but the enzyme/sunlight factor is always going to be there I guess. Here is the girl in question Mia And her 1/2 sister Lara who does get winter nose but in general has better pigment around the eyes, head,earset etc.

Thanks for the information everyone - I really appreciate it - just one more question - I will, of course, breed the bitch in question to a black (dominant black or black carrying yellow) - does breeding to a black reliably correct the pigment issue or is this an ongoing problem regardless of the selective breeding of yellows to black dogs ( that do not carry chocolate).

Thanks for that info Ellz - just reading a few articles about the condition - most suggest Vit C and B complex and Calcium helps the condition - can anyone tell me if they have tried it and if it works Also I my guys feed is dusted with Brewers Yeast and Calcium Carbonate 3/4 times a week anyway - about a teaspoon between the two - should I give them more or something else - any ideas anyone?

Hi I am new to Labs (3 years) and I have only had blacks till recently - I noticed with one of my yellows has lovely dark pigmentation around her eyes and mouth and the pads of her feet but her nose tends to go pinkish in the winter and colours up black during summer, Lara is 16 months old. My newest yellow Mia who is 2 years old is more pink around the nose - has some black around her eyes and her mouth but not as good as Lara's and there is generally less or incomplete black pigmentation on the pads of her feet. I was looking on a Lab website and they were saying the 'pinking of the nose' is due to age & lack of an enzyme and the enzyme is temperature sensitive - I have never head of it before and assummed it was a lack of black in the bloodlines - has any other Lab breeders heard of this and does this occure in other breeds? I will only be putting the girls to black dogs anyway but I was curious about the condtion. Any information would be appreciated.

What a wonderful night the MDBA Awards night and I have to say how proud I was of the professionalism and the quality of the venue and presentations for the evening. Like Julie a lump came to my throat when I saw Leslie L walk onstage. My husband and I are proud and honoured to owned now two of her Labradors as part of our breeding program. The beautiful Invergowrie Lara and as of tomorrow Invergowrie Mia. As a breeder of service dogs also I have to say the intelligence and the temperament of Les's dogs are exceptional their health unquestionable - qualities I value above conformation traits however they are damn fine examples of the breed also. What Les has gone through in the last 6 months has been beyond any reasonable persons ability to cope with and despite Les's diabilities she has chosen to live life on life's terms. Les is an inspiration and Peter and I are honoured and proud to have her as our mentor for the Labs and a friend. Les you rock :D

I just had a litter of 12 black 2 had a few white hairs which disappeared by 8 weeks but no other missmarks. I think Assistance Dogs and the Guide Dogs get alot of miss marked pups. Of course the colouring does not affect the purpose/destiny of the pup but its interesting isnt it that they missmarks come up.

She looks OK to me. You should be able to feel easily but not see the last two/ three ribs on her flank and as long as you cannot feel her spine or hipbone then that is a healthy weight for any dog - aprticularly the large breds. As everyone says you are doing the hips/elbows as favour. BTW how old is she.

I loved the way in that books she noted that as an English breeder, she always had the option of exporting her second string dogs to breeders in other countries.. mmm yes I have that book too - interesting perspective cant say I agree with some of it but it honest and straightforward.

Can I just echo the merits of the MDBA course - I have been breeding since '91 and even after all that time there were new things I learned in the course, other things confirmed my experience and others that I guess for me clarified my focus for breeding and let me feel more confident as a breeder. Regarding breeding in general - find a breed you are passionate about - one you really think will fit into your life and family. Then read the standard - and read it again and again. Personally if I have never had the breed before I would go to some speciality shows - in NSW they are all happening late March/April/May at Erskine Park - where else will you see a reasonable number of the same breed in one place. To me speciality shows are for 2 things, from a breeders perspective - 1 - getting or keeping my eye in and 2 looking for future stud dogs. Who wins or looses at speciality show is generally a political process so I pay little specific attention to the winners. Without a pup in your yard speak to breeders - when you havent got a pup yet then you are no threat to anyone - and its a good chance to ask open questions. Personally I prefer bitches as Sandgrubber says with good fences they are not a hassle. But more expense regarding Prefix, membership and all the crap that goes with getting set up. Good luck I hope you enjoy whatever breed you chose.

Good dog that one

Try here http://www.holdfastdogs.org.au/aboutus.htm They would only be about 5 mins away from Somerton Park and run pet dog classes for puppies and adults. Thank Piper thats really helpful I will forward this onto the people buying the pup.

I am sending a Lab puppy to people who live in Somerton Park SA at the end of February/early March. Does anyone have any puppy-preschools they can recommend in the area. Also are there any good obedience classes in the area? I am in NSW so do not know where to look. She has grown up with Labs and he hasnt had a dog since he was a kid they have a 4 year old and a 9 year old. They are keen to learn and do the right thing. Any information would be appreciated.

For our Adult Labs we feed Royal Canin 4800 plus raw meat and vegies. 4800 comes in a 20kg bag. The baby pups are on Royal Canin Junior $12kg bag with softened with boiling water & biolac. Eventually they will get chicken mince and vegies and RC Junior bickies. I have no weight problems with my Labs... so far.

Aww seriously cute - obviously Earl is much loved and adored

Well not really but it got you looking eh The 12 labby pups are now 3 weeks and this is the first day they are spending a couple of hours on the verandah in the cool of the evening.

Hi Steve I understand the principle of what you are saying but working in welfare at State and NGO level 'advisory boards' are always a requirement and they must consist of a broad base representation if possible. Otherwise the advisory board is considered to be biased and non-representative of the 'community' or in this case the consumer (dog/puppy buyer). Mind you no matter how well constructed an advisory board is they can only give advice - it doesn't mean that the stakeholders follow the advice unless it is authorised or followed through with consequences if breached all it will be is another Paper-Tiger - all growl and no bite.