Happy new year! As the days start to get longer again over the coming months the seasons will start to change and bring on the spring months with growth and life.

We are hoping for new arrivals in the spring months so if you would like to be kept updated with future Golden retriever litters or Labrador litters please email ourselves to be added to our mailing list.

In this video I’m training Willow our black Labrador bitch puppy to begin to sit for a thrown tennis ball and a thrown puppy dummy.

As you will see the sit and eye contact come straight away and this has built up from her expecting to sit as an activation for her food.

There are 2 videos for Willow as we were running out of video space so had to do a second to recap what you should be looking to do and expect from your young puppies.

What i am hoping to do with these videos is to show you how to over come everyday issues when starting out, issues that we never really see in our everyday gundog demo’s and dvd’s.

Things do go wrong and dogs need to be molded in different ways.

My advice to everyone is don’t rush, take your time, these pups are coming up to 15 weeks old and I’m only just starting to throw retrieves for them and start lead training. There’s no point putting lots of pressure on a puppy that’s not old enough to take it!

Willow play retrieving.

Recap for training.

This video is to try and show how we introduce our puppies into training.

We don’t start until the puppies are 9 – 10 weeks of age. Up till this point all we do is shake their food bowl to encourage them to be very excited around feeding time.

When we are ready to start we are looking at gaining eye contact from a young age, if a dog isn’t looking at you how do you know they are listening. We also Don’t give them any command to sit,. When you first do this you shake the bowl to gain there interest then when they are interested you stand still no words no movement. They will lose interest and continue to move, this is normal.

When they loose interest you shake the bowl again to regain interest. Eventually your puppy will put there bum on the floor for a split second you then put their food down with praise “Good girl or boy”. Within days you will go to feed them and there bum will be glued to the floor and there eye’s will not leave you.

This is the first test or your patience as a owner – handler. This could take up to 10 minutes the first time you do it depending on your dog and surroundings. But done right could give you a lifetime of good eye contact.

What sex is best?

We think this comes down to personal choice. There are some differences between dogs and bitches. Most of the differences are the same as in the human race for instance dogs take longer to mature and bitches have monthly cycles on a regular basis.

Old wives tails tell us a dog will stray for a bitch in season but in my experience bitches have a tendency to try and get to a dog rather than the other way round. Others say the trouble with a dog is they ” scent mark” all the time. If truth be known this will only happen if you allow it. I personally think the worst mistake people make is understanding castration of dogs. I think we castrate dogs far to young not allowing dogs to mature past hormonal feelings which may  lead to further problems. Dogs are loving, trustworthy and honest.

Bitches on the other hand are normally further forward in life at a much younger age than dogs. They are normally more driven for work and carry more of an edge to there work leading to style and drive.

This is not to say there hasn’t been any driven stylish dogs in competitions but if we look at past years within the working gundogs and competitions, there lies some truth.

Since 1990 there has been 23 Cocker spaniel championships held with 13 winners being bitches so just over half.

Since 1990 there has also been 23 Springer spaniel championships held with 20 of the winners being bitches.

Since 1990 there has also been 23 I.G.L Retriever championships held but only 7 of the winners have been bitches. Does this mean that the theory that bitches hold better potential for competition is wrong or are retrievers just more popular, so it would be commercially viable if you were to win the championship with a dog for stud duties.

There are over 200 breeds registered with the kennel club to consider when looking for a life long companion.
These breeds are divided into 7 different groups to which they fit into from what they were originally bred for.

Gundog – these are typical breeds which would have been used to flush, retriever or point game alongside the gun. The breeds are split between Retrievers, Spaniels and Hunt point and retrieve (HPR).

Hound – these are breeds typically used to pursue game by scent or sight. The breeds are split between sight hounds and scent hounds.

Terrier – these are breeds typically used to hunt vermin above and below the earth.

Working – these are typical breeds that work along side ourselves as guard, search and rescue dogs.

Pastoral – these are typical breeds associated with herding livestock.

Utility – this group consists of dogs that are hard to place in any of the other groups as most of these breeds were bred for other reasons than work so classed as non – sporting.

Toy – these are typical breeds bred to become lap dogs but over the years breeds have been added purely due to their size.

What to consider when buying a puppy.
1. Breed.
2. Sex.
3. Size.
4. Health screening.
5. What you are looking for from your puppy.
6. Your lifestyle.
7. Cost.

We have a fantastic litter of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppies available, these puppies are from health screened parents and are hereditary clear for prcd – PRA and CEA/CH.

These toller puppies have been reared with young children and other animals and would make fantastic dogs in all areas including showing, agility, fly ball, obedience, working gun dogs and faithful family pets.

Both parents are available for viewing and all puppies are Kennel club registered, wormed and front lined to date. They have also had their first vaccination, microchip and a veterinary health check.

For more information on these Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppies please contact us by phone on 01636 821600

As the sun came out toady we thought it would be a great opportunity to get some up to date pictures of Jenny our Golden Retriever bitch due puppies on the 8th August.

Jenny is a rich golden colour with nice dark pigmentation.

If you would like any further information on this golden retriever litter or would like to secure interest in this litter please feel free to contact ourselves.

Home reared Chocolate Labrador Retriever Puppies.

Only 3 boys remain from this stunning litter of 7 chocolate Labrador retriever puppies.

Sire – Pechasi Hazel Nut of Fallowfen

Dam aka Pickle  is predominately a family pet but she has also undergone gun dog training with good ability and also has a wonderful temperament.

These chocolate Labrador puppies are being reared in the family home and are handled daily by both adults and children to ensure that they are well socialised and ready for their new homes in early August.

They will be KC Registered, wormed, frontlined, have had their full first vaccination, be vet checked, micro chipped and come with a puppy pack and breeder support.

Please contact Wilma Morton 07860 704209 wilma.morton@financeplanning.co.uk

Chocolate labrador puppies.