Paul Pickrem
Special to SaltWire
After the passing of their second canine about two years in the past, a Halifax couple thought lengthy and exhausting earlier than selecting a brand new canine companion and the place to search out the precise canine for them.
Lindsay and Noel Macdonald finally determined the temperament and behavioral traits of a pure-bred Labrador Retriever would finest swimsuit their lively life-style. The outdoorsy couple enjoys biking, trekking/climbing, days on the seashore and tenting.
“I wanted a dog I could take everywhere,” Lindsay Macdonald mentioned.
At home, nonetheless, the Macdonalds choose peace and quiet.
“Our home is quiet and peaceful, and we want a dog that’s going to be quiet and peaceful in the home with us,” mentioned Noel Macdonald.
Matching breed and life-style
The couple determined they’d strive one thing completely different. They would use a breeder for the primary time as a result of they needed to lift their new pure-bred canine as a puppy moderately than alter to an already grownup canine.
Lindsay Macdonald harassed the significance of selecting a breed to match your life-style earlier than selecting a breeder to match you with the canine best for you.
Eventually, the Macdonalds selected to work with Wendy Cook of Everwood Labs in Annapolis Royal, N.S. Cook is a extremely respected breeder with greater than twenty years of expertise, identified for producing litters of high-quality Labrador Retrievers.
“I’ve always lived with dogs. Ever since I was a baby,” Cook mentioned, relating her ardour for surrounding herself with a number of Labradors and English Pointers in her home and kennel.
“They’re always there,” Cook mentioned. “I always want a dog to fall over. You know, when you turn around at the kitchen cupboard and you fall over a dog.”
Key to success
To Cook, learning your pedigree is a key to success within the breeding recreation.
“It goes back to knowing your dogs, knowing your breeds, and knowing your lines,” mentioned Cook.
Pairing the puppy up with the wants and life-style of the household can be essential, she mentioned.
To try this, Cook retains the puppies in her watchful take care of eight weeks after they’re born, nurturing them and thoroughly observing them within the kennel and in her home.
“I watch their personality, temperament and behavioral traits,” mentioned Cook.
Cook combines her observations of the puppies with data of the person, couple or household making use of to turn out to be a canine proprietor.
“My application is a little extensive,” she mentioned.
Health clearances
Cook learns in regards to the each day actions within the home, the schedule of the possible house owners and what they’re searching for in a canine.
“I love talking to people,” mentioned Cook. “I don’t care how many times you call me, because I’ll sit and talk about dogs all day. That way I get to know the people.”
“And they’re also invited to come visit us at any time,” she mentioned.
“I always say they have joined the Everwood Family when they get a puppy.”
Cook mentioned when contemplating proudly owning a puppy, ask in regards to the mom and father’s well being as a result of most breeders do all of the well being clearances.
“Is your dog’s health certified?” Cook requested.
“A lot of people do not like asking to see the (medical) clearances. But I encourage people to ask,” she mentioned. “Or ask what the parent’s names are and plug them into the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) registry to get their data.”
“Every test that we perform like hips and elbows, hearts and eyes, and all of our other genetic testing can be submitted (to the OFA Registry) so they carry a database for them,” Cook mentioned.
“If anybody asks me for clearances or to come see dogs or whatever, I have no issues,” she mentioned.
Reassurance
Obtaining that info was reassuring for Lindsay Macdonald. “At least I knew Arrow’s parents were healthy dogs. They were vetted,” Macdonald mentioned of the feminine black lab which they finally introduced home as a brand new member of their household.
Dominica McCutcheon breeds registered Australian Shepherds at Amadore Acres kennel in St. Andrews, P.E.I. She has been a breeder for 22 years.
She too encourages folks searching for a canine, to ask about well being testing. “Health testing doesn’t mean that your dog is going to live forever. But what it does mean is that a breeder cared enough to test their dogs and make sure that they’re breeding a dog that is healthy,” McCutcheon mentioned.
McCutcheon additionally recommends potential canine house owners seek the advice of the Canadian Kennel Club Breeders List.
“They can go on there and look by breed and by location to locate people that do breed registered dogs,” she mentioned.
The proper match
Imelda McDonald of Land n Sea Kennels in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, goes a step additional when selecting new house owners for her pure-bred Labradors. McDonald insists on a questionnaire, telephone interview and software earlier than an in-home go to.
“We want to make sure that we’re a right fit as a breeder to the family, but we also want to make sure that family is the right fit for us as a breeder,” McDonald mentioned.
“The application determines whether or not you get a home visit. The home visit determines whether or not you get a puppy,” mentioned MacDonald.
Meanwhile, with plenty of affected person TLC, Arrow has settled comfortably in her new home.
“She’s very much at peace at our house and with the life that we are able to give her,” Noel Macdonald mentioned. “And I feel that speaks to the match we made with our breeder and our new puppy.
“And how well this has worked out speaks to the importance of careful consideration when choosing a breed,” he mentioned.
“Essentially we got the dog we always wanted,” Lindsay Macdonald mentioned. “I got my dream dog.”
“Do your homework,” MacDonald suggested would-be canine house owners. “Choose the breed you’re interested in and then start googling breeders.”
“I would look around the whole Maritime region and start reaching out to them,” she mentioned.
