Posts: 251 View Profile Personal Message (Online) Re: I've run out of things to buy and read about Labradors ..... « Reply #42 on: May 15, 2014, 09:16:43 pm » I've moved from "I've run out of things to buy and read ..." on INTRODUCIONS. John wants to know my story (blaming you John as an excuse really, to have a bit of fun). ;D Here's what I last wrote over on that thread. (FEEL FREE TO BUTT IN AND HAVE A LAUGH ???) Well maybe I will John, I wouldn't know where to start ... Actually, it was last summer, I was narrow boating on the Thames and had moored up in wet and windy weather at the end of the day. We found our way to a pub and met a lovely Cocker Spaniel, who had his own seat and bowl in the pub. His name was Gimley and he got me thinking about whether it would be possible to have a dog. That's how it all started. How I got from Cocker Spaniel to Labrador is another story : Any bites? ;D So, I came from from the boat trip and the idea about a dog really took hold - I had left my full time job; my mum had left me a little money; my children had left home (nobody to have to take into consideration with doggy decisions) - well, I thought "There's no harm in looking" Research began. I am useless on computers, apart from google : What kind of dog? I'm not sure why but I settled on a gun dog of some kind; I think I thought that would be some sensible breeding and would end up with a physically and temperamentally sound dog. I wondered if maybe there would be such a thing as a Gun Dog show - google! Unbelievable, there was a gundog show TOMORROW about 3 miles down the road, it was fate Three hours at the Gun Dog show, badgering mostly helpful breeders I was no further on. I had liked the Vizlars (spelling?) and Welsh Springer Spaniels. All of the dogs I met were so friendly, and I was surprised but really happy - yes, I definitely wanted a dog. I have a friend who has horses Hampshire and I mentioned that I had been to this show (another sign of Fate), there were puppies where her horses were stabled! I visited and had a lovely couple of hours with adult dogs (loved them so not just a puppy thing) and then the puppies. I went with the breeder on a walk with ALL of the dogs, the pups were about 12 weeks old and could have been sold several times over: they were Chessapeake Bay Retrievers. They were all very friendly and the breeder was very positive and helpful. At this stage I was sure I would like a Chessie but a little Labrador angel had landed on my shoulder and was whispering in my ear
Re: John's idea! It's so nice to hear why other people want dogs What a dilemma with choosing a breed though!
Re: John's idea! Please excuse typos on my last post!!! I didn't listen to my own advice about proof-reading! Call yourself a teacher Ha! ;D ???
Re: John's idea! I'm happy to take the credit for this Jane!!! I loved it, made me laugh A Labrador Angel eh? can't wait to hear more
Re: John's idea! Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are few and far between. Only a very few are registered each year with KC, perhaps between 30 and 50. So, the hunt was on. My experience was both positive (hopeful) and negative (let down) . I chased two litters, maybe too enthusiastically (it's my nature!) which fatally (some would say) brought me back to Labrador love. LL Have I coined a new phrase/symbol/logo? LL. I like it. This is how it happened. I was told about a litter, way north of me, that might happen, several months away. I made arrangements to visit, which I did, and all seemed hunky-dory. After waiting several months ( on the list), unfortunately - don't know why - it came to nothing. I had invested a lot of time researching, travelling, DREAMING, and waiting - believing I was ON the list. When it all came to nought, I was luckily referred to litter/breeder number 2. A lovely lady. Now, the thing I discovered about serious gun dog owners and breeders is: they really breed for their own 'stock', as it were. I respect that completely. In fact, I reckon it's a good thing. This lovely lady promised me that if there was a 'spare' she would be mine; there wasn't, so I missed out. Fate again. But, what was it that made me start to question my Chessie choice ( another new phase?) when I visited her and her lovely Chessie bitch?
Re: John's idea! She had a lovely lab as well. I walked in to see a very pregnant Chessie and this black, very leggy, 6 month old Labrador bitch came bounding over to me. My heart flipped and for a moment I considered asking "Can I have this one NOW?). It was difficult keeping my mind off her, especially with her head resting on my knees. It was with an unsettled mind that I went home. Labradors had been popping in and out of my mind from the start but I had nudged them away. The only dog I had had in my life was Sam, a Labrador from when I was about 6 to my teenage years. I think I had been riddled with guilt after taking him to be put to sleep when I was 14. It turned out that he was full of heart worm and we fought a losing battle to keep the ticks off him (1970s Australia). So, I couldn't bear the thought of a yellow lab. Of course, there's black and brown (chocolate)! After months and more months of researching and waiting for Chesapeake litters, what was I going to do now?? I thought I could have one of each. As fate would have it, there wasn't a pup from that Chessie litter, the breeder ended up keeping all but a dog and I was advised to start with a bitch. NOW the research really began. I had nobody to recommend a breeder of Labradors. I just remember the Chessie breeder saying her lab was a field line. Google! Kennel club puppy search .......
Re: John's idea! [quote author=Jane Martin link=topic=6002.msg78634#msg78634 date=1400399070] I think I had been riddled with guilt after taking him to be put to sleep when I was 14. [/quote] You made me laugh and now you've brought tears to my eyes. :'( Isn't Lisa a clever girl though...I'm impressed!
Re: John's idea! I had put too many (all of my) eggs in one basket. I began a two pronged -attack?- approach. Where to start? I looked up Labrador puppies on the Kennel Club search facility but every one I called had sold or had all of their puppies reserved. I got the hang of it: find your breeder/s first then book a puppy from upcoming litters. Now for an entirely new approach: I would continue to use the information about breeders on the KC site, after all, they all gave email addresses, so they must expect emails; secondly: I would try to find Field line breeders on the internet. The KC information was to try and meet breeders near to me. I emailed several but only had one reply. She kindly allowed me to visit her dogs. I have to say that they weren't my cup of tea but I was so grateful to have been invited AND it was helpful. I knew after that that I definitely wanted a lighter Lab. (Ha - another LL ) Back to the drawing board. Or, Google, I should say. Things didn't seem to be progressing very quickly for me and I kept thinking the puppy god was trying to say it wasn't meant to be :'(
