Hello! New member, long time dog owner.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Hello! New member, long time dog owner.

    Hi there! My name is Kelsi, I'm 19 years old. I live at home with my parents, brother, and 4 dogs while I'm not at school. We own 4 labradors, one 12 year old black lab named Abby who is a little too old and rickety to do anything but be a great pet, her daughter Emma who is 7 who I would really like to start doing agility with, and her 9 month old daughter Maddie, who I would also like to do agility with (but she's very low in confidence, so we'll see), and Cooper, our other 9 month old puppy whom we hope to show in conformation and breed.

    I have only recently become interested in doing anything more with our dogs than enjoying them as pets, although we do occassionally breed, and allow me to assure you before you go flaming me, our dogs are very healthy, have all their tests done prior to breeding, our studs are carefully selected, and our litters are extrememly well cared for an carefully placed.

    Now, unfortunately, our dogs are not champion show dogs, however I am working my butt off to change that with Cooper! (I don't know that Maddie is breeding quality, heh). I joined this forum to get some helpful contacts and hopefully some advice as I begin my journey into the show world, although it does seem very cruel already, but hopefully I will find some welcome here, unlike everywhere else I have tried. Please understand that I just want to improve my parents' breeding program and no about of tearing me down will stop me from my goal, I am trying my hardest to figure everything out on my own, but it's rather overwhelming.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Welcome to the forum. While I cannot say I agree with all your choices in breeding...I will say it is always good to want to do better.

    As to your boy...you should have him evaluated by breeders who do conformation in whatever venue you've decided on. If he is not show quality there is little reason to spend the money and time doing so...just to make points for others Wink.

    A thick skin and objectivity...meaning being able to look at your dogs and see their flaws not just their merit...and on those flaws at times decide NOT breeding is the proper thing to do. Some of the nicest dogs conformationally are neutered pets because of a temperament or genetic issue....or just a lack of that something special that every dog used for breeding should have to offer. That extra thing that's missing in the breed...to improve upon it.

    I show and occasionally breed Beagles...and I also have a Leonberger girl. Showing is tough...but it can also be a nice place to find friends and get mentorship. I'd advise you to attend shows...dogless and find dogs that you admire and speak to the breeders of those dogs. Leave your families dogs aside for the moment and really learn what a conformation Lab looks like, and how to find assets and faults...how to read pedigrees and what genetics is all about. That mentor can help you a lot with this.

    New blood in the sport is always welcome...especially when it comes in the form of a young person with an open mind willing to listen and absorb. Wink

    • Gold Top Dog

    Yes, unfortunately they weren't really MY choices as far as the breeding, but I have enjoyed watching the process I guess? I don't really know any higly reputable breeders, only the owner of the studs we have used; she also has a very small operation but does show her dogs so she may be able to help us, and we have been speaking with trainers who have encouraged us to show him. He comes from excellent conformation lines on his father's side, and likely his mom's too but we don't own her anymore and I can't seem to track down her lines but maybe we can do both conformation and field trials with him and get some titles! That would be really cool. I haven't looked into the field trials much because I've been really excited about starting agility with Emma, but I should probably look at that as he's probably got a LOT to learn, as do I.

    Thanks for your nice reply. =)

    • Gold Top Dog

    Welcome, I dont know anything about breeding programs but I do know that this forum has been great to me!  Keep an open mind, ask lots of questions and oh yeah, we love pictures Wink

    • Gold Top Dog

    Thank you! I look forward to making new friends and learning a lot. :-) Don't worry, I love pictures too! Which forum would be appropriate to post general, "Look how cute and silly my dogs are" pictures in? Is there a forum where I might be able to get a conformation critique for my boy? I don't want to post something where it doesn't belong, although I'm sure the mods would just move it.

    • Gold Top Dog

    You can post pics in the Photos For Sharing section (that's a requirement, btw, to post lots of pics of your babies for us to ogle, lol!).  Conformation, I guess Breeds?  Not sure on that one....

    Welcome aboard!!!

    • Silver

    Hi Kelsi & WelcomeSmile

    It's great to hear that your jumping into this with a willing mind, for both learning and improving.  I'm not going to criticize you, as it was your parents who are the breeders, and actually your trying to help.Smile

    I grew up with a dearly loved aunt who participated in conformation with her Airedale Terriers.  From her, I had the opportunity to learn grooming techniques, handling techniques and overall show lingo..Wink and thanks to her I have always had the show bug.  I definitely agree with what RW Beagles said:

     

    rwbeagles

    Showing is tough...but it can also be a nice place to find friends and get mentorship. I'd advise you to attend shows...dogless and find dogs that you admire and speak to the breeders of those dogs. Leave your families dogs aside for the moment and really learn what a conformation Lab looks like, and how to find assets and faults...how to read pedigrees and what genetics is all about. That mentor can help you a lot with this.

    Study the breed standard so that you know it inside out, and then start applying it to those dogs that you seek out.  Remember, knowledge is power.  I have to agree with you that sometimes it is difficult to get in the 'loop' of knowledge, and at times it is overwhelming, but when you can, seek out a mentor.  They will be your lifeblood and your fountain of input.

    I wish you luck, and all the best with your Labradors.  Keep at it, and don't give up.

    Ashley