When you are looking to buy a Labrador, you need to ensure that the parents of the puppies have been screened for these diseases as explained below and the Breeder has some form of health contract. In fact it would be good to see several generations of good scores.
Elbow and Hip Dysplagia
The ANKC (Australian National Kennel Control Council) has recognised that Labrador Retrievers have a problem with hip and elbow dysplagia - that is why any puppy that is to be registered must come from parents who have been xrayed for hip and elbow dysplagia post 1997. However, the ANKC has not embargoed a cut off score, so you could be purchasing a puppy who has parents with elbows and hips that should not be bred from. As per theVictorian Labrador Club Inc Puppy Sales Register Code of Ethics,we will not breed from dogs whose elbows are more than 1:1 and hips equal to or lower than the current breed average (12.11). The only exception is that we may occasionally breed from slightly higher hips as long as the total combined score of both parents is less than 20. The lower the elbow score (0 - 3, with 0 best) and hips the lower the better. Labradors who have elbow scores of 2:2 or above should NEVER be bred from and you as a puppy purchaser is highly advised not to purchase one from a bitch/dog with scores above this.
PRA and other hereditary eye diseases
A genetic test is now available for Labradors to test for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which can be eliminated in Labradors by using PRA clear (normal) breeding stock. To date, we have tested all our current dogs except for 2 and they are all PRA clear (normal). Please note: dogs who are carriers can still be used in a breeding program as long as they are mated to a dog that is clear and subsequent progeny screened to ensure only clear dogs are bred from. Dogs who are affected must not be bred from.
OUR HEALTH GUARANTEE
We pride ourselves on striving to breed healthy well socialised puppies who are as clear of hereditary problems as we can possibly do at this time. We cannot guarantee that a puppy will not develop elbow or hip dysplagia or other eye conditions, but we are doing our best to only breed from sound breeding stock who are capable of leading normal lives. We do not breed to make money! Only puppy farmers do this! The money we "make" (if any) from our litters go back into our dogs - hereditary testing, their food, vet care, worming, our kennels etc. All our puppies are microchipped at the time of their first vaccination, and come with a health guarantee. They are wormed every 2 weeks and generally are fully weaned by 6 weeks.
Our dogs eyes are checked initially at 12 – 15 months for PRA and other eye problems eg cataracts. Once they have been genetically tested for PRA, we then only test their eyes every 18 months as per the Labrador Retriever Club of Victoria breeder code of ethics.
We do not guarantee that the puppy you have brought may be suitable for breeding later on, unless this is written into a guarantee. Just because a Labrador has good hips, elbows and eyes does not make it a dog worth breeding from. As registered and responsible breeders, a Labrador must be bred to the breed standard: look like a Labrador, have an excellent temperament and move well and be trainable. All these factors are what makes a good Labrador. If they do not have these traits, then the dog is desexed and rehomed. All our puppies are sold on the limit register unless the puppy is to be shown. The limit register means that you cannot breed from your puppy - unless at a later stage the puppy grows into a dog we think is worth breeding from and the dog is transferred to the main register. All our puppy buyers are offered a $50 rebate if they desex their puppy between 8 and 12 months of age. For the health of the puppy, we prefer them not to be desexed before 8 months to assist with proper growth.
We guarantee all our puppies to lead a normal life.
Very occasionally we have had OCD - elbow dysplagia (several years ago) and not for many years hip dysplagia (not since we have been xraying our dogs). If this happens we will refund the cost of the puppy or replace with another puppy. Depending on the degree of the disease ie how badly the puppy is affected will determine if we will pay for an operation to fix the disease. It is very upsetting to the puppy buyer and has an emotional and financial affect on us also - we do not want this to happen.
A comprehensive guide to rearing the puppy
Is given to all our puppy buyers to ensure optimal health and prevent possible environmental issues causing problems eg over exercising the growing puppy, allowing to run unrestrained on slippery floors, jumping out of cars. Labrador puppies can easily injure themselves in the fast growing stages with their heavy bone structure unless looked after properly.
Potential puppy buyers ask why our puppies are expensive
The reason is because we are striving to do the best we can in our breed and the cost of hereditary testing is not cheap. We also need to ensure our dogs are regularly wormed, fed properly, exercised, housed and receive appropriate veterinary care. As we show our dogs, there are also extra costs involved. This is not essential, but if you don't show your dog and talk to other breeders, look objectively at your dog in comparison to others, we can never aspire to reach that "mantle" of what makes a good Labrador and understanding bone structure etc. All our puppies are sold for the same price regardless of colour.
We spend a lot of time with our puppies, ensuring they are well socialised, interact with all our visitors, our other dogs, our cats, cocky etc. They get to play in big grass yards and also play on the back deck with us. All our puppies are whelped in the house and then go out to the puppy yard at 2-4 weeks depending on the size of the litter. Our puppies do not leave home until they are 8 weeks old.
Breeding two dogs together
Is not just about putting X with Y just because they are registered or a particular colour. There are many factors that we look at, not just pedigrees and certainly not for colour but also how one can complement the other as there has never been a perfect Labrador born yet. A good Labrador is always a good Labrador regardless of colour and one colour should not be more expensive than another - after all it is still a Labrador. Then there is the care of the bitch throughout pregnancy, the whelping and caring and raising and nuturing of the mother and pups. We have had expensive vet bills when things have gone wrong in the whelping resulting in a caesarian section at 3am on a Sunday morning and loss of puppies.
We will run youngsters on and if they do not meet the standards we are looking for, we then desex and rehome the dog.
Written guarantee
We give all our puppy purchasers a written guarantee which is signed by both parties. We want to ensure the new owner fully understands their responsibilities and the responsibilities of the breeder. We take breeding and selling our Labradors seriously and want to ensure they will be going to the best possible homes.
Registration
All our puppies are placed on the LIMIT registration unless sold as show dogs. The Limit register means the puppy is registered but cannot be bred from or shown. The puppy can take part in obedience and other events and Dogs Victoria now have a great club for the general public who are not interested in showing but still want to have fun with their Labradors.
If you feel you would like a Rodorbal Labrador and can provide the puppy with a suitable home (which includes a safe well fenced environment), then you are very welcome to contact us to see what puppies we may have available.
