Name of Kennel:
Corrib Gun Dogs
What age were you and how did you become involved in the world of Dogs?:
My father bought be my first dog (Black Labrador bitch) in 1992 when I was 12 years old.
What Breeds of Dogs have you had over the years?
English Springer Spaniels, Irish Setters and Labrador Retrievers
What Breeds of Dogs have you got now?
Same as above!
What would you consider to be your main breed and the one people associate you with?
Labrador Retrievers
What attracted you to this breed?
Living on the Shannon Estuary there is no better companion in the field than a Labrador Retriever
What advice would you offer to anybody that is interested in becoming an owner of the breed?
Make sure that both parents are from healthy lines, if people are asking alot of money for a pup then it’s your right to ask for all proof of the health and achievements of the pup’s parents. When you get yourself a puppy try and join a local dog club and learn how to train your Labrador Retriever to do what they are bred to do which is retrieve. So much fun can be had training this special breed that makes them the perfect companion for the field and family.
Does the Breed have any specific requirements by way of exercise & grooming?
Yes, like all dogs they need daily exercise morning and evening at least and grooming is minimum however be prepared for lots of shedding if kept indoors!
Does the breed have any specific health tests that should be done before a Dog or Bitch is used at stud or bred from?
Absolutely, eyes, hips and elbows need to be tested and not only tested, they need to be clear on the eyes, under a combined score of 15 (breed standard I believe) on the hips, the elbows scored ideally 0 or at the most 1 in total. There is also blood tests for hereditary diseases that should be done for PRA, CNM, EIC, SD2 and HNPK which will give you the important information of what mate your Labrador can be bred to before planing to breed from your Labrador Retriever. You don’t want to breed a carrier to a carrier because their pups will be affected. Clear to clear or carrier to clear is ok because no offspring will be affected.
How would you sum up the characteristics of this breed and what type of household would they best be suited to?
Absolutely wonderful companion, kind and loyal, they need at least 30 minutes exercise twice daily and be prepared for their big appetite!! Suitable for most families however the exercise is essential and can’t be neglected because “it’s raining outside”!! Once exercised properly the Labrador Retriever is a lovely calm companion.
To find out more about Paul & his Corrib Gun Dogs, visit his website here
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