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My thoughts
The Beginning
The interest in dogs has existed since I was little. I was born and grew up on Langeland in the beautiful area of Fyn. In my family the Labrador has always been a part of everyday life and my upbringing. Our dogs have worked as hunting dogs. It has always been lovely and loving dogs - and perhaps therefore it felt like a natural choice to me, that the Labrador remained a large part of my life.
Besides the dogs in the childhood home, I have always been a horse girl, and generally happy with animals. This meant that in 2006 - after 7 years in Danish aviation - I made a choice of studying again. I finished my education as Veterinary Nurse October 2009.
Naturally, this change in my carrier influenced my view on reproduction and health, and made it stand in a slightly different light.
I probably already revealed my biggest wish as a breeder of Labrador Retriever: A healthy and strong dog, physically but certainly also mentally. Furthermore I think that the working joy and hunting pleasure of the Labrador is of high importance and therefore must be stimulated and trained. Last but not least it is very important the dog can function as a family member and are allowed to do so! This issue is, for many breeds in general, probably the most difficult job at all.
Healthy
Regarding health, there are many thoughts to make before breeding. First of all we've fulfilled all breeding requirements for the Labrador Retriever. At present, it means HD / ED x-ray photography, which gives a status of hips and elbows, (Canine Hip Dysplasia/HD and Canine Elbow Dysplasia/ED), which are both hereditary disorders. Also an eye exam in order to exclude various hereditary eye diseases is required.
Besides the already mentioned tests, I have chosen to make DNA tests for PRA, EIC, Narc and CNM - these results are applicable to life and provide an additional security prior to breeding. Naturally, Alba has also been mental tested, as this issue also for me is extremely important - although we're talking about a jolly and happy Labrador!
The choice of sire depends of course also of health and mind, and is carefully selected. The healthy genes should hopefully be doubled and passed on to the small puppies. It is never a 100% guarantee of a puppy who will never become ill, but I know that I did everything I could to avoid hereditary diseases in the pedigree. Important also, is to give the puppy the best upbringing concerning the right food and the right amount of exercise.
Training
Training means to me several things. It covers both hunting training with dummies and game, as active retriever on hunts, but also training with activation toys containing dog feed which I consider as alternative training. This means that in our house all feeding takes place in alternative ways. I think it's fun, and it seems to entertain Alba. Training can also lead to challenging the dogs balance by exercises on either walks in the forest, or on the children's playground. It strengthens the balance and prevents that the dog is unsure of strange, and new things and objects. Likewise I find that, ordinary contact, playing and interaction with other dogs, both of different races and ages prevents the puppy in becoming an unsecure and unbalanced dog.
Puppies
My wish for the puppies in this house is to give them 8 wonderful weeks and the best start at life. That means good and useful socialization from the start.
My philosophy is that a dog is a part of the family! I think that a dog in the couch can be just as good, perhaps even a better hunting dog than the dog that spends his life in a scullery. Security and love are important components in order to thrive, serve and give his best, it applies to people and no doubt this also applies to dogs. The puppies therefore spends their first 8 weeks inside the house, in close contact with us as a family. They will experience a normal day with what it means of sounds, people, things, other dogs and animals. Before they leave their mother, they have had their first ride in the car, their first visit at the veterinarian, visited a kindergarten, were introduced to dummies and game in one form or another, and if the season allows it, they had a wonderful experience in the real sea, and not least a good walk in the woods with their mother.
Before the puppies leave their comfortable childhood, they will be tested to find their new family. This is so I have the opportunity to find the family that best suits the individual puppy. I think that both the puppy and family needs should be covered.
I wish that my puppies move to active dog homes - homes where they not only spend their lives in a basket in a scullery. To me a Brown Paws dog life means a lot of social and loving contact, training in many variations, and good comprehensive exercise. Of course it would make me very happy if the interest in hunting and exhibition also are present.
Can you recognize yourself through my thoughts? Then perhaps you're a future owner of a puppy from Brown Paws.
I am a member of the Danish Kennel Club (DKK) and the Danish Retriever Club (DRK).
In addition, I took the DKK Breeder education.
  
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