I set out to find me a highly trainable Black Labrador
Retriever - I defined trainable, as coming from working hunting stock. I figured if a dog could be trained as a
hunter, the dog could be trained for anything.
I met the breeders, and checked out the parents, and saw pictures of the sire swimming an icy Colorado River,
and the sire sitting holding a pheasant in the back of a pickup. I was told the sire had "heart". Then I went
over the pedigree with a fine tooth comb. I did not want a pup that had doubled up genes. This is number #1
important to me. A diverse gene pool. I wanted a healthy dog. The pedigree looked fine. What did I know of labs?
I had a choice of 2, as I wanted a black female. I took the one that was not being held by the little girl.
She would do fine. And I brought her home.
Sally Anne was short of 7 weeks by several days, but even in her first day pictures,
I suspected she pointed. It was in how she managed her front legs in her galloping puppy gait.
At 12 weeks, Sally Anne did a solid, on sight, picture perfect point at a butterfly (puppies like butterflies at
that age). This was quickly followed by a solid point at a praying mantis. I had a pointing Labrador Retriever, and
I'd never heard of Point Labrador Retrievers before. She continues to this day, pointing at everything she finds
interesting. She even pointed, the first time she saw a water skier (pointing in pack behavior means there is
something interesting over there).
The "heart" her breeder had described her sire as having, was very much preasant in this partly
grown puppy. She tried to run off a shabby looking lawn guy from next door, who had come to see if we had any oil
we could sell him. And here's this little "nervy" puppy (4 months) - right at the fence. Arf, arf! Stay back, this
is my territory. This "heart", "nerve", "courage" remains a highly noticeable trait in this female dog today.
About this time, my husband tells me he wants a Black Labrador Retriever puppy "just like Sally Anne". And so
the search was on. Because Sally Anne pointed, I needed to find a black pointing Labrador Retriever, and
find one we could drive to pick up (because I didn't want to fly a puppy so little - I want to protect them
from that rather traumatic experience). That is how we located Black Forest Kennels in Larkspur, Colorado.
Lord Captain has 5 GMPR (Grand Master Pointing Retrievers) in his pedigree, and that's his grandma on the front
comer of "The Pointing Labrador". Impressive and his entire pedigree is impressive. But just like with Sally Anne,
I went over Captain's pedigree with a fine tooth comb - I wanted no doubling up of genes. Knowing in the back
of my mind, that with 2 young dogs of both genders, that there was a distinct possibility for a litter puppies
in their future, I also checked Sally Anne and Captains pedigree together. The pedigrees come out clean.
No doubling up anywhere.
Both Sally Anne and Lord Captain have passed their hip (Good) (and elbow (normal)) certifications. We're good to go.
Our Vet asked "why breed these two"? The answer that came tumbling out of my mouth was "They are being bred for
the pleasure of their company, their high trainability, and oh, by the way, both of these guys point."
Proper, conform to AKC standard, on both height and weight is very important to me.
Labs are being bred way over and above standard height and weight. The standard is: Size--The height at the withers for a dog is 22½ to 24½ inches;
for a bitch is 21½ to 23½ inches. Any variance greater than ½ inch above or below these heights is a disqualification. Approximate weight of dogs
and bitches in working condition: dogs 65 to 80 pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds.
--- That is well short of the 100 pound Labs we often encounter.
While it mattered not to me, that my last German Shepherd was jumbo sized (80 pounds, when the standard calls for max 70 pounds) I strongly believe
that in choosing a breeding pair, that breeding pair must conform to AKC standard.
I keep my Labs lean, as it lessens stress on all their joints. In general, because I still wasn't sure. This is what made me sure, these two dogs would be bred, and pass
their genes on to future Labrador Retrievers. I have trained these two pups to walk at heel shoulder to
shoulder. They look like twins, and they look so obedient as to call attention to themselves "Look at those
two well behaved puppies walking shoulder to shoulder, two puppies on leash, at heel!" And then they flushed
a deer in the driveway of our rented cabin. Sally Anne - whoosh - went for pursuit. Captain, with his impressive
pedigree went into a solid point, and held it. That was the point from Captain I'd been waiting for.
It is a beautiful straight up point, just like I captured in his puppy picture. While Sally Anne
points at everything, Captain is far more discerning about what he'll point at.
Lord Captain has been trained to be my husbands "out and about" truck dog. So Captain goes with my husband
anywhere. From the time he was little enough to fit in a grocery cart, to this day - Captain goes everywhere
with my husband.
I routinely take both puppies out on BLM land for a romp. Sally Anne ventures farther, and knows to check
under juniper trees for rabbits, while Captain has the superior nose and can find a dropped stick in any
kind of cover. Captain by far, is the more intense retriever and Sally Anne gives way when there is a tussle
over who will do the retrieve.
The kicker, that said - these two need to be bred, is they are an absolute delight to be around. After my
experience with German Shepherds (over 20 years), I got to say - I wouldn't even think of going to the trouble of raising a litter
of puppies, if it weren't for the fact that both of these pups are 100% healthy and temperament wise, not
only a pleasure to around, but you can take then out in public and they are still a pleasure.
Sally Anne swam at 10 weeks. Captain - who was a winter puppy - swam at 16 weeks. Captain saw those ducks in
the pond and just jumped in swimming after them. When Sally Anne had seen the ducks at that young age, she
sat on shore, with the cutest little puppy point. Striking about Sally Anne is she noticed the geese flying
overhead, at 8 weeks of age. These two swim, point and know birds are special.
These are great dogs, as friends. Their bloodlines say they are working hunters, but I only hunt with a
camera, so I'm really just speculating on hunter breeding - based on their parents. Sally Anne has
one title showing on her pedigree, but I saw picture evidence her father was a working hunter. And
Captain's father (a GMPR Grand Master Pointing Retriever) who came from hunting and field champion parents -
one of which is on the front cover of "The Pointing Labrador Retriever".
I am expecting a litter of highly trainable healthy pointing hunting Labrador Retrievers who will also make
great companions. Due to the evidence of a great deal of "heart", "nerve", courage" shown in Sally Anne - I
would not recommend these puppies for either guide dog work, or service dog work. I would consider the pups as
therapy dogs. Both puppies seem to think that any human is their long lost friend, and we've worked hard to
learn to sit and wait for their pat.
How we came to be breeding top notch Labrador Retrievers.
As it stands today: Sally Anne at 33 months is 23.5 inches tall and 58 pounds. (within standard)
Lord Captain at 28 months is 23 inches tall, and 62 pounds. (lean and well muscled).
Easily I could feed Captain enough for him to make the Approximate weight of dogs in working condition: dogs 65 to 80 pounds
but should I? Absolutely not. It would make Captain fat. Captain is not a working hunter,
but rather our family friend. Lord Captain is tall enough to conform to standard. I won't deliberately make him fat.
Both Lord Captain and Sally Anne conform to AKC standards, as near as I can tell. For sure there are no blatent disqualifications.
Puppies born Sept 9th 2007, Sold Out
Expected pups that point. 4 of 8 pups pointed by 8 weeks of age. 2 Chocolates and 6 Blacks.
Pedigree