Breed History:
The Labrador Retriever originates from St. John's, Newfoundland where it was known as the St. John's Dog, the Black Waterdog or the Lesser Newfoundlander and is one of four breeds native to Canada. This dog was taken to England on Fishing Boats where British Noblemen found the breed to be an excellent water retriever and sporting dog. The breed was registered first with The Kennel Club in 1903 in England. In following years it was registered with the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club as the breed increased in popularity as a sporting retriever. The Labrador is described as a gentleman's dog and should be able to hunt with his master in the morning, go to the show ring with the master's wife in the afternoon and cuddle with the children before the fire in the evening. This dog is not a kennel animal and needs to be a family member.
This dog is an extremely versatile animal and has been professionally used as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, War Dogs, Bomb Sniffing Dogs, Police Drug Enforcement, Cadaver Searching, Fire Arson Investigation and Water Rescue.
Temperament:
His/her gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability have done much to increase the Lab's popularity as a pet. Their disposition is kindly and outgoing coupled with an eager-to-please nature and general non-aggressiveness.
Activity Level:
Excelling as a field dog as well as in obedience, the Labrador enjoys exercise and is especially fond of swimming. He/She will happily retrieve until your arm gives out. A loyal family pet, good with children, that does well in suburban or country settings.
About Torngat Labradors
The Torngat Mountain range is the largest mountain range in eastern Canada and actually is in Labrador. We are originally from Newfoundland and Labrador and now live near the largest mountain range in western Canada 'The Rockies'….hence we registered the name Torngat in 2001 with the Canadian Kennel Club.
We have been showing Labradors since 1996 and breeding since 2001. Our first Labrador in 1976 was Skippy who we didn't even own but who lived with and owned us during fall and winter months for years spending his summers in New Brunswick with his owner. We acquired Chamois our first 'official' Labrador in 1996 as a response to the pleading of our youngest son Grant. From there on we've been under the spell of many wonderful Labradors.
We breed only from Championship stock for the best possible temperament, type and breed standard quality. We show Labradors under many different Judges to be sure that we are maintaining a high quality in the breed.
We occasionally have puppies and sell them on CKC non-breeding registrations and contracts. We place a two and a half year written guarantee on eyes against PRA and hips against severe dysplasia and specify how an animal must be nourished and raised to achieve their full potential.
A Labrador's colours
can only be registered as
BLACK, YELLOW OR CHOCOLATE
- colours such as Silver, White, Champagne or Charcoal, etc. are designer shades that exist only in someone's egotistical imagination.
TORNGAT BIOGRAPHY
As with any breed there are known problems. In Labrador Retrievers health issues are primarily PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and Hip Dysplasia. We are now recognizing that many other health problems are existing in this breed. EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse), HNPK (Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis), Seizures, Thyroid, and Cancer are some of the other problems. As more DNA tests become available through research we as breeders are presented with better tools to use in selecting breeding stock. There exists in registered Labradors a dilute gene (d locus) which is the result of crossbreeding that occurred in the United States in two kennels in the 1950's. These dogs are a result of breeding with Weimaraners. True Labradors do not carry a dilute gene. We try to strive for the healthiest perfect Labrador in all breeding choices while aiming to maintain breed standard and strong type keeping temperament as a major.
Ethical Breeders care about this wonderful breed and strive to keep it true to it's origins and functions. They know the breed standard and choose breeding stock based on a strict adherance to quality and health. However unfortunately in our society, there exist people who call themselves breeders with alterior motives who through ignorance and greed only what to harm this breed with phenetic and genetic modifications justified to their advantage. Misrepresentation of this breed in any form other than the breed standard is a serious injury to the breed and must not be tolerated.
GROUP ONE SPORTING
RETRIEVER
LABRADOR add text.
