Describe your business to our readers
We are 5 star licensed breeders of working labradors. We raise the puppies in our home, with our dogs and they are all much loved.
Do you have your own dog(s)?
Yes we have 7 labradors who are all related. We have Grandma, daughters and granddaughters.
How do you start your day?
The day differs depending on if we have a litter.
Generally it's straight up and a cup of tea whilst feeding the dogs and popping their harnesses on to head off to our fields.
How does a typical business day look for you?
We also run Poppys Play Parks, so when we have a litter I do the dog field earlier with all the girls bar the mum and puppies who are looked after by Rob. I return before Rob goes to work as we don't leave the mum and puppies alone. The main girls spend the day relaxing and doing some scent and enrichment work which they love and which settles them.
Majority of time spent with the puppies and is very led by the ages of the puppies. Initially helping them latch and ensuring mum is fed and drinks and gets to go out if needs. As puppies get older we start housetraining and following the Puppy Culture programme of raising resilient puppies. This is quite intense.
I am also a counsellor and all my counselling work moves to zoom as my desk is in the whelping room and I can be there for mum and puppies.
How do you finish your day?
We have a cup of tea with one in the whelping room and the other with the rest of the dogs.
One of us sleeps in the whelping room over night.
What do you most love about running your own business?
All my girls and the love they give. Watching the puppies grow and develop and falling in love with them totally.
And your least favourite thing?
Saying goodbye to the puppies as they head off to their new homes.
What would you like to say to dog owners reading this?
Please realise that all breeders need to be licensed and this is important as it means they meet high standards, have inspections etc.
I wish for the need of health testing to be understood. Each breed has its own testing requirements so research this. Labradors need to have hip and elbow scores, be DNA tested and have a yearly eye test. Kennel club registration ensures the minimum testing but research the higher standards.
KC registration also means that you have done the best you can to ensure puppies mum hasn't been bred too young, too often and when too old. Ask your breeder to see these for the mum and Dad. Expect to vet and be vetted by your breeder. They should, like us, only let their puppies go to the best homes. X x
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