Frequently Asked Questions (Everything you need to Know)
Frequently Asked Questions (Everything you need to Know)
Below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions I receive, I hope they address many of your concerns, if not, please feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have by phone anytime on H. (02) 6775 2066, or alternatively by email at cranlamila1@bigpond.com or click here
Why choose a Cranlamila Labrador over another Labrador?
I have heard bad reports about chocolate Labradors in general. Are any of these true?
How can I pay for my Labrador?
Do you sell Labradors suitable for breeding?
What colours are you currently breeding?
Do Labradors require a lot of grooming?
Can you arrange transport interstate?
Why choose a Cranlamila Labrador over another Labrador?
A Cranlamila Labrador puppy is the result of years of research and acquired knowledge and
the bringing together of top quality bloodlines from Australia and around the globe.
Pleaseclick here
to go to my plan for creating the Cranlamila line of chocolate Labradors.
All reputable and ethical breeders will ensure that all puppies they sell are vaccinated, flea free,
worm free, vet checked and come from parents that have low hip and elbow scores. We go further than this at Cranlamila
Labradors. I have been feeding my Labradors on a fresh raw diet for about 9 years now. Please
click here
to go to a page on my website "Feed a raw diet for maximum canine health". Over time and through the generations I have seen a continued increase in the
health in my Labradors. My vet is becoming a stranger as I only visit the surgery when I have puppies to be seen and vaccinated. I strongly believe
that the robust health of my breeding Labradors is passed on genetically generation to generation. This means that a Cranlamila puppy that you
make your own will benefit from the accumulation of the robust and vigorous health of it's ancestors.
All ethical breeders have their breeding Labradors hip and elbow scored. Please
click here
to go to a page on my website "Hip and Elbow Scoring". The Labrador breed average score for hips is approximately 12. I am very proud to
state that the hip score average in the Cranlamila Kennel is 2.8. The hip scores of my breeding Labradors range from 0 to 8.
You are coming as close as nature allows to eliminating the chances of hip dysplasia by making a Cranlamila Labrador puppy a part of
your family.
We know what you are looking for in the temperament of your Labrador. Through the years we have found that buyers want a loyal, trainable, gentle, calm, happy, tolerant, adaptable and loving companion. One you are proud to take anywhere and indeed want to take everywhere. One that is in everyway a major part of your family. Temperament is passed on from parents, so it is parents with all the aforementioned characteristics that we use in our breeding programme. You are assured that your Cranlamila puppy will be all that you dreamed of.
We say what we mean and we mean what we say. There are no hidden agendas, no lies or false claims. I don't pull any punches. Basically what you see is what you get.
We do not show our dogs. I have done that and found that the dogs don't particularly like it and I don't like it all that much either. Who knows, in the future I may give it a go again. I have also trained dogs for obedience trialling. This is very time consuming. I would rather put my efforts into producing top quality chocolate labradors as perfect companions.
Many breeders are of the opinion that if you don't obedience or agility trial or show your dogs that you are only in it for the money and don't care about the dogs. Firstly, not everyone is interested in these pursuits. Similarly, not everyone likes stamp collecting either. Secondly, you pay for quality in all respects and there is no appology for that. It's a fact. You can't buy a Rolls for the cost of a Toyota. I sell quality chocolate labradors that are suitable for any of these aforementioned pursuits. Unlike some breeders I don't tell you that all my puppies will be show winners, but if that is what you want I will only sell you a suitable pup when one is available.
However, quality is not only determined by the number of show or obedience wins. Quality is actually different things to different people. Most ordinary everyday people I talk with define quality in a Chocolate Labrador in terms of temperament, health and lastly looks. It is my pledge to service these people by providing the perfect chocolate Labrador in these terms.
"Well what's in it for you?" you ask. Yes, I get paid for each puppy I sell. The price is comparable to other breeders and in many cases less expensive. But the real buzz for me is seeing the thrill that children and indeed adults get when they take delivery of their new puppy. I also love to stay in contact with puppy owners and hear how their puppy progressively becomes a cherished part of the family. For me, nothing compares to the rewards of providing you with the perfect companion that completes your family. I couldn't do this successfully if i didn't care for and love my Labradors. Puppies are bred and raised with love. That love goes with them to their new homes.
I have heard bad reports about chocolate Labradors in general. Are any of these true?
The chocolate colour in Labradors has become very popular in recent years, almost a fashion. This popularity has resulted in many myths about Labradors of this coat colour.
1. 'Chocolate Labradors are a result of cross breeding.' Firstly, most pure bred dogs are the result of cross breeding if you look far enough back into their ancestories. Secondly, chocolate, or liver as it was and is still sometimes called, is one of the original colours of "Labradors", along with black, that went to England from the fishing regions of Newfoundland and Labrador east of Canada in the very early 1800s.
2. 'Chocolate labradors are rare!' Fact: the chocolate colour is the least common of the three Labrador colours. The genes responsible for this colour are recessive, so that both black and yellow Labradors can carry the chocolate gene but the colour is not visible. There are fewer combinations of genes that produce the chocolate colour than there are for producing the other colours. Many breeders found it difficult to breed for this colour because they knew very little about genetics. Further, the colour was rarely seen as early breeders preferred their Labradors to be black and the other colours in a litter were "culled". Chocolate Labradors are less common as they have not been of interest to breeders until recently. You could say they are rare but they are fast becoming less so.
3. 'Chocolate Labradors have poor temperaments and are hard to train.' Fact: This is rubbish! Even a small knowledge of genetics or even a dose of common sense puts an end to this myth. Temperament and coat colour are not genetically related. Recently there has been an enormous increase in the number of chocolate Labrador puppies on the market. Many of these, at the lower end of the price scale, are bred indiscriminately by breeders who do not care about the temperaments of the parents but are just looking at the dollar signs. Parents with poor temperaments produce pups with poor temperaments which are presented to the public for sale. Unfortunately chocolate Labradors are then all tarred with the same brush because of the increasing number of bad apples. As I have said you pay for quality and vice versa.
4. 'Chocolate Labradors have more hip and elbow problems than the other colours.' Fact: The genes for hip and elbow dysplasia are polygenic. This means there are two or more genes involved in producing these problems in Labradors. Further, coat colour and hip/elbow problems are not genetically related. This myth probably arose in similar fashion to the myth connecting temperament and coat colour. There are disorders linked to some coat color genes, these genes are typically only those that occur in absence of color (such as albinism) or in the case of the dominant Merle allele which when inherited from both parents may be either lethal to the offspring or produce eye and hearing disorders. The dominant form of this gene is not present in the Lab and albinism is extremely rare.
Ethical breeders have all their breeding Labradors hip and elbow scored. They do not use animals that, based on these scores, may produce pups with inherited problems. Chocolate Labradors are no more predisposed to hip or elbow dysplasia than are black and yellows. Hip and elbow dysplasia are problems within the whole breed and ethical breeders are doing all they can to eliminate them from their breeding programmes.
5. 'Breeders who breed only chocolate are only in it for the money.' Firstly, I ask you "why isn't this same statement made about those who breed only yellow or only black?" Black was the "only" colour accepted for decades. Infact a famous UK breeder of the past is quoted as saying "The Labrador is a black dog" Over time yellow became popular and became the focus of breeders. Now it is the chocolates' turn. The only basis for this statement is one based on sour grapes or jealousy. At this present time in history chocolate labradors are very popular and quality ones are hard to breed. They therefore command a higher price than blacks and yellows. It is simple supply and demand.
6. 'Breeding chocolate to chocolate produces poor quality progeny.' I have done considerable research on this issue. I have been unable to find any solid scientific proof that this statement can be relied upon. There is anecdotal evidence that continued chocolate to chocolate matings, generation after generation can produce pups with lighter coats and eyes. My personal experience has been that if the sire and the dam of the litter are both dark coloured in coat and eye then so will the puppies be. The overall quality of the pups, no matter what colour, is dependant on the quality of their parents and grandparents.
Prices as from 2 April 2008
Chocolate males as pets from Baxter $1300
Chocolate females as pets from Baxter $1500
All other Chocolate males as pets $1000
All other Chocolate females as pets $1300
Yellow and black males and females as pets $900
Microchip Identification
Vet checked before leaving
Socialization
All of our pups receive loads of handling and a huge amount of love and affection. They are prepared for the transition
to your home by exposing them to many different things and situations. These include dogs, cats, ducks, a cow, sleeping out doors and in doors,
a variety of noises.
Wormed
Our puppies are wormed every 2 weeks until until they leave us.
Toilet trained to grass
Our pups are accustomed to using a mown grass area as their toilet.
Comprehensive booklet containing information on raising your puppy. This includes
many tips and tricks learned from many years of involvement with the breed.
Registered pedigree with the Royal NSW Canine Council
Vaccination card & copies of the pup's parent's hip and elbow certificates.
Ongoing support & advice for the life of your puppy/dog....24/7
Re-homing Service
Should you ever be in a position whereby you are unable to keep or care for your puppy/dog due to unforseen circumstances such as:
illness, age, moving interstate/overseas, family commitments etc, you may return your puppy/dog to us and we will re-home it into a
loving home free of charge. We are happy to provide this support to our puppy/dog owners and to the special Labradors that we breed.
Yes! You are assured of becoming the owner of the next available puppy if you place a deposit. My waiting list is not like most other breeders' waiting lists. Mine is a list of buyers. People who have committed to buying a Cranlamila puppy and who are waiting for the next available male or female make up the list. My puppies are in such high demand that I have no need to chase up potential buyers. In fact my current method of taking deposits was brought about by all the time wasted answering and chasing up potential buyers who, I then found out, couldn't wait for the right puppy but went elsewhere and bought any puppy.
The amount of deposit is 50% of the purchase price of the puppy excluding any freight costs.
How can I pay for my Labrador?
My preferred method of payment is by Australia Post money order. I do not accept personal cheques, bank cheques, credit card payments or direct deposits into my bank account. If you are an international buyer suitable payment arrangement will be made.
I ask that you complete a 'puppy buyers form' thereby providing me with necessary and useful information about yourself and family situation. Once this form is completed and submitted you will be directed to a webpage of my site which outlines how to pay your deposit. The remainder owning including any freight costs must be paid by the same method and prior to your puppy leaving my kennel.
I do accept cash from those of you who visit my kennel in person.
No! I have a buyers list of people who have committed to buying a Cranlamila puppy by placing a deposit and who are waiting for the next available male or female. My puppies are in such high demand that I have no need to chase up potential buyers from a waiting list. In fact my current method of taking deposits was brought about by all the time wasted answering and chasing up potential buyers who, I then found out, couldn't wait for the right puppy but went elsewhere and bought any puppy.
I wrote and maintain my own website. I therefore have the luxury of being able to keep it up to date. All noteworthy and relevant occurrences are
posted on my site within hours of happening. Please use this link to go to my
puppy pagefor information on current and
upcoming litters.
Different bitches are pregnant at different times throughout the year. Please use this link to go to my
puppy pagefor information on current and
upcoming litters.
Do you sell labradors suitable for breeding?
Chocolate Labradors have become very popular in recent years. So much so that a lot of puppies are being produced by so called backyard breeders. That is breeders that buy a puppy without telling the ethical breeder that they want or intend to breed. They then breed that puppy, when of age, to the first available chocolate producing male that is convenient. There are no health certifications done on the breeding animals and the resulting pups are not able to be registered. They are sold off to any buyer and the "breeder" gets a nice little addition to his/her pocket. Unfortunately, the Labrador breed suffers from hip and elbow dysplasia and certain eye diseases. These problems could occur in the pups produced by backyard breeders. Not only do the puppies themselves suffer then, so does the reputation of the breed as a whole and the owners of the puppies. Ethical breeders do all that is possible to prevent problems in puppies by hip and elbow scoring and eye certifying their breeding animals. In fact puppies cannot be registered without certain health checks being done.
I do breed and have supplied Labradors suitable for breeding but with the following conditions which are in place to prevent backyard breeding.
Any buyer who wants to breed in the future will only be sold a puppy after first providing me with proof that they are members of the canine controlling body in their state and that they have a current breeders prefix. Buyers new to breeding (that is not established, known Labrador Retriever Breeders) will not receive a main register Royal New South Wales Canine Council pedigree for their pup until they provide proof of the pup's hip and elbow score and it's current eye health status.
All pet buyer's pups will be registered with the Royal New South Wales Canine Council on the limited register and they will receive a pedigree marked "NOT TO BE USED FOR BREEDING".
What colours are you currently breeding?
I almost exclusively breed quality chocolate Labradors. I sometimes have yellow but only very rarely black puppies available.
Do Labradors require a lot of grooming?
Very little actually. They do lose some coat throughout the year but this is minimal and can be easily controlled by a good brushing once a week. This is especially true of Labradors that are primarily in door dogs. Labradors usually shed their coats during spring thereby removing the extra coat grown during the winter months. Obviously Labradors that spend most of their time outside will have coats that are influenced by seasonal changes more than their inside dwelling cousins. A thorough brushing with a slicker type brush every second day will help remove this winter coat. A warm bath also helps the shedding process. Clipping your Labrador's nails may also be necessary depending on what floor surface he/she most runs on. Concrete can act as a nail file and eliminate the need for clipping. I can show you how to clip your puppies nails or alternatively ask your vet.
13 kilometres west of Armidale on the beautiful Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.
Can you arrange transport interstate?
Most definately yes! Very few of my puppies go to local homes, so I am well experienced in arranging interstate transport. The table below shows the costs of air freighting an 8 week old pup to various destinations within Australia. The costs includes the hire of an airline approved travel crate and are correct as at 18 February 2008. If your local airport is not listed please contact me and I will attempt to obtain a quote.
|
Destination |
Cost |
|
|
$355 |
|
|
$298 |
|
|
$269 |
|
|
$565 |
|
|
$298 |
|
|
$302 |
|
Coolangatta |
$297 |
|
|
$508 |
|
|
$221 |
|
NSW Country |
$299 |
|
Bundaberg |
$336 |
|
|
$357 |
Yes, I have experience in flying pups to Hawaii, Asia and the pacific. The costs involved are determined by the pup's destination. Please contact me and I will get an all inclusive quote for you.
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