News
Recently Added Training Notes
Lead Training (and what to do if your dog pulls on the lead)
Coprophagia - Dog or Puppy eats poo
Inbreeding, the Health of Dogs and How YOU Can Check the Inbreeding Coefficient of Your New Puppy
When deciding whether to mate two dogs consideration must be given to temperament, breed type and characteristics, health screening and genetic diversity. The emphasis that different breeders place on these will vary according to what they are trying to achieve. Breeding for health should include testing potential parents for known inherited diseases (hip and elbow dysplacia, eye defects and so on) and also managing the genetic diversity of the breed in order to minimise the risk of future genetic problems arising.
Inbreeding is reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. As the inbreeding coefficient increases so does the chance that a puppy will inherit the same copy of a gene from both its mother and father. This is true for genes that have a beneficial impact, but also for genes which have a potentially deleterious and sometimes very serious impact.
The Kennel Club now provides a Mate Select service for breeders and new owners to check the inbreeding coefficient of puppies from a mating or a potential mating. It is recommended that any breeding results in puppies with an inbreeding coefficient less than the breed average, Mate Select can also be used to check the inbreeding coefficient of an individual dog.
The inbreeding coefficient of a dog is the probability that two copies of the same gene have been inherited from an ancestor shared by both parents. The lower the inbreeding coefficient, the lower the risk that this will happen.
An inbreeding coefficient of 12.5% means that there is a 1 in 8 chance that a dog will inherit the same version of gene from both parents.
At this time the breed average for a Golden Retriever is 9.5% and for a Labrador Retriever is 6.4%
Careful breeding will ensure the long term benefit of the breed as a whole. With consideration, breed defects like hip dysplacia could be greatly reduced and the overall health of a breed improved.
Please take the time to find out more about genetic diversity and its impact and question your breeder regarding the inbreeding coefficient of their dogs and puppies.
Click here for more information on the Mate Select Scheme
Help for Heroes
We are hoping to hold a charity event in aid of Help for Heroes. Planning is in the very early stages and is subject to change but it is hoped to be a dog focused half day, held in Hamsterley Forest on Sunday September 2nd from 1pm. There will be a walk of about 30 minutes to suit younger dogs and children, up to an exercise route of about 2 – 3 hours depending upon your pace.
We hope to attract ‘Shallowford’ dogs in particular, but as the event is in aid of such a good cause it will be open to all. Please don’t be concerned about high numbers as starting the walks will be staggered and you are of course at liberty to make your own way around the 2000 hectare forest, follow the very beautiful 4 mile forest drive, or simply relax by the river.
An area will be set aside where you may sell or buy pet products. There are lovely picnic areas close to the car park so you may wish to bring a picnic. We would particularly like to hear from you as soon as possible if you are interested in representing your ‘pet’ company at the event. This will involve a nominal attendance fee to cover costs and a small percentage of your profit which will go direct to Help for Heroes.
A token event entry charge will be made per adult (children free) and sponsorship forms will be available to those who wish to support the cause. A website will be set up for direct contributions. (In addition the forestry commission make an entry charge for your vehicle which is £3)
I do understand that in this economic climate charities make ever increasing demands, but please note, we are not asking for the earth, or a set contribution, we would welcome your help however much you are able to give.
If you are unable to attend but feel passionately about our Armed Forces and the work they carry out, watch this space for details of how to make a donation. Alternatively if you don’t live close enough to attend, you might wish to consider your own walk, with a sponsorship form.
Please contact us if you would be interested in attending the event, or if you would like a sponsorship form or to register your interest in selling at the event or if you wish to help by donating a raffle prize, heyjune1@hotmail.com or 07921174597
Help for Heroes
Hamsterley Forest
Contact Details
My laptop is away for repair (8 months old!) making email contact very difficult. Please contact us on 07921174597 until this message is removed, Thank you.
2012 Planned Litters and Older Part Trained Puppies
For further information please click 'Planned Litters' or contact us on 07921174597. If you have contacted us by email recently and received no response please either resend your mail or telephone or text as we are experiencing broadband problems. Please note that we have no litters planned for 2013.
Is Your Dog Overweight?
The PDSA has warned that within two years over 50% of dogs will be overweight. The latest Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report found more than a third of dogs are obese and that figure is set to soar. If your dog fits this category, act now! Put him/her on a weight loss diet, increase his exercise and stop feeding any treats. Overweight may be cute and cuddly, but it’s a serious threat to health and drastically reduces lifespan. According to statistics, a slimline dog lives an average of two years longer than an overweight one.
If your pet is carrying a few extra pounds, PDSA's pet slimming competition, Pet Fit Club, could be the answer. Click here to be taken to details of the PDSA Pet Fit Club 2011/12
21 Top Walks for Dogs
Nice to see Druridge Bay included in this list of twenty one top walks for dogs. If you live within reasonable travelling distance, do pay a visit it's a wonderful place to walk. Click here to view the list of walks voted favourites. Interesting that County Durham didn't receive a mention.
Shallowford Golden Retriever at Stud
Shane, (Golden Deneside Zeus from Shallowford) is now available for stud. Hip scored at an excellent 3:3, elbow score 0, current clear eye certificate and with 25 champions in his pedigree. Shane has a wonderful, gentle, true to breed temperament and is a proven stud dog, producing strong healthy, pale coloured puppies. Please note that only bitches that are hip and elbow scored, have a current clear eye certificate, complimentary pedigree and excellent temperament will be considered.
Microchipping Survey
Our online survey should only take a few moments of your time, we would welcome a response from anyone with an interest. Once data has been collected, comments will be passed to the Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association, both of whom are strongly advocating the compulsory microchipping of dogs. Here at Shallowford we firmly feel that implanting a chip into any animal should be a choice.
Please click here for our Microchipping Survey.
Many thanks to all of those who have completed our microchipping survey. Of the answers so far received (14 June 2011):
o 88.9% of owners said their dog/puppy was microchipped.
o 12.5% of owners say their puppy/dog has so far suffered an adverse side effect to microchipping
o 37.5% of owners would not have had their puppy/dog chipped had they been informed of possible side effects
o Only 25% of owners feel they were given full fair and balanced information about microchipping. 62.5% were not given any details at all of the possible side effects.
Please click here for further information on microchipping.
Pets As Therapy
Pets As Therapy is a national charity founded in 1983. It provides therapeutic visits to hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, special needs schools and a variety of other venues by volunteers with their own friendly, temperament tested dogs and cats.
Since its beginning, over 23,000 P.A.T. dogs have been registered into the scheme. Today there are currently over 4,500 active P.A.T. visiting dogs and 108 P.A.T. cats at work in the UK. Every week these calm friendly P.A.T. dogs and cats give more than 130,000 people, both young and old, the pleasure and chance to cuddle and talk to them.
Sick patients often feel isolated and even the most withdrawn seem to open up and let the barriers down when their regular Pets As Therapy visiting dog is around. These dogs bring everyday life closer and with it all the happy associations for them of home comforts. The constant companionship of an undemanding animal, that gives unconditional love, is often one of the most missed aspects of their lives. Pets As Therapy was formed to help make this loss more bearable and speed recovery.
Research continues to validate the very real value of this daily work undertaken in the community by voluntary Pets As Therapy visitors and their dogs that work amongst those of us most in need of a little extra boost in addition to medical skills and nursing care.
If you have spare time and would like to learn more please click Pets As Therapy for further information.
Shallowford resigns from Accredited Breeder Scheme
Shallowford has resigned from the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder Scheme. Please click here to read why. Our dogs will, as previously be hip, elbow, eye and Optigen tested but results of hip and elbow tests will be assessed by an experienced, independent, qualified radiologist and not the BVA panel.
Puppy/Dog Insurance Survey
We would like to be able to advise new puppy owners about the best insurance available for pets but feel that you only really find out how good a policy is when you need to use it. We would welcome your comments about the insurance company you use for your pet. Please help by completing our short questionnaire.
Please click here to be taken to the survey.
To date one of the most recommended policies is MoreThan standard policy, with the PetPlan premium policy coming a close second. The cost of a MoreThan policy makes it extremely good value. If you have experience of any insurance policy or any comment regarding this statement, please do let us know by completing our questionnaire.
Health Survey of Labrador Retrievers Born after Jan 1st 2010
The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh, Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research at the University of Manchester, Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool and The Kennel Club are jointly running one of the biggest surveys into dog health ever seen in the UK.
The project aims to collect information about the lifestyle of dogs (such as exercise, feeding and general health care) using a website, www.dogslife.ac.uk, to enable the study of how these factors may influence the health of dogs.
Owners of Labrador Retriever puppies are being requested to enrol onto the project when they transfer their puppy's registration with the Kennel Club. Subsequently, owners will be asked to report information about their dog's health and lifestyle on a monthly basis for the first year of their dog's life, using the website. The data collected will be analysed during the project to identify lifestyle factors which are associated with an increase or decrease in the risk of disease. Ultimately, its is hoped that this information can be used to give advice to dog owners which will enable them to reduce the risk of their dog developing disease, simply by changing the way in which they are looked after.
The study has been funded by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, and is recruiting Labrador Retrievers which have been registered with the Kennel Club and whom were born after 1st Jan 2010. Please visit www.dogslife.ac.uk to find out more.
Shallowford hopes you will support this project and is encouraging families homing one of our Labrador Retriever pups to take part.
Shallowford Blog
Recently started - Shallowford Blog (please click link to be taken to the blog.) Mainly more pictures of our dogs.
Follow Shallowford on Facebook
If you own a Shallowford dog or puppy, please post your favourite pictures on our Facebook page. You can also add a link to a website.
Excellent Advice Sites
Anyone new to the world of Labradors may wish to check out Labrador Forums or Lab Health for useful information from people passionate about their dogs.
Disclaimer
We genuinely care about our dogs and their breeds. Our site is particularly aimed at prospective owners new to the Labrador or Golden Retriever breed and as such we have kept the given information basic. For more in depth research there are many informative internet sites. Please note that between breeders opinion does vary to a degree. If you spot any obvious mistakes or would like to make a comment about site content, please use our Contact Form.