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Tornado
Kennels Breeding |
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Substantial time and effort goes into the effective and successful breeding of our puppies at Tornado Kennels. We spend hours, days, weeks finding just the right "boy" to breed to our "girls." We pay particular attention to pedigrees, heritage, blood-line. We look for stud dogs with multiple champions in their blood-lines, understanding that this is an indication of excellent breeding. Our females have many champions in their blood-lines as well. If the pedigree passes the test, we get pictures of the stud dog via Internet or pony express mail. If the dog passes the picture test, we go look for ourselves. Sometimes we travel for hours to look at a dog, but feel that this is necessary in order to make sure that this is a dog we want to father our puppies. The dog must have a good temperament, be healthy, intelligent, and have a thick, shiny coat. We look for stud dogs that have lots of bone, that are short-coupled, that have big, blocky heads, good top lines, and perfect pigmentation. We have met a lot of handsome "boys" out there in our travels. After the selection has been made, we ensure that the stud's hips are O.F.A. approved "good" or "excellent," elbows are "normal," and that the eyes are C.E.R.F. certified annually. When all of this is done, we wait for heat cycles and count days until its "time." Then we load up our female and travel some more...sometimes days in a row in order to get three "ties" to better ensure a successful breeding (sometimes you begin to feel a little strange after watching dogs mate for several days in a row!). Our mothers give birth in a nursery which is fully insulated, equipped with heat lamps, room heaters, and heating pads (when necessary). Our mothers give birth in a whelping pool lined with newspaper and the full and undivided attention of my husband and I. We have witnessed the birth of nearly every puppy born at Tornado Kennels. We like to comfort mom, witness the miracle of life, and be there to help out if needed. After the birth of a litter of puppies, the real work begins. Having puppies on the ground excites the whole family. Everyone gets involved (and has to in order to meet their many needs). We love our Labradors and every single puppy they have ever given birth to. |