February 8th, 2010

Collies may be the best known and loved of all dog breeds in this country. People still read the Collie books written in the 1920s and 1930s by Albert Payson Terhune, and everyone knows, loves, and glorifies Lassie of book, movie, and TV fame. With her elegant beauty and near-human intelligence, Lassie is undoubtedly the standard by which most people judge Collies.

Ironically, Collies started out as lowly working dogs, cherished only by the farmers who relied on their hardworking canine companions to tend their flocks of sheep. The original Collies were closer in size and shape to Border Collies, not the large, heavy coated breed we know today, and were predominantly black. Since they were bred for their herding abilities rather than their looks, they varied greatly in their appearance.

The dogs that worked the rough terrain of Scotland's hill country and endured it's cold, blustery winters had to be hardy and independent, able to work far from their masters. They had to be both quick to respond to commands and able to solve problems on their own, for the lives of the sheep often depended on response and decisions of the dogs. This intelligence, independence, and responsiveness are the characteristics that continue to make them popular generations after most Collies have ceased to work with sheep and shepherds. Queen Victoria saved the Collies from obscurity on the farm. On a visit to Scotland in 1860, she fell in love with their good looks and gentle personalities and began the first Collie fad.

Meet Sparky!
This new breeder boy is enjoying his daily walk with our Medical Intern around our beautiful campus.

These four beautiful Goldador pups arrived into the world on January 26th, 2010. The proud mother in this picture is "Libby" a three year old yellow Labrador. Norm, a handsome Golden Retriever, is the father of this litter of four adorable female Goldadors.

Gigi and Kerry are the proud parents of this large litter
of nine Labrador puppies born on 2/3/10. Congratulations guys!!!

"A moment later the stevedore appeared on deck leading by a leash one of the most handsome dogs ever seen in Maryland. He was jet-black, sturdy in his front quarters, sleek and powerful in his hind, with a face so intelligent that it seemed he might speak at any moment. His movements were quick, his dark eyes following every development nearby, yet his disposition appeared so equable he seemed always about to smile.
"'He's called a Labrador,' Lightfoot said. 'Finest huntin' dog ever developed'"
So wrote James Michener in his novel Chesapeake about the arrival of a new breed of dog to the Maryland marshes to challenge the reign of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever as a consummate hunter. The Labrador Retriever has lived up to his billing - he has been the most popular dog in the US for more than 15 years. More than 137 thousand Labrador Retrievers were registered with the American Kennel Club in 2005, putting the Lab far ahead of second place Golden Retrievers in individual registrations.
The Lab actually developed in Newfoundland, from whence he made his way to England, probably with fishermen who worked the rich fisheries off the coast of the eastern Canadian provinces. There, in order to avoid confusion with the larger, heavy-coated Newfoundland dog, he was called the Labrador. The original Labrador Retriever was a versatile working dog, able to rescue drifting nets, bring back shot waterfowl, and haul the catch to market in jog carts. Once in England, however, his marvelous nose brought him fame as a hunting dog, a job he relishes today.
But the Labrador Retriever is far more. In this one breed are combined a smattering of all the attributes needed in a family dog for an active household. He is kind to children, friendly to most people and other animals, energetic, easy-to-train, anxious to please, fun to teach tricks and games, and an easy-keeper. He'll play fetch for hours or lie quietly on the family room floor, content to serve as a pillow for a toddler. Well-bred Labs have a stable temperament suitable for work as a guide dog for the blind, an assistance dog for a handicapped person, or a sniffer dog for contraband at airports and border checkpoints. And he is a fine dog for those interested in competition events such as obedience, agility, rally, or hunting tests or trials.

This smiling breeder girl is Sunny with her first litter of puppies. This proud mother had nine adorable puppies. A big congratulations to Sunny and Bart D!

Congratulations to Star and Tony on their new and beautiful puppies! This handsome couple had a whopping litter of eleven puppies! Way to go guys!

"Gunner"
Meet Gunner, the newest addition to our breeding family! Gunner is a two year old, black Labrador Retriever. As you can see, this character has a lot of personality!

Characterized by its great adaptability and physical prowess, the German Shepherd Dog is respected, admired, and utilized throughout the world. One of the most easily recognized and one of the most popular of all breeds, it is acclaimed for its versatility, renowned for its intelligence, and beloved for its devotion and loyalty to its owner.

“Gordie”-One of our up and coming breeder evaluates!

Surprisingly, the GSD has been in existence as a distinct breed for only about 90 years. The breed traces its ancestors to a widely diverse group of sheepherding and farm dogs in Germany. In the late 19th Century, informal breeding groups of sheepherders banded together through a common interest in their dogs and attempted to produce dogs with the desired working attributes.

The initial group disbanded, but another society formed in 1899 flourished. This group, Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde (sv) was founded by Max von Stephanitz, a cavalry officer known as the father of the breed.

The GSD came to the US as early as 1908, but its popularity rose dramatically after World War I, when returning soldiers told of the heroic dogs' work with the Red Cross, at the front, for the police, and on guard duty. In addition, Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart, two beloved silent film stars, captured the hearts of the American public.

Today, the German Shepherd is distinguished for his loyalty, courage, and ability to retain training for a number of special services. Members of the breed are widely used by police officers and the military, as guide dogs for the blind, guardians, drug and contraband detection dogs, and Search and Rescue dogs. Most, however, are purchased to serve the important role of devoted family friend and protector.

This is Vedra, a three year old Smooth Coated Collie. Vedra is a very sweet and gentle girl who likes donating her time as a therapy dog. Way to go Vedra for making our “Breeder of the Week”!

Congratulations to our newest breeder Jack! Jack is a 2 year old black Labrador male. Jack was recently chosen as a breeder due to his high drive and trainability. This handsome boy makes a great addition to our breeding program.