Blog

I want a Labrador with a BIG HEAD!! (But do you know what to look for besides just size?)

For 34 years now, I’ve heard thousands say to me, “I want a Lab with a BIG HEAD!! “ or… my favorite…”I want a block-headed lab!” (And I’m thinking, “Uh….no, you don’t want a ‘stubborn pet!!’ Ha! Sorry—it just...

Sink or Swim: Life lessons from a Puppy

In life, we often find ourselves powerless to avoid crisis, disappointment, and disillusionment. Still, we DO have a choice in how we react/respond to these hurtful interruptions that take up residence in our lives or turn it upside down....

How much does it COST to own a DOG?

I’m so glad you asked!!! After over 33 years of owning dogs, I have to say that an ounce of prevention goes the farthest way. There are things you can do to SAVE you money that many people never...

Why be a commercial kennel and how does that make us special??? (Not “big”)

Many times when people think “commercial” they think ‘big.” But in the state of PA we are required by law to have a license based on how many dogs go in and out of our kennel during a calendar...

TAILS: What is a “twizzle” at the end of my Labrador’s tail?? And why should I care?

The very beginning of the “AKC standard for the Labrador Retriever” begins: “About the Labrador Retriever “The sturdy, well-balanced Labrador Retriever can, depending on the sex, stand from 21.5 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 55...

Its SNOWING!!!  (What are those white flakes on my dog??)

Inevitably, as I counsel people daily about dogs, and specifically nutrition, they will make mention of a “flakey coat.” Some may describe it as “greasy” even. So what are these little buggers and why do we stress so much...

What is an AKC Breeder of Merit and Why Should I Care?

You may have seen the symbol below on our homepage. This shows that we are an AKC Breeder of Merit.  You might be thinking… yeah, so what?  But, truth be told, this can assist in helping you narrow down...

How to Choose a Puppy

Picking the Perfect Puppy Choosing to add a puppy to your home is a huge and rewarding decision. Choosing which breeder to adopt a puppy from is an incredibly important part of this decision (see Chapter 3). And choosing...

Giardia and Coccidia—Parasite or Bacteria?  How can it harm my dog? If my dog picks it up, how do I get rid of it?

If your dog is experiencing watery stools? (not soft but watery or squirting) You may want to check for these two hidden, very hard to find parasitic protozoa (unlike intestinal worms) lurking in your dog’s GI tract. If you’ve...

Inverted vulvas–normal or not? Also a note on Urinary Tract Infections in females and male canines

  This blog post is probably 33 years too late, and I’m not real sure why I never thought to write about it before. But it’s something so common that we just never saw it as something that needed...