MINSTEAD LABRADORS was first registered with the Kennel Club
in 1993. MINSTEAD being the registered affix that is used
for every pup born. The other theme that was adopted was the
name that was given to the pup after the minstead affix. Because
of what the dog is used for, to search and find, it was decided
that all the dogs should be named after detectives. So when
a litter is on the way we usually use the names of the detectives
in the popular detective type programme of the moment. We
have always been very concerned about the right kind of mating.
Making sure that the background of the Sire & Dam are
not close and hips,& elbows fall well within the advised
limits of the KC and there eyes are clear. In recent years
new ways of diagnosing inherent problems via DNA testing have
come to the forefront. PRA,CNM being the two main talking
points. These new tests and guidelines are viewed in many
different ways by people but Judith and I have decided that
we will go down the route of not using dogs or bitches for
breeding unless they are clear of PRA & CNM. This of course
means spending a lot of money initially but by using this
method you can advertise all your pups as clear inherently,
which is one less problem for the new owner of one of our
pups .
We were very fortunate with FTCh Blackfoot Scout of Minstead
as when we decided to have him tested for PRA & CNM and
both tests came back CLEAR we were delighted. He has since
been registered with most European countries with the equivalent
of our kennel club as a registered stud dog. We have had bitch’s
brought to him from as far away as Finland, Sweden, Germany
and through keeping in touch all litters to date have been
8 healthy pups.
A top lady breeder in the north of England has used him and
her comment was, “it is probably one of the best litters
she had breed”. I was recently at a competition where
two of this litter were in there first competition, one received
a COM the other also ran very well. We will continue to strive
to breed only the best at Minstead Labradors.
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