PONIEWOOD STUD

Labrador Puppies at Poniewood Kennels now known as Wistowood Labradors

by Dogs S.A.

We are very proud that six puppies from our last litter of eight were bought by the Guide Dogs

N S W/ACT and are now being trained at present to become working guide dogs. 

This litter was sired by Invergowrie Tornado. He is a delight to have in our family. His temperament and sound physical traits make him both a wonderful family member and a valuable working stud dog. The puppies from this litter should graduate in 2009.

Unfortunately Guide Dogs S.A. could not take them only because they could not find enough puppy raisers. Tornado was bred by Dr Lesley Levins in NSW Invergowrie Kennels 

The Dam of the 2007 puppies was Loyalkin Alexandria (‘Sasha’).

 A male puppy of this litter did go to Japan to be used as a future stud dog in their guide dog breeding program. One female puppy went to a wonderful family to play (and train) all day.

Wistowood Labadors also have a wonderful bitch, Invergowrie Heidi.

Her parents are being used as the foundation breeding stock in a NSW Guide Dog Agency.

Heidi had 9 puppies on the 21^st July 2009 and all went to family homes of an amazing calibre.’

 All the bitches and dogs mentioned above are eye tested and have very low hip/elbow-scores. The latter helps to indicate that the dog will not have health issues regarding eye problems nor suffer from hip/elbow dysplasia any time during their life time.

Please NOTE

Our next litter is due in February, 2009. I have sold some of these upcoming puppies already so please be quick if you want to share your life with a very loyal, obedient dog from this upcoming litter.

I am able to say that the dogs at Wistowood Labradors exhibit trainable traits and are very biddable when trained with positive reinforcement (reward – ‘good girl’ scratch on the head etc not food as then they concentrate on the food not on your command). Negative reinforcement (removal of slight discomfort eg trainer stops pulling on lead when dog doesn’t pull; usually continual on-off is required with very fine-tuned timing) and negative punishment (removal of reward eg don’t say ‘good boy’ if required response is not apparent) techniques are also used. Positive punishment is a firm ‘no’ – best associated with a hand signal so that the dog can be told when you in the middle of a conversation at a bbq/day out.

All the dogs have been trained in the pathway they exhibit most instinctively whether it is a companion/playmate/guardian – well Torny (Tornado) thinks he is tough until a pony starts to chase him. He also does lick the foals’ noses whenever he can. Heidi is the same. Sasha on the other hand has decided that she lives on the home side of the fence and the ponies live over there. She was the best mother imaginable. Puppies came before food. All my dogs are ‘free range’ but females are kenneled off-farm when in season.

Photos of Tornado, Sasha, Heidi and 2007 puppies