How did you begin breeding Labradors?
As a child, my family showed and bred our Cocker Spaniel. I distinctly remember falling in love with her puppies. I would rush home from school at the age of twelve to spend time with them in their whelping box. I spent every waking moment with them - in fact, I even remember sleeeping with them! I became very attached to that litter and found the whole experience to be very rewarding - even though three out of seven puppies died (during birth and shortly thereafter). Through the heartache and joy, caring for that adorable litter was certainly an unforgettable childhood memory.
After my husband and I got married in 1993, we adopted our first black lab - Judd. He had an incredible temperament and captured our hearts. 'We naively thought he would make great puppies - who wouldn't want to have a Judd puppy? At that time, unfortunately, we were not as educated about the genetic pitfalls of the breed and didn't realize the importance of health testing. Judd produced some great pups (a litter or two) but we then realized there was a whole lot more to breeding than just matching a female and male lab.
As time went on, we searched for labs of high quality with the goal of eventually producing a litter. For a few years, we kept striking out. Our labs would test well on hips, but not elbows or well on elbows, but not eyes, etc. This was a very frustrating experience as we owned dogs from great lines, but the health testing kept falling through. Our long awaited for litters would have to wait until we found the right girl - one that matched all of our requirements.
It was at this point that I called Donna Reece from Ridgeview Labradors. Donna had been breeding Labradors for years and has a wonderful reputation. She was gracious enough to work with me and we ended up co-owning (and still do) a few dogs together. She also introduced me to Dr. Robert Hutchinson (a world renown reproductive specialist whose clinic is only 45 minutes away). Dr. Robert Hutchinson, Dr. Brian Greenfield, Barb, Tracy and the rest of the staff at Northview Animal Clinic have been an integral part of our breeding program. They have guided us through making the best choices for our dogs.
And so this brings us to today. Now we feel very equipped to breed Labradors and do so with a passion for the breed and its betterment. We thank God for taking us through this wonderful journey and putting the right people along our path.
Why do you continue to breed Labradors?
Labradors have been the number one dog in America for seventeen years in a row. People all over our country are depending on health, temperament and conformation as they introduce another great dog into their lives. Unfortunately, with popularity, breeds experience a rise in health problems as many choose to breed dogs that do not meet superior health, temperament, and conformation. We breed Labradors to provide families with the kind of puppy they are really looking for, to give children a memorable childhood pet that is healthy and sound, to give owners their next best friend, to save dog owners from unnecessary heartache as it relates to health, to provide a great field partner to the hunter,and to give a fun, rewarding experience to those entering the show ring. In all, we continue to breed Labradors because we believe in the breed and we want to be a part of bettering the breed for generations.
What sets Creekside apart as a breeder?
We are unique as we combine our homestyle, family approach with the professional expertise that comes from years of experience and from outstanding veterinarian knowledge and support. Our goal is to not look like a breeder. Our dogs are not confined to runs, crates, and exercise pens. Instead, our dogs share family life with us. They share our big back yard with our children and are part of our daily lives. As demand for our puppies has increased, we have deliberately not added more dogs to our home. We are very careful to maintain balance by giving them the attention they need and deserve. Our goal is to generally only have three adult dogs living with us so that they can receive proper care and be a part of a family setting. So in order to continue to provide quality Creekside puppies, we have adopted the T.L.C. approach.
What is T.L.C.?
T.L.C. is an innovative concept that allows for us to to produce superior quality puppies without compromising on care and socialization. We currently have 6 dogs and puppies that live with friends whom we call our T.L.C. families. These families wanted to adopt dogs of superior health, temperament, and conformation and partner with us in our breeding program. They own the best picks of the litter and provide a nurturing environment for our dogs along with excellent nutrition and veterinarian care. If the females meet our breeding criteria, they are bred and come back to Creekside for the whelping and nurturing of the litter. Creekside gives them the very best in reproductive knowledge and care. The litters are well socialized with our children and after each pup has gone home, the females return to their T.L.C. families. In addition, because females are living apart from each other, their heat cycles are spread apart meaning that our litters aren't being whelped all at the same time. Our males are used as studs as the need arises.
How does price relate to quality?
This is a certainly a question worth addressing. Breeding excellent puppies is an expensive proposition. The average cost of health testing a dog is about $1000, the average cost of a c-section is $1000, the average cost of a surgical breeding (if necessary) is $600, the average stud fee (for a champion, health certified stud) is $1000, the average cost for raising a healthy litter is approximately $600 - $1000, the average cost for having a dog professionally handled in the show ring is $50 - $75 per show, all this without mentioning any reproductive complications, intensive neonatal care, routine veterinarian care, and TIME! So if you are tempted to purchase a puppy for $400 from the newspaper, a question worth asking is: "What corners were cut to produce such inexpensive puppies?" The compromise usually comes with the health testing, the pedigree, the stud, and the quality of the dam and sire in regards to conformation and health.
How many litters do you produce per year?
This varies from year to year. We don't ever have a set "goal" for a number of puppies we want to produce. Instead, we take into consideration the health and age of each female. Each of our females are evaluated for breeding and we follow the recommendations of the staff at Northview Animal Clinic. Generally, each female is bred starting at the age of two and is retired at the age of five. So, we have had as little as no litters in a year or as many as six to eight litters in a year - spreading them out during the calendar year as much as possible so that we avoid having more than two litters at once.
Do you rely on income from Creekside?
Thank goodness, NO!!! God has blessed our family with a steady salary from my husband's work. He pastors a large church in town and all of our needs are met. In short, we are not dependent on Creekside financially.
Do you take your dogs back if a family is unable to care for them?
Absolutely! The dog, Bailey, featured on this page is one of our dogs that we took back. He was placed with a nice family that went through some very tough times. As a result, he was not fed properly and came to Creekside at only 50 lbs (as an adult male who should have weighed about 80 lbs). The family was under extreme stress and we gladly took Bailey in. He lived with us for 4 months and the picture above is his "after" shot. He was then placed with a new family where he is receiving the care he deserves.
What do you think about puppies being sold by pet stores?
So many people don't realize that though the pets at a pet store look adorable staring through the glass windows, they have been purchased from irresponsible breeders. By purchasing a pet from a pet store, pet owners are promoting the poor practices of puppy mills and irresponsible breeders nationwide. A reputable breeder would never place their puppies in a pet store. Instead, a reputable breeder generally has a waiting list of owners wanting to adopt their puppies. Pet stores do not make provisions for the genetic faults of each breed (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, PRA). Their puppies do not come from health certified parents. The fact that a puppy "has papers" really means nothing in regards to its health and even conformation. Creekside has never and will never deal with pet stores.
Tell me more about their reproductive care?
Our dogs are in the best hands reproductively. They are either bred naturally or through artificial insemination, transcervical insemination or surgical insemination with either fresh, chilled, or frozen semen. The type of breeding is determined by a female's fertility, and a female and male's ability to breed naturally. A natural breeding is always our first choice provided that both sire and dam are capable.
As far as the birth of the pups, we prefer to welcome them into the world via c-section. In a world where human mothers are always trying to avoid a c-section, it makes sense for me to clarify our reasoning. C-sections are the safest way of birthing for both dams and puppies. The chances of every puppy taking his/her first breath are considerably increased when a c-section is performed especially in the case of a larger litter. With safer anesthesia methods, dams are also safer during delivery via c-section. With a natural delivery there are many variables that are not in our control such as the position of the puppies, the size of the puppies, the health of each puppy as it journeys through the birth canal, the condition of the uterus, and the effectiveness of contractions. If one puppy gets stuck in the canal, the viability of every puppy following is considerably jeopardized. If a puppy is stillborn, the dam will have great difficulty delivering the litter. If a uterus is flipped, the dam will not survive a natural delivery. With all this in mind, we prefer to be safe and deliver once labor has begun via c-section at Northview Animal Clinic which specializes in reproductive care.
After the ceasarean, puppies nurse and mothers begin nurturing immediately. Timing the c-section is very critical as it needs to be performed when a dam is hormonally ready to begin her job as a mother. A c-section that is performed too early runs the risk of a mother not caring for her young and the young being premature. A c-section performed too late runs the risk of the pups not being viable and the mother having a life-threatening infection. For this reason, we breed using accurate progesterone testing which pinpoints the exact time of ovulation making is simple to calculate the exact due date.
What is your criteria for breeding?
We require great conformation and temperament and at least OFA testing for hips and elbows and eye clearances for Progressive Retrinal Atrophy.
How do you socialize the puppies?
Our family of six children is the best and most natural way to socialize the puppies. We make sure that they are a part of our family, are given lots of love and attention, are surrounded by normal household noise, are properly introduced to other adult dogs in our home, and are introduced to new people regularly.
Are your dogs suitable for hunting?
Yes! Labs are very versatile and suitable for any task for which they are trained properly.
Are your dogs athletic?
Absolutely!
Are your dogs suitable for show?
Yes! If you are interested in a show puppy, please let us know. Though we make no guarantees that your puppy will be the next Westminster Best of Breed, we certainly place our show prospects with show families.
How are puppies shipped?
Usually via Continental Airlines as they have received the best awards in the industry for their pet program. When booking a flight, we look for the most direct option. We generally fly puppies out of Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) airport. Each puppy is shipped in a brand new crate, given a health certificate by my veterinarian, and provided with food and water for the trip. They are kept in temperature controlled facilities before boarding and in a pressurized, temperature controlled cargo space on the plane. Puppies can also be flown in cabin with an accompanying passenger. Occasionally our family also drives puppies to their new homes in conjuction with a family getaway. All of these options cost $300.
How do I pick out my puppy?
Order of selection is given according to order of deposits received. At seven weeks of age, we make final selections by allowing you to pick your puppy in person, via photos on the internet, or letting me pick for you based on your desires and wishes. Each puppy is given a Puppy Aptitude Test at that time.
What is your health guarantee?
We are very confident that you are receiving a healthy, high quality puppy. In the rare event that a puppy would be diagnosed with hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or progressive retinal atrophy, your purchase price (minus the deposit) will be refunded without asking for the puppy in return. This diagnosis needs to be made within the first two years and needs to be genetically linked, not a result of over feeding. Also, you have five days from the day you pick your puppy up, to have him checked by your vet of choice. If you are uncomfortable with anything we will take the puppy back and offer you a full refund. Click here to read our official health guarantee.
What can I expect after I leave a deposit?
You can expect frequent communication from me along with regular slide shows of your puppy over the internet once the litter is born. I will gladly handle all flight arrangements for you and answer any questions you may have along the way. You are also welcome to arrange a time to visit your new puppy.
How should I send the deposit?
We prefer to receive deposits via PayPal since the order of selection is given according to the order of deposits received. Through PayPal, the deposits are instant and we are not affected by any postal delays.
How should I send final payment and pay for shipping?
We would prefer to receive final payment for the puppy and for shipping via a cashiers check or money order sent to: Creekside, 70 Silver Fox Drive, Doylestown, Ohio 44230. Payment needs to be received before the puppy is flown to you. If you would prefer, we can also accept payment via PayPal.
What veterinary needs will my puppy have when I receive him/her?
He/she will need to be checked by your veterinarian for your own peace of mind. The puppy will need a second round of shots at about 10 - 11 weeks of age and then a third round of shots at about 16 weeks of age at which time he/she will also receive a rabbies vaccine. Though your puppy will be dewormed at Creekside, your veterinarian will most likely want to deworm the puppy also. A fecal exam is also recommended as puppies are very prone to worms.
Do you have any suggestions for naming my puppy?
We ask that you include "Creekside" in his/her official name. Be creative and not generic. If you name your puppy Creekside's Max, chances are that the AKC will associate a roman numeral to his name. However, if you name him Creekside's Maximum Impact and call him "Max" you should be fine. There are many websites with puppy names that are fun to browse. The call name should be no longer than two syllables and easy to pronounce.
What should I expect when my puppy comes home?
Lots of cuddles, puppy kisses, and fun! On the other hand, expect crying - especially when he/she is getting used to his/her crate. I wish there was a way around this, but puppies make quite an adjustment from having litter mates to being on their own. Remember that this is temporary. Also, expect to be taking your puppy out to potty often (at least every hour that you are home). Accidents will happen and they are a part of the learning process. With patience and consistency your puppy will understand the concept.
What food do you recommend?
We feed Royal Canin Large Breed Puppy available at Petco. Other good options are Eukanuba, Nutro Max, Iams, Science Diet, and Purina One all in large breed puppy formulas.
How much and how often should I feed my puppy?
Three times per day until six months of age, two times per day from six months to one year, and once a day after one year of age. Simply follow the measuments given on the package of the dog food according to weight and age.
Do you advocate crate training?
Yes! Puppies need structure too. Allow your puppy to have a rest time in his/her crate every day. He/she will come to love spending time in it. For a dog, a crate is not a prison, but a safe den. It can be a very useful tool in housebreaking and training. A lab puppy should never be left unsupervised to roam the house until he/she can be trusted.
Feel free to ask any other questions by emailing us at hbogue@neo.rr.com
Bringing you excellence in health, temperament, and conformation
Bringing you excellence in health, temperament, and conformation
Professionally bred, family raised
Creekside English Labradors
Bailey - bred and later rescued by Creekside
