Amerikennels


Photographing Your Dog
 
 

 

Won't you be my parent?

Tip #1 – Personality

You know your dog. Be patient and watch for those special moments. Don’t try to force or over instruct. Wait for it to happen.

Tip #2 – Light

Look for the best light situations. Natural light allows the details to shine through. The prettiest light happens early or late in the day when the sunlight is warm and soft. So grab the leash and go outside! As an alternative, overcast days or wide open shade create excellent effect.

Tip #3 – Frame your photo

Carefully choose your shot, making sure that your dog is in focus.  It doesn’t have to be centered – just framed.  Get on the same level as your subject ~ sit or lay down ~ shoot up . . . Use the landscape and environment around your dog.  Experiment!  

Tip #4 – Experiment

Set aside time to practice and be creative. Keep things fun and unstructured. Try new locations. If it doesn’t work out, you’ve had a great time with your dog.

Tip #5 – Be patient

Getting a great shot of your dog is about the right place and the right time. Wait . . . play . . . praise. . . and keep shooting. Be on the lookout for special moment and special details. When it comes, you will be rewarded with a great memories and a great shot.



Labrador Retriever Characteristics

LABRADOR RETRIEVERS ~ AVAILABLE 12.5.09

Loyal, loving, affectionate and patient, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are intelligent, good natured, lively and sociable ~ a fabulous family pet, great hunter as well as an excellent service dog.   Versatility is their middle name!  Loving to to play and please, if water is around, they will find it.  They are equipped for this by nature as their webbed feet allow for some superb swimming.  Amazing with children as well as other dogs, their highly intelligent nature and eagerness to please makes them exceedingly trainable ~ best done when they are a puppy.

Height:

  • Males 22-24 inches.  (Some males can grow to 100 pounds or more)
  • Females 21-23 inches

Weight:

  • Male 60-75 pounds
  • Females 55-70 pounds

Life Expectancy:

  • 10 to 12 years

Grooming:

  • Average shedders
  • Smooth short-haired double coat is easily groomed by brushing regularly with a firm bristle brush.  Pay special attention to the undercoat. 
  • Shampoo only when necessary.

Exercise:

  • Eergetic dogs. 
  • Love to work and play hard. 
  • Take them on a daily, brisk walk, jog or allow them to run alongside you when you bike. 
  • Train them to heel so that they see you as dominate ~ the leader or alpha dog. 

Feeding:

  • Labradors tend to gain weight. 
  • Do not over feed.  Check with your breeder or vet for specific instructions. 
  • Best NOT to feed them table scraps. 
  • Proper care and feeding will be rewarded by a long and healthy family member.


PUPPY DEVELOPMENT

11.9.09 Tri-colors on the grass 2

    BEHAVIOR UP TO 3 WEEKS OLD

-A puppy is born blind, deaf and toothless

- During its first week 90% of a puppys time is spent sleeping and 10% eating. They are only able to crawl

- The puppy’s eyes, which are closed at birth, open when it is between one and two weeks old. It then begins to see

- The pups ears should open when it is two to three weeks old

- Puppies whimper when they are cold, hungry or uncomfortable

- Puppys grow while they sleep

- A puppy is reliant on its mother for the first few weeks for food, comfort and to learn basic dog requirements

    BEHAVIOR BETWEEN 3 – 7 WEEKS OLD

- A puppy will be weaned between the ages of 3 and 7 weeks

- During the ages of 3 to 7 weeks its first teeth, or milk teeth will appear

- A puppy is taught basic behaviour disciplines from its mother

- A puppy will continue to develop by socializing with other dogs and animals and people

- Puppies will stand up and start walking

- At the age of 3 weeks a puppy will develop its sense of smell

- At 3 weeks the puppy will begin to bark and show social development such as wagging its tail, growling and baring its teeth

- Up to the age of 4 weeks the mother will be with the puppy almost constantly

- The puppy has good use of its legs and is able to chase

    BETWEEN 4 and 5 WEEKS, THE MOTHER WILL GRADUALLY SPEND TIME AWAY FROM HER PUPPIES

-Rapid growth and development rate at this stage

-Interaction with litter mates leading to Order of Dominance

-After weaning puppies need to receive a series of vaccines in order to develop immunity on their own. Vaccinations for puppies generally include distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, rabies, and sometimes bordetella



PUPPIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS, ANYONE?

White male puppy EYES 11.1.09

Hello world!

ON OCTOBER 17, 2009 eleven healthy and beautiful Labrador Retriever puppies arrived (5 yellows, 4 blacks, 2 chocolates) compliments of our wonderful black Lab, Tilly. We didn’t know she was pregnant until 2 weeks before the birth . . . it seems that she was messing around with Murphy, our neighbor’s pure-bred yellow Lab who couldn’t control himself as he pushed through the screen of our living room window. They greeted my husband as he walked up the sidewalk from his car. . . Today we have eleven 2-week old puppies whose eyes are opening, ears are nearly developed and legs display a wobbly stand.