To all my puppy owners . . .more Labs in the Spring!
And the winner is – the LABRADOR Retriever!
For 18 years running, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America. According to the American Kennel Club® (AKC), more than twice as many Labs were registered last year than any other purebred dog. I can attest to contributing to this number with Tilly and Inka’s puppies.
Perhaps the number one characteristic that Labs posses making for a fabulous family dog is patience. I have seen children sit on them, lay on them, pull on their ears and poke them in the eye. They remain steadfast and loving. They are intelligent, loyal, family members.
In case you are wondering how the rest of the breds fared, here are the rankings of the most popular dogs in the USA:
| RANKING | ||||
| BREED | 2009 | 2008 | 2004 | 1999 |
| Labrador Retrievers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| German Shepherd Dogs | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Yorkshire Terriers | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Golden Retrievers | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Beagles | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Boxers | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 8 | 14 | 21 |
| Dachshunds | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Poodles | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Shih Tzu | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| Miniature Schnauzers | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 |
| Chihuahuas | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 |
| Rottweilers | 13 | 14 | 16 | 8 |
| Pomeranians | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Doberman Pinschers | 15 | 18 | 22 | 23 |
| German Shorthaired Pointers | 16 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
| Pugs | 17 | 15 | 12 | 16 |
| Shetland Sheepdogs | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 |
| Boston Terriers | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 |
| Maltese | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
| Great Danes | 21 | 22 | 27 | 28 |
| Siberian Huskies | 22 | 23 | 24 | 18 |
| Cocker Spaniels | 23 | 21 | 15 | 13 |
| French Bulldogs | 24 | 26 | 49 | 73 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniels | 25 | 25 | 32 | 58 |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgis | 26 | 24 | 23 | 30 |
| Mastiffs | 27 | 28 | 33 | 39 |
| Australian Shepherds | 28 | 29 | 34 | 38 |
| English Springer Spaniels | 29 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
| Brittanys | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
| Weimaraners | 31 | 31 | 29 | 34 |
| Havanese | 32 | 36 | 52 | 92 |
| Miniature Pinschers | 33 | 32 | 21 | 17 |
| Basset Hounds | 34 | 33 | 25 | 22 |
| Bichon Frises | 35 | 35 | 26 | 25 |
| West Highland White Terriers | 36 | 34 | 31 | 29 |
| Papillons | 37 | 37 | 35 | 46 |
| Collies | 38 | 38 | 36 | 32 |
| Bernese Mountain Dogs | 39 | 40 | 48 | 59 |
| Bullmastiffs | 40 | 39 | 47 | 50 |
| Redbone Coonhounds** | 41 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vizslas | 42 | 44 | 44 | 48 |
| Bloodhounds | 43 | 43 | 50 | 51 |
| Bluetick Coonhounds** | 44 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| St. Bernards | 45 | 45 | 37 | 37 |
| Newfoundlands | 46 | 46 | 45 | 53 |
| Chinese Shar-Pei | 47 | 47 | 41 | 35 |
| Rhodesian Ridgebacks | 48 | 50 | 55 | 56 |
| Chesapeake Bay Retrievers | 49 | 48 | 46 | 41 |
| Akitas | 50 | 52 | 51 | 36 |
| Scottish Terriers | 51 | 49 | 42 | 43 |
| Border Collies | 52 | 53 | 60 | 71 |
| Pekingese | 53 | 55 | 38 | 27 |
| Lhasa Apsos | 54 | 56 | 39 | 33 |
| Chinese Crested | 55 | 54 | 57 | 68 |
| Cairn Terriers | 56 | 51 | 43 | 42 |
| Bull Terriers | 57 | 57 | 68 | 79 |
| Alaskan Malamutes | 58 | 59 | 58 | 47 |
| Airedale Terriers | 59 | 58 | 53 | 49 |
| Portuguese Water Dogs | 60 | 64 | 69 | 80 |
| Whippets | 61 | 63 | 62 | 63 |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers | 62 | 60 | 59 | 60 |
| Chow Chows | 63 | 66 | 61 | 44 |
| Great Pyrenees | 64 | 62 | 56 | 45 |
| Shiba Inu | 65 | 65 | 66 | 54 |
| English Cocker Spaniels | 66 | 70 | 75 | 76 |
| Australian Cattle Dogs | 67 | 68 | 74 | 66 |
| Italian Greyhounds | 68 | 61 | 54 | 52 |
| Dogues de Bordeaux | 69 | 41 | N/A | N/A |
| American Staffordshire Terriers | 70 | 71 | 65 | 67 |
| Japanese Chin | 71 | 74 | 67 | 74 |
| Brussels Griffons | 72 | 67 | 63 | 84 |
| Irish Setters | 73 | 69 | 64 | 62 |
| German Wirehaired Pointers | 74 | 72 | 70 | 72 |
| Dalmatians | 75 | 76 | 81 | 40 |
| Samoyeds | 76 | 73 | 76 | 57 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terriers | 77 | 78 | 90 | 91 |
| Silky Terriers | 78 | 77 | 71 | 61 |
| Old English Sheepdogs | 79 | 75 | 73 | 64 |
| Irish Red and White Setters** | 80 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Belgian Malinois | 81 | 79 | 97 | 95 |
| Border Terriers | 82 | 80 | 82 | 88 |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgis | 83 | 82 | 85 | 86 |
| Irish Wolfhounds | 84 | 81 | 84 | 78 |
| Bouviers des Flandres | 85 | 83 | 83 | 75 |
| Black and Tan Coonhounds | 86 | 42 | 140 | 118 |
| Parson Russell Terriers | 87 | 84 | 72 | N/A |
| Basenjis | 88 | 85 | 78 | 69 |
| Giant Schnauzers | 89 | 87 | 80 | 82 |
| Borzois | 90 | 94 | 89 | 83 |
| Afghan Hounds | 91 | 93 | 86 | 85 |
| Boykin Spaniels** | 92 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Schipperkes | 93 | 91 | 79 | 55 |
| Wire Fox Terriers | 94 | 90 | 77 | 65 |
| English Setters | 95 | 86 | 95 | 89 |
| Tibetan Terriers | 96 | 96 | 96 | 94 |
| Gordon Setters | 97 | 92 | 87 | 81 |
| Norwich Terriers | 98 | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Standard Schnauzers | 99 | 99 | 101 | 101 |
| Toy Fox Terriers | 100 | 88 | 94 | - |
| Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs | 101 | 89 | 93 | 104 |
| Keeshonden | 102 | 95 | 91 | 70 |
| Welsh Terriers | 103 | 101 | 88 | 90 |
| Norwegian Buhunds** | 104 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Norwegian Elkhounds | 105 | 100 | 92 | 77 |
| Flat-Coated Retrievers | 106 | 98 | 100 | 99 |
| Pyrenean Shepherds** | 107 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wirehaired Pointing Griffons | 108 | 105 | 112 | 121 |
| Belgian Tervuren | 109 | 103 | 106 | 98 |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers | 110 | 102 | 118 | N/A |
| Tibetan Spaniels | 111 | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Salukis | 112 | 118 | 113 | 107 |
| Neapolitan Mastiffs | 113 | 112 | 40 | N/A |
| Pointers | 114 | 111 | 107 | 96 |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dogs | 115 | 110 | 114 | 117 |
| Bearded Collies | 116 | 109 | 102 | 93 |
| Manchester Terriers | 117 | 107 | 109 | 102 |
| American Eskimo Dogs | 118 | 108 | 110 | 97 |
| Spinoni Italiani | 119 | 114 | 116 | N/A |
| Belgian Sheepdogs | 120 | 116 | 115 | 105 |
| Kerry Blue Terriers | 121 | 120 | 108 | 109 |
| Norfolk Terriers | 122 | 115 | 117 | 110 |
| Smooth-Coated Fox Terriers | 123 | 106 | 103 | 87 |
| Australian Terriers | 124 | 113 | 111 | 103 |
| Miniature Bull Terriers | 125 | 124 | 129 | 129 |
| Plotts | 126 | 127 | N/A | N/A |
| Briards | 127 | 123 | 123 | 112 |
| Clumber Spaniels | 128 | 117 | 125 | 124 |
| English Toy Spaniels | 129 | 125 | 124 | 119 |
| Black Russian Terriers | 130 | 121 | 98 | N/A |
| Tibetan Mastiffs | 131 | 128 | N/A | N/A |
| Irish Terriers | 132 | 130 | 121 | 108 |
| Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens | 133 | 119 | 122 | 111 |
| Affenpinschers | 134 | 132 | 120 | 115 |
| Bedlington Terriers | 135 | 126 | 127 | 122 |
| Welsh Springer Spaniels | 136 | 122 | 119 | 113 |
| Field Spaniels | 137 | 140 | 138 | 127 |
| Lakeland Terriers | 138 | 131 | 126 | 120 |
| American Water Spaniels | 139 | 136 | 132 | 116 |
| Greyhounds | 140 | 129 | 131 | 128 |
| Kuvaszok | 141 | 135 | 128 | 126 |
| Scottish Deerhounds | 142 | 133 | 134 | 125 |
| Löwchen | 143 | 137 | 135 | 133 |
| Ibizan Hounds | 144 | 134 | 141 | 136 |
| Curly-Coated Retrievers | 145 | 138 | 130 | 114 |
| German Pinschers | 146 | 141 | 144 | N/A |
| Beaucerons | 147 | 139 | N/A | N/A |
| Swedish Vallhunds | 148 | 149 | N/A | N/A |
| Pulik | 149 | 142 | 136 | 123 |
| Irish Water Spaniels | 150 | 144 | 137 | 130 |
| Dandie Dinmont Terriers | 151 | 146 | 147 | 137 |
| Pharaoh Hounds | 152 | 148 | 139 | 134 |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdogs | 153 | 145 | 133 | N/A |
| Komondorok | 154 | 151 | 143 | 132 |
| Skye Terriers | 155 | 143 | 149 | 131 |
| Canaan Dogs | 156 | 150 | 142 | 139 |
| Sealyham Terriers | 157 | 152 | 146 | 138 |
| Glen of Imaal Terriers | 158 | 156 | 104 | N/A |
| Sussex Spaniels | 159 | 147 | 151 | 135 |
| Finnish Spitz | 160 | 153 | 148 | 140 |
| Otterhounds | 161 | 154 | 153 | 144 |
| American Foxhounds | 162 | 158 | 152 | 141 |
| Harriers | 163 | 155 | 150 | 143 |
| English Foxhounds | 164 | 157 | 154 | 142 |
NOTES:
** – New breeds entered in AKC registry in 2009.
N/A – Breeds not yet AKC recognized during the year indicated.
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, chocolate, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Training, Uncategorized, yellow
- Puppy-proof my new home. I will chew on anything and everything to help me cut my teeth ~ help us both out and buy me some good chew toys ~ hide everything that might be more important to you than I am at this moment (I’ll grow on you).
- Introduce me to your family, but not all at once. First the kennel ~ then a few rooms ~ next the house ~ then bring your friends and family over. I love a good party!
- Don’t feed me human food ~ it’s not good for me. Just like I’ll chew on anything, I’ll eat anything. It is up to you to choose a high quality dog food and designate my eating times and amount. I want to be fit and in shape ~ just like I’m going to make you!
- Potty train me and you’ll like me a whole lot more! Pay attention to me. I’ll give you signals ~ like walking to the door and sitting or whining. They’ll be brief, so act fast. Take me out to do my business whenever I wake up for a nap (I take a lot of them) and every hour or so. Praise me ~ I’m vain!
- Socialize me. After I settle in to my new surroundings and new family, I’m ready to meet the world. I’m a social creature you know. I didn’t get designated the most popular breed by accident! Take me to the park and on play dates. Let them pet me . . . woof . . . woof !
- Teach me some manners. Prove that you are the alpha dog and I’ll believe you! Teach me to sit, stay, not jump up on people, fetch . . . We’ll make a great team. I even like obedience school.
- Get me ‘fixed.’ If you’re not going to breed me, save me from ‘all that’ ~ make The Appointment.
- Exercise me. We’ll all be a lot healthier if you do. I like morning and evening walks, and don’t forget about those play dates!
- Play with me. I am a social pack animal and need your attention every day. Throw me a ball, teach me new tricks, and cuddle with me I’m a great stress reliever.
- Remember to reward my positive behavior ~ with healthy treats!
- Oh, and that kennel ~ I like it. It’s my safe haven ~ where I go to take naps and feel secure ~ you can keep me in there when you’re not home and know that I’ll be safe ~ even feed me in there. It’s cozy!
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, black, Breeding, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow | Tags: labrador, Puppies, retriever
On October 17, 2009, our beautiful black Lab Tilly gave birth to 12 healthy puppies — 4 blacks, 5 yellows and 2 chocolates. We soon lost one due to a birth defect and although she was only with us for 4 days, we cried as if she had been with us always. We love our Dogs! Seven of our puppies went immediately — on the 49th day — due to our fabulous reputation via word of mouth. We still have 4 PUPPIES waiting for NEW YEAR’s NEW HOMES. If you find and confirm me on Facebook (just send me a personal message saying who you are), you will find 2 albums full of pictures. YES, I maxed out the first FB album finding out that it will only hold 200 pictures! Well, actually we have 3 FB albums — Puppies, Puppies II and Puppies the New Adventure (a compilation of photos as they are sent to us from their new families). I’ve attached a few photos here. If you are not personally interested in a new puppy, I hope you will spread the word to other folks you know who may be looking for a quality, AKC, Labrador Retriever.
This is Tilly and her baby boy
And we have yellows available
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, chocolate, christmas, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow
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.
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, chocolate, christmas, holiday, Hunting, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, Training, yellow
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.
Filed under: Amerikennels, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, Uncategorized
On this HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, we naturally want to embrace all our family members, including the dog . . .
While cooked turkey meat is safe for dogs to eat, but be extremely cautious when discarding items used to cook the turkey:
Skewers used to secure the turkey are the #1 trouble-causing item.
Also be careful with the string, pop-up timers, and roasting bags. Swallowing such things can cause an intestinal blockage or perforation.
Turkey bones should never be fed to dogs. All poultry bones splinter easily, and, whether splintered or whole, they can lodge inside or perforate a dog’s intestines.
Turkey skin is something dogs love to eat, but consuming fatty food like poultry skin can lead to gastric distress and Pancreatitis, a serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas that causes vomiting and dehydration.
Caution your family and friends who may be tempted to share food with the dog, especially the small children who may find it hard to resist feeding the dog anyway; and, the dog who finds it too easy to steal food from little hands!
If you feel you must share with your dog on Thanksgiving Day:
A sudden change in diet, like a big bowl of full of turkey and all the trimmings could cause an upset stomach and diarrhea.
Add a few pieces of boneless, skinless turkey meat to their regular food.
Make something special ahead of time to give your dog on Thanksgiving Day – like Turkey Dinner Loaf or Turkey Gobbler Treats.
Give your dog a special new chewy, an irresistible new toy, or a treat filled Kong Toy or Buster Cube to keep him occupied during the meal.
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, black, Breeding, chocolate, christmas, Hunting, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow

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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
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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
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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
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, black, Breeding, christmas, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow | Tags: blacks, chocolates, christmas, female, holidays, lab, labrador retrievr, male, Puppies, puppy, yellows

Hello world!
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, Training, Vizsla | Tags: ann arbor art fairs, crowd, dogs, poop, Puppies, Vizsla

I’m a dog lover.
There’s absolutely no doubt about it. I own more dogs than I will admit to my business associates and sane friends; however, the Ann Arbor Art Fairs — or any art fair — is no place for a dog.
~ It’s hot, and when it’s hot, it’s cruel to your 4-legged friend.
~ It’s crowded. When your leash goes one way, your dog the other, it’s irritating to the crowd & harmful to the dog.
~ They need regular water and when they drink, they need a place to go to the bathroom — in private, where other fair goers won’t have to walk in it or smell it.
~ They poop! Yes, poop . . . and nobody wants to see you carrying around a bag of the hot stuff, either!
So, leave your dog at home this year — in the air conditioning, in front of a fan, with plenty of water and treats — and enjoy the Ann Arbor Art Fairs — all of them. You can buy them something . . . and they’ll be oh so happy upon your return!
Oh, and speaking of owning more dogs than I know what to do with . . .
- we still have 3 Vizsla puppies for sale
at a GREAT price to a GOOD home. 
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, Hunting, Labrador Retriever, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, Training
The 4th of JULY Labrador Retriever!




