What makes Drachten dogs SO special?
While we are always looking for our next performance and service/working prospects in our litters, we aim to create complimentary breedings based on health, structure, working abilities, and lineage. Structure is important for all performance and working dogs as there is no point in having the best working dog in the world if it essentially tears it's body up doing the work. This is basically like putting a Ferrari engine in a Chevy truck... it's not compatible long term but sure looks cool until it breaks down. The same is true of dogs.
As we breed for more and more drive in sports and working dogs in general and pay less attention to structure, you run into these issues. We use our combined 30+ years of evaluating, breeding, devloping working K9s, and showing dogs of multiple breeds in multiple sports to stay as on top of this structure vs drive dynamic. While we want our next high performance dogs for our program, even as professionals we appreciate dogs that can be great companions in the house as well and breed specifically for dogs that have this sometimes elusive "off switch."
This all means that even if you're looking for a personal/family companion or casual hunting/performance buddy, you can rest assured that hundreds of hours went into planning, producing, and evaluating our dogs and puppies before they even get to you. You're not getting our "leftovers," you're getting a support team that is as invested in your pup as you are. Our commitment to health, structure, and trainability is apparent in every litter we produce and every dog we train. Our puppies go through rigorous evaluations, handling, and training primers from Day One until they leave our facilities.
Our goal? The best dog you'll ever have... simple.
As we breed for more and more drive in sports and working dogs in general and pay less attention to structure, you run into these issues. We use our combined 30+ years of evaluating, breeding, devloping working K9s, and showing dogs of multiple breeds in multiple sports to stay as on top of this structure vs drive dynamic. While we want our next high performance dogs for our program, even as professionals we appreciate dogs that can be great companions in the house as well and breed specifically for dogs that have this sometimes elusive "off switch."
This all means that even if you're looking for a personal/family companion or casual hunting/performance buddy, you can rest assured that hundreds of hours went into planning, producing, and evaluating our dogs and puppies before they even get to you. You're not getting our "leftovers," you're getting a support team that is as invested in your pup as you are. Our commitment to health, structure, and trainability is apparent in every litter we produce and every dog we train. Our puppies go through rigorous evaluations, handling, and training primers from Day One until they leave our facilities.
Our goal? The best dog you'll ever have... simple.
WHY DO YOU Do Things This WAy?
Both Beth and Alex have trained dogs professionally as well as been in the veterinary industry for many years and in that time we have seen some amazing owner/dog pairings but more often than not you see the ones that aren't working out on various levels.
Most of the time it's incompatibility in what the dog has to offer and what the person is wanting out of the dog. We all love the pup that runs up to us to first, but few breeders will stop you from getting that puppy because it is normally the most confident and normally (depending on the breed) the one with the most drive and tenacity. This sounds great, right? It always sounds like a great idea until that pup is screaming in it's crate, tearing up who knows what, and driving you nuts when it won't settle down because it's needs aren't being met... that awesome "run up to you and be the one" puppy is going to be the puppy that needs the most training, the most rules, the most work. The majority of people aren't really wanting that long term. We want you and your pup to be compatible for your needs and wants. This is a key component to getting your dream dog and we're going to be here to make those recommendations for you. We're willing to be that breeder that uses our training and veterinary knowledge to say "not that one..."
Additionally, the majority of your choices to find a puppy are through a "show" breeder that rarely offers high quality puppies or through someone that is more of your "casual" breeder that probably doesn't do health clearances, showing, or anything but you are able to get a puppy sooner than within the next 3 years. We aim to be an "Option C" for people wanting quality dogs that mark off all the boxes without having to wait years on end normally.
This is a team effort and we want our team to be successful!
Most of the time it's incompatibility in what the dog has to offer and what the person is wanting out of the dog. We all love the pup that runs up to us to first, but few breeders will stop you from getting that puppy because it is normally the most confident and normally (depending on the breed) the one with the most drive and tenacity. This sounds great, right? It always sounds like a great idea until that pup is screaming in it's crate, tearing up who knows what, and driving you nuts when it won't settle down because it's needs aren't being met... that awesome "run up to you and be the one" puppy is going to be the puppy that needs the most training, the most rules, the most work. The majority of people aren't really wanting that long term. We want you and your pup to be compatible for your needs and wants. This is a key component to getting your dream dog and we're going to be here to make those recommendations for you. We're willing to be that breeder that uses our training and veterinary knowledge to say "not that one..."
Additionally, the majority of your choices to find a puppy are through a "show" breeder that rarely offers high quality puppies or through someone that is more of your "casual" breeder that probably doesn't do health clearances, showing, or anything but you are able to get a puppy sooner than within the next 3 years. We aim to be an "Option C" for people wanting quality dogs that mark off all the boxes without having to wait years on end normally.
This is a team effort and we want our team to be successful!
What Sports Do You Show or Compete In? WHy is competing important?
Short version: Anything that AKC offers as a performance sport or titling event.
Longer version: We have shown in everything from Herding to Agility to Obedience to Conformation and remain active in most sports on a rotating basis depending on what titles which dogs in our programs are lacking. Our training program is unique in that our foundation skills apply across most all disciplines so basically when we do a new sport, we simply show our dogs what the new game is and off we go. We have a great location to all the major cities in Texas and will also frequent other venues/sports such as NADAC or ASCA agility shows to gain more show experience on our dogs. Hunt Tests we do seasonally and as needed with our Labradors on hand as well as client dogs.
No matter what breed, we feel that the best dogs of any breed are those that can prove their versatility which translates to a dog that can learn, train, and work/compete in any situation confidently as their breed standard and history outlines.
We compete because it is basically the best way to test our dogs, our training, and ourselves on a regular basis. Showing is difficult in that there is a lot of pressure on the dog, the handler, and the environment. It shows that you chose to work with this dog to a level that most people won't even attempt and you're out there performing. You must conquer your nerves, focus, and be a great partner for your dog. In return, they need to have trust in the training and relationship that you have developed in order to perform their portion of the task. While many people feel they have this bond with their dog (and none of them are wrong), we enjoy the pressure to adhere to a set of standards whether it is an obedience test, a field trial, or a termite detection dog's certification day.
Longer version: We have shown in everything from Herding to Agility to Obedience to Conformation and remain active in most sports on a rotating basis depending on what titles which dogs in our programs are lacking. Our training program is unique in that our foundation skills apply across most all disciplines so basically when we do a new sport, we simply show our dogs what the new game is and off we go. We have a great location to all the major cities in Texas and will also frequent other venues/sports such as NADAC or ASCA agility shows to gain more show experience on our dogs. Hunt Tests we do seasonally and as needed with our Labradors on hand as well as client dogs.
No matter what breed, we feel that the best dogs of any breed are those that can prove their versatility which translates to a dog that can learn, train, and work/compete in any situation confidently as their breed standard and history outlines.
We compete because it is basically the best way to test our dogs, our training, and ourselves on a regular basis. Showing is difficult in that there is a lot of pressure on the dog, the handler, and the environment. It shows that you chose to work with this dog to a level that most people won't even attempt and you're out there performing. You must conquer your nerves, focus, and be a great partner for your dog. In return, they need to have trust in the training and relationship that you have developed in order to perform their portion of the task. While many people feel they have this bond with their dog (and none of them are wrong), we enjoy the pressure to adhere to a set of standards whether it is an obedience test, a field trial, or a termite detection dog's certification day.
WHERE are all the males?
As you click through our pages on this site, you'll realize that we don't have many males on hand. This is in a stark difference from most kennels that produce dogs. The answer for this is pretty simple - it allows us to utilize the top dogs from the country depending on what matches a particular female the best. These goals can shift and change a little over time as we see things like new DNA tests become available, dogs develop on the hunt/field circuits, or we add different types of working dogs to our program. We want to remain on top of our lines as we progress forward rather than feeling the pressure to utilize our male(s) over and over again until we buy another/more boys. This results in having to spend money to breed each time we're wanting a litter but we feel it is a trade off for producing superior puppies that compliment our females and goals.
Do we not like males? Of course we love our boys. They're normally extra snuggly but still hard workers. We just don't need tons of them around with our program focus and ambitions.
Do we not like males? Of course we love our boys. They're normally extra snuggly but still hard workers. We just don't need tons of them around with our program focus and ambitions.
Do You Breed Dilutes?
No. While we strongly believe to each their own, we have chosen to align ourselves with the AKC and The Labrador Retriever Club of America (the AKC breed parent club) on this topic:
AKC/LRC Joint Statement on Alleged “Silver Labradors” Brandi Hunter, American Kennel Club Vice President, Public Relations and Communications
JUNE 13, 2017According to the breed standard, established by the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., there are three acceptable colors of Labrador Retrievers. Those colors are Black (all black), Yellow (fox-red to light cream), and Chocolate (light to dark chocolate). Silver is not an acceptable color of Labrador Retriever and is a disqualifying fault. Based on an agreement in 1987 between the American Kennel Club and the LRC, it was agreed that there was no proof that these silver dogs were not purebred and the breeders of the silver dogs subsequently registered them as chocolates.
Using parentage testing, it cannot conclusively be proven that silver Labradors are not purebred dogs or are crossed with Weimaraners. The Labrador Retriever breed does not carry the dilute gene dd that appears universally in the Weimaraner and is responsible for silver color.
Responsible breeders are tasked with breeding for health and standard and not solely for aesthetic. While we respect the choice of pet owners to select the breed of their choice, the LRC, Inc. does not view silver Labradors as appropriate breeding stock and believes that they should not be bred. They may compete in AKC events but are disqualified from the conformation show ring.
AKC/LRC Joint Statement on Alleged “Silver Labradors” Brandi Hunter, American Kennel Club Vice President, Public Relations and Communications
JUNE 13, 2017According to the breed standard, established by the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., there are three acceptable colors of Labrador Retrievers. Those colors are Black (all black), Yellow (fox-red to light cream), and Chocolate (light to dark chocolate). Silver is not an acceptable color of Labrador Retriever and is a disqualifying fault. Based on an agreement in 1987 between the American Kennel Club and the LRC, it was agreed that there was no proof that these silver dogs were not purebred and the breeders of the silver dogs subsequently registered them as chocolates.
Using parentage testing, it cannot conclusively be proven that silver Labradors are not purebred dogs or are crossed with Weimaraners. The Labrador Retriever breed does not carry the dilute gene dd that appears universally in the Weimaraner and is responsible for silver color.
Responsible breeders are tasked with breeding for health and standard and not solely for aesthetic. While we respect the choice of pet owners to select the breed of their choice, the LRC, Inc. does not view silver Labradors as appropriate breeding stock and believes that they should not be bred. They may compete in AKC events but are disqualified from the conformation show ring.
Why Title A Dog?
Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores, a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in record and in memory for as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard.
And though the dog itself doesn’t know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.
A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.
And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified.
A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.
And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of pride in one small set of initials after the name.
A title earned is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, and permanently recorded.
Credit: Sandra Mowery
And though the dog itself doesn’t know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.
A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.
And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified.
A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.
And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of pride in one small set of initials after the name.
A title earned is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, and permanently recorded.
Credit: Sandra Mowery