Labpups Newsletter Spring 2011
By Tripp Wood
Hello from the Labpups family! You are receiving this because you either own one of our Labradors, or you signed up for our newsletter.
As of this writing, nearly all AKC papers have been delivered for pups born through September, 2010. If you have not received yours, please click here.
In this Newsletter
Bareon and Joe
Canine Kidney Failure
Alaskan Seafood
Political Discussion-sign up now
Unlimited JaxMax Available!
I remember our first Labrador Retriever – he was a blocky headed black we named Bareon. Tripper and Bobby were very young. They put in $20 each of their own money. I knew this would make them appreciate him more. It did.
We picked up Bareon at eight weeks, and started training him right away. My inexperience in the training department could have filled a book, but Bareon was smart. Years later, I realized he trained me.
Before marrying, Gail told me not to ever even consider owning a dog. She was adamant. Bareon wormed his way into her heart, and they spent many evenings by the fireplace.
Bobb, Tripper and Bareon in July 1988
I remember the kids and Bareon skinny dipping in a mountain creek. Our 12 week old Labrador slid off a rock and into the fast moving stream. He shot right through Tripper’s legs, where he was unceremoniously plucked out of the water by my oldest. “I’m not losing my twenty dollars!” Tripper exclaimed as he set him on the bank. Years later, as I was swimming in the same spot, I lost my footing and slid into the stream. My wrist had a sudden attachment – Bareon’s teeth. I looked up to find him staring at me, legs braced to hold my weight. I wasn’t in any real danger, but I knew where he was coming from. He remembered.
My work as an airline pilot carried us many miles in a day. I home schooled the boys at my overnight destinations, and we were always back at the ranch within three days. “I wonder what Bareon is doing”, would be a repeated comment from the boys. They got to visit such places as the New England Sea Aquarium, Boston’s Faniel Hall, the Air and Space Museum in DC, the Everglades in Florida, and many other exciting places, but their thoughts were of Bareon. So were mine. Our love of the Labrador hit us hard. Little did we realize this love affair would drive us on a lifelong quest to improve the breed standard and create a special food for Labrador Retrievers. The countless hours and years upon years of physical labor and learning were a no brainer – profit or not.
Introduction of the special food literally saved Bareon’s life. I remember clearly carrying him home from the vets and placing him in the living room. He couldn’t walk, and didn’t have energy to do more than wag the tip of his tail. Our vet said 14 years was a long time for a Lab to live, and there was nothing he could do for him. That day, we received the first test batch of our food. Bareon, who had quit eating anything, crawled across the floor to sniff the bag. I got a few kibbles out, and he licked them off my hand. I was stunned. He had a second life. It brought him a quality five years.
Unfortunately, Bareon liked to sleep in leaf piles. One of our construction workers liked to drive his truck through leaf piles. Not a good combination. Bareon is buried under the Azaleas at the front of our house.
We were beyond heartbroken. Our buddy, our loyal friend who stood by the boy’s sides and grew up with them, was gone. Even though it has been many years, I cannot write
Tripper and Bareon - July 198
this with dry eyes. I believe he’s in Heaven awaiting our arrival. I have to believe that.
Joe our yellow male has his own story. He’s been with us seven years now. When traveling by airlines, he sits right beside us. He prefers the window seat. When we commercially fish, he’s right there on the boat inspecting the catch when it comes in. On cold night campouts, he’s snuggled with Bobby in his sleeping bag. We love him dearly.
Joe was just a pup when we lost Bareon. They touched noses, and Bareon gave his approval. I’m glad they knew one another. You might say the torch got passed.
Has anyone out there noticed a large number of dogs dying from pancreatitis and related kidney failure? Perhaps because we speak with hundreds of potential customers a year, we just hear about it more. Pancreatitis is almost always caused by diet, and the associated kidney damage results from a systemic infection caused by pancreatitis. Dog foods have hit an all time low. I have noticed that more canine pancreatic and intestinal issues occur during bad economies. Most veterinarians do not seem to catch on to these conditions being related to food. Perhaps this is because nearly all the dogs they see eat similar diets.
Please don’t rely on a dog food store or a veterinarian to tell you which dog food you should be feeding. This is a case of the blind leading the blind. For more information, please read “Labradors and Nutrition” from http://www.Labpups.com. You will find this under article central.
Ready for more Alaskan Seafood?
Fresh caught Alaskan prawn
Most of you know that we do more than raise Labradors. We are also involved in dog food manufacturing, and in catching and selling Alaskan seafood.
Flopping Fresh is our seafood company. Purchases you make from this sister company aid in the funding of our Labrador rescue program.
Many of you purchased our fresh seafood products last year. (Thank you!). We will have Alaskan Prawn available again within a few weeks. You will receive a Flopping Fresh news announcement detailing tremendous savings for early orders. If you just can’t wait for the announcement, you can go to http://www.FloppingFresh.com.
Last November, I broke the cardinal rule of newsletter writing – I urged you to go out and vote. I felt our country was at great peril, and needed your action. I received HUNDREDS of supportive feedbacks from you, but I really ticked off four progressive liberals (Let’s call them what they are – Socialists). I often feel compelled to write things that would naturally upset those people that want to control our lives. I will refrain from doing so within the context of the Labpups newsletter, as I like to keep things positive here. If you would like to receive my political views, and possibly join our blog or our upcoming committee, please email newsletter@.iremembernovember.com. If you are a progressive liberal, you can also join – and you can tell us in the blog why we freedom lovers are so screwed up.
JaxMax Pet Food - YOUR FOR LIFE
The World’s Best Labrador Food is now available in unlimited supplies. So are the Snacks. Go to http://www.JaxMax.com to place your orders.
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Charlie & Abbey Litter
We have several litters of black, yellow and chocolate puppies available or coming very soon.
Visit http://www.Labpups.com to check them out!
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Great newsletter! I thoroughly enjoyed readying it!
I am excited the newsletters are published again. It is refreshing to have someone acknowledge and discuss canine nutrition. I am frustrated by not only uniformed Lab owners but also most Veterinarians for attributing many disorders that some Labs(dogs in general) face such as hip displeshea or the organ malfunctions you mentioned as disorders attributed to the breed or simply conditions an aging dog must face. As some of us know this is NOT due to the breed or age of the dog but most often irresponsible breeding and more importantly poor nutrition. Recently our eight year olds had routine blood work done and due to their age for the first time I ordered x-rays to be taken. I am please to share that their blood work was that of a healthy puppy and their bone structures are amazing. I can’t thank you enough for bringing my well bred babies into this world but equally important providing me with amazingly high quality nutritional food for the Labs. The doctor was immediately interested in what I feed the dogs. You guys are the best and family for life. Keep up the good work- you are changing lives for the better everyday.