Field Trial Labrador Retrievers at Ravensbank: Ivy, Waggie, Flo, Jock and James
Ravensbank is a kennel with entire focus on the working Labrador Retriever. Our dogs are bred on Irish and British Field Trialing lines.
Many people think that a field trial Labrador is bred to be particularly small, skinny and with snipey noses. While that can be true for some, most modern breeders of the FT Labrador Retriever aims to develop their lines to be both good looking yet sound and stylish workers.
The FT Labrador is the result of more than 150 years of breeding in Britain and Ireland. Through generations these dogs have been developed to serve the gun after the shot, and breeding has been based on sires and dams who have carefully been selected for their working qualities and above all their "will-to-please".
Our dogs are trained retrievers, used for picking-up and as sporting dogs in tests (cold game) and trials (warm game).
I often use the dogs for picking up on organised shoots during the shooting season in Denmark (from September to January).
In my work as a breeder, i prioritise that both sire and dam are healthy, strongly built and above all have excellent temper. I will want to be assured that they are well balanced dogs and they are known for their trainability.
I do study pedigrees, but in my eyes a lot of "red ink" (e.g. champion merits) in the pedigree of parents does not necessarily guarantee that their puppies will be good workers.
In 2004 I imported Tidemark Ivy (Ivy) from Angela and Andy Markham, Kennel Tidemark in England. One year later I had Tidemark Jill (Jill) from the same fine Kennel. The qualities of these two dogs boosted my interest for gundogs even more and in 2006 I had the first litter of pups with Ivy as the dam. From this liitter I kept two puppies, Ravensbank Wagtail (Waggie) og Ravensbank Robin (Robin).
In 2008 Jill and Robin moved to new homes, both serving as gundogs and sporting dogs.
Please read more about the individual dogs below. Click on the name to see the pedigree of the individual dog, og click on the picture to go to the gallery where you can see pictures of the dog. Please also visit the gallery to see pictures of other dogs I have had, and the many pictures of the Ravensbank progeny.
Tidemark Ivy
Ivy is the first dog I imported from England, and she is 8 years 2 months old. She is bred by Angela and Andy Markham, kennel Tidemark. Ivy's Sire qualified for the IGL Championship four times. Ivy herself is well merited at tests and trials and she was awarded a bronze medal at the Danish Team Championship in 2006. Ivy is the dam of four litters of puppies from August 2006, May 2008, November 2009 and May 2011. All these four litters has been sired by DKBRCH DKJCH Cynhinfa Emperor (Leo).
Ravensbank Wagtail
Waggie is from Ivy's first litter and she is 5 years 5 months old. She is a well balanced and competent retriever with immense speed and style. Above all Waggie is is excellent contact and very trainable. Already at the age of 20 months, Waggie was ready for Open Class cold game, and a few monts later she was cleared for paticipation in Open class field trial (called "Winner-class" in Dennmark). Two of Waggie's siblings were awarded 2. og 3. place at the Danish Young Dogs' Championship 2008.
Waggie has had one litter of puppies in 2009 which was sired by DKBRCH DKJCH Lochiness Green Chive (Chive), and a second litter in 2010 also sired by Chive. Waggie has clear hipscore (A), 00 in elbows, Genetically tested clear for PRA-prcd (Optigen), CNM and EIC. She carries an eye-certificate from September 2011 clear of any heriditary eye diseases.
Ravensbank Flo
Flo is from Ivy's second litter in May 2008, and she is 3 years 8 months old. She is a fine small bitch and posesses all the good qualities I like to see in my breeding. She is very calm and easy to work with, and at the same time she is a fast and competent retriever, which I am confident will make her the perfect shooting companion.
Flo is handled by Annelise, and over 2011 they have both had their debut in the working-system. This has lead to some good results, among which is the best dog on the day merit in both the aptitude test and in novice class at unofficial tests. At official cold game tests Flo has been merited with two 2nd prices in her debut season.
Ravensbank Jock
Jock is from Ivy's third litter, and with his 2 years 2 months he is the second youngest dog in our pack. He has already proven himself as a very trainable young retriever. Jock was introduced to picking-up in the shooting season of 2010, and has in 2011 had a remarkable debut as a sporting dog. He passed his aptitude test in the early spring. On official cold game tests ("B-prøve") he has achieved three first prices in beginner's class and one first price in novice class (open-class non-competition). He became no. six at the Young dogs' Championship 2011, a 6th WT-winner, a 4. WT-winner på in novice class and he has several 1st prices at unofficial tests in both beginner and novice class and was merited as the best dog on the day in both classes. At his debut on Field Trial, he became the best dog on the day.
In the shooting season 2011, Jock has been the my primary worker when we have been out picking up. Jock has proven himself as a very promising young dog, as he is very calm and easy to work with even in stressful situations.
Ravensbank Observer
James is the latest addition to my pack. He is from Ivy's fourth and last litter and thus he is 8 months old. James is a sheer joy to work with. He is extremely fond of working, and he is a dog who is very promising as a retriever.
