I 've always been fond of dogs, but bought my first one, a Leonberger
female,
in 1980.She was as loved as complicated and faithfully accompanied our
family for 10 years.
Then, in August 1990, the first Labrador, "Scandica Iron Lady",
came to us
from Annika Schäffer. Lady was the beginning of my deep love of
Labradors.
Because of her and her needs I started showing her and trained her for
hunting. Finally, I received a hunting licence myself.
Annika always did her best to support my enthusiasm.
Lady became my first breeding dog and had her first litter in 1992.
I did the
first „Bringleistungsprüfung" (hunting test)with Lady
and learned that a
reliable hunting dog can certainly have its own opinion and surely has
a far
better nose than its leader.
The pack was completed
in 1993 by my Swedish imports: the chocolates "Utnäs
Famous Faxe", later Dt. Ch. DRC including Arbeitsprüfung (working
certificate) and "Tjotte's Showstealer", meanwhile Dt. Ch.
VDH, Dt. Ch. DRC
and club winner in DRC in 1999 (including Arbeitsprüfung).
I also learned a lot because of Faxe. He was already 13 months old when
he
arrived and had a very specific idea about the ideal Labrador life.
After a
phase of getting used to each other and practising we came to an agreement
and Faxe passed all of his tests (BHP and BLP) always achieving the
highest
available number of points. He is still very reliable and willing to
please
and he passes the trades on to his offspring.
From the beginning my
heart belonged to the blacks and chocolates, since 2000
also to my first yellow female, "Mambrinos Lasagne" from Jan
Roger Sauge who
lives in Norway, who started her show career this year in youth class
with V
1 in Munich and V 2 at Europasiegerschau in Dortmund.
Since 1998 I have called
the Blenheim-Cavalier King Charles Spaniel female
"Babbler's Wild Rose" from Finland my second love. I met her
father, "Ch.
Crawford Command Mission", at a dummy training with my Labradors
and was
fascinated by the self-confident, friendly character of this little
dog.
"Millie" meanwhile behaves like a Labrador and had her second
litter in
February 2001, seven beautiful puppies in blenheim and tricolour, whose
father is "Babbler's His Mastervoice" (also imported from
Finland).
Breeding: Since 1992 I
have bred under the FCI/VDH-saved prefix "Franconian"
17 litters of Labradors (two in DRC, the others in LCD) and two litters
of
Cavalier King Charles (in ICC) . Franconian is a small kennel and we
have
about two litters each year. The hips and elbows of all breeding Labradors
have been x-rayed according to the high LCD's requirements, they've
been
successful at shows, at character tests, Formwert, and most of them
have
passed additional tests. Apart from that, they all have their eyes examined
every year. The Cavalier female's hips were also x-rayed (B1), the dog
is
further more patella examined and has heart examinations every year.
I attach great importance to good character and health, but also to
appearance and good working talents of all "Franconian" puppies
and plan
every litter carefully. I have a high breeding standard - difficult
to
achieve, but an incentive.
All "Franconians"
are born in the house and then grow up in close family and
pack contact. The puppies' good socialisation and up-bringing are very
important, I also choose future owners carefully. "Franconian"
puppies
should live their life as loved members of the family and as companions
in
life and receive proper treatment which means that their needs are considered
- plenty of activity like hunting and dummy training and happy family
life.
They are not satisfied with being couch potatoes. The little Cavaliers
are
also DOGS (hard to imagine, hhhmmmm???) and need appropriate treatment.
Many close friendships
are the result of my hobby, many thanks to all those
who have lead me to learn more about my breeds and all those who I have
infected with the "Labrador/Cavalier King Charles"-virus!
Eva Ebeling, May 2001