News
OPEN LETTER
RE: ATTITUDE OF FLAT COAT SOCIETY OF GB
AND
SCOTTISH FLAT COAT SOCIETY
TOWARDS OURSELVES
I have bred Labrador retrievers for over 30 year and in all that time I have never had one complaint against myself or any puppy that I bred. I have always worked strictly within the guidelines of the Kennel Club. Six years ago we started breeding Flat Coat Retrievers and that is when the above societies and some members of their societies started what I can only describe as a vendetta against ourselves.
Their accusations against ourselves are ridiculous and most importantly untrue, one of the latest complaints, made by the Scottish FCRS is that we are now breeding multi coloured flat coats and advising our clients to die the white patches – sounds silly doesn’t it but not funny at all, really quite sad that a so called reputable society should stoop as low as this.
As breeders of both Flat Coats and Labrador Retrievers we do everything we can to ensure the health of our puppies (by following health screening requirements by the KC) by active socialisation and the general wellbeing of our pups.
Last year I wrote a letter of complaint to the FCS of GB regarding one of their office bearers, who had said the most awful, unfounded things about us and our kennels, this complaint of course came to nothing, despite the written evidence of one of our clients who had actually spoken to this man, they more or less said it was totally unproven but did apologise for any upset caused!
Our dogs, including our FCR enjoy a totally natural life with us, they are walked a minimum of four miles a day, in all weathers, they come home muddy, wet tired and happy, they spend the rest of their day with me around our farm – ask yourselves is this a good life for a flat coat and a genuine fcr lover will say yes.
We now have a witness to their accusations, she visits us from time to time unannounced and is always delighted with our dogs and the way in which they are kept.
We are in the process of taking legal advice with a view to giving these accusers the opportunity to prove their nasty allegations in court.
For anyone thinking of a Flat Coat Retriever puppy I say to them make up your own mind, do not take the rantings of a few jealous people, some of whom have never bred a FCR but have bought a FCR from one of the chosen few i.e. members of the two societies. Come and visit us, see our dogs, meet us, see our kennels, see the environment in which our dogs live, you don’t have to be looking for a puppy, just be a FCR lover.
We have been KC Acc breeders for quite a few years and have fantastic, positive feedback from our clients, the pictures and words you read on our site are not made but are factual, we have families coming back after two or three years for a second puppy, would they do that or write about us in a positive way if we were what these two societies claim.
I have extended an invitation on quite a few occasions to both of these societies to come and visit us, meet us and our dogs and then make up your minds about us, neither society has had the courtesy to reply nor visit.
Our FCR go all over the UK and some to other countries and contrary to what is said we have many happy satisfied clients, we do our job well and our puppies are fantastic outgoing little characters. We have two vets from Ireland who cant wait to come and visit us and pick up their girl at the end of March. We have a great relationship with our vet practise, which also knows us well and they give their 100% endorsement to our puppies, recommending our kennels to anyone who makes enquiries thru them when looking for a puppy.
Our FCR lines are superb, healthy, sensible and uncomplicated, we have never once had a complaint from anyone who has bought a puppy from us and if we ever do then it will be handled in a professional way to the customers satisfaction, the contract that we put out with any puppy from Littlehill Kennels gives a guarantee as to the health of the puppy and also requests that if the clients circumstances change and their puppy/dog has to be rehomed they come back to us first.
We have over 20 dogs here at Littlehill, apart from our FCR and our Labradors we also breed Border Terriers, of the dogs we have many who are older dogs or rescue dogs, but whatever they are they are all looked after in the same way,
It has also been claimed by these societies that some of our puppies have
behaviour problems, again they claim that owners have been in contact regarding this matter f but when pressed have never once been able to prove their allegations.
If some so called expert tries to tell you that behaviour problems in puppies are caused by over breeding – challenge them on the statement – think about it if a litter is bred from a sane, happy, healthy much loved flat coat from some of the best FCR lines in the UK, how can the number of puppies she has determine the future behaviour of her offspring?
I’m afraid that the blame for behaviour problems in puppies and young dogs should be layed squarely at the feet of their owners. Perhaps the requirements of a FCR are just to much for the family, they underestimated the time, care and attention that a FCR requires, but its problems are not inherited but established by the environment in which they live.
That is why our site has so much information on regarding the breed characteristics and requirements, we even have a short questionnaire and if the answers to some of the questions are no then a FCR is not the dog for you
Finally there seems to be some confusion regarding our daughter Mrs Cook, who also breeds FCR, she and her husband are staying with us at the moment until they find a suitable new home. Their FCR breeding is totally separate from ours; she has her own prefix and is also a KC Acc Breeder. Her customers are also delighted with the FCR puppies that she is breeding.
Pauline and Frank Turnock
Littlehill Kennels