Silverace Labradors

06/08/2024

Top tips from Gary. Why don’t you get in touch with them to help with any training needs. Super friendly helpful bunch ☺️

30/07/2024

We have black and red males available from Jock x Pippi some of the best UK and US lines in this litter. Both parents have superb temperaments and can be seen at home with us. Jock is by FTCH Shallowbeck Bakers Boy, sired by FTCh WATERFORD GANTON, Jocks mother is by FT CH BEILEYS AGUZANNIS OF FENDAWOOD and out of a FTCH drakeshead Vodka mother. Mother is by King (Aglabs Manners Maketh Man Imp USA) 🇺🇸 who’s sire is the famous US dock diving champion Johnson’s Jumpin Jack flash. Excellent health tests throughout. Very excited about these pups 🤩

27/07/2024

Just what was needed after a hard shift on the internationals. The best ice cream ever FACT from so good we will be back tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who came to see us today. Sorry for lack of messages. Signal is awful. Thanks for the water delivery too great too see you guys and hope you enjoyed your first game fair

03/07/2024

Huge congratulations to .philp08 for passing her second level 3 qualification. This time in “work based” animal care and welfare. The work based element focuses more on business operations working to the DEFRA regulations and expectations when it comes to transportation and movement as well as all aspects of suitable environments for small and large animals as well as as the bigger picture of the full life cycle and environment links of animal care. She has undertaken work with exotics and well as small and large animals. This level 3 is more linked to the work Poppy undertakes as a joint licensed breeder alongside her mum Laila as both names are on Silverace ‘s higher standard 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ animal activity (breeding) license. She add this to her previous level 2 and 3 in animal welfare and behaviour as well as also holding a level 3 in emergency canine first aid. Well done Pops 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

01/07/2024

Come along and meet the team Fortiscorde Gundogs and watch the demonstration

Are you free this Saturday 6th July?

We'll be at the Hanbury Countryside Show on Saturday 6th July where you'll be able to meet the Fortiscorde Gundogs team and watch the dogs in action in our Gundog Demonstrations in the Countryside Arena at 12:45pm and 4pm.

It's going to be a brilliant family day, and we can't wait to meet you! Pop a long to the gundog scurry to say hi. Take part in the scurry competitions (rosettes and prizes to be won!) Chat with our trainers for advice. There will also be leads, whistles and training dummies for sale!

Last chance to grab your tickets

28/06/2024

Spots available. Great way to start your puppy on the right path and create great communication 🤩

With the temperatures set to be back to normal, there are a couple of places left on our Introduction to Puppy Gundog Training Class this Saturday 29th June (10am-12:30pm).
Suitable for puppies aged between 16weeks and 6 months, this fun and interactive class will focus on important foundations to help get your puppy's training off to a good start.
Book now by emailing [email protected] or telephone: 01562 312595

22/06/2024

🥰

Our puppy’s come with
* kennel club registration
* 5 weeks free insurance
* Sales contract
* Copies of all parents health tests
* Comprehensive vet check
* Vaccination card
* Microchip card and registration
* 10 days supply of raw puppy food
* A sensory toy
* Vet bed with mum and litter scent on it
* Sample box of Axels Elixor and discount code
* Avonmeadow supplies puppy pack discount card
* Ruff & Tumble brochure with our discount code
* And of course a lifetime of support from us 🥰

22/06/2024

Its only a couple of weeks away now until the Hanbury Countryside Show and we are very excited to be attending again.
Don’t miss our gundog demonstrations in the countryside arena at 12:45pm and 4pm.
Visit the Gundog scurry and put your dog through its paces by taking part in some of our scurry events.
Book your show tickets here: https://hanburyshow.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/22?

14/06/2024

So you want to know how to teach the STOP whistle. This is where you can start :)

Teaching a dog the positive stop whistle involves clear steps and consistent practice to ensure your furry friend understands and responds effectively. Here's our simple, step-by-step guide:

Choose the Right Whistle and Signal:
Select a consistent whistle sound, such as a single short blast, that will serve as the "stop" signal. Make sure the whistle is distinct and easy to recognize.

Associate the Whistle with a Reward:
Start in a quiet environment with your dog on a leash. Blow the whistle once and immediately offer a high-value treat or toy when your dog looks at you or stops moving. Repeat this several times until your dog associates the whistle with receiving a reward.

Introduce the Whistle During Play:
While your dog is engaged in play or light activity, blow the whistle once. As soon as your dog stops and looks at you, reward them with a treat or praise. Practice this until your dog reliably stops and looks at you upon hearing the whistle.

Practice in Different Environments:
Gradually introduce the whistle in various settings, starting with low-distraction environments and gradually increasing the level of distractions. Always reward your dog when they stop and respond to the whistle, reinforcing the behaviour in different contexts.

Phase Out Continuous Rewards:
As your dog becomes more reliable in responding to the whistle, start to intermittently reward them instead of every time. Use praise, occasional treats, or play as rewards. This helps to solidify the behaviour while making the response less dependent on constant treats.

Consistent practice and positive reinforcement are key to successfully teaching your dog the positive stop whistle. Be patient and keep training sessions short and fun to maintain your dog’s interest and enthusiasm.

14/06/2024

How did the decision go in your household to finally say yes to getting a dog? Was it anything like our guest blog from the Reluctant dog dad below? Have a read and comment below what happened to lead to your puppy joining your home - we'd love to hear about it!

“Dad, can we have a dog?”“No.”“Why?”“Because they p**p on the floor, eat kitchens and destroy furniture”.That discussion has been going on for over 20 years in my house and I’m proud I’ve been able to hold my argument for so long.All that changed last year…There has been a very...

28/05/2024

Behind every well-bred dog…

There is a breeder who has poured their heart and soul into raising their puppies with love and care. They've sacrificed sleep, missed important events, and put in countless hours to ensure each pup is healthy and ready to take on the world.

For a responsible breeder, each puppy represents not just their dedication and work, but a piece of their legacy. They take pride in helping produce dogs that will bring happiness and companionship to families for years to come.

If you're fortunate enough to be chosen to provide a loving home for one of these amazing pups, it's an honour that should not be taken lightly. Remember that you are not just bringing home a pet - you are becoming a part of the breeder's legacy and upholding their commitment to producing happy, healthy dogs.

SHARE THIS POST! 💜

26/05/2024

We had a lovely little trip out to at we love Ragley hall anyway with so many fantastic memories- we always have a great time whether we are there. So for a bit of fun we entered Jock and Goose in some fun dog classes. Sporting their new field trial PRO slip leads in the new pink / purple colourway off we went! Goose entered the loveliest lady and sadly didn’t get placed but she was fab. Jock was entered into the fabulous fellow and he was placed second to Poppys delight! Both dogs were beautifully behaved and did not forget we their training. This for us was more a trip out for socialisation and training as the benefits of being able to ask for our dogs to behave as we ask them and in that environment was fantastic and I was thrilled with them all. Well done kids! Great day had! Sorry we managed to miss so many of you there. It was a last minute decision and we managed to leave just before the electric storm 🌩️⚡️⛈️

25/05/2024

What do you think ? Online Gundog training? Face to face?

Which is better, one-to-one or online training?

There are so many videos and social media posts promoting online dog training via zoom, online webinars and videos showing people what to do.

For small snippets of advice or even the very basics, online training can be amazing. Some videos on YouTube and TikTok are excellent and give good advice.

But there is a drawback with online training. The advice tends to be generalised for most dogs - so it's important to follow a trainer with relevant experience to your breed or activity (i.e. gundogs or agility). When we give advice online or with a video, it's generally for things like how we teach sit, heel walking or even how we train at meal times.

Face to face training with a good, experienced trainer gives you and your dog instant feedback - allowing for improvement on your techniques to be made there and then. You can practice training in a safe space with someone who can support you through training and achieve great results.

For us, nothing will ever beat face to face training.

23/05/2024

What beautiful photos of and Fred (Katie x Jack 2023) taken by

20/05/2024

And that’s a wrap for your Master Jock on his last week of Level 2 Gundog training yesterday. Poppy had worked really hard and progressed very well with him. I am very proud of both of them. Some work do do with stop whistle not where we’d like it to be at present and we’d like him to be using his nose a little more. However he is going out beautifully and is learning to work the wind well. All this will come. And all in good time. He’s a lovely dog and there is no requirement to rush him or her. Better to get it right the right way. Thanks to Gary and Co at for their fantastic support of both Poppy and Jock with their learning. They are having so much fun! 🤩

15/05/2024

Basics ! All the time

One of the most common training issue we see in new clients joining our gundog training is problems with recall.

Yet it's a vital part of a gundogs training (and any dog training in fact). If you call, your dog should be coming back to you every time. It's something to train and practice at every opportunity and never be complacent that your dog has mastered recall.

Make sure you consistently practice recall in different environments with various distractions to really make sure the recall is perfect! Engage with your dog on walks and test them on both verbal and whistle recall.
Recall training should be practiced consistently from a puppy. Puppies naturally have good recall, so use this to your advantage and positively reinforce their recall... don't assume because they're naturally recalling that they understand your recall commands.
Top Tip ....NEVER stop recall training....

14/05/2024

Good news! Those waiting for Isla to come into season well the wait is over. The last ever Isla litter is about to be underway. Bittersweet for us as like Katie, Isla has been an excellent mum and produced some absolutely outstanding pups. Here are two of them full litter sisters from Isla’s 2022 litter .thechocolatelab and .chocolatelab looking stunning as ever! 💜💛. We have spots available for reservation on this litter ready to join new families in September. Isla has excellent health test results either 3/3 hips 0/0 elbows clear annual BVA eye test and dna unaffected. The planned sire of this litter has perfect scoring of 0/0 hips and 0/0 elbows. DNA clear and clear BVa eye test. Health and temperament and trainability being at the fore of what we are aiming to produce in this fantastic litter of super working chocolates applications can be made on our website https://www.silveracelabradors.com

13/05/2024

Wise words ..

The Problem with Pet Gundog Training

First things first. I have no problem with pet dogs who will never go on a shoot, enter a working test, or even a bale scurry doing gundog training. I am 100% for gundog breeds being trained to work with their humans using their natural instincts and drives rather than fighting those drives. It is so much easier (and kinder) to stop your spaniel hunting rabbits and squirrels by giving him an opportunity to hunt for tennis balls with you, than to tell him he can't hunt at all!
But... there are trainers popping up all over offering 'Gundog Training' who have no idea what is required of a dog on a shoot, at a test, or in a trial. And nothing is worse than seeing someone enter a test with a dog they think is gundog trained only to learn that noise and unsteadiness and poor delivery are eliminating faults. I've made that mistake... I trained my first spaniel with retriever people. I knew no better. I thought we could do a spaniel test. I was very wrong. I was told to rehome him and went home in tears.
I didn't rehome him. I found spaniel trainers. We did ok!
So if you have a pet gundog, find a trainer who works their dogs, knows how far you want to go (fun vs competition vs working), uses rewards and kindness, and maybe even has a qualification in training.

24/04/2024

Happy birthday to the “Director of possibility’s“ at Silverace HQ. Happy that it is not raining for a change. Apparently that’s sounding somewhat middle aged! We wonder if Katie’s puppy’s will make an appearance and share this birthday and things are starting to look like they are getting very close !

15/04/2024

Goose. You are so beautiful 🤍🫶🏻

23/03/2024

As he seems to be the man of the moment we thought we’d celebrate with some pics of Master Jock as a pupper. We hope you are all feeling amazed at how much all your pups have grown. We love all the our families share with us. We are so lucky to have such a great bunch. Bet it’s doesn’t seem like 5 mins since they were this small. Jock seems to have hollow legs this boy!

19/03/2024

Happy birthday today to young master Jock. Proving to be a delightful young man for his handler Poppy. A recent imagine of them training with such a delight to see them both flourishing well done .philp08 for all the hard work you have put in. They say the harder you work the luckier you get…

13/03/2024

So very proud of .philp08 and young Master Jock both growing in confidence and understanding of one another and seeing some great handling from Poppy as she learns alongside Jock. As her mum it gives me great pleasure to see such pride and enjoyment from both. We are very excited to see where this pair take themselves. Last week of level one Gundog foundation class with on Sunday. Do you think they will pass? I hope so 🤞🏻 Photos Training say Equipment

27/02/2024

Great image captured by of .philp08 and young master Jock on a recent training day. Love seeing them together they have a lovely bond Who do we think Jock loves more?

18/02/2024

Young master Jock enjoying training treats on the retriever workshop earlier this month

13/02/2024

“Food” for thought …

Researchers compared the health markers in client-owned dogs fed a raw diet to markers in dogs fed a high-quality extruded kibble.

To measure their health on the outside, they used a composite clinical health score, (CCS) of dental score + otitis score + integument (external health) score.

The raw-fed dogs scored significantly higher (as you might expect but now we have a study to prove it!).

To assess their health on the inside, they measured serum alkaline phosphatase activity, where an elevation is correlated with disease of the liver and bone, among others.

The raw-fed dogs scored significantly lower in the worrying markers than dry-fed dogs (while the dry-fed dogs were significantly higher they were still within accepted boundaries).

They also measured their globulins levels. These are antibodies. They are elevated in inflammatory conditions, infections, and some cancers. You don't want them raised.

In the dry-fed dogs, they were (again though, there were considered within accepted maximums).

In fact, in both cases, the p-value was less than 0.001 which means highly significant.

An almost complete whitewash.

Interestingly, the raw-fed dogs had more lymphocytes, raised when fighting infection, which was just about significant with a p-value of 0.05.

There were only 25 dogs in each group. The authors note more research is urgently needed to determine the impact of diet processing and nutrient content on canine health.

That was 3 years ago.

Wouldn't you think a veterinary department somewhere would have repeated this study using a lot more dogs by now?! Just in case they were recommending a product that was making the world's dogs ill?

Sadly, comparing the health of fresh and dry-fed dogs is not something the veterinary industry has any interest in doing.

Mad, eh?!

Let's recap the score for them:

3 studies showing raw meaty bones SAFELY clean teeth
2 studies show dry-fed dogs have more inflammatory markers
2 studies showing dry-fed dogs suffer more gut disease
1 study showing dry-fed dogs suffer more atopy (skin disease)
1 study showing dry-fed dogs have more histamine release in the skin layers.
1 study showing dry-fed dogs suffer more ear disease
1 study showing raw-fed dogs are healthier
1 study showing raw-fed dogs see the vets less

ZERO studies suggesting dry dog food is better for any health condition whatsoever.

Hard to get away from that last one.

Add to these awkward facts - KIBBLE poisons far more humans with Salmonella than raw dog food (the majority of them toddlers under two years of age) and the fact complete dry dog food has killed tens of thousands of dogs and cats over multiple instances in the last few decades alone (complete raw dog and cat food? Less than 10 pets) and you have to wonder...
..the veterinary industry recommends against feeding pets real food beecaaaause...

"More research is needed more research is needed"...
..says absolutely nobody with half a brain.

Forgive, but never forget.

***
REF: Hiney et al. (2021). Clinical health markers in dogs fed raw meat-based or commercial extruded kibble diets. Journal of Animal Science, 99(6): 1–10
LINKED IN ARTICLE BELOW

Need more science on raw V dry debate? Check out my book Feeding Dogs, the top-rated manual on canine nutrition.

Want to jump straight in? Here's a handy free article on how to change your dog to real food
https://www.dogsfirst.ie/everything-about-raw-dog-food/

Want a mix of the two, the science and the how-to, then you can check out my popular masterclass on how to feed dogs here
https://www.drconorbrady.com/feeding-dogs-masterclass-1

13/02/2024

Ruby and I enjoyed a great days training on a retriever workshop with Hyde thanks to for organising a fantastic day and thanks to for some great photos of us doing our thing. I was really pleased with Ruby given she was a last minute stand in for her mother Katie. It’s about time Miss Ruby got stuck in and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Running in her colours of Pink and White we were lucky enough to be gifted matching dummy and biothane leads from as well as super tasty training treats from 👌🏻 a great day with a lovely group and of course great to catch up with friends we’ve not seen for a while.

12/02/2024

Oh so cute. Miss Poppy. Settled in just fine with 🩷

03/02/2024

Poppy and Jock having a great day so far with our friend’s on their workshop 💙