The start
There had been dogs at my parents home, the first one of my own arrived in 1970, a black bitch, sired by Dorrfield Black George. She accompanied me everywhere and made me attached to the breed, in those years rather unfamiliar in the Netherlands.
I learned about dog matters in general and about the Labrador in particular. In 1989 my first litter was born. My aim was (and is) to produce healthy, vital dogs with a gentle temperament and zest for work. And of course, good looking ones.
Ancestress of the present Round Table Labradors is Tumblewoods Queldiable (Diable), born in 1992. Her mother Leonora is from the renowned Fairywood's kennel. Diable was a working gundog, successfully in showing and raised two litters. Watchful, keen to educate the youngsters. All her life she has been sound; she died 14 ½ years old at home. Quite a personality, our only chocolate.
Follow-up
Diable's first litter was by Donalbain Suede and in 1997, she had one by Ixor du Bois des Lilas. From the latter daughter Belle Garde stayed with us. Now Belle is a grey lady, who remained fit and vigilant at an old age. One of her brothers became a guide dog for the blind. It is quite moving to see your 'puppy' doing this important work.
Belle raised twice a litter, the first one sired by Fairywood's King Walther, the second by his half-brother F. Romeo. These pups were born in June 2002 and two sisters stayed with us: Dis Donc (Dido) and Dark Magic. Magic was passionate in training and did quite well in show: she won the Breedersclass of the Belgian Retriever Club. But the two girls did not go along very well, so we found a new home for Magic. Their brother Denzel left us as a puppy for the Tumblewoods kennel, returning to his grandmothers home. He became rather successful in show. .
Foulby Huckleberry Finn was chosen to mate Dido. This male had been coupled with bitches of the same line with good results. It was a beautiful litter and I regretted that it wasn't possible to keep one or two. Only Eliza was used for breeding by her new owners, the others were pets.
Dido's second litter was born in October 2007; the father of these pups was Denis de Scampy. He was imported from Spain but his mother was born a Fairywood's girl. Because I had decided to stop breeding, a boy stayed: Faraway Winds. Django as he is called, is a sweet guy. I loved it to show him and we had fun in dummy training. When he grew up, I looked for a playmate; eventually it became Aktaion. .
The F-litter: six puppies, size and type quite identical. They are developing so quickly, as a breeder one would watch them all day. To me it is fascinating how the other dogs react on the new situation. The bitches know what is going on; granny wants to assist, but she has to wait a few weeks and then she is welcome.
Faraway Winds, a nostalgic name of a pup who unites so much from the past. A pup one wants to raise carefully to make his possibilities come true. To bring a young dog to obedience I prefer training him as a gundog, in a playful way. He can indulge his passions and please his master. He will become more self-confident and we like that when showing.
Belle Garde, 2-3-2012