My journey with dogs started in childhood, and since 1989, Labradors have been part of my family. My passion for this breed has evolved into breeding and showing Labradors, and I wanted to share the joy that this amazing breed brings. This is my story …
It started with a little Daxie called Stella
Around my 8th birthday, my parents surprised me with a cute, fat, black and brown cross-breed Dachshund puppy. We called her Sella; she was a true friend and playmate for the next 11 years of my life. I taught her various tricks and games, put her in a baby pram and wheeled her around the block; we had so much fun together! Sella was by my side through my childhood and teenage years. She taught me the value of a loyal canine friend; therefore, I will always treasure my happy memories of her.
Then followed Amadeus
Many years later, in 1989, after marriage and the birth of my 3rd child, we wanted to get a family dog. A friend told me that parents with young children need not look any further than a Labrador! We found a yellow male Labrador pup and called him Amadeus (after Mozart, the composer, a natural choice for me as I am a musician and music teacher!). I was so amazed by his beautiful Labrador temperament that I knew I was utterly hooked on the Labrador breed: Labradors have everything to offer that people most adore in dogs. In respect and appreciation for what Amadeus has taught me about the remarkable values of a faithful Labrador, I honoured his memory by naming my breeding kennel after him – Amadeuze Labradors!
After Amadeus passed, another Labrador followed; a yellow bitch by the name of Nandi. She lived for 13 years as part of our family and household, and we loved her dearly. A few years after Nandi passed, we bought our first KUSA-registered Labradors, a yellow male and female. I bred 2 yellow litters from them, and the pups went to pet homes. Unfortunately, some of these puppies showed early signs of hip dysplasia. The lesson learnt from this debacle is that not all Kusa registered puppies are bred from health-tested breeding stock. Therefore, their health outcomes cannot be guaranteed and are a significant risk. Even though I enjoyed the breeding aspect, I promised myself I would NEVER breed another litter unless I could ensure, as far as possible, healthy pups.
On to showing off our Labs
In 2008 I started searching for a quality bitch from a reputable breeder to breed from. The bitch, by the name of Poplap, came at the end of that year from a top-quality breeding done by Mr Daniel Kritzinger (Dennegeur Labradors). He said I could have her if I promised to show her as she is of show quality. At that stage, I didn’t know how to show a dog, but I really wanted that puppy so much that I promised to show her without realizing what effect that promise would have on the rest of my life!
It was almost one year later, at the Goldfields Kennel Club Championship Show, when I mustered up the courage to show Poplap for the first time- my biggest motivation being that I promised to show her and the fear that Daniel might take her back if I didn’t! Poplap, then aged 11 months, was taken into the show ring without any ring craft training before the show (neither me nor her!), without even a proper show lead, and with a handler (that would be me!) who didn’t have a clue what she is supposed to do (or not do!) Nevertheless, Poplap won the bitch CC, Best Puppy (Breed), as well as Best Puppy in the (Gundog) Group under Mr Maurice Baker. It was probably a matter of “beginner’s luck”, but it was also a turning point in my life: on that day, the fun of showing dogs really started! Showing dogs whenever possible has become a way of spending quality time with the dogs and new friends I made through dog shows. Since that day in August 2009, I have made up more than 10 Labradors as SA show (breed) champions. I trust that the youngsters will follow suit.
Its all in the social
I also enjoy reading, learning and educating myself about the Labrador breed and contacting other Labrador lovers worldwide. The internet and Facebook became valuable aids in this regard. In 2009, I found a black male puppy called Trotter (short for Globetrotter) bred from top-quality Scandinavian and Canadian bloodlines by Mrs Monica Jarl Winnberg at Seabirds Kennel in Sweden. He was a formidable dog in every way and made a tremendous impact on our lives, our hearts and our breeding kennel. Most of our current dogs are related to or offspring of Trotter. We sadly lost him shortly before his 9th birthday. A few years later, I imported another high-quality black male puppy from France, bred by Miss Anne-Charlotte Dreyfus from kennel De L’Etang Balanced. During 2014 and 2015, I imported another 3 Labradors from Sweden and Seabirds Kennel. They are chocolate Maggie, yellow Amber and chocolate Oscar- he is from the same breeding as Maggie, only one year younger. Thank you to Mrs Monica Jarl Winnberg for entrusting us with these lovely, super-quality Labbies.
A Word of Thanks and Appreciation
Running a dog kennel and breeding litters of puppies are neither plain sailing nor glamorous. In reality, it is dedication, hard work and long hours all year round. Family commitments, work-related matters, and dog shows sometimes take you away from home for a day or a few days. Dogs require full-time attention and care, and if you also have a litter of puppies, assistance is needed to make yourself available for other obligations.
Fortunately, we are blessed with wonderful and loyal friends who share our passion for dogs and puppies, and we would like to thank them sincerely for their invaluable contributions in many ways.
- My husband Johannes, thank you for sharing the daily chores of feeding and cleaning after the dogs. Johannes has invaluable input in assistance with raising puppies and often accompanies me to dog shows. He also spends the most time with them in the pool, the highlight of any summer day for the Labbies! (I might add that I probably have the best-qualified kennel attendant in the universe with a PhD in coal science and working as a full-time senior scientist)
- Our dear friend Ilze Hoffman, for assistance in numerous ways and for the loving care she provides for our dogs and puppies whenever needed;
- Our dear friend Sandy Borralho, thank you for always helping during dog shows and keeping space at Goldfields!
- Our son Johandré van Heerden, for doing a marvellous job as our “unofficial photographer” with photos taken for the Amadeuze website and Amadeuze Facebook page;
- Professional photographers Norma Hush and Joan Whittingham, thank you for your contribution to taking professional dog photos during dog shows whenever possible.