Kennel Club Accredited Breeder (No. 3053480) with 3 Accolades
Licenced Breeder, licenced by the Local Authority: Licence No. L1C/2/21/2005
Defra State Veterinary Licence No. No 01/045/8000
PUPPIES OFTEN AVAILABLE
STUD DOGS AVAILABLE
THE COPPERWHEAT KENNEL COMPLEX
The kennel is brick built with mains drainage and heating. There is spacious accommodation, both within the sleeping and exercise areas. Each dog has its own separate kennel, while also being able to see the other dogs. Each separate kennel has an opening window and a lockable hatch between the sleeping and the exercise areas. The kennel block also houses a fully equipped kitchen
COPPERWHEAT DOGS
Our aim is to breed Labrador puppies with the exceptional temperament for which the breed is known and loved; litters that better the intelligence, temperament and biddability of the working Labrador.
In addition, we need our puppies to have the high intelligence needed to enable us to train them to compete in the Kennel Club Field trials.
These clever puppies make wonderful pets and companions - quick to learn and loyal as they come.
Colour is very much of secondary importance to us. We have all three Labrador colours in our kennel.
Two litters of 6-week old puppies : one litter is all yellow, the other yellow and black.
We only breed using the strongest and proven field trial lines - always with a view to achieving the lowest hip scores and only breeding from dogs that have passed our stringent health screening process (see Health Screening below)
The pure bred black Labrador is the original, therefore they carry the strongest genes. Black to black matings will always produce a black litter. Black to black matings with one parent having a yellow relation sometime in the past and therefore carrying a yellow gene, may produce yellow in the litter. Yellow to yellow matings usually produce yellow litters.
Some of our Labradors carry yellow and/or chocolate genes, hence the variety of colour.
Chocolate to chocolate mating - resulting in chocolate litter. Now retired, Cree produced beautiful intelligent puppies, many of which were trained as shooting companions.
Vega has given us several puppies that have trained into working dogs of exceptional talent. In this litter she was mated to a black dog carrying a yellow gene - resulting in a litter including both black and yellow puppies
Although Copperwheat Labradors are bred from working lines, this does not preclude them from making excellent pets. They learn very quickly, making the regular pet training process very easy.
Most Copperwheat puppies are homed as pets, to discerning families. We diligently keep a feedback book of e-mails and pictures received from new puppy owners, which is open for prospective new owners to browse at all times (see our Gallery below for some of these pictures)
All puppies need to pass a veterinary health check prior to leaving us for their new homes. They are insured for the first 4 weeks in their new homes. New owners leave us with a very comprehensive puppy pack including our "Handy Hints" booklet, in which we try to cover many topics of interest, particularly in the first few weeks.
Ongoing support is essential to new puppy owners and our help and advice is always available for the life-time of the dog.
HEALTH SCREENING
All Copperwheat dogs are hip scored at 12 months of age.
The average hip score for Labradors in the Uk is a total of 15 (ie. the right and left hip scores added together). Copperwheat Labradors must score below a total of 12 to be part of our breeding programme. Currently all Copperwheat Labradors score less than a total of 10.
All our dogs are eye tested annually and must carry a clear eye certificate to remain in the breeding programme.
All Copperwheat Labradors are DNA tested for the mutant gene causing the condition Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM). Follow the link to find out more about thiS debilitating and usually fatal condition in Labrador puppies. www.labradorcnm.com.
The Copperwheat kennel never purchases adult dogs. All adult dogs at our kennel have been bred and trained by us at our premises. Periodically and usually following much research, we will purchase a suitably bred puppy to train. If all expectations are achieved such a puppy will be included in our training programme for competing in Kennel Club Field Trials.
Even from the best bred working litters, not all Labradors can compete in Field Trials. For any one of many reasons a dog once trained may not be suitable. This does not mean that the dog is not good or obedient, it simply means that the dog may not have the natural flair that the competitive dog must show to win in competition.
At Copperwheat, such dogs are rehomed, generally to shooting homes - where they can enjoy the companionship of regular shooting days doing and enjoying what they have been trained to do.
COPPERWHEAT STUD DOGS
We currently have 7 stud dogs available - black and chocolate.
Stud dogs are carefully selected. Our breeding dogs must have proved themselves at the Kennel Club Field Trials and working tests.
Our stud dogs are all proven and well mannered. They are regularly producing litters of robust healthy and intelligent puppies
All our stud dogs have low hip score certificates and clear eye certificates and have been DNA tested for Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM)
Bitches visiting our stud dogs must arrive with Kennel Club registration certificate, hip score and eye test documentation, together with their vaccination record card. We suggest that bitches are kennelled with us for the mating period to ensure the highest possible success rate.
BREEDING POLICY
Our aim is to breed puppies with the exceptional working capabilities required to Field Trial competitively and we usually keep a puppy or two from each of our litters.
However these clever puppies make beautiful, easily trained and loyal family pets.
We use proven field trial lines, always with a view to achieving the lowest possible hip scores.
We only breed from dogs with clear eye certificates.
We have always followed, and are proud to be associated with, the published Kennel Club Code of Ethics for breeders.
Tang & her puppies
Rolo with her puppies at just one-hour old.
Cree with her puppies - first feed.
TRAINING
The Copperwheat kennel has a proven training programme.
Puppies start their training at around 7 months old and are taken through the training stages to fully obedient and retrieving at around 15 months old.
From then their training consists of experience and confidence building.
During this time they accompany the trainer on local shoots with more experienced dogs, learning picking-up duties.
Copperwheat are pleased to train suitably bred Labradors to their owners requirements.
This can be done on a one to one basis with the owner, or the dog can be boarded at our kennel for the training period.
TAKING DIRECTION
WAITING
TRAINING OVER FENCES
TRAINING IN WATER
READY AND WILLING
ALERT AND ELEGANT
The Copperwheat labradors are worked and trained regularly.
FIELD TRIALLING
Those dogs that show the necessary flair are given the opportunity to compete in Kennel Club Field Trials.
Competition in Field Trials is always strong. There is no room for error from dog or handler and a win or a place is always thoroughly deserved.
A good trialling dog proves his breeding line.
SCENES FROM A KENNEL CLUB FIELD TRIAL ON THE SCOTTISH GROUSE MOORS
If you are not familiar with our kennels and your first contact with us is online, we would be pleased to hear from you! Please let us know what your needs and questions are, we will be more than happy to help.
THIS WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED - DRAFT INFORMATION CAN BE SEEN BELOW - BUT PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN TO SEE THE FINAL VERSION.
THE COPPERWHEAT KENNEL COMPLEX 
COPPERWHEAT DOGS
Two litters of 6-week old puppies : one litter is all yellow, the other yellow and black.
Chocolate to chocolate mating - resulting in chocolate litter. Now retired, Cree produced beautiful intelligent puppies, many of which were trained as shooting companions. 
Vega has given us several puppies that have trained into working dogs of exceptional talent. In this litter she was mated to a black dog carrying a yellow gene - resulting in a litter including both black and yellow puppies
Our stud dogs are all proven and well mannered. They are regularly producing litters of robust healthy and intelligent puppies
All our stud dogs have low hip score certificates and clear eye certificates and have been DNA tested for Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM)
Tang & her puppies
Rolo with her puppies at just one-hour old.
Cree with her puppies - first feed.
TAKING DIRECTION
WAITING
TRAINING OVER FENCES
TRAINING IN WATER
READY AND WILLING
ALERT AND ELEGANT
Full of muscle and determination. 
The trial gets going. 
End of the trialling day.
GOING HOME
