Susan Patterson on Labrador Retrievers

About Susan Patterson: Susan is a renowned Labrador Retriever breeder and breeds under the Fenwyck Labrador Retriever name. She has been breeding since the 80's when she first got involved with various Labrador Retriever clubs.

Susan talks about what to look for in a Lab in order to know what type of dog they will be. While all Labs share the same looks, not all Labs are the same - and that’s important to keep in mind if you’re someone looking for a companion dog versus someone looking for a hunting dog.

Susan matches puppies in her litters with their humans to best match up certain characteristics, the most notable one being drive. Some dogs are couch potatoes, and some need to have a job. Regardless of drive, however, every Lab needs to have proper structure and health to ensure longevity and quality of life.

It’s important to understand that you don’t have to have a Best in Show dog to have a dog with proper structure - making sure your Lab has good hip and elbow placement is as important for a hunting dog as it is for a performance dog or even a couch potato!

Judi speaks about the Dilute Retriever Policy and why it was created. She describes why Good Dog stands with the Labrador Retriever Club in only recognizing Yellow, Black, and Chocolate Labrador Retrievers.

Cat then talks about the process of how Good Dog goes about making these decisions, and the importance of these decisions to Good Dog. In short, Good Dog relies on the experts (such as Judi and Susan) to inform and develop these policies.