Jethro - one of Peter and Jan's five Labradors. Photo supplied.

Becoming a pet owner brings both joys and challenges which start when choosing an animal and a breed. In fact, many animal-loving homes often include several pets but the most common, is man’s best friend, the dog and its traditional enemy the cat! Today,

Peter and Jan’s ‘children’ are all gorgeous black Labradors with glowing coats and an affectionate nature reflecting the couple’s passion for of breeding champions and family-friendly pets.

Those gleaming coats, which seldom need a bath, are also testimony to the success of Jan and Peter’s other venture – manufacturing a healthy, balanced herbal muesli for dogs and cats under the label of Tukkathyme.

While the Wallaces have been ‘Lab’ owners for 30 years, they started breeding only seven years ago. “We’d been involved in showing dogs and wanted to take our interest much further,” Peter says. “Our Titirangi property was too small so it was off to the country.”

The couple bought 12 acres in Karaka south and initially ran white faced steers but now lease out most of their land.

“Between Tukkathyme, breeding and showing our dogs, “life is pretty busy,” says Peter.

The Wallaces are also heavily involved in The Labrador Club. Jan is the secretary and Peter the president with Jan having given many hours to updating The Labrador Club Handbook. This comprehensive guide for Labrador owners is ideal for anyone keen to know more about Labs for showing, breeding, duck shooting, obedience and field trials.

“We recommend the book to any new Labrador owner because experience has taught us than many people have little idea about their care and their needs despite admiring the breed’s reputation for being loyal and good natured.”

In fact, Peter says he and Jan won’t let dogs go to a new home unless they are absolutely satisfied the correct care will be given.

“These are gregarious dogs that love company, are loyal, and need lots of exercise. When left alone for long periods they can be very destructive, chewing furniture, tearing up soft furnishings and digging holes in the garden usually out of boredom or loneliness. They need daily exercise for stimulation and to avoid running to fat.”

The couple says it is also important to remember all dogs are pack animals and in a family (substitute pack) they need to know their place is at the bottom, not the top.

“The owners should be the head of the pack then come the children and the dog is last otherwise there can be canine domination problems or even aggressiveness. A dog who knows its place in the pack will be invaluable always warning the family of visitors and ensuring the wellbeing of the family or ‘pack’ wherever possible.”

In their desire to breed quality Labradors, Jan has extensively researched the backgrounds and medical history of potential parents in order to reduce the risk of breeding Labradors that will produce the known hereditary problems of the breed i.e. hip and elbow dysplasia and eye problems.

They have also imported semen from overseas to broaden the gene pool of the breed in New Zealand and are expecting two litters of black, yellow and chocolates, the result of frozen semen bought from Finland and Australia.

“The semen has come from top dogs so we are hopeful of getting a quality show dog from one or other of the litters. However, that’s not always as easy as it sounds. While we have never been disappointed in our pups only a few go on to the show ring. Most become loved family pets or keen gun dogs.”

While breeding quality dogs has become a passion, the Wallace’s have also poured many hours into developing and marketing their Tukkathyme herbal muesli – a blend of oats, fruit, garlic, barley, kelp, green herbs, flaked rice, flaked corn, molasses, lecithin, alfalfa and dehydrated vegetables, the latter all grown locally.

Visit several kennels before deciding from where you will purchase. Good breeders have a reputation to uphold and buyers will have no difficulty in assessing standards of hygiene.

When choosing a puppy put yourself in the hands of the breeder or an experienced person who can give good advice.

Puppies from a reputable breeder should be registered with the NZ Kennel Club. New owners should receive from the breeder a diet plan, details of worming, information about vaccinations which may have been administered and on going health care plus a pedigree.

If the puppy is going to a home with children remember: