CATRAZ LABRADORS

Welcome to Catraz Labradors in Woodend.

• Home Page
• Introduction
• Finney
• The Boys
• The Girls
• Important Influences
• The Past
• Guests
• Links
• Whelping Box
• Past Champions

Brigburn Finney (Imp UK)

Finney has had a phenominal impact in my kennel, complimenting and cementing the type and temerament I have been working for in my labradors. While he is now loved and doted on in a wonderful home, I will be forever grateful for the legacy he has left me with. His kids have won numerous in-group and in-show awards, with two of his daughters being Best In Specialty/Runner up Best In Specialty Show winners. He has stamped his type very strongly in his progeny and this is now showing through in his grandkids as well, with his kids being strong producers also. Finney has also sired qualified Seeing Eye Dogs, and has grandkids now in the program!
Huge thanks to Lynda Heron for allowing me to have this dog from the other side of the world, I hope you're as proud of him as I am!


 
Finney above at 8.5 weeks at Brigburn, UK


In quarantine at 4 months old (left) and proudly displaying his Minor Puppy In Group ribbon at 7 months (right)

 
Finney aged 2.5 years above and below.


Introducing some of Finney's progeny below:


Ch Catraz Jessie James

Jesse winning Best Minor Dog under Mrs Lynda Heron (Brigburn, UK) aged 6 months (left) and aged 1 year (right)

Ch Catraz Golly Miss Molly

Molly at 2.5 years (left) and not quite 3 years (right)

The highlights of Molly's show career so far include:

* Runner up Best In Show at the Victorian Labrador Specialty in 2011 under Ms Margaret Bourne (SA)
* Runner up Best of Breed at the Melbourne Royal Show
* Winner of the Janvalli Trophy for 2011 - the first chocolate to be awarded this.
* Junior In Show at the Labrador Nationals 2010 under breeder/judge Mrs Mary O'Donoghue.
Molly has numerous 25 point Challenges at All Breeds shows and in-show awards at specialties. Judges love her fantastic true movement and sound honest construction. We look forward to the future with this girl who is really coming into her own, and to seeing what she will produce in her first litter later this year.

Critiques:

Runner up Best In Show: "Sound with a capital 'S'. Stood naturally four-square with no fussing by the handler. Substantially built, well-balanced and short-coupled. Strong neck to powerful shoulders, level top-line and strong hindquarters to correct tail-set and muzzle, with a pleasing, intelligent expression." - under Ms Margaret Bourne 

Australian Bred In Show: "Lovely chocolate bitch. Nice feminine head with good eye colour. Good neck. Nice body, still needs a bit more depth. Good feminine topline. Excellent bone. Nice coat and tail. Well balanced. Very sound mover, lots of drive. Lovely temperament and shows well." - under Mrs Eeva Rautala (Wetten Labradors, Finland)

Junior In Show: "Lovely chocolate bitch. Excellent coat in colour and texture. Great head with good eye both shape and colour. Well placed, neat ears. Lovely shoulder angulation with good front. Nice turn of stifle. Shown and moved expertly." - under Mrs Mary O'Donoghue (Philipstown Labradors, Ireland)

Ch Catraz Beautiful Spirit

Onyx at 16 months (left) and at just over 2 years (right)

The highlights of Onyx's show career so far include:

* Best In Show at the Canterbury Labrador Retriever Club show in 2010 at 19 months old
* 7 age in-group and 1 age in-show awards at All Breeds shows
* 3 age in-show awards at Specialties
* Over half way to her NZ Ch title as well.

Critiques:

Best In Show: "Catraz Beautiful Spirit of Tuscan (Imp-Aust) - This stunning black girl girl caught my eye as she entered the ring. She didnt disappoint, lovely head and expression, dark eye.  Good reach of neck to a level topline which she held on the move. Moved with reach and drive, then stood naturally four - square. Well presented and handled.   Pleased to be able to award her the CC and later BIS." - under judge Mrs Robyn Brown (South Australia)

Best Opposite Baby Puppy In Show: "This young bitch really has something special about her, so beautifully balanced even at this very young age, her front assembly is superb, she has the correct layback of shoulders and a clean strong neck, well ribbed body with sufficient length of loin and enough width to her quarters to allow her to move freely and without restriction, she was a delight to judge and I wish her well for the future." - under breeder/judge Mrs Margaret Brown (Ramsayville Labradors, UK)

Presents a correct outline. Strong neck with reach and flowing to really well-laid shoulders and very good length of upper arm. Lovely broad skull, balanced with good length and breadth of muzzle. - under Ms Margaret Bourne

Onyx is proving to be a fantastic producer with a daughter in NZ nearly half way to her title (who is also a Specialty class-in-show winner) as well as a son in Australia being shown. She also has 3 daughters being trained as Seeing Eye Dogs.

Onyx's daughter Shadow "Tusscan No Shadow of A Doubt" at 11 months:

Catraz Master Magician 
 
Tommy at 6 months (left) and headshot at 2.5 years (right)

Tom (left) and Molly (right) winning Best and Runner up Best of Breed at 3 years old.

Tom is currently sitting on 98 points towards his Australian Champion title.

The highlights of Tom's show career so far include:

* Baby Puppy In Group
* Placing at all (bar one) of the Specialties he has been shown at (often beaten by his kennel mates for first place!)
* Multiple 20-25 point challenges at All Breeds shows

While Tom has not been as prominent in the ring as some of Finney's other kids, he is now reaching maturity and making his presence felt. He has a lot of fans ringside who are in love with his cruisy cuddly nature and he can often be found on my chair or my lap. He is very strongly stamping his progeny with his impressive head, substance, coat and angulation and I am having a lot of fun campaigning his stunning daughter Jarrah who has already collected 4 in-group awards at less than 7 months old. Tom is the sire of pups currently training to become Seeing Eye Dogs.

Critiques:

"Lovely chocolate, very well presented, has good bone & substance for his frame, a quality outgoing puppy with a lovely disposition, moved steadily, excellent balance, well turned stifles, good double coat and lovely otter tail." - under breeder/judge Mrs Margaret Brown (Ramsayville Labradors, UK)

Tom's daughter Jarrah "Catraz Tiramisu" at 5 months (left), and on the move at 7 months winning her second Minor In Group (right):

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Below are photos of some of Finney's progeny and grand-progeny who are either fully qualified or still in training to becoming Seeing Eye Dogs:


Harvey (Tom and Onyx's litter brother) who is one of SEDA's stud dogs.

Iris is now fully qualified and working as a guide. She was bred by Geoff and Trudy (Blackrange Labradors) and is out of their girl Becky "Catraz Pretty Woman". Others from this litter are also fully qualified Seeing Eye Dogs.

Quimby and Quinny, two of Finney's grandkids still in training