Our aim is to breed Labradors as we remember them in the 1950s and 60s, strong rugged dogs, of superb temperament, bred primarily to retrieve game, up to and including the biggest geese and hares, if necessary in temperatures well below zero, working all day without tiring, and the next day being the perfect family companion.
Here at La Vigne Nieuil, building on well over thirty years experience of Labrador breeding, we produce a very small number of puppies per year, every one of them line-bred with the greatest care back to these old lines, with the emphasis in our pedigrees on the dogs of the world-renowned Sandylands kennel. We have our own stud-dogs, which are also available to selected bitches from outside. The puppies we sell go to be family companions, working retrievers, and in some cases as guide-dogs for the blind. Some even perform such specialised tasks as truffle-hunting.
Our own dogs are also our much-loved companions, who live at liberty, sharing our home and our life. We attend a few dog shows, but generally find it safer to rely upon our own experience and judgement when dogs are to be selected. Our happy team of bitches, unlike those of many breeding kennels, are never called upon to produce more than three litters, after which they live out the rest of their natural lives in our home.
We are often asked whether we breed 'show' or 'working' Labradors. We always reply that we just breed Labradors.
Siskin
We brought Siskin de la Vigne Nieuil to Britain in December 2002, at twelve months old. She had been bought by Linda Major, of the Linjor kennel.
The day after landing, Siskin was placed at the LKA Championship Show in Birmingham.
After that day, thanks to Linda's great skill and persistence, Siskin soon became the most successful dog of any of the Retriever breeds, from any country, to be imported into Britain. The first to win a Reserve CC, and soon after, the first to win a CC – at eighteen months old. Furthermore, she was the first imported dog of any retriever breed ever to win the Junior Warrant (twenty-five first places in three months), and the first imported dog of any breed to win a Show Certificate of Merit (ten times Best of Breed).
In 2005, Siskin became only the second imported dog of any retriever breed to become a Show Champion.
Upupida
For further details such as our pedigrees, and news of expected litters, please telephone us on 0044 (0)549 874 847 or E-mail la.vigne.nieuil@free.fr
Links
Labrador Retriever Club of Great Britain
Linjor Retrievers - Website for Mrs Linda Major.