THE LABRADOR
RETRIEVER STILL THE FAVORITE FOR MANY
T he Labrador Retriever has consistently been one of the most popular dog breeds in American (and the world, for that matter), only recently surpassed at the top spot by the rising French Bulldog. Affectionately nicknamed, simply, the “Lab” by many, the breed is involved in everything from hunting to search and rescue to certain types of police work, just to name a few activities. More than anything else, this breed is one of most widely owned companion ani- mals, known especially for the dogs’ family-friendly personalities. Breeder Tom Smith is just one of millions of people with involvement in the breed. He operates the highly regarded Wildrose Kennels, which has a clientele filled with pub- lic figures like Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin and professional golfer Greg Norman. The Wildrose dogs are enjoyed by people throughout this country, and beyond its borders as well. “We are blessed to have clientele all over the world in countries such as Peru, Bolivia, and Thailand,” Tom reports. “So, we meet folks from every walk of life from all over the world, and Wildrose is a place where everyone gets together and it is all about the dogs.” Tom himself does not compete with the dogs in the kennel, but some of his puppy people have competed in numerous sports like Hunt Tests and Field Trials, with some making it to the highest of levels. While the canines of Wildrose are largely geared to work out in the field, other Labra- dors have been very successful in the Conformation ring. The AKC dog shows are some- thing that Juan Carbonell of Loretta Labradors has enjoyed and he’s reaped the rewards of his efforts, with a dog in his kennel currently in the Top 50 in the Breed rankings. The show ring has remained Juan’s primary focus, although Labradors out of Loretta have competed in a variety of events.
BY CRISSY FROYD
144 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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