Highlights of a Fun Weekend

The Brittany mobile was loaded up with ATB last Friday and on the road to the Maine Bird Dog Club grounds by mid-morning. John towed the 'chuck wagon' (aka trailer loaded with everything but the kitchen sink - no that was probably there too) with his truck and I brought up the rear driving the motor home. Treasure and JackDog rode shotgun with John and I had the rest of the securely crated crew. No protests from the peanut gallery other than an occasional 'woof'. They were happily gnawing away on the quartered beef bones that John had bought at the butchershop before leaving. We stopped along the way at a farmside stand to pick up fresh corn on the cob and vegetables and pulled into the grounds by noon. Our friend Mal was already there so John joined him in setting up the field trial tent and I set up our ATB home away from home (see picture above).
Soon the Prides joined us and once they got the horses and their dogs taken care of joined in setting up. Gary soon arrived and so did our friends from CT. "Camp Brittany", (the field kitchen) was set up in no time. John had planned ahead for any early arrivals and as Donna dubbed him "Emiril" he soon fixed a great meal of ham, beans, corn on the cob. Julie joined us later on too! Bedtime came early that night but John was up at the crack of dawn to put coffee on for the trialers who had arrived in the night and those getting ready for the first brace. The weather was so nice over the weekend, just right for the dogs to run without getting overheated most of the time. We had a great turnout and most CMBC club members worked overtime both days to get all the necessary jobs done. Julie had blisters on her heels at the end of it all. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes at and before a field trial, not to mention the paperwork afterwards. (Anyone wishing a complete list of the official results of the field trial please email me privately.) In addition to the (American) Brittanys that were entered, there were Setters and Pointers and a beautiful black and white French Brittany. I've just uploaded many of the pictures to our Picassa album site, please check them out, a picture is worth a thousand words.

The HIGH POINT of the weekend for me was when the announcements came for the Walking Hunting Dog winners. Jack is a finished and broke gun dog trained by Bob Paucek to 'hunt close'. (While Jack has very impressive national champion field trial/all age/Hall of Fame Brittany breeding behind him that is not the kind of work we expect of him. John has always wanted a gentlemans hunting dog, and that is exactly what Jack is. We entered him in both Amateur and Open Gun Dog stakes over the weekend as well as the Walking Hunting Dog stakes. Jack and another dog picked up scent at the exact same time, and both dogs locked up. Jack had not completely finished his movement and lined himself with the other dog. This disqualified him and John had to pick him up, even though he didn't pass the dog or flush the bird. The next day, Jack also had some additional productive finds. I wasn't there to see but he did get picked up Sunday too.)

On Saturday, out of 10 dogs, Jack won first place in the Walking Hunting Dog competition! I was so excited and happy for Jack and John who wants to take Jack to the next level and test for Senior Hunter. (By the way, our focus has always been and will continue to be - Brittanys who are close working hunting companions. Jack is a finished gun dog, he is steady to wing and shot, retrieves to hand, honors, and is everything we want him to be and more. The AKC Field Trials for Pointing Breeds do not yet officially award dogs for that ability. It is through Hunt Tests at the Junior, Senior, and Master level the dog receives the recognition deserving of their skills. And also in other venues such as NAVHDA, and NASTRA. One person actually asked me this weekend why would we want to compete in something that doesn't award points!! Maybe I should have asked why do people hunt birds with their dogs?)

In addition to Jack winning the Walking Hunting Dog competition, I am proud to say that his daughter Bailey earned yet another derby field trial placement on Sunday by placing 4th in Open Derby handled by Paul Hill. There were 6 dogs entered. Dawn has wanted me to see her in action for quite awhile now and finally I was able to see her work. Bailey's litter was introduced to birds at 4 weeks of age and basically hunted right out the whelping box. The proof is in the running and I saw it myself for the first time this weekend. Paired with a Vizsla on Sunday she still placed in the derby stake. At 8 months of age Paul and Dawn entered her in her Open Derby instead of Open Puppy (where she also has a 3rd place win). She will find and will point her birds. Bailey can run against dogs twice her age, she is so keen on birds. Bailey is also show pointed and has several placements.

Not enough pups entered for Amateur Puppy on Saturday for any points so those pups had to run in Amateur Derby instead. Kind of a disadvantage for younger pups with little to no bird work or never being shot over. I am not sure what happened on Sunday. There were 5 entries for Open Puppy and 3 of them placed but 4th place for Open Puppy was with held. It surprised me to see placement with held at this level. But I didn't understand why a Saturday derby placement was with held either, when the derby dog had established and held a point, and was steady to shot. I did get a chance to see Bullet briefly but it was hard to divide my time among all the braces. I walked the Sunday puppy brace to scout for Starr and/or Bullet but fell far behind. (Sorry Steph.) It was fun to have them all there though and we had a good time.

FROM THE AKC BOOK: Puppy Stake (Open and/or Amateur Walking) for dogs 6-15 months of age. Horseback handling is not permitted in Amateur Walking Puppy stakes. Puppies must show desire to hunt, boldness, and initiative in covering ground and in searching likely cover. They should indicate the presence of game if the opportunity is presented. Puppies should show reasonable obedience to their handlers commands, but should not be given additional credit for pointing staunchly. Each dog shall be judged on its actual performance as indicating its future as a high class bird dog. If the premium list states that blanks will be fired, every dog that makes game contact shall be fired over if the handler is within reasonable gun range. At least 15 minutes and not more than 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat.

Derby Stake (Open and/or Amateur Walking) for dogs 6 months - 2 years of age. Horseback handling is not permitted in Amateur Walking Derby stakes. Derbies must show a keen desire to hunt, be bold and independent, have a fast, yet attractive, style of running, and demonstrate not only intelligence in seeking objectives but also the ability to find game. Derbies must establish point but no additional credit shall be given for steadiness to wing and shot. If the handler is within reasonable gun range of a bird which has been flushed after a point, a shot must be fired. A lack of opportunity for firing over a Derby dog on point shall not constitute reason for non-placement when it has had game contact in acceptable Derby manner. Derbies must show reasonable obedience to their handlers commands. Each dog is to be judged on its actual performance as indicating its future promise as a high class bird dog for Gun Dog or All-Age stakes. Preference should not be given to one potential over another. Application is more important than range in a Derby. At least 20 minutes and not more than 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat. All placed dogs must have established a point.

Gun Dog Stake (Open and/or Amateur) for dogs 6 months of age and over. A Gun Dog must give a finished performance and must be under its handlers control at all times. It must handle kindly, with a minimum of noise and hacking by the handler. A Gun Dog must show a keen desire to hunt, must have a bold and attractive style of running, and must demonstrate not only intelligence in quartering and in seeking objectives but also the ability to find game. The dog must hunt for its handler at all times at a range suitable for a handler on foot, and should show or check in front of its handler frequently. It must cover adequate ground but never range out of sight for a length of time that would detract from its usefulness as a practical hunting dog. The dog must locate game, must point staunchly, and must be steady to wing and shot. Intelligent use of the wind and terrain in locating game, accurate nose, and style and intensity on point, are essential. A dog that does not point cannot be placed. A dog should not be called back to point after the running of its brace except under the most extreme and unusual circumstances. A dog encountering its bracemate on point must honor. Failure of a dog to honor when it sees its bracemate on point must be severely penalized, and the intentional avoidance by a dog or a handler of an honoring situation must also be severely penalized. A dog that steals its bracemates point must be ordered up by the Judges. A reasonable move of a dog to mark a bird flushed after a point is acceptable, but this shall not excuse a break or a delayed chase. At least 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat.

All-Age Stake (Open and/or Amateur) for dogs 6 months of age and over. An All-Age Dog must give a finished performance and must be under reasonable control of its handler. It must show a keen desire to hunt, must have a bold and attractive style of running, and must show independence in hunting. It must range well out in a forward moving pattern, seeking the most promising objectives, so as to locate any game on the course. Excessive line-casting and avoiding cover must be penalized. The dog must respond to handling but must demonstrate its independent judgment in hunting the course, and should not look to its handler for directions as to where to go. The dog must find game, must point staunchly, and must be steady to wing and shot. Intelligent use of the wind and terrain in locating game, accurate nose, and style and intensity on point, are essential. A dog that does not point cannot be placed. A dog encountering its bracemate on point must honor. Failure of a dog to honor when it sees its bracemate on point must be severely penalized, and the intentional avoidance by a dog or a handler of an hon-oring situation must also be severely penalized. A dog that steals its bracemates point must be ordered up by the Judges. A reasonable move of a dog to mark a bird flushed after a point is acceptable, but this shall not excuse a break or a delayed chase. At least 30 minutes shall be allowed for each heat.

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When everything was said and done, everyone had a really enjoyable time. Pippin enjoyed some time with Dawn which was important to me. I also was very happy to see our beautiful little J & A's Wish Upon a Shooting Star who is a perfectly marked tri-color Brittany out of Wish and AFC/FC Coos Rylee. Speaking of Coos, Ray was there with a very nice litter of pups. He teased me saying he'd saved all the liver and white ones just for me. (He KNOWS me!!)

Speaking of tri-colored Brittanys, here is a link to check out with a show case of Tri-Color champs Those of us who love, own, show, field trial, compete with, or breed Tri-Colored Brittanys know that prejuidice's exist but we do grow very weary of ignorant comments, we have heard them all. The best advice I have for someone who says something stupid about a TC Brittany is this: If the person you have just made your comment to is silent and does not respond, there is no need to repeat what you just said again. Rest assured they heard you and feel you have insulted their dog and they are getting ready to lamb baste you verbally. Someone with a young TC pup hears everything: thought it was a Beagle - looks like it fell into a can of paint -this is what the old timers did when a tricolor was born...

Moving right along.... Miss J & A's Sassafras Rose Harris is in the dog house with Julie. Jim and Julie decided to run her in the Walking Hunting Dog stake but Sassy had ideas of her own. Jane (the judge) came out of the woods alone yelling to us that Sassy had run away. John, Sam and

others quickly mobilized to help find Sassy. A couple of juvenille dogs running with bells had to be quickly rounded up before the search could begin. Jim who had not been feeling great, quickly got up and headed to the woods to find his wife and his dog. It seemed like a long time but eventually Sassy was found and leashed. A very disgusted Julie led Miss Sassy back to their van. Rumor has it Julie and Sassy are still 'not talking' ;o).

For ATB the very best part of the weekend was when each of our dogs enjoyed some well deserved free time running around and socializing briefly. They are all so beautiful and fun loving in their own right. And last but not least I headed into the woods one more time for little Pippin who enjoyed the experience. It was great to also run into Gibson who was stellar and locked for several minutes on a bird. Paris also showed great improvement and a lot of independence and maturity. I think she's well on her way to a Junior Hunter. Hero and Izzy had fun running through the woods too and I think Lisa learned a lot too.

So now it's Tuesday and what am I doing now? Helping John get ready for the Qualifications of the Maine Bird Dog Club Wild Bird Classic. He's the new VP of that club and has been working closely with Kellie Short Fogg and Bob Paucek. This is an American Field event. I am ignorant of all of this and confess to this! There is no rest for the weary but listen, I'll tell you a secret. If I can get out of this one I am going to - I'm exhausted! TOTALLY worn out! And there is nothing I want more right now than to stay put... RIGHT HERE where I am. I am not even going to the Federation of Maine Dog Club meeting tonight in Augusta. TIRED TIRED TIRED.

John is amazing but I know I've got to take a break...

It is exactly the middle of September and fall officially begins next week. As summer winds down, so will I. Our daughters birthday is this week! And my sister is here for a brief visit. And there are 3 grandaughters near by who Gramie wants to spend some time with.

I love this time of year. Thanks for your interest as always, and especially for the blessing of friendship from so many of you - even those who we don't yet know personally! Take care and God Bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittany