April Morn...

Believe it or not, BOTH of these pictures are of the same dog.  It's Brandi, nearly 6 month old daughter of Gibson and Treasure, pictured here during a recent training session with her owner in CT.  You may remember her as "Dottie"! (A picture of Brandi at a couple of weeks old follows my post here)

She was going to be called "April Rose"... however her behavior from birth showed us instead she was meant to be an Ever Ready Rose.   And yesterday our April born Ever Ready Rose turned 5 years old!  Happy Birthday Rosie - and also to Boomer, Crystal, Roscoe, and Benny.  We have another April born Brittany here too, also known as the Pippinator.  She will turn 2 on Monday.  There are no siblings to share birthday greetings with though, as she was a singleton. We wish Miss Pippin a Happy Birthday too!  We have stayed in touch with the families of those who own Rosie's littermates and the half siblings of Pippin as well.  Staying in touch is important to us for many reasons. But mostly because we stand by our Brittanys from year to year to year.  Not out of duty.  But out of love.  A very special relationship exists with many of those who follow our blog here or on Facebook. We've found a way to stay connected that works.  And we share it with others who are interested.  I think it's very unique and wonderful.  On a near daily basis John and I hear about our Brittanys from those who share their lives with one or two of them...

Marc in Ohio has Bridget.  She is Scooby's littermate, and is out of Timberdoodle. Bridget hunts birds in the midwest and has become an excellent gundog. (After seeing 3 generations of strong natural instincts I am not surprised.)  Marc and I spoke recently and caught up a little bit.  Bridget is OFA Good and a breeding is anticipated to FC Windy Hills Ike.  Ironically, we had an inquiry from someone in Ohio interested in our Brittanys so we could refer them to Marc.  

Gary and Gwenn in Connecticut have Toffee.  I always felt we were supposed to keep Toffee. At first she was promised to a young woman in NH but it did not work out.  Then, a young couple in Yarmouth decided she was everything they wanted after spending much time researching... however this was part of my learning curve about which homes should or should not have a Brittany. The experience left me quite disillussioned and I asked for her back at the age of 6 months. PERIOD.  It was not long afterwards that Gwenn called me. Toffee, who was out of CH Triumphants Magic Voodoo Man and Birch Springs Charly's Promise was one beautiful little puppy.  She would have done well in the ring as for the lines behind her on both sides.  But that wasn't our focus. Suffice to say, Miss Toffee is one beautiful spoiled Brittany who enjoys jetting back and forth in her owners private jet to Martha's Vineyard, runs side by side Gary who is a marathon runner, and enjoys the pampering and love that is lavished upon her by Gwenn, and their grandaughter.  We saw Toffee and her family last summer at Fun Day - where she earned her CGC. We get birthday photos every year and Toffee is almost 5.  One of her littermates is "Vegas", a Brittany that our friend Donna owns.

We hear quite often from the owners of 'the best Brittany in the world."  ( And perhaps the owners of even the 'second best Brittany in the world.")  Remi, full brother to Bullet and Bailey as well as Tilly, Dakota, and I'm sorry to be having a brain cramp... indeed has demonstrated beyond a doubt his skill and ability as a class gun dog, a gentlemans hunting companion, and part of the family.  Believe it or not, we never do tire of hearing how awesome Remi has done in the field, about his bird work, or what others people say about him when out training/hunting with Bob.

Looking back I love to recall the excited emails and phone calls and especially the awesome photos of the first real hunting season and pictures of the Brits and birds with Jessie in Sidney Me., Cody with Paul, Rudy with Mike, Barley with DJ, Nash and Starr with Steve, and others.  If I took the time for the next few minutes I could name so many pups and their owners who have shared with me about these hunting experiences.  I'm not intending to overlook anyone - but simply want to establish - if not for the testimony of these stories and photographs, John and I really would not be driven to continue to the extent we plan to.  I also consider for example, Jacks full sister and brother, Annie and Shogun respectively.  Annie is owned by Apple and Linda - her first year out we ran Jack and Annie together, and John and Apple did yardwork together here.  When Apple shot Annie's first pheasant over her, they proudly drove over here and gave the bird to us!  A beautiful ring neck cock pheasant. And Shogun (also Donna Pottles dog)... he is the spitting image of Jack but he is liver and white.  His hunting ability is very impressive as well and much bird hunting was done over him.  He's the reason we get such good recommendations from a top NAVHDA trainer!

Every once in awhile I feel like bragging.  And I guess tonight is one of those nights.  Maybe it's because of the encouraging phone call John had with Jim in CT. about Brandi, one of Treasure's pups.  Or it could be because of all that was said today at the Maine Sportsmens Show about Riley-Cone, another of Treasure's pups. And it might also be because of the number of times someone has been out hunting with one of our Brittanys and someone has complimented the owner and the dog, asking where they got their dog. 

I'm proud of my husband John and all that he pours into All Things Brittany.  Not only for our dogs, but for others who own dogs and hunt or compete with them in the field.  He has spent the last week either on the road or on the phone with legislators, commissioners, game wardens, dog trainers, breeders and you name it - trying to clarify a hunting law that was recently passed which effects all of us.  With one week left to this legislative session, time is drawing to a close.  We have appealed to the Attorney General about this particular law and await an answer. No one has given us a consistent answer and it pertains to whether or not those training a hunting/sporting dog in the fields here in Maine are mandated to have on their possession a hunting license.  This would sound like a given if you are a hunter. But what if your'e not?  Yes, you have to have a permit to train sporting dogs year round, using fire arms and wild birds (quail that you've raised count too) but that permit says you don't have to have a hunting license.  The new statute says you do.  What if you're in a field trial or hunt test, and you're from out of state.  Do you have to have a non-resident Maine license?  Oh I 'm sorry I did step on my activist soap box for a moment and forgot what blog I'm working on... this is one for our other blog, the Maine Hunting and Sporting Dog Owners blog... (There now, wasn't that clever how I did that?? LOL)

Seriously... it's a time to reflect on something of great importance.. .and I hope that each of you will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ tomorrow, Easter day with a sense of awe and reverence.  Be blessed by the time spent with family and friends in however you choose to observe it. I love Easter morning and every Easter sunrise.  There are years I've spent them down on the beach gathered with brothers and sisters in Christ, watching the sun come up over the ocean and singing a hymm as the day begins, and bowing our heads in prayer.  There have been times our family rose together to do the same.  And there are those mornings when it is enough to walk out onto the deck, look towards that same sunrise and speak out into the morning air...HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!  In much love, friendship, and the hope of God's blessings for you - John and Ann Short with Rosie, Pippin, Molly, Treasure, Scooby, Wish, Jack, Piper and True....