Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You

GETTING TO KNOW YOU!

There is hardly enough hours in each day to fully enjoy all that these 8 beautiful, loveable, funny, cute, intelligent, sweet 8 new Brittany puppies have to give! Likewise a quick look at the calendar reveals how very quickly time is passing by and there is so much more left to discover as we get to know all about these pups.  In the past week the greatest changes by far have taken place, changes noticable in the latest photos and videos we've been able to share.  Clearly and evidently the puppies eyes are wide open and now becoming very accustomed to their immediate surroundings.  Each new day brings something new to marvel about.  Every litter of new Brittany pups brings with them a renewed sense of awe and wonder to us as proud breeders and lovers of All Things Brittany.  Indeed!  The love affair with these new pups is in it's earliest stages.   They become aware of our approach as their momma reacts to the opening of the door leading into her puppy cave and her joyful response to seeing us.  Her puppies immediately sense the change in their mother's behavior as she joyfully sings to greet us.  Greeting my beautiful Treasure always comes before acknowledging her pups, this is very important to us and to her.  We tell the puppies hello and call to them and they answer joyfully with their little woofs, yips, and barks.  The pups woof and react to the as we approach them and are in their direct line of vision. Sometimes Treasure runs ahead of us as if to show her babies off to us - other times she is clearly in need of 'getting out of the house' and quickly races out the door to freedom!  The pups each react in their own way to my presence and that of John's. Of course our approach and voices are very different which is so beneficial.  Some pups will approach readily, others observe then approache, another watches from the puppy blanket, and there are those who can't make up their mind and play a game of cat and mouse with me. It's all so fun but all so important.

 I definitely AM in love with these new Brittany pups and it is hard not to rush through this process.  In these early days of courtship it is all about getting to know them, and about them getting to know us. I do not consider any of this to be work, a better definition would be to define it as a labor of love. We have a friend who is a Maine nature artist, (http://www.mainenatureart.com/home.html) and her slogan is she loves what she does and does what she loves.  She says it best and I echo her sentiments when I apply it to All Things Brittany.

Three weeks old through three months is considered to be a key 'dog/human socialization' period.  This is a recognized time frame when the potential for the absolute strongest human/animal bond exists.  Laying a strong foundation for the best possible lifetime relationship between people and dogs is the absolute responsibility of all breeders.  If you are following along in the Monks of New Skete you'll know what we are focusing on at this point in time.  A lot of interaction and training are common sense but some of it is deliberate and structured. But always it is fun and enjoyable. This weekend a giant step occurs in the pups socialization as the extended loving arms of ATB embrace the pups with a visit from our friends. 

Puppy Visitation

Pups turn 4 weeks old soon. Take a look at your schedules as we'll be sending out dates to choose for the first puppy visit, which is a time to come and fall in love with the entire litter. We'll offer some potential dates. As this will not be a time to select pups, the visits will be done to accomodate the schedules of each family. The actual selection occurs when the pups are older and have been evaluated and based upon order of pick.  Of course everyone usually has a favorite based on photographs!  You'll bring with you a well worn article of clothing with your scent(usually people will sleep in a t-shirt the night before) packed in a ziplock bag with your name on it.  Also a small lightweight adjustable puppy collar & leash, Lupine brand is best for young pups.  Just like school, if you could make a small identifying mark on your collar that will be great. The pups enjoy getting new toys to play with and the toys survive, will also go home with you!  We do have extra crates here to begin crate training (all pups will have been introduced to crates and gone for at least one car ride) but it's helpful if a few of you could bring one to leave here.  It's kind of about that new car smell and our crates don't have it LOL. Any questions you have about collar, leash, crate etc. will be happily answered either personally or within our never ending source of printed information!

First Day of the Rest of Their Lives

We anticipate pups will be ready to begin the first day of the rest of their lives @March 9. Pups will visit the vet that week for health exams, shots, and certification.  Check your calendars again!  Before pup leaves us remember that we will need (1) name of your vet and date of pups well puppy visit  (2) name of a training class/school where pup will go for basic puppy kindergarden/socialization/obedience.

Hope that this information is helpful and does not take away from the enjoyment of simply reading about the pups, seeing the latest photos and videos.  Thanks for all your interest, comments, input and simply for being you - for sharing this love of the amazing Brittany, and for the encouragement, the thumbs up, the support, and in some cases sharing our love of God with you!  Take care and God bless, John, Ann, Treasure and ATB... OH!!! Almost forgot !  A great report about Miss Piper who is South Carolina - heard she is really cutting up the place - and that my friends, is a VERY GOOD report!