2012 Breeding Program Information - Brittany Puppies

We have received several very serious inquiries regarding our next planned breeding, some of which still need to be confirmed. We are using FaceBook, this ATB Blog, and email to touch base with those who we have remained in touch with us.  As is customary, we will give preference to active bird hunting families with prior experience with Brittanys. At this point in time we are only planning 1 litter but are accepting inquiries for a waiting list that extends into fall 2013.

Please contact us via the form at www.mainebrittanysitejas.com to confirm or to inquire. 

We will announce the particulars once the breeding has occurred.  Thank you so much for your ongoing support and interest in All Things Brittany!  Take care and God Bless.


Sincerely,
John & Ann Short,
J & A's Brittanys, Acton, Maine

A Special Christmas Gift

My mum had a green thumb and my childhood home was filled with all manner of houseplants.  Everywhere you looked there were houseplants. Upstairs, downstairs, on the stairway landings, hanging in windows, trailing across the wall, you name the place and there was a plant there.  I did not have the same appreciation for them as my mother did, at least not at that point in time.  Not only where they indoors but mum's plants were outside as well weather permitting. And then during the winter there were plants down in the dirt cellar 'resting'.   Every year she'd bring the dead looking geraniums up from the cellar and before I knew it, they were all in full bloom looking more beautiful than ever.  The plants on my dad's graveside were also those of my mother.  She had a planter of her favorite plants that she would place there in the spring, take care of it throughout the warmer months, then bring it home to tend during the winter months. 

The furniture in our home were primarily all antiques; at least I know they were all very very old as she'd inherited them from her uncle and aunt.  The house being a Colonial several centuries old the attic was a delight to explore, just like my mum's bedroom was!  Her furniture included a very old Singer treadle machine and on top of that, sat her true pride and joy of all the plants - her Christmas Cactus. 

Now I know her cactus and the pot it was in had some age on it.  I think this too had belonged to her aunt and uncle. I have a very old black and white baby picture of my mom with this same pot and plant in the background.  It blossomed every Christmas without fail for as long as I could remember. She did not often (ever?) move the location of the plant. The temperature and light condition of my mother's upstairs bedroom overlooking the ocean offered the perfect environment.  That, and her green thumb, must have contributed to the longevity of her plant long after her relatives had passed away.

In 1988 my childhood home caught on fire. I will never forget the frantic call from my mother in the middle of the night crying that the house was on fire.  We drove over in a panic to find the firetrucks there and the firemen working hard to put the fire out which had nearly consumed our home.  I didn't know where my mom was and of course was trying to locate her.  Finally I learned she was safe and warm sitting with one of her neighbors but visibly shaken.  She was almost 70 years old.  My niece and nephew were also there and thank God they both got out of the house safely, my nephew helping mum down the stairs.  It was a terrible awful thing to go through.

1988 turned into 1989 and in the weeks and months to come the fire damage was assessed and all that entails. Most of that is a blur because my mother also suffered a major heart attack during that time and had triple bypass surgery.  As 1989 drew to a close, I also sensed my mom's time here on earth was doing the same.  Mum was so happy when her Christmas cactus blossomed again that year!  Evidence that it had indeed survived the fire from the year before, just as she had done.  It was the last time however we would see the Christmas cactus in bloom.  It was also mum's last Christmas for she died the following month, leaving me with a great big hole in my heart. I found solace though in knowing she was once again lying next to my dad as she was laid to rest by his side, together in the care of our Lord, and I know..."there will come a day."

Life changed as we all know it from that point on.  Along the way most of my mother's plants that had survived the fire were moved over to our house as her home was sold.  I never had a green thumb but I had a new appreciation for the commitment to my mums plants and truly gave them my personal best.  As time went on though, despite the best efforts the plants did not survive. I gave some to one of my nieces who did well keeping a couple of them going for awhile.  I did my best with Christmas cactus, learning about it's unique care and waited for it to blossom that Christmas, the year my mother died.

That was 1990.  Mum's Christmas cactus never bloomed.  Over 20 years later John and I moved and left the Christmas cactus for our daughter to care for. It was barely alive with just one frail branch trying to grow but she did manage to keep it from dying.  And every year we'd all look for signs of blossoming.  Mum's Christmas cactus never bloomed with 8 years of our daughter caring for it. 

As time goes on lives change, people move, families grow but we all know that the heart still goes on, that love never dies. So much of what happens in our life we are just not prepared for. But somehow we get through the tough times and we rejoice in the glad times. I think a key to peace of mind and having joy in our hearts truly is found by trusting God no matter what.  Which is never ever easy. Even more difficult is praising Him in the good times and in the bad.  I feel it's important to make a deliberate choice each morning when we get up whether we're going to remain stuck in the struggles of life or instead, rejoice in the blessings around us. For things could always be worse and there are always people whose lives are in much more turmoil. Sometime we can help them, other times we can't. I think there's a good reason to count our blessings, name them one by one.  Otherwise it's too easy to take them for granted or lose track of them all together.  There's a beautiful song called "Blessings" which would fit in well with what I am sharing here... (I hope you listen to it.)

As I've been counting my blessings this Christmas I am thankful so many things.  The love of my wonderful husband, our children and grandchildren; our health is not too bad; we can put food on the table; we have a wonderful circle of friends; we have a roof over our head; our children and their families are doing well; and yes of course our beautiful, loving Brittany dogs.  There is the added blessing of knowing our son will begin his ministry this Christmas Eve with his first service, a service which I will play music at. (My mum was a pianist who played by ear and I grew up loving to hear her sing and play!)  Last but not least, my nephew has moved back home to New Hampshire after living down south for many, many years which has made me very happy - and even more so because he is a new daddy, with a sweet little son born a couple of months ago. "Eli" is very much loved by his mommy and daddy, and so many of us!!

This weekend Maryann was here and very excited about some pictures she wanted me to see.  As I looked at the photographs I could hardly believe my eyes. She was telling me how 'Gram's Christmas Cactus" was in bloom!!!   I stood there staring in disbelief and my eyes began to fill with tears.  I couldn't believe it.  Maryann knew it hadn't blossomed in the 8 years she had it so she was just as happy as I was. She didn't realize however that it had not bloomed since 1990 when my mother died so I told her the story behind it.

God works in mysterious ways.  After my mom's death so many years ago I experienced a few 'things' that were private and special, but things that let me know our love for each other was alive and well - she just was in 'another place'.

My thoughts are especially sensitive towards memories of my mum at this time of year and understandably so.  I'm sure some of 'you' out there can relate.  As special as some of the blessings are in my own life right now, these same blessings would be just as special if not more so to my mother. Blessings which I would give anything to have been able to share with her throughout the many years she has been gone.  I'm thanking God for this special Christmas gift of mum's Christmas cactus blossoming because I can see the reality of not on His love - but hers too.  A simple thing with such great significance for our family. A very special Christmas gift indeed.

We hope you and yours will have a wonderful happy Christmas!  Enjoy your loved ones and appreciate what you do have, and make time to see the reality of God's love which is with us - not only at Christmas, but every moment of our lives.  Merry Christmas!  John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

2011 Family Christmas Music Slideshow

Christmas Is

(As sung by Regine Velasquez*)

Fireside and winter snow

Lights are on the tree

The world is all aglow again

With all the season brings

And though it comes around each year

The meaning of the season

Sometimes disappears

Oh it's good to be reminded

Christmas is for girls and boys

Trimming trees and Santa's toys

It's Mom and Dad and Gram and Grandpa, too

Christmas is a sacred birth

A chance for home and

Peace on earth

It's everything that we hold dear and true

but most of all

Christmas is the love that lives inside of me and you

Sleepy eyes are open wide and tiny hearts beat fast

To celebrate the morning

Just like every Christmas past

We gather close to family

Embracing all that's been

And all that's yet to be

Oh it's good to be reminded

Christmas is the candlelight

Jingle bells and silent night

Friends from long ago

And friends we've made anew

Christmas is a sacred birth

A chance for hope and peace on earth

It's everything that we hold dear and true

But most of all Christmas is the love that lives inside of me and you

From where it all began

One night in Bethlehem

It reaches out to all of us

Reminds us once again

Christmas is for everyone

The greatest gift of the Father's love

The star that shines on all the world

The light that leads us through

Christmas is a sacred birth

A chance for hope and peace on earth

It's everything that we hold dear and true

Oh, but most of all Christmas is love that lives inside of me and you.

written by: JIM BRICKMAN, REGIE HAMM, MARK R. HARRIS, REGIE GLENN HAMM

ATB: Pippin & Pups

Hemi and Thistle are showing us all so much potential.  There is a deliberate effort on our part to keep the training for the ring and for the field as balanced as we can.  When we come back from a busy show weekend (match or otherwise) the first thing we're trying to do is get the pups out into the field and on birds the very next day.  The handling classes and the matches have been the training ground for understanding what will be expected of them as they grow into adulthood.  Right now it is all about fun and these pups are not going to have any problem in either venue.  Hemi and Thistle honor each other now and that is without effort.  We are mindful to let the fieldwork remain fun and uninhibited and actually vary the methods being used on any particular outing.  Both pupsters have 5 shows and 3 matches under their belts with very significant placements. At 4 months old Hemi even has a fun field trial placement!  Hemi won his first blue ribbon in Springfield with competition and Thistle enjoyed her first time in the ring with second place.  Pippin, Bullet, and Treasure were also entered in these shows.  (I was happy for our friend Lorri who finished her beautiful Brittany that weekend with back to back majors.)  But the most encouraging time so far was this past weekend when, at a small show with some competition, they both came home with points towards their AKC Championship titles. Thistle knocked our socks off when she went Winners Bitch (WB) for 2 points, Best Opposite Sex (BOS), and and Best Puppy in Breed on Saturday!  Hemi did get Reserve Winner (RW) on Saturday.  Then on Sunday Thistle went WB for 1 point, and BOS.  That was the day little britches Hemi - won his 1st point with Winners Dog (WD) and went Best of Winners (BOW)!  Bullet showed well for Julie and placed in his class. 

As exciting and wonderful as these accomplishments were I had a personal best goal for the weekend.  I really wanted to show Pippin to the best of my ability on Sunday in the Best Bred by Exhibitor in Breed (BBE).  It ended up not being much of a competition with one entry but her breed win opened the door to compete with other sporting dogs bred by their exhibitors as well.  Julie was willing to take her into the Sporting Group competition for me but she also encouraged me to give it my best shot.  Pippin had given me her "happy tail" and really turned it on in the ring.  She gave me 100%.  After standing with Pippin along side of the Best of Breed, Best of Winners, Best Opposite Sex, and realizing her two pups won the available points - I was pumped. 

Pippin spent some of the afternoon resting and later a final grooming before going back in.  There were 6 beautiful entries of Sporting Dogs in the BBE Group. I was going in for the fun of it.  Pippin was easy to present as we went into the ring. Her movement felt right on, I was confident as she placed herself leaving very little for me other than adjust a certain spring loaded leg.  I remembered how very much I love showing Pippin and it reminded me of taking her mother Chrissy into the ring years ago.  My own mobility continued to be somewhat limited but I did my best knowing the presentation is everything.  Going into the ring the adrenaline rush was so tremendous, all that mattered to me was Pippin at the end of the lead. She kept looking up at me as we went around the ring as if to say 'is that really you? are you really doing this with me?' and I just kept telling her what a good good girl she was.  And when Pippin is happy, it shows and makes everyone is happy!  I swear she smiled.  I know I was when the judge selected us for a Best Bred By Exhibitor Group 4.  A very personal goal has been successfully achieved.  Here's to meeting more of them in 2012 on behalf of all of  J&A's Brittanys !

As always take care and God bless, thanks for your interest - John, Ann and All Things Brittany

PS Those of you who have been on our waiting list for our next litter, would you please email me privately?  We need to reconfirm your level of interest! Thanks!

ATB: 3 Brittanys Demonstrate HONORING each other

(Pause the PlayList music to the right before viewing)



(Omission to Bullets name... he too is an AKC Junior Hunter!)

I'm always so pleased to capture something raw and natural on film. This is no exception. Julie was here visiting John and I and we all took some of the crew down to the field. It had been a very long weekend of dog shows in Springfield, MA so the dogs (and their owners!) deserved this outing.

I think this video really demonstrates what the word "HONOR" or "BACKING" means in regard to hunting dogs. Bullet, True, Jack were all working together with chukar in the field. Bullet picked up the scent cone and followed it to where the bird was with True and Jack coming alongside. They saw Bullet slam into a point and came up beside him. It was beautifully orchestrated through the instincts within them. We have never had to put a lot of effort into the retrieve/backing training of our Brittanys but of course there is always much room for improvement. Even so, it's the stuff they instinctively do that is so exciting! 

What stood out to me the most in this short clip is the direction of each dog's head. They are clearly turned to face Bullet's body while Bullet is looking in the direction of the bird. The only time Bullet turns his head is when John approaches him, as if to acknowledge his presence and to say 'okay, I'm here now what do you want me to do next?'

Thistle and Hemi also had a great outing in the field, they are naturals. We do not believe in pushing them along when we have already seen the evidence of their strong birdiness displayed each time they are on birds. Sassy had a succesful run and ended up finding her birds as did Pippin. John says next year the girls will get their chance to test for some hunting titles!

Hopefully we can keep our Brittanys working right through December and they will all be fresh for whatever the springtime brings.

Working on more photos/collages to share soon. In the meantime thank you for your interest and as alwasy, take care and God Bless you. John, Ann and All Things Brittany