ATB: 6 Week Old Puppy Photos

ATB Video: True & Piper 6 week old Puppies

THE NEMO LITTER at 6 Weeks Old!!

 

For sure I haven't been able to keep up with the blog these past two weeks! But here's a glimpse at what's been keeping us very, very busy at J&A's Brittanys during that time.

 

We've enjoyed visiting with all the families who are going to welcome one of True and Pipers beautiful Brittany pups into their life very very soon. I'm so pleased with how these pups have developed and feel certain there will be a repeat of this breeding in a couple of years. I see show potential animals here as well as knowing full well that the hunting skills are a given with the breeding behind them.

 

Bo and Chris Longley of Litchfield Maine (Merrymeeting Brittanys) have a nice litter due with our Jack and their Brandy in mid April.  We will soon be announcing particulars in regard to a litter we hope to see arrive here in mid-May. Those of you who are on the waiting list already have this information. The litter is completely spoken for.  We're still accepting serious inquiries for our future breeding plans however if someone really wants a puppy from us you should let us know now because a year long wait is inevitable at this point. We have some excellent plans that we're very excited about but waiting lists are already forming.

 

Other news includes an ATB road trip to the New England Sporting Dog Group Association shows about a weekend ago.  Treasure and Hemi both came home with placements and ribbons as did Bolt (Treasure/Bullet pup).  Thistle came home with her second Grand Champion Major points so she is well on her way to finishing her AKC Grand Championship title. It was really a great weekend, the host clubs did a fine job. Enjoyed visiting with all our dog show friends and their beautiful animals.   Bolts littermate and brother "Wilson" was shown in Kentucky and he too came home with some nice placements and ribbons as well.  Very very proud of the up and coming generation.  Additionally we're very blessed by the support and encouragement that comes our way to continue to move forward - you know who you are. It's just going to continue to improve and we could not possibly hope to do that without those who embrace our hopes and goals, who understand what we're about and want to accomplish. And I especially appreciate those who step in and boldly remind me that we are not breeding show dogs and we are not breeding field trial dogs. But competing and doing well with our hunting dogs is icing on the cake as proving our breeding program ends up not being as difficult as I once thought. We have some amazing animals out there and everytime we win a ribbon, a placement, points, etc. we are winning it on behalf of ALL of the ATB family because they are all well loved primarily as a family pet. Some people think the pet part should come last. I believe it should come first. Showing our hunting dogs, proving them, loving them all, and knowing for sure that when everything is said and done we have some pretty amazing and beautiful bird dogs right here.

 

It's been tough to get into the fields with all this snow but the dogs are looking forward to some springtime events. John is interested in checking out National Shoot To Retrieve events in 2013 and perhaps bringing one to Maine. The Central Maine Brittany Club spring hunt test will be held the end of April and we're busy working on that. As for me, I'm working on the 2013 CMBC Specialty show to be held the end of June.

 

Everything is going well, we'd sure like to see the last of the snow disappear but at least the frost is out of the ground.

 

The pups have been outside, they've enjoyed the change of scenery but obvious not for long with the mud, snow, and cooler temps. They are all using a 'litter box' to go to the bathroom in, they are nearly paper trained and I don't mean maybe.  We have used our Sound Effects Library to help with desensitizing them to loud and sudden noises.  They will react but they are not fearful, they advance to the noises. I love it!  Pups are eating solid food throughout the day but still have some snuggle time with their momma Piper. She is doing great, loves her pups, is disciplining them well in regards to bite inhibition and will not let them nurse at will, although they do occasionally enjoy a treat from mom. That's okay, she's in charge, not the other way around. Average weight of this litter at 6 weeks 2 days is 6 pounds and 9 ounces.  The pups have played with bird wings since they were 4 weeks old. It has moved from playfulness of a new object to a desire for the scent.  I spend as much time as I possibly can in their midst. This week they will begin to enjoy their x-pen in the kitchen more and more.  Next weekend informal puppy evals will take place and their first formal photo shoot. We will use those photos to identify new owners and their pick puppy. Something everyone is waiting for! I don't expect any surprises along the way, These pups are sweet, outgoing, bold, confident, feisty, and lovable.

 

I see traits of both parents clearly. I have the honor of living with their grandparents and a great grandparent.  It's a blessing and a joy to see the similarities go right down through the line personally. To be at a point where we no longer need to outcross to get what we want in our Brittanys is something we've worked hard at. I remember the first pedigree I looked at on Wish side, all the lines said Birch Spring for about 3 generations back. All were titled and proven in the hunt. I thought at that point - that is what I want to see someday in a pedigree. Sire, dam, grandsire, grandam, greats and even beyond - with our prefix as a J&A Brittany. And then I wanted to see those titles. Not that we need them, but they are desirable to me. This too is happening. Improving upon what we had, to make what we have better, outcrossing as needed (and we have done this with great success over the past years). To know we have a line of close working gundogs, of sound temperament, solid structure adhering to the standard, well proven hunting ability - and so much more. To God be the glory!

 

Take care and God bless always, John, Ann and All Things Brittany

 

 

 

 

ATB: 4 1/2 Week Old Brittany Puppies

The Nemo litter is growing up! They are also keeping us very busy here so I have not had a chance to leisurely sit and blog about all their activities. It's very hard to believe they are going to be 5 weeks old this weekend. WOW. Time is just flying.  The pups have enjoyed meeting some new people recently. The grandchildren were their first official visitors of course, along with our daughter who loves pups. Actually she had a chance to visit with them today before the two of us went out to lunch together, a rare treat.

Pups enjoyed a visit from our neighbors!

Two of our neighbors stopped in to meet the pups on Monday. I love the smiles on their faces! Not sure who enjoyed the visit most, the puppies or our neighbors.  Tuesday was a really special day, as one of the families who are patiently awaiting the first day of the rest of their new pup's life drove up for a nice visit. What is neat is how Piper is closely related to their previous Brittany, a well loved member of their family who is no longer with them. Evidently Piper resembles their Brittany a little bit. We were surprised and blessed with a very thoughtful gift basket that included some things for the dogs as well as for John and I!   

Piper appreciates the extra attention.

Speaking of Piper she is helping us with the weaning of her puppies. We have been feeding them puppy mash daily and they've still been nursing from their mother. Piper has started to "communicate" with them quite clearly that it is time for solid food to replace her mother's milk. She's still very attentive to her little family. We believe strongly that even beyond weaning the mother should remain reasonably involved in her pups development. No one can teach respect and bit inhibition like a momma dog! We've had the puppies playing with bird wings and it's the cutest thing to watch. It's not so much that this is triggering anything at this age as it is giving them an early opportunity to try to figure out what's up with these feathers!  If they learn at an early age it's fun to pick them up and carry them in their mouth it's possible that teaching them to retrieve to hand will come a little easier. Not a big fan of certain methods of forced retrieve training although it does have it's place in a training program. I guess maybe we've been spoiled because the majority of J&A's Brittanys all have very strong natural retrieving ability and instincts. (I suppose I could stretch things a bit and say it's because we introduce them to the wings at such an early age!) Along with the wings the puppies have been discovering how fun it is to play with toys. Little games of tug-a-war break out among them, they woof and bark, jump and tumble and are an overall delight to observe.  The best part is when they all begin to get tuckered out and are ready for a time of snuggling. As I sit with them, they come around and flop over my legs, cuddle up into my lap, or I'll pick a couple of them up, lean back and just let them settle down while resting upon me.  These days are numbered and I want to enjoy each of them to the fullest.

We've been playing the sound effects CD for them at feeding time and other spontaneous times in the day. It does not phase them. It's fun to watch their reaction though, and John and I are pleased because they're very confident and outgoing. Their conformation is really very nice which comes as no surprise to us. Both parents are beautiful and adhere to the AKC breed standard and they also are well balanced, sound, and are proven bird dogs. Although we are not field trialers nor do we breed field trial dogs, they each have field trial placements. Piper is not quite finished as an AKC Junior Hunter. True is of course JH titled and just needs one more leg to finish his AKC Senior Hunter title. True and Piper grew up together as I've shared before and have been frequently hunted with each other for several hunting seasons now on grouse, woodcock, and of course pheasant. There's no guesswork involved when it comes to the true hunting ability of these puppies. It's there within them. These are not only True and Pipers puppies - but remember, they are Jack and Treasure's grandpups, not to mention Wish' great grandpups!  This means we now have bred (twice) our third generation of bird dogs, the first being Treasure and Bullet's beautiful litter. They will be 1 year old next month.

Well speaking of conformation, on with the show! This weekend there are two back to back Brittany Specialty shows in Massachusetts in which our dogs will be shown. Showing is not my thing but I know our beautiful hunting dogs deserve to be shown, seen, and win under judges who agree. We're closing in our 4th champion within a year that we bred ourselves. The line on the pedigrees are of two generations of J&A's Brittanys. I like it. Speaking of those shows, time to call tomorrow, today for it is 12:01 a.m. I look around and there are some of the crew who have already gone to bed, and then there are the two waiting on the couch, watching for my next move to indicate I'm heading to bed! 

Thanks for your interest in ATB ! Take care and God bless, John, Ann and our awesome canine crew.

Happy 10th Birthday Molly Rose !

March has always been a month of very special days for our family and for some of our friends. Birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated from the beginning of the month to the end. I've always thought it interesting how some months are especially filled with more times of celebration than others.  March is no exception.

This past week the beautiful Brittany girl pictured above turned 10 years old.  Miss Molly Rose is affectionately known as Moll-moll to many who love her.  She was born a few weeks before our first grandson was born. For the first few years of both of their lives they grew up together.  Actually, Molly grew up with all of our grandchildren with many, many naps taken with them here in the afternoon at one time or another.

So in dog years Molly Rose is now 70 years old. You'd never know it by the way she lives her life, full of fun and vigor. Molly and her daughter Rosie are inseparable, and Rose turns 8 in April. The two of them are really a riot to watch together once they get going.  Unexpected playfulness, barking, and crazy puppy spurts erupt at any given time.

It's hard to watch a dear friend grow old almost overnight. But, like her mother before her, she has grayed quite prematurely. Her hearing is a little off, and I see a little cloudiness in those eyes that once shined so brightly. Even so, her favorite place to sleep is still underneath the covers behind John's knees. And she loves to play with and eat, of all things, radishes.

In looking at over the many many photos we have here of Molly through the years I decided to share just a few in the above collage. I think they testify of the special love we feel for Molly and vice versa. As you may remember she and I spent a week together with our friend Julie and her dogs up at her lakeside campsite way up in the County.  Molly was treated as the princess she has always been and the two of us really enjoyed each others company, as well as that of our hosts!

So today I just wanted to celebrate Molly here, to say how much we love her and how better our life is because of her very existence. She came into our heart and home at a time of great transition for us.  And life has never, nor will it ever be, the same.  I also thank God for the many friendships formed as a result of Molly Rose in our life, from her breeder to those who now share their lives with a Molly puppy.  Miss Molly Rose, my Moll-moll - you are a true prima dona, bring laughter to us all, and you are such a sweet, good good girl - happy birthday to you!

ATB Video: Nemo Litter Brave New World

ATB: Dear Piper...

"Piper, you're such an amazing dog, such a wonderful 1st time mother. As I draw your puppy, Windy, close and wrap her in my arms you approach slowly, standing still, and look deeply into my eyes. I pet you gently and softly whisper to you what a beautiful dog you are, what a good, good girl you are and tell you how much we love you.  Your puppy repositions herself across my chest, so that her sweet little head has a bit of pillow underneath, and Windy settles across where my heartbeat is strongest. The moving, inspirational music of Tim Janis surrounds us as if to create the perfect soundtrack for a response to the near sacredness of these precious moments.  I watch you, watching me cradle one of your precious puppies protectively against my heart.  And then, suddenly you draw even closer. Unexpectedly I am moved to tears for this moment becomes one not only seen but felt in my heart. You rest a paw upon my arm, gaze up at me one more time before deliberately laying your own sweet orange and white Brittany head down, not only close to Windy's head but across my chest. Although half asleep she quickly perceives the closeness of you Piper, her beautiful mother."

The most simple act of holding a young puppy is repeated often when a breeder draws a puppy close.  Even so, I recognize in a moment such as this that what is happening I dare not take for granted.  I surrender to the sense of divine nature permeating my soul, close my eyes as tears gently fall, lift my head towards heaven and softly say these words 'Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below' and I am reminded once again that:

All Things Bright & Beautiful

All Creatures Great & Small

ALL THINGS BRITTANY

The Lord God, Loves Them All 

ATB: 3 Week Old Brittany Puppy Photo Shoot



STORMIE

STORMIE

GUSTY

GUSTY

TEMPEST

TEMPEST

SNOWBALL

SNOWBALL

WINDY

WINDY

BREEZIE

BREEZIE

Here we are, the "NEMO Litter", a beautiful new litter of Brittany puppies born here in Maine on February 9th during the blizzard of '13. This is our 3 week photo shoot. Our human Ann doesn't do a lot of stacked photos at this age because we're still growing, are very wobbly, and just have our sea legs underneath. She says there is no reason for us to have to work so hard when we're still just little babies. We don't know why she says we remind her of "drunken sailors" when we walk. We do make her laugh because we take two steps forward, and then about half a dozen backwards. We are very curious about the world around us and we can now hear her calling her infamous "Puppeeee! Puppeee! Puppeeee!" at the same time she is clapping her hands. At first we were a little freaked out at her exuberance but now when we hear that we come running to the edge of the whelping box. We had our first meal the other day, it was mashed up gruel made of puppy food. Our momma Piper helped us clean it up. She takes real good care of us, keeps us clean and fed but now Ann and John are beginning to take over feeding us and cleaning up after us so Piper gets a break. Ann said something about our teeth being sharp so she doesn't want us to bite our momma. Well we wouldn't do it on purpose. We sleep most of the time but when we are awake we love having wrestling matches, chasing each others tails, scaring each other with our woofing and then just falling in a ball on top of each other to go back to sleep. Life is good and God is great. Thanks for caring about us, we care about you too! Love from Stormie, Gusty, Windy, Breezie, Tempest, and Snowball.

PS Momma Ann has many more pictures and videos but we are keeping her very busy so she doesn't have much time to share them all but hope you enjoy these ones.