ATB: Best of Breed, Best Opposite Sex

WOW! Woot Woot! BRAGGING RIGHTS!!! 

CH J&A's Sisters of the Heart JH "THISTLE" (above and below, left with Julie)

J&A's Magnificent Obsession of Acton JH "HEMI" (below, right with Ann)

Sire: GCH CH Tonan-Hopes RU Kidin' Me "CHEVY"

Dam: CH J&A's Heartfelt Legend of Acton "PIPPIN"

Breeders: John & Ann Short

Owners of Thistle: Julie Harris & Ann Short

Owners of Hemi: John & Ann Short



Littermates DOB: May 10, 2011

 The judge was not aware that the two Brittanys she selected to be her top winners of the day were brother and sister, full littermates. I showed Hemi in Bred By Exhibitor, winning his class. The next class for him to compete in was where all the other winning dogs from their respective classes  were shown in hopes of being selected as the Winners Dog, the dog who gets the points.  As Hemi and I moved together in the ring with the other class winners I worried (as I always do) that my handling may hold him back.  That judge knew exactly what she was looking for and I felt certain in my heart that Hemi was the dog that had it. "Ma'm, move to the front of the line and take them around one more time."  I turned to the handler behind me and asked "are you ready?" She said she was and off we went. Hemi held his head high and proud as he led the dogs in competition around the ring. As we finished our go around, the judge stepped forward, pointed to us, and said "WINNERS DOG!"  Woo hoo hoo!! I reached down and scratched Hemikins neck and told him what a good boy he was knowing this win brings him to the threshold, leaving us knocking on the door of his AKC Championship title. Yet more was to come this day.

 

We watched ringside as the competition for 'Winners Bitch' entered the ring. The judge made her selection and then it was time for the next level of competition. Working through the 'classes' the animals competing in the 'breed ring' are the winners dog and bitch  ('class dogs') and those who are already finished as champions ('specials').  From the 'breed ring' the judge determines her Best of Breed, Best Opposite Sex to Best of Breed, and Best of Winners.  It is here that she will also choose her 'Select Dog/Select Bitch", these are champions who earn points towards their Grand Champion title, points that every champion in the ring has a chance to earn. 

 

The awesome part of this all is that this meant Hemi and Thistle would be in the breed ring together at the same time. It's a proud moment for this bird dog breeder to compete at this level in the show ring that is for sure! It was a ring with beautiful dogs all deserving of the win. As we went around together I was determined to keep my focus on Hemi, to maintain my 'game face' to the end despite what I believe in my heart was about to happen. That's the thing about showing. You have to go in BELIEVING you will win. You can't look at the competition and shrug, giving up. Anything can happen. Showing is not always a pleasant experience for many reasons which don't need to mentioned here. Surely you lose more than you win. What is going on in your head communicates down through the lead to your dog. I always like to have a mint in my mouth to conceal the pheromone that stress, intimidation, and nervousness can give off!

The group went around the ring with precision. As a breeder, it was quite a moment in time. As owner and breeder of the mother of the two dogs it was even more special to me. Handling Hemi to the best of my ability I was aware that our judge quickly, intently, and without hesitation pointed to Julie and Thistle. Her instructions were clear  to move to the the front of the line.  Then, with equal deliberation she  pointed to Hemi and me, instructing us to move right up behind them.  Deep within me I could feel a burst of extreme happiness, joy, and pride rising up to take my game face over with a great big huge GRIN!!! You never really can be certain of what a judge is going to do so you work your dog right through to the end, regardless of the direction you feel it's going. Anything can happen in those final seconds before final judgement is made.

 

Our judge scooted down low and bent over to closely observe the movement of Thistle and Hemi together as we moved around the ring together. What is also amazing to me is that she had no way of knowing she was judging sister and brother, full littermates.  Clearly, both Thistle and Hemi showed our judge what she wanted to see that day because Miss Thistle won Best of Breed and Hemi? He not only won Best of Winners, but also Best Opposite Sex! This brother and sister team were just impressive.  Julie and I took one look at each other and both of our eyes were misting with tears. Sisters of the Heart indeed... that's not just Thistle's name, it's our friendship through the years.

 

After the judging and pictures taken the judge learned that her two winners were brother and sister. I can only imagine what kind of affirmation that is for any judge when that happens as to the consistency in selection. We're not out there showing every weekend, our dogs are not show dogs. Truly Thistle is ever unpredictable in the ring and lives up to her nickname of Thistle the Pistol. She is a delight and John and I enjoy sharing this special girl with Julie who has done so well by her.  And Hemi. His personality is a complete contrast to his sister. I liken him to little Lord Fauntleroy, he is very mellow and laid back, just happy go lucky. He is such a 'boy.'  He too knows he is not a show dog but what is amazing about him in the ring is he will actually adjust his movement and speed to accommodate me. I worry I will mess him up due to unstable gait. Piece of cake to Hemi. I love both of these dogs. And am so very very proud.

 

Julie and I really had a blast that day with the pups. It was fun to call John from the show and say 'guess what honey?'  We don't show a lot. But we always have fun when we do. Thank you to our judge, Ms. Debra Davis and to the Southern Maine Coastal Classic cluster committee. This breeder is still walking on Cloud 9, to God be the glory.  Take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittany

ATB: Ahhhh - Puppy Breath and God's Breath

I am always quite happy and often at my best when surrounded by my Brittany dogs. They ask so little other than to be loved, well cared for, and appreciated for the awesome beings that God has created them to be. That is the very least I can do in exchange for what they bring to me every moment of every day. So whether I'm sitting observing pups in the whelping box, repeatedly throwing a stick into the pond that several of the crew will run, jump, and swim to be the first to retrieve, quietly photographing the smile on John's face when he's surrounded by the dogs or working in the field, or simply just 'being' while laying on the grass or the couch with them nearby there is a strong element of joy and satisfaction to be embraced. All of the above are moments in my life that God can ultimately use to touch my heart.

I am reminded how puppy breath has been a reality in my life since 1960. My parents were dog breeders and I have always coveted the scent. Many years later I still covet it. I was happy to discover I was not alone in this oddity as there actually seems to be a puppy breath following. Breeders especially make mention of their need for a 'puppy breath fix" often on social media. We are a strange lot!

I have discovered this sweet breath not only is it absolutely delightful but it has a positive effect upon me personally.  Carefully, I approach the whelping box, kneel down on the floor (when I can) and gently reach for a young puppy.  I delight in their warmth and wiggling as I gently bring the sweet little puppy up closer to my face. There is a purpose in doing this as I breathe gently upon them. I am teaching them to become accustomed to my own scent in the days and weeks ahead.

The reaction is priceless as they quickly open their little mouths as if to yawn. In the briefest instance of inhaling the familiar, deep intoxicating smell I know and love so well as "puppy breath."  Wondrously, God has used those fleeting moments of time to draw me closer to Him, to make me aware and pay attention as He teaches me something important for His own purpose in my life.

As surely as the little puppy breath has a calming effect upon me, greater still is the awareness that the breath of God's Holy Spirit is always there, refreshing my heart, my mind, my soul, my own spirit whenever I need Him the most. Just as the pups will soon identify me by scent, a little analogy is created. Over the years I have become accustomed to the breath of God upon my life.

In His understanding of who I am God knows just how to effectively reach our hearts. Just like a loving father God cares about the things that concern us. Daily, all manner of noise permeates our life. Constantly,we encounter people with foolish and slanted philosophies. No matter where we are we will hear words spoken by judgemental and opinionated people that we are unable to accept or agree with.

God's desire is to see us walk in the fullness of the peace He gives through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This peace is not something we can pull off without His help, no matter how hard we strive to do so. It's not the same peace that we hear the world talk about. The breath of God, His Holy Spirit is as important to us as the air that we breathe. It brings renewal and refreshment to those who seek after the things of the Lord. But it must be sought after and desired. How do I know this is true? Jeremiah 29:13 reminds me: "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

In the meantime, I've got some puppy breath to enjoy. Take care and God bless you always - John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

ATB VIDEO: Jack x Nova Pups - 9 Days Old

No need for words... here they are in all their beauty, sweetness, and innocence. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the whelping box....

 



ATB: Puppies and Bragging Rights

Happy 1st Week Birthday Puppies!

 



The "Superior Litter" (named after Nova's owners company) is doing wonderfully at 1 week old. I must apologize for the minimal posting and emailing. We are having technical difficulties with our computer, server, and hosts. It's effecting email, uploading photos, and my ability to update the blog. Ironically, Facebook is the one consistent at this point in time regarding updates and available photos. You can find us at "All Things Brittany" on FB. 

In the meantime:  The 6 puppies are thriving and growing. There are 4 white and orange girls, 1 liver and white boy, 1 white and orange male.  Nova mom is doing so well for the first time but I really did not expect anything less from a granddaughter of Wish, and from Treasures daughter. It's been fun to video call with Nova's owners who can tune in at any time of day or night to check on their girl and her puppies. They also have given the puppies their litter nicknames which are: the boys Thunder (W/O), Drizzle (L/W), and the girls (all W/O) - Cloudy, Raindrop, Puddles, and Rainy. We put new flooring down in the whelping area, a very nice and light textured vinyl. It's clean and cool for Nova to stretch out upon. The outdoor temperatures have been climbing so there's no need to keep the furnace on or deal with the wood stove (finally!!). The heat lamp keeps the pups consistently warm. What a nice litter of pups.

Sometimes Sad Things Happen: Although originally 7 pups were born we are sad to say that little Lightening passed away held close in my arms just a little over 24 hours old. He was just a little over 5 oz when born and it was clear to see he was physiologically immature. Although he lived his life with gusto and zest for the brief time he was here, he gradually began to fade. First it became difficult for him to nurse and we assisted him. We have an incubator here which we placed him in to be sure he did not become chilled.  We also attempted to hand feed him using a stomach tube because he was too weak to try to feed with a small animal bottle. This is only the third time we have ever lost a neonatal pup since our first litter of Brittany puppies in 1990 but that does not make it easier. Lightening was a beautifully marked liver and white male who looked very much like his beautiful grandmother Treasure. I deeply love and value each little creature that we are responsible to bring into the world regardless of what happens. I believe he did not receive adequate nutrition during gestation, perhaps caused by positioning of another puppy that was much larger when born simultaneously with Lightening. But I have taken my cue from Nova who had her time with him, seeming to understand what was going on. She did not reject him but accepted our attempts to keep him comfortable. Then she returned and gave 100% devotion and attention to her 6 other pups.

Visits, Selections & Homecoming:  From time to time we impose upon ourselves an informal 'quarantine' (no visitors if there is a girls in heat, possibly pregnant, or with nursing pups). Their well being is always of the utmost importance and we do this to avoid any unnecessary stress. Although all of the crew loves company, it's just not fair to create a heightened sense of excitement for 'mom' during those periods of time.   We will schedule visits from those who will be getting a puppy to meet the entire litter of pups sometime between 5 and 7 weeks of age. It's a special visit to come and spend about a half hour interacting with mom and pups and to fall in love with each puppy.  When the pups are about 7 weeks old they are formally evaluated and tested using the Volhardts P.A.T. methods although improvised a little bit to accommodate our desire to observe their natural hunting and retrieving instincts. We take pride in making sure that each family that is waiting and each puppy are a good fit. (Of course all the pups are going to meet everyone's expectations and you could basically walk in blindfolded and go home with an awesome puppy!) We so enjoy working with our prospective families over a period of time. We know they are well prepared to bring their new puppy home and that their decision was not spontaneous or spur of the moment. By the time the evaluations are over we are confident that our suggestions will compliment the desires and expectations of those who have been waiting.

Puppy Availability: This entire litter has been spoken for yet we have not yet confirmed specific availability regarding males and females. Nova's owners will be watching the pups closely before making their anticipated selection of the pick puppy from the litter of either gender. They have some experience in this area and will take as much time as we will in evaluating. So 7 weeks is the magic number for puppy selection. We always say to fall in love with them all and make room in your heart and home for that one very special pup. There will always be certain pups in a litter that stand out among the others for one reason or another. That's the one who will always go to the visitors first, will go to ALL the visitors first who sometimes think they have been personally 'selected' by that pup. The very humbling fact of the matter is that's the alpha pup whose job it is to make sure it is noticed! When someone is interested in a specific color and/or gender the choices are obviously going to be limited. As there surely is an 'art' to raising a puppy, likewise there is also an 'art' to selecting your Brittany puppy from us.  The art form is deliberate and designed with the best interest of the puppy and his or her new family of course! Funny thing is, things have a way of working out exactly as they should be. I am confident that is because God is a part of this that we call 'All Things Brittany."

Bragging Rights!: Well, I had not planned on being able to get away for the Southern Maine Coastal Classic Dog Shows which are held in Scarborough, Maine. John was to attend a legislative work session and Julie had offered to handle Hemi for me. As there were no "majors" Treasure's handler sent her home. Plans changed for me to show Hemi while "papa John' stayed home with Nova and her pups and the ATB crew. Thistle won Best of Breed and her brother Hemi won Best of Winners and Best Opposite Sex! What a feeling to be the breeder and in the ring with the two top winning Brittanys of the day. Although I have never been bitten by the dog showing 'bug' and only show occasionally to support the dual concept the breed is known for, I love the feeling of walking on air when a judge recognizes what we already know about our dogs. The frosting on the cake is that Hemi's win came out of the Bred by Exhibitor class. Also that day Thistle went on to compete in the Sporting Group competition, a first for her and Julie. Thistle picked up additional points towards her grand champion title while Hemi's win brought him right to the door of finishing his championship - he is very, very close.

I'm consumed by the desire to want to be with the pups, observing, monitoring and making sure Nova's needs are all met means.  As always, John is readily available via telephone.  I have not dropped off the face of the earth although I do love being 'sequestered' and the view from here is simply amazing.  Thanks for your interest in All Things Brittany - take care and God bless you always, John, Ann and our canine crew.

ATB: Litter Announcement

We are proud to annouce the birth of Nova and Jacks beautiful and healthy Brittany pups. They were born on May 14. All 7 are doing well. We will be in touch with those who are on our waiting list with full information when I can catch up on some sleep...

Day 63: Puppy Watch

Temperature has dropped and remained below 100 long enough to identify that we are approaching 1st stage labor.  She is restless, seeking dark spaces, and has started to scratch at her blankets.  Still awhile to go! Stay tuned.

ATB Video: Just A Little Longer (PUPPIES)

 

 

It's ALL IN A NAME We are spending a lot of time together just hanging out in the puppy room.  Maybe I should go back to calling this the "Treasure House" for the time being. It would be appropriate as the very first litter of Brittany pups to be born in the new addition was the one in which Nova was born over 2 years ago with her mother Treasure of course.  A beautiful litter of 8 arrived in the middle of a blizzard here at J&A's Brittanys but we were tucked away nice and warm spending the hours at Treasure's side as the pups arrived. That litter was called "The Nova Litter" because they were born on our oldest granddaughters birthday, whose name just happens to be Nova of course!

 

I'd never really gotten into the whole thing of nicknaming a litter. We would always just say Molly and Jacks pups, or Wish and Smokes pups etc.  Nicknaming a litter kind of just happened and so when you do something once you kind of feel like you're suppose to keep on doing it.  Our way is kind of simple really and quite often it is John who suggests a name and usually (believe it or not!) I like his ideas. We do take a lot of time working together on the official AKC registered and call name of any pup here who will have "of Acton" at the end of their name. Litter names? Not so much. However, we do have the nickname all picked out.

 

Our friends in Connecticut own their own business and it is called "Superior Landscape & Fencing".  They also own 3 Brittanys from our program and each of their names begins with J&A's Superior (unique name).   That put a huge smile on my face the first time I saw that in print. Consequently, in a few more days I hope to introduce you to "THE SUPERIOR LITTER".  And the pups registered names will be "J&A's Superior _____________" co-bred by the Shorts and the Turners.

 

Days 57 - 60   I know Nova's owners miss her terribly and I also know they trust us completely with her well being and that of the pups which will soon be born. Although they won't be here physically, they will be here virtually. The past few days I've been working out a few kinks regarding private live streaming.  It's been kind of fun to get to try some new things with a web cam, laptop, tablet, and of course our good old tried and true desktop PC. Now I can sit and blog (as I am doing now) right in the whelping area.  It's possible to upload photos and videos now in a fraction of the time it took before.  But I digress, this is not to be a technical conversation.

 

Just over my shoulder, laying out on the cot which John and I will take turns sleeping on in the next week, Miss Nova the sweet Brittany herself is resting comfortably. She's active for little periods of time throughout the day. She's very clear in communicating when she wants to go for a run down around the pond, check out the pheasant pen, or see whats up with the rest of the crew. I keep a close eye on her because I know that sense of 'wanderlust' can become very strong in a bitch near whelping.  Although our 4+ acres is entirely fenced in 2/3 of it is wooded and we've had girls try to make a nest in hidden pine boroughs before.

 

Her appetite is so good which pleases me. It is hard when they refuse food at any time during pregnancy but especially disconcerting the last week when both mother and her whelps nutritional needs are great. Nova is very sweet and affectionate. She's not anxious or nervous at all. Just like her mother, just like her grandmother. We're blessed to know that she is from a long line of what breeders call 'easy whelpers.'  Even though this young, first time mother has never experienced what her body is about to engage in - she will most likely react as instinctively and as gracefully as Treasure and Wish have done.

 

She is sleeping most of the time.  She moves about freely, choosing a couch, the cot, a chair or the coolness of the floor.  She has checked out the whelping box itself with casual interest. When we are in the house for too long, she'll stand at the door and look longingly outdoors.  After a quick romp around the yard she will go to the door of 'The Treasure House" and ask to go in.  We put a screen door on it which is so nice. She's content to lay there and watch what is going on around outside. Although sleeping a lot, she is far from inactive that is for sure!

 

Her eyes seem to ask me what is going on?  Why am I feeling this way? I respond by telling her she's such a good good girl, she's such a pretty girl. I very gently touch her tummy for it's clear she does not want much pressure there at all. But she enjoys the lightest of patting.  I would love to keep my palm pressed to her abdomen because the pups are moving so much.  The evidence of life is clear and certain. It is hard to know for sure the size of her litter.  She did not really show until the last week or so.  Sometimes first time mothers don't show until the end of the gestation period. Other times though they look huge early on. And unless x-rays or ultrasound are done it remains a guessing game. Although even then - it is a guessing game. In the past we use to do progesterone testing for breeding, and then get films later on to figure out how many pups there were. Because nothing has ever been conclusive we opt for the less stress for mom the better and let 'mother nature' (LET GOD!) determine the rest.

 

A Mothers Love I saw it with Treasure and her mother Wish, and I see it now with Treasure and her daughter Nova. The familiar bond between dam and pup. Who can know for certain what it is that remains of all that is natural between them within their biological relationship?  We don't know. We can wonder and romanticize, speculate and reason, hope and dream. To paraphrase Helen Keller, some things that are felt in the heart cannot be seen with the eyes. That's not true here. I have seen the dam and her pup relationship survive years beyond the whelping box. I have seen it even with those who were litter mates. (No, not always and breeders can't be ignorant and assume so because sometimes they will act like they want to rip each others face off !) But I saw it with Treasure and Nova this past week. They went from politely playing with each other, respecting each others space to seeking each others company, where they did not want to leave each others side. I think the photos in the slide show here show that pretty clearly. We really can learn so much from dogs, I know as a breeder I am especially blessed to witness some pretty remarkable things. As a multiple dog owner my heart does see things most eyes cannot.

 

Rest well sweet little Nova the Brittany.  In just a few more days your body will begin to approach labor and there are changes in store for you.  But we will be right here with you, nothing to fear. We are the ones responsible to bring you and Jack together in the first place. We will remain responsible and commit to you, your puppies, and the well being of your new family at every turn. You just wait and see the awesome homes and families waiting to love and enjoy your pups. Active people, hunting families and or folks with Brittanys in their life already. We've got this covered beginning to end and at every place in between. This I promise you as we wait together for the first sign of approaching labor.

Take care and God bless. As always we appreciate your interest in All Things Brittany!  John, Ann, and our amazing, beautiful, fun loving canine crew.

ATB Photos: 5 Shout Outs !



1. New AKC Junior Hunter - "THISTLE"

CH J&A's Sisters of the Heart JH
Breeders: John and Ann Short / Owners: Julie Harris and Ann Short
Sire: GCH Tonan - Hopes RU Kiddin' Me "Chevy"
Dam: CH J&A's Heartfelt Legend of Acton "Pippin"
DOB: 5.10.11
Thistle is our 12th AKC Junior Hunter from our breeding program. With Julie handling her, Thistle finished her title after just 4 hunt tests, earning her first two qualifying scores at just 11 months old.  One year later she earned her second set. Way to go Julie & Thistle!!!

2. Wilson follows in his fathers footsteps!

L: CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special JH "Bullet"
Breeders: John and Ann Short / Owners: James & Julie Harris
Sire: J&A's Apple Jack of Acton JH "Jack"
Dam: KJ Requet's Bouncin' Crysta "Chrissy"
BULLET earned his 3rd leg towards his AKC Senior Hunter Title with Julie handling!!

R: J&A's Quiet Courage "Wilson"
Breeders: John and Ann Short  Owners: Peter Sipperly / Kira Lajeunesse
Sire: CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special JH "Bullet"
Dam: J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton "Treasure"
Wilson's first time out at a hunt test and he received his first two legs towards his AKC Junior Hunter Title with Kira handling!!
Nice job ladies!



3. Team Superior Does It Again!

L: J&A's Superior Jersie Girl JH J & A's Superior Jersie Girl NA 91 Prize III "Jersie"
Breeders: John and Ann Short / Owners: James & Lori Turner
Sire: J&A's Apple Jack of Acton JH "Jack"
Dam: KJ's Ramblin' Molly Rose "Molly"

R: J&A's Superior Brandi JH NA 108 Prize I "Brandi"
Breeders: John and Ann Short    Owners:  Owners: James & Lori Turner
Sire: CH Gibson JH
Dam: J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton "Treasure"
The girls of Superior Brittanys from Terryville, CT each earned qualifying scores towards their AKC Junior Hunter Advanced title!! Way to go Team Superior!
 


4. FRIENDS

One of the best things about enjoying all these events with our dogs are the friendships that are formed along the way. Whenever a dog event brings us together it's always a lot of fun because of the mutual love of God, and the mutual love of dogs, both given and received. 
L-R Pam, Julie, Ann, Kira

 

5. TALKING 'BOUT MY GUY - Just Sayin'!

Last but not least.... You'd never know it but for the most part John and I really enjoy planning for and working together on dog related events. Regardless of whether it is a funday, an annual meeting, the dog show, etc. most of my responsibilities are administrative in nature, ongoing and done at home.  We work for months together behind the scenes before doing whatever is needed for the clubs we are involved with. When it's time for the actual event John's work is always very physically demanding and labor intensive. In fact I have never known a harder working man in my life.   Sometimes we find time to quickly touch base with each other, even if just for a quick hug, kiss on the cheek, or encouraging smile.  Consequently, because we are usually very busy with our respective duties  we are rarely ever photographed together but most often with other people! Here he is on the second morning of the hunt tests working to keep things running smoothly, communicating with the judges and the marshals while others look on. The handlers are waiting for the official word to release their two dogs, who were testing at the AKC Senior Hunter level. (Julie and Bullet are pictured.)  One thing I most admire about John is his ability to not only suggest and plan things out, but to follow through on each and every detail, bringing it to completion. He's a good leader, manager, a true friend to his friends and a person with admirable skills and values. I love him for a whole bunch of reasons but most of all for being my one in a million, once in a lifetime, totally awesome guy! 

 

ATB: Nova & Jack Puppies / Hunt Tests / Reflections

PUPPIES COMETH! The past few weeks have gone by so quickly it is hard now to say we are one week away from another beautiful healthy litter of puppies. Sweet Nova has been here a little over a week and has settled in nicely. She is not overly large but she definitely has pups on the way!   Nova have a really good appetite right now and is enjoying her puppy food with a few extra goodies mixed in like boiled liver, yogurt, and salmon oil. She is getting tired a lot and resting most of the day she sounds a lot of time stretching out fully on the floor. It is funny, her mother Treasure seems to be especially attentive to Nova. Also interesting is the way that Nova will hang out with Jack. I found them lying side by side in the shade.

I enjoy taking the time it takes to set the "puppy cave" up again.  We have found that using indoor/outdoor carpet tiles that can be taken out, power washed, dried in the sun and then replace to be invaluable in the whelping box and area. Even so, I have wanted to add another layer of flooring. So this weekend we bought some vinyl flooring which John is now installing. We will see how this works. Piper and Trues litter was so meticulous with their early house training it totally amazed me.  Sometimes they are like that, but not always. I anticipate that we'll be re-assembling the whelping box perhaps this evening. We are now working at putting the partition back up. Nova has been a part of all these activities today and she seems to enjoy this new area to explore. I've been doing puppy laundry today which I always look forward to.  Well this probably sounds funny but it reminds me of when I was pregnant because I would do a huge wash using Ivory Snow and Downy, then hang all the new baby clothes, blankets and diapers on the line to dry.  Everything smelled so fresh and clean!  A couple of weeks ago I went to my favorite thrift shop where you can fill a bag for a dollar.  There was a large collection of assorted fleece in a clear, plastic vacuum bag that I spied and inquired after.  To my delight I could have it for $2.00!  I came home and found blanket size remnants of beautiful fleece as well as smaller pieces.  I had to muffle the seamstress buried within me as she tried to tell me about all the clothing and craft projects I could make. Sorry lady - this one's for the pups!

Nova is not very big so it is likely she will not have a very large litter but I could of course be wrong.  She is a young, first time mother. Each day she seems to be popping out more and more! But we will find out soon enough. Because Nova is away from her Connecticut family we are going to set it up so that they can virtually be here when the pups arrive.  We will have a private live stream set up. I know how very much they miss her and we are very happy to have her here for this litter. To be entrusted with her brings a deep and abiding respect and understanding for the level of commitment which we feel for her, not to mention how much we love this girl!

It is time to begin taking her temperature so that we can establish what is normal for her. Probably in about a weeks time we will be watching and waiting for a temperature drop. Also within this time we'll begin to spend a lot of time with Nova in the area where her pups will be born. Time to check the whelping supply list and replenish anything which we will need. The world around us may be extremely busy during this month with field trials to prepare for and participate in as well as dog shows and more. But that is okay. Our priority above all else will be this beautiful little liver and white Brittany named after our oldest granddaughter, on whose birthday her litter was born.

CMBC HUNT TEST WEEKEND We had a busy weekend last week at the Brittany club's hunt test. The weekend went well and it's always nice to get together at these events. I enjoyed especially having a chance to visit with friends who came support the event from New York and Connecticut. There were several local members and friends too. Personally speaking it was very rewarding to watch see several J&A's Brittany's participate.  Bullet received one more set of qualifying scores towards his AKC Senior Hunter title and was handled by his owner, Julie. Bullet and Treasure's son Wilson qualified each day for scores towards his AKC Junior Hunter title. Way to go Willie!  Benny (Molly/Scooby) had a fun run and already has 1 leg towards his JH title. Jersey (Molly/Jack pup), Bella (Jack/Jasmine), and Brandi (Treasure/Gibson) each did well and received qualifying towards their Junior Hunter Advanced. Hats off especially to Julie and to Miss Thistle for finishing her Junior Hunter title in 4 out of 4 hunt tests. As we all know, that girl is really 'sumthin' special' !! A complete list of qualifiers is available at the Central Maine Brittany Club Site, a site which I also maintain for that club. Heres a slideshow I put together with a few photos from the event.


LUNA THE HORSE Also this past weekend John started something new in regards to working with the dogs. Last year our daughter bought a horse and that horse lives here.  It started out as hers but of course, it ended up as ours and that is just fine. Our other horse "Magic" was a beautiful Morgan that I really fell hard for but unfortunately he was very hateful to the dogs.  Magic is still doing well at our nieces horse farm in York, Maine where he came from. "Luna" is here to stay.  She and the dogs get along perfectly.  John has been riding her with each dog running just for all concerned to get use to the new venture.  Most of the dogs had been around horses but now all of them have. John finds it easier to use the horse for his field work, especially going back and forth to the bird house, planting birds etc. He can handle the dogs from horseback but we are not training for field trials. 

REFLECTIONS This is an interesting season of our life.  Johns now been retired for 6 years. I don't think we ever set out to intentionally find ourselves with a lifestyle choice that testifies we have literally gone to the dogs. But God has brought us on this journey, a journey full of twists and turns, ups and downs but mostly it is something we do together.  We both love our dogs so much!  John has certain areas and levels of training that he enjoys working with them and I have my own as well. We do a lot together as well as individuals.  Getting up every day has a purpose which God has given us that includes loving and caring for the beautiful animals in our life.  It's probably not a life that people would intentionally say they would pursue but it is the one which we find ourselves in.  For me there is always an awareness of how God can use people right where they are in very simple and uncomplicated ways.

TIMBERDOODLE Before I close I'd like to share that this past week was hard for me as I remembered the 7th anniversary of Timberdoodle's death.  He died as you may remember of a rare form of cancer on May 2nd 2007.  I actually wrote an in depth article for the Bangor Daily News Blog about him called "Paws for Canine Cancer." May is National Cancer Awareness Month and I hope somehow it motivates people to make a donation for cancer research.

As always thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany. Take care and God bless you!  Puppies cometh!!  John, Ann and our canine crew