All Things Brittany: "An 8 Week Old Brittany Puppy"

The following is used with permission by Dave Jones of Chief's American Brittany.

Caly (pronounced as cal - ee )
“She's only 8 weeks old, pointing and running bigger than you'd expect for the age! How can that be? Just the thought of her developing into a great gun dog is thrilling to me.

She conjures up old memories of what has been and what will be.

What can I expect from this wonderful Brittany pup? Love, attention, quiet days afield and fireside memories. Memories of our 'oneness', of old friends, of days that pass too quickly.

A whole world is ahead for the tiny puppy. Imagine how this unguided creature would fair without my careful guidance? I have a huge responsibility that makes normal duties such as her safety and welfare pale in comparison.

I shall take her afield and have pleasant memories with her. She will challenge me but I will know that in the end, we will merge...we will become a team. I shall endeavor to properly introduce my young charge with all that is good. I will hold her and comfort her when she becomes sick, injured and old - I know this will happen and I will be there. I will always be there for her. It is my job as her master to be there. I do not take this responsibility lightly.

Many breeders before me have taken this charge and carried it out dutifully. How many countless hours afield have her ancestors spent afield? Not to mention those 2 legged hunters who have logged lifetimes finding the perfect pup, breeding the best to the best.

I try to imagine way back in time, the time of wolves and prey. Wolves, true hunters who pursued game through wit and physical prowess. I marvel at how man harnessed this primal instinct and formed it into such a magnificent animal.

We will offer one another mutual kinship. On days when she must remain behind, she will send me off with a wistful look in her eye. When I return home, she will greet me as if I truly am the king of the world. I must be royalty....watch how she worships me and loves me unconditionally. I have many faults but she will not know or care.

My new puppy thinks I am the bird god. I give her an exciting wing to attempt to catch in her early days. Watch the intensity on her face! She races to catch it but misses. Within a few flights of the wing, she instinctively begins to creep ever so slowly towards the twitching wing...then POUNCE, "Darn, missed again!" she must think. Now she slows even more and OH, how beautiful!...She has raised her tiny right front paw and paused in mid-step. Her ears are forward, head up and tail high! Why can't I make it last forever? I don't have my camera and even if I did, the picture wouldn't do justice to the moment.

I take my young prospect afield and make sure there are birds to be found. When no birds are found, she does not blame me. I think she regrets that she has somehow let me down.

How can I communicate to her my shortcomings and inability to always take her to where there are birds? This is not 1000 years ago with abundant game, where all one needs is wit and power to catch dinner. We fool our young charge into thinking that we are the ones with wit.

Then, as suddenly as I daydreamed of her skills afield, I think ahead, just briefly, to the day when she will breathe her final breath. God, can we go together? Is there a way that we can at least continue this hunt, this friendship, in the everlasting? Why God, did you create such a magnificent creature that cannot live as long as humans? Am I selfish? I rue the day of her passing. I know I will weep for days, caring only for my own selfish feelings, feelings of having been left behind once again by yet another wonderful dog.

What does a Brittany feel that has lived a full and rewarding life with a devoted master? Are they like some humans who have lived full lives and are ready for the hereafter? I have contemplated what might be their last thoughts and always pray they slip peacefully away with no suffering. I wonder if they think "I have served my master well as he has served me. I would like to hunt just once more in my mind but my body says it's time to go. Thank you master."

"Live today like there's no tomorrow" some say. This is so true when speaking of a companion gun dog. I have books by my fireside that remind me of others great dogs but somehow, no stories compare with my own thoughts of what was and will be....I pale in comparison to real writers for if I were a real writer, I might be able to impart just one ounce of what I feel for my baby, an 8 week old Brittany that is already showing the fires of what will be...

Y'all take care and give your dog a fancy treat for me.”
　

　

Written by Chief Dave Jones of Chief’s Brittanys and used with his permission.

ATB: 4 Week Old Puppies

Thunder, Puddles, Rainy, Drizzle, Raindrop, Cloudy

 

Things are very busy here at ATB. The pups are all doing so well and every day brings a new discovery for them as we enjoy helping them explore their ever expanding world. Weaning is underway and I should say it's with the help of their mother, Nova. She will let her pups nurse however rarely allows them the pleasure of falling asleep at her side. I suspect that their little teeth have something to do with. And in spite of frequent nail trimming on my part, the more aggressive nursers kneed with their paws which probably result in some scratching from time to time. Nova is happy to spend extended times away from her pups but always wants to check in with them on a regular basis. She has become quite adept at opening the door into where they are! The pups are eating two solid meals a day.

 

 

Last week when the pups turned 4 weeks old we had our first visitors come and see them. I was very happy to see how Nova accepted company that she did not know.  We tried hard to plan the visits during times of heightened activity but at this age they are like little wind up toys with a limited amount of energy to expend. When they first wake up from a nap most of the pups will make a trip to the area we've framed out for them go to the bathroom in. That is something to get excited about. Each day it seems more of them are faithful to go to where the paper is.  Even so NO ONE should ever expect any puppy ever to be even close to housebroken for several months. They will not have full control over poops and pees until much older.

 

 

T-shirts, toys, and collars were left for the pups as we countdown to the first day of the rest of their lives which will be in about 3 1/2 weeks. Things seem to have worked out for the best regarding puppy availability. We plan to do our evals/PATs at 7 weeks of age. Nova's owners will participate in this as well as a friend of ours whose English Setter just had a lovely litter of 11!  We are going to evaluate her litter and I look forward to that too. Nova's owners have pick of the litter and after they decide we will share our recommendations with those waiting for their puppy based on several factors. 

 

The litter of 4 that Jack sired with Brandy will go home this week. It's been a pleasure to work with the breeders who are also friends of ours. Our pick puppy from that litter will begin the first day of the rest of his life on Thursday with his new family, a family we have worked closely with for well over a year.

 

 I look forward to this week as we will bring the pups outdoors more frequently. They had an introduction to a frozen bird recently. The pups were sound asleep in their bed and I quietly placed the bird down in the middle of their puppy pile. Talk about waking up!  Immediately I could hear their little noses begin to sniff, sniff, sniff even before they opened their eyes to check things out! I watched as each little head popped up and they quickly scrambled to locate the source of that obviously intoxicating scent.  I look forward to taking this to the next level this coming week when we're outside.

 

Thank you to everyone for your patience and for accepting our puppy reservation policies. Our time with your pups is drawing to an end and we trust that you are all ready for that important first day of the rest of their lives. We will have done everything in our power to prepare your puppy for this day and from that point on it all depends up on you, the responsible dog owner. Remember to make your vet appointment and let us know the date and with who.  We're confident of where each puppy in this litter is going and very blessed with the way it has worked out for all concerned.

 

 We appreciate your interest in All Things Brittany so much. Take care and God bless you and yours always, John, Ann and our canine crew

ATB Photos: Brave New World at 3 weeks Old!

"Sweetest little pups, can't we please find a way to slow down this passage of time? Just a few days ago you were opening your eyes as you began to listen to the sounds around you. Then you took your first wobbly little steps. Tonight? You responded to my voice calling to you, and some of you walked towards me to greet me with obvious joy. You look at me directly, although I know I am still just a blur. But you hear and see me, and I love getting to know you this way. Tomorrow you turn 3 weeks old and I know we are forever leaving this stage of development behind. One week from today will see even greater changes. And my love for you only grows."