ATB: Year In Review - WOOT! WOOT!

ATB's year in review and 'records management' is putting a huge smile on this breeders face as I look upon many significent accomplishments in 2013 of dogs which we have bred.  This smile includes being happy for many owners who share their life with their family pet in a variety of ways. For the majority of folks that means loving their Brittany also as an outstanding grouse and woodcock hunting partner! For all of this means loving our Brittany for the unique, wondrous, beautiful, intelligent, fun loving dog that they are and the important part of our daily life that they are.

 A dog doesn't have to have the titles to be considered valuable to a breeding program. (That's a subject I am currently writing an article about. I hope to publish  it here, soon.) Even so, a TITLE earned is evidence of a tangible, visual and measureable goal. It indicates the absolute achievement and unquestionable  level of 'success'. The accomplishments of so many J&A's Brittanys this past year also makes this breeder proud for all the right reasons.  It also affords me the opportunity to easily recognize those breeders with a record of good ethics when they do well with their dogs in any given venue.  Natural, and mutual expressions of congratulations flow easily and are received with gratitude and appreciation when they are sincere.

A quick glance at the column to your right will reveal the ever growing list of titled Brittanys in various dog 'sports' from our program. A special SHOUT OUT to those who give your dog(s) an opportunity to shine in a sanctioned event or venue. You KNOW who you are!!

While we don't breed just to produce show champions we are proud to have bred show champions from our proven hunting dog lines.   2012 was exciting for us as 3 of our hunting dogs that we own (and co-own) became AKC Show Champions within 6 months of each other. 2013 is ending with a blaze of glory as not only 2 more of our Brittany hunting dogs finish their show championships but we also have our first GRAND CHAMPION - WOO HOO!

2013 has been an awesome year too with our first AKC SENIOR HUNTER title and several more Junior Hunter titles as well.  We plan to  continue to improve upon our line which we have developed over many, many years.  One of our greatest enjoyments is to take several of our dogs out together and show off their hunting skills. They are working dogs, they have a job to do, and they sure do it in a most excellent way.  We are not an overnight success but by golly, we are a success story!   In an extremely rare moment of standing on the rooftop  I shall now toot my own horn and shout out these current accolades:

2013 - FIRST AKC Senior Hunter: CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special SH FD CGC  "BULLET"  J&A's Apple Jack of Acton JH x KJ Requets Bouncin Crysta / Breeders: John & Ann Short / Owners/Handlers/Trainers:  Julie Harris & John Short Bullet is now testing for his AKC Master Hunter title. He also has points towards his AKC Field Championship and is officially recognized and titled as a "FD" (Flyball Dog).  

2013 - FIRST AKC Grand Champion: GCH CH J&A's Sisters of the Heart JH "THISTLE"   GCH CH Tonan-Hopes RU Kiddin Me X CH J&A's Heartfelt Legend of Acton / Breeders: John & Ann Short / Owners: Julie Harris & Ann Short / Handler: Julie Harris  Thistle also finished her AKC Junior Hunter title in just two weekends.  She  finished her AKC Grand Championship title with 5 grand champion majors.  Thistle also is involved with Flyball.

2013 - FIRST BREEDER/OWNER/HANDLER AKC Champion: CH J&A's Magnificent Obsession of Acton JH "HEMI" GCH CH Tonan-Hopes RU Kiddin Me X CH J&A's Heartfelt Legend of Acton / Breeders/Owners: John & Ann Short / Handler: (Ring) Ann Short, (Field) John and Ann Short  He also has points towards his AKC Field Championship and is in training for his AKC Senior Hunter title. Hemi has points towards his Grand Championship title including 1 major win. He is the first dog from our program that I have personally handled start to finish in the ring and I am so proud. He finished at the Central Maine Brittany Club Specialty Show.

2013 - NEW AKC SHOW Champion: CH J&A's Quiet Courage JH, NA 108 Prize 1 "WILSON".  CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special SH FD X J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton. Breeders: John and Ann Short / Owners: Peter Sipperly, Kira Lajeunnesse / Primary Handler: Christine Walker (Wilson has also been handled by his owner Kira, Doug Tighe, Joyce Coccia) Wilson finished his championship on November 22, 2013 with his 3rd major at the Central New England Brittany Club Specialty Show at the age of 19 months. (His second major win was at the Northern Jersey Brittany Club Specialty Show.) This spring he finished his AKC Junior Hunter title and he will remain in training for additional levels of hunting accomplishments above all he is a well loved family hunting dog.

2013 - New AKC Junior Hunters from the ATB family of close working gundogs:  J&A's Superior Nova JH (Treasure/Gibson),  J&A's Superior Jersie Girl Jack/Molly) GCH CH J&A's Sisters of the Heart JH (Pippin/Chevy), CH J&A's Quiet Courage NA 107 Prize 1 JH (Treasure/Bullet), Belknaps Secret Weapon JH (Jack/Jasmine)

2013 Upcoming AKC Titled Hunting Dogs Additionally, several other Brittanys from our program joined us for a fun weekend at the New England Brittany Club Hunt Test weekend and all received qualifying scores, leaving several very close to finishing their title!  It truly was a family affair which included: Ruby (Molly/Scooby), Bolt (Bullet/Treasure), Jack (Bullet/Treasure), and last but not least my very own J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton (TREASURE) who just needs 1 more qualifying score to receive her AKC Junior Hunting title too. (Treasure is of course show pointed, quickly earned all of her required minor points with me handling her in Bred by Exhibitor classes. Two major wins would make her a show champion too!)

2013 - New Flyball Title J&A's Sassafras Rose Harris CGC, FmCH - Pride & Joy's White Smoke X KJ's Ramblin' Molly Rose / Breeders: John & Ann Short / Owners: James & Julie Harris Sassy is a key member on the Flyball MAINEiacs flyball team. She is also at the top of all Brittanys in the entire country for Flyball points and achievements.

2013 - Agility Accomplishment  J&A's Tenzing To The Summit OA NAJ "TENZING"
J&A's Apple Jack of Acton JH X KJ's Ramblin Molly Rose / Breeders: John & Ann Short / Owners: H. Connell/H. Connell 

J&A's Maggie Rose, Tenzing's sister, is also enjoying the sport of Agility with her owner in Ohio, Deb Fogle.  We look forward to the updates on both of our Agility Brittanys as this is a very new venue for us. Congrats to both Tenz' and Maggie!

 Not to be outdone, their sister Ruby has been involved with training at the Central New England Brittany Club with her owners Marilyn and Roger Gilman. Roger has successfully handled the lovely Ruby Rose to her first sets of qualifying scores for her AKC Junior Hunter title as well. The Gilmans totally surprised us with the news that they had been preparing her for testing. She joined us at the fall NNEBC hunt test weekend.  That weekend was such a family reunion for all of us who could be there including. That is also the weekend Pete & Kira's Brittanys (Wilson and Annie) both finished their JH titles. I can say we all have a good time whenever we gather together at any kind of event and look forward to more of the same in 2014!

I'm probably not getting everyone listed here who should be but I hope that grace is extended to me in light of the busyness of the season not to mention - full time enjoyment of our new puppies!!! Do not hesitate to let me know if I have left your dog's name off this list for anything that has to do with 2013 !  I have enjoyed visiting this past year with families who have increased their canine crew and became a multiple dog family. But that's how it is with Brittanys, they are like Lay's potato chips in some aspects!

2014 HUNT TESTS Speaking of young Brittany puppies.  I will look forward to seeing several of them out at hunt tests, field trials as some new owners have expressed a desire to get involved with them. I will admit this is self serving for me because I enjoy the reunions at the tests, trials, shows, training sessions and more.  I often am referred lovingly to as  "Momma Ann" and recently referred to as  the 'Mother Goose of Brittanys" which makes me laugh, smile, and pleases me to no end. I don't mind that a bit, I can probably remembers the birthdates of our crew in less time than it takes to recall those of family sometimes.

TO SHOW OR NOT TO SHOW: Although the majority of pups in Hemi and Treasure's "ALL THINGS HOPED FOR" litter will be enjoying their life in bird hunting homes that does not mean they are not show quality or show potential.  Every pup with show potential is readily identified as such before going home however it is up to the discretion of the pups new family as to whether or not they will show it. We place no pressure on anyone at anytime. That takes a lot of the fun and enjoyment away from owning a Brittany because quite frankly our inquiries are all from bird hunting families who have little to no interest in showing. For those times when someone expresses an interest in showing, we will do all we can to guide them into a positive experience which includes selection of the puppy with the best potential. ( We will however gently persuade EVERY puppy owner to consider hunt tests.) As for showing, if someone has an interest but would rather have someone else handle their dog we are always happy to recommend our handler if you are in the area or will find one for you near where you are. Handling is always a lot of fun to try with your dog.  Shows can be what you make of them. Keeping your perspective in line as well as your reasons for showing can go a long way towards a positive experience. We are well versed in what a positive experience is and that would be the only experience we would hope to introduce our puppy people to. We only show occasionally but our dogs are competitive in the ring and often do very well because they not only can hunt but they are also beautiful!

One week away from Christmas Eve.  Time to reflect on the past year. I have a lot to be thankful for, look back, and reflect on. Not just about All Things Brittany or All Things Hoped For.  As Roger Caras says "dogs are not our whole life, but dogs help make our life whole."  Take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittany