Friday morning. Despite the bright blue, sunny and cloudless sky the temperatures are frigid here at ATB and hovering just at 10° F. The weather forecast for the coming weekend shows highs in the mid 20's. According to the calendar Spring begins in less than 3 weeks from today and next weekend we set the clocks ahead as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end.
Late winter. A winter of seemingly endless snowstorms with great accumulation. This has resulted in an exhausting season of snow removal be it plowing, shoveling, or snow blowing. For John, not for me. I don't know how he does it but I do know it takes a lot out of him physically. I know I CAN'T do it, and that takes a lot out of me emotionally.
As Autumn turned to Winter with Christmas about a week away, we welcomed the arrival of Treasure's last litter of Brittany pups which are also Hemi's first. 8 beautiful babies who, with the exception of one, have left ATB to enjoy their new lives with the families who love them. We kept our pick of the litter and her name is Holly Beth. The "All Things Hoped For" puppies arrived on December 12. And they were indeed, all things hoped for!
As this season comes to an end I am aware of all that the new season will bring. In the past three months many decisions were made and lots of changes are brewing. I'm especially reflective and strongly aware of the need to listen to what the Spirit is speaking into my heart.
We now await the arrival of the "Only Believe (All Things are Possible)" litter. This is the first breeding of our first grand champion with our first champion and senior hunter. In other words, it is the pairing of Thistle and Bullet. Every decision to bring two animals together for the purpose of carrying on particular qualities and attributes requires much forethought. Such is the case here. Definitely NOT - All Things Titled - we are mostly interested in the health, temperament, and hunting instincts of each dog. However, we have worked very hard to establish our program over the years. Suffice to say this a breeding we are darned proud of and rightly so!
In consideration of this breeding we are pleased that anticipated pups will be in a home that already shares their life with one or more Brittanys from our program and/or an established bird hunting family familiar with pointing breeds. And truly we do believe that all things are possible with this hoped for litter.
It is worth mentioning yet again that this breeding literally marries for the third time here the line we deliberately brought to J&A's Brittany in 2007 when we bought Chrissy the daughter of DC Masked Shoshoni War Chief JH for the purpose of strengthening the conformational aspects of our program. Since that time we have carefully considered each pairing, watched carefully and deliberately while remaining true to our focus of breeding close working gundogs. I find value as well as great joy in emphasizing how we met our goal as breeders and indeed that the conformation of our program has undeniably been strengthened! Even so, we have remained steadfast and ever watchful to be certain we do not lose one iota of the incredible strong, natural inherent hunting instincts resonating from Wish who is now a great grandmother.
Chrissy gave us our first two champions (Bullet and Pippin) each sired by a different dog and including our first Senior Hunter sired by our Jack. ( Interestingly enough too, Pippin is the result of a line breeding on the 'Chief' with her sire being CH Hills Blazen Jac JH.) Our next 3 conformation champions came within months of each other and were grandpups of Chrissy; Wilson (Bullet/Treasure), and littermates Hemi and Thistle (Pippin/Chevy). We were very fortunate as well to have the opportunity to breed Pippin to Chevy again strengthening further the improved conformation. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable experiences as being a hobby breeder was the very brief whirlwind of months when our dear friend Julie and I were showing Hemi and Thistle together. It was just fun! I'd waited a long, long time for the moments which we came to savor in the ring with the brother and sister duo, soon finishing each of them together. And I'd waited forever to get phone calls like the one in which Wilson had won his first major just a little over a year old at a Brittany Specialty! I was there when Bullet finished, and happy to receive the phone call when Pippin finished hers several months later. And Miss Thistle, a grand champion!! (Their championship photos are all in the right hand column).
We do not pressure our puppy people to show our dogs regardless of the potential that rests within them. Neither do we ever consider it a waste of breeding if not one dog from any given litter receives a title. I have a lot of people write to me and say they do not think they would 'qualify' for one of our Brittany pups because they have no interest in showing and occasionally they have no interest in hunting. While we'll always give first preference to hunting families with previous Brittany experience we have few regrets for the times that was not the case. Sometimes people reach us after contacting other breeders. Often, we usually can determine which breeder without asking. And sometimes people will continue on with their seeking after inquiring with us. In the end, we believe that working hard to assure the best possible 'fit' between puppy and family is the absolute most important thing. I'm proud to know there are those who are willing to wait into 2015 and even into 2016 for a puppy depending upon availability or their time frame. No pressure for them to remain with us. No issue of non-refundable deposit. And there are breeders we are happy to regularly give referrals to.
So now as my rambling comes to an end this morning, I am ready to walk out to the "puppy suite" with Miss Thistle. She is incredibly rotund and an ultrasound revealed at least 4 growing embryos with a potential for several more. Actually, we'd all be happy with 4 as it's her first litter and her momma and grandmother are not fans of motherhood, unlike Treasure's side of the ATB family.
Even so, I am careful not to overshadow the most recent addition to our canine crew, Miss Hotshot Holly who is now 11 weeks old. She exemplifies for me already what I have always seen in her parents, Treasure and Hemi. She's a little spitfire who is funny, agile, intelligent, sweet, focused and absolutely beautiful. There's a lot riding on her little shoulders for she is aptly named "J&A's Carry the Dream of Acton". The dream that originated when John first decided in 1986 he wanted a Brittany. The dream that continued when we picked Jack from Wish' first litter and Treasure from her second. The dream that continues to unfold and to come true for us in personal, significant ways. The life of Holly is unfolding, and I can't wait to see what she brings.
With Bullet and Thistle pups soon to arrive we are in full preparation mode! All things are disinfected, washed, cleaned, replenished and ready. Thistle and I will begin our stint together in the puppy cave/suite. She will begin to spend hours out there understanding that is her space and hers alone. No sharing of people she loves, and no need to question where her place is or where she belongs. It's her space and hers alone. Treasure and Thistle have become fast friends and Thistle also does enjoy her niece, Holly. There have been many times in the past 7 weeks or so that Thistle and her mother Pippin have rested against each other much as they did when it was Thistle herself in the whelping box. Littermates Hemi and Thistle also still share a close bond.
We're ready. We're waiting. We're excited!! Puppies cometh and with them a multitude of 'firsts' are entwined together, all for the love of the dog both given and received.
Take care and God bless,
John, Ann, Thistle, and All Things Brittany
