ATB: This is J&A's Brittanys

(A similar greeting appears on our website which is The Maine Brittany Site.)

Simply said, we are a retired couple who love God, each other, family, friends, and of course the Brittany. Acknowledging that God has a plan and a purpose for all things, the foundation for "J & A's Brittanys" was prepared many years ago by bringing together a mutual hunting heritage, a desire for a Brittany, a breeding background and of course, our mutual love of dogs and in this case - the Brittany. This year, in 2013, we not only celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary, but also 28 adult years with this amazing breed!

Our family roots are entrenched in a wonderfully rich Maine hunting heritage. This heritage has been passed down from our grandparents, from our parents, on to us, to our children and now passed on to our grandchildren. This heritage of course, includes the joy of bird hunting!

Having friends with Brittany dogs, John always enjoyed bird hunting with them for pheasant (stocked), and/or the grouse and woodock native to our area. While walking through the woods and fields hunting over their Brittany dogs John was impressed with the hunting style of this compact, dynamic, gundog. They hunted at a natural and easy pace, at a range pleasing to him as a walking bird hunter. Easily adapting their hunting to any cover, John also appreciated their elegant and very stylish point. John dreamed of one day having a Brittany of his own. His dream came true in 1986 when “Cricket” bounced through the door and took up residence in the heart of our family as well as our home.

Ann's parents were actively involved with their own breeding program for Boston Terriers when she was a child. She can still recall the name of each dog that she loved and that was a part of their family. Her father kept handwritten notes in a journal while the official AKC records were meticulously kept by her mother. Ann is very proud and pleased to have these in her possession as well as old AKC stud books where her parents dogs are listed.

In 1990 and with proven lines from some of the best known Brittanys of the day behind them, we bred our very first litter of Brittany puppies. Our children grew up loving and being loved by a pup from that litter. His name was “Hunter”, an extraordinary pet and hunting dog, loved by family, friends, and neighbors alike. For years, Hunter and his canine parents (Cricket and Freckles) enjoyed bird hunting together with John and the kids. Our sweet Hunter lived to be 13. Following his death in 2003 we began to re-establish our breeding program with support from some of New England's Brittany breeders.

Recently, we've enjoyed introducing our grandchildren to bird hunting with dogs, field trials, and gun dog training. After spending so many years with this breed, we cannot imagine life without our Brittanys. (Our adult daughter and her family now share their life with a Brittany named "Boomer", a dog we bred with close lines back to our Crickett.)

Believing that breeding form to keep function is the sign of a sound breeding program, we breed first for an outstanding hunting dog. Function and form go hand in hand. As breeders, we will not use any dog in our program unless it demonstrates to our satisfaction strong natural hunting abilities, skills, and instincts.  All necessary health clearances must be in place. Sound temperament must have been proven.

Where conformation issues can usually be corrected through intelligent, selective and successive breeding choices a Brittany either has a good nose and a natural instinct to point or it does not. Plain and simple. People don't look to us for field trial dogs. They do not look to us for show dogs. But they do look to us for their next family hunting companion, and that is exactly what they will get. All the rest that comes with that is frosting on the cake. And there is a lot of frosting to enjoy!

As hobby breeders with a personal kennel, our choice of lifestyle reflects an unwavering dedication and commitment to the well being, purpose and future of this breed. Exceptional bloodlines have always influenced J & A’s Brittanys. Behind our dogs are numerous, Hall of Fame Brittanys, National and Amateur Field Champions, Dual Champions, bench champions, NAVHDA titled dogs, and more.

The goals behind the purpose driven breeding program of J & A's Brittanys have always been clear and precise. In 1990 with our first litter we set out to breed beautiful, healthy and exceptional companion bird dogs for hunting families. In 30 years this goal has not changed. It is still what we do today. With eyes on the future we look to the past, pressing on without compromise while holding to the original goals.

And, speaking of frosting on the cake, our Brittanys do very well in competetive venues. Within 18 months 5 J & A's Brittanys which we bred finished their AKC Championship titles, one of them at 18 months old and also a third generation line bred on our own close working gundog program! We also finished our very first AKC Grand Champion.  We have also bred 2 AKC Senior Hunters, Numerous AKC Junior Hunters with many others earning qualifying scores towards advanced titles. We have bred an AKC Master Hunter.  Some Brittanys from our program are dual pointed. There are NAVHDA registered Brittanys from our program who have been awarded Natural Ability prizes, titles, and awards. There are those involved with agility at various levels.  We bred a beautiful athletic AKC Flyball champion recognized as one of the top Flyball dogs in the country! We have stud dogs whose progeny continue to excel in all of these venues.

Although our Brittanys shine no matter what they do, little compares to their beauty when aglow in the field, their entire being radiating with obvious natural hunting ability. It truly is a glorious vision to behold. It is a sight especially gratifying for the devoted owner of such a beloved gun dog and surely illuminates for them the true value and worth of a well bred Brittany that is successful in the woods and the fields. And that is the same dog that curls up on the couch or the end of their owners bed at the end of the day.

As a multiple dog family, the connection we have with our canine crew is deep, mutually laced with much love, respect and trust. They daily share our heart, home, and lives with us. Actively hunted, exercised, run, and trained on a regular basis they enjoy ample opportunities to express their innate high energy.

We are Brittany breeders who love, live with, train and hunt with the very dogs we breed. This gives us first hand knowledge of their natural abilities and skills as well as ease of training. To say the Brittanys we breed are natural backers or natural retrievers is to say we have experienced this reality ourselves. To say the Brittanys we breed easily hunt within shotgun range is to say we ourselves have easily trained them to be close working gundogs. To say they are very good family dogs is to say we enjoy sharing the couch with them at the end of a busy day. When it comes to our Brittanys as well as the two of us, what you see is what you get. Bird hunters with outstanding bird dogs. They hunt. So do we. That's about it!  God bless you and welcome to "All Things Brittany!" We hope you enjoy your visit.

John & Ann Short