J&A's Brittanys: This Is Us

Best way to spend a July morning!  

J&A's Keeper of the Stars SH ("True") on point.  CH J&A's Magnificent Obsession of Acton JH ("Hemi") honoring True's point.  They know John is looking for and about to flush the bird that True found and is pointing. They will hold and be steady to wing and shot.  One of the dogs will be sent to retrieve and the other will (should!) remain in place. Training is ongoing throughout the spring and summer, usually several mornings a week and sometimes on the weekend if friends would like to gather together with their bird dogs.

The picture above that our friend Paige took just a few days ago is a perfect capture of the genetics behind our puppies.  Truly it also just opens the door for a shout out to the Brittanys related to our puppies! True is sire of Toph's pups and shares the same mother as Holly.  Hemi is the sire of both Holly and Toph. The pups are our 4th generation of close working gundogs. True is a Senior Hunter and Hemi is a Junior Hunter at the moment. Sire of Holly's pups CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special SH ("Bullet") is also a Senior Hunter.  Bullet is also the sire of our first and currently only AKC Master Hunter, CH J&A's Quiet Courage MH, NA Prize 1.   Both Holly and Toph are NAVHDA titled with NA Prize 1 awards.

We encourage people to, at a minimum participate in an AKC Junior Hunt test or a NAVHDA Natural Ability test.  Hunting season is such a short time.  Maine's bird season begins in 77 days. Our dogs will be ready.  Field trials are another great field venue with a more competitive edge as are dog shows.  (Although those who contact us are most interested in their next bird hunting companion and those seeking a "show dog" look to other breeders, our Brittanys are many times indeed 'show quality' and we're always looking forward to finishing our next champion!  I have a dream that one day a Brittany from our program will achieve the coveted title of Dual Champion, both a field and a show champion! Time will tell but in the meantime, it's all about birds, birds, and more birds!)

A Brittany is versatile and of such high intelligence they are capable to be trained for most any venue of dog sport.  It's fun to train and work towards a title whether in AKC, UKC, NAVHDA or other recognized organizations in the of seasons.  We're always available to help support and guide. So for those of you looking forward to your puppy, I hope this awesome photo will be your inspiration.  Even if you've NEVER done it before!

As always, take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittany

J&A's Brittanys 7 Weeks & Counting

Holly is approaching her 7th week of pregnancy.  Soon, we will begin to take her temperature daily and do that for about a week.  A dogs normal temperature typically is between 101 and 102.5 but usually it will drop below 100 as labor approaches. We'll monitor Holly's temperature more frequently as her due date gets closer and record it on a chart.  Sometimes temps will fluctuate a few times, but when it drops below 100 and stays there, and continues to drop further we know we can expect to see puppies born within a certain time frame.  There are other signs that take place of course and we will be watching for them all!

Holly has become especially fond of her belly rubs lately.  Maryann sent me a picture of Miss Toph also obviously enjoying them too.  Yesterday, as I was obliging Holly I noticed that the hair on her tummy has started to shed.  It will continue to do so, leaving a hairless belly which makes it easier for her puppies to make their way to nurse. And speaking of puppies, they are ever so subtly making their presence known under the lightest touch of my hand. 

The 'puppy cave' is almost fully prepared. Each night I spend about an hour there with Holly, her mother Treasure, and grandmother Pippin. They all lay down together on the quilts and blankets. Holly seems to look forward to this at the end of the day.  She's very big now and even has a little waddle to her walk! 

I have been enjoying the correspondence with those who will be joining our ATB family.  If the estimate given for the number of Bullet and Holly puppies is accurate, then this litter is fully reserved. We do still have puppy availability for Toph and True's litter but that window is closing too.

We will bring her back for an actual x-ray closer to her due date. This will help us to determine when she has actually finished whelping her last puppy.  When Treasure whelped the litter Holly was born into (sired by Hemi) we thought her mother was finished.  Our vet stopped by the next day and suggested we bring Treasure in for an x-ray.  We did and were shocked to learn she still was carrying one puppy. No one expected that it could still be alive but a c-section proved us all wrong and one beautiful little healthy boy puppy arrived! Thus the importance of the x-ray.

In the meantime, I learned that my sister fell and fractured a hip and underwent an emergency partial hip transplant!  She is in rehab now.  I would covet and appreciate your ongoing prayers for her, for my nephew as he fights cancer, and 

 also for our son, daughter in law, and grandson who are on a Missions Trip to Ghana, Africa. 

As my dad use to say 'today is yesterday's tomorrow' and the clock just struck midnight!  Time to wrap it up.  Take care and God bless you and yours always. Thanks for your interest.  John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

J&A's Brittanys First Glimpse

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Our hopes were realized this morning. Holly's ultrasound shows 7+ puppies with healthy heartbeats.  Due @June 23.  Julie, John, and I are very happy. Here's a first glimpse of the puppies below.  We covet your prayers as Holly's journey to a safe, and uneventful pregnancy and whelping of healthy pups continues.

J&A's Brittanys Keep Calm and ....

Although I was very young when my parents were breeders of Boston Terriers, there are things I can still remember.  I also have my dad's whelping journal.  In 1990 John and I bred our first litter so one might think by now I'd be pretty adept at calling a pregnancy.  Alas dear followers, that is not the case!

Holly is now 4 weeks post breeding.  (Toph is 2 weeks.) Gestation takes 9 weeks so good grief and golly gee we are just about half-way!  We cannot be sure of the EXACT day Holly ovulated but we do know that pups are born 63 after a dog ovulates, or drops her eggs. Bet you didn't think you'd be getting a little biology lesson here.

Because of hormones, after a heat ends a dog that has not been bred may actually demonstrate or go through some of the same things a pregnant dog will. Sometimes they will even go through a false pregnancy, their teats will fill with milk, they'll nest and seek dark spaces and sometimes they'll carry and 'mother' toys as if they were puppies.  Despite knowing these things happen, I'm going to continue to remain extremely hopeful!

One of the first things to take place in a pregnant dog is a change in her nipples.  They may become just a little bit more prominent and darker in color. Sometimes too, even though the heat has ended, in a pregnant dog the slightest, clear discharge may remain.  Both of these things are true about Holly.

Almost from the first week Holly's behavior and demeanor has been so different. She has chosen, almost from Week 1, to retire to her crate and rest there most of the day when she's inside.  With the exception of how very excited she gets about John's every move, there is less of this now.  She seems to really prefer spending long periods of time sleeping in her crate, her den.  Instead of being one of the first dogs to come around when it is mealtime, Holly is often no where to be seen. It's as if the smell of food is offensive to her. This past week it has been especially challenging to get Holly to eat her regular food despite putting cheese, fish oil, bits of steak etc. in it to entice her. But today when getting the dog dishes ready Holly actually tucked her tail between her legs and headed in the opposite direction, remaining once again in her crate.

Holly did this yesterday for both her breakfast and for her dinner so she absolutely needed to eat something.   I cooked a boneless chicken breast in the microwave for her, mixing in some brown rice and a little chicken broth. Lo and behold Miss Holly Beth came running from the other room. Clearly she thought whatever I was cooking smelled good enough to eat. And that is what she did! Not just one serving, but two leaving me very, very happy.

As I mentioned previously, there's times I really think her rib cage has sprung. Like first thing this morning.  As Holly went out the door I glanced quickly at her and noticed a slightly expanded rib cage.  She hadn't had breakfast yet. Her 'tuck up' is still obvious, her waistline has not expanded. But that rib cage...

Once again this morning while setting out the dishes to feed our crew Holly was no where to be seen. I measured out each portion of dog food the sound of which caused a gathering of hungry and well behaved Brittanys. I fed them yet still no Holly.  I looked in the other room and caught sight of her laying in the very back of her crate. Without any fanfare I prepared the chicken dish again and popped it in the microwave briefly. I took it out, set it on the counter to cool and walked away.  Guess who came running and happily ate the meal prepared for her. Even if it meant hand feeding the last few spoonfuls.

Another interesting observation is her selective interaction with me.  If I'm sitting down on the couch Holly may suddenly appear next to me and then look deeply into my eyes.  She usually waits for an invitation to jump up next to me. She (and the others) know I am not a fan of uninvited jump ups and will respect that most of the time.  Happily, I will signal to Holly and up she goes, leans into me (we call that hugging) and snuggles.  John can ask Holly to give hugs, give kisses and she will oblige!  She'll stay with me for a little while and then, interestingly enough, she will then go sprawl out and on my bed for awhile.

There's going to be an ultrasound taken. And we are going to confirm Holly's pregnancy. I will not only "keep calm and wait for results'' like the meme above declares but more importantly I will put Proverbs 3:5 into action:

Stay tuned. Thank you for following along with us. As always, take care and God bless and join us with all faith believing that we'll see the evidence of things hoped for  - John, Ann, and All Things Brittany 

J&A's Brittanys Moment of Truth Cometh

Holly Beth - is she or isn't she???

As they say, "patience, young grasshopper."  Not that I'm impatient.  There's no irritability involved, no restlessness, no sense of rushing which are all signs of impatience. It is just so hard to think about anything else in this excitement of waiting to confirm first Holly's and then Toph's pregnancy!

When we first bred Holly and then Toph, all the wonderful possible outcomes nearly consumed my thoughts.  This is understandable because it's been 4 years since we've had puppies!  

Holly is just about 4 weeks along.  I can look at her in one moment and say 'yeah, you are definitely going to have puppies' and the next minute I am a doubting Thomas about it!  Friends of ours bred their first litter this past spring and we'd often talk about this unknowing from one day to the next.  Then, on the day of her dog's ultrasound there was a happy, happy, joy, joy phone call from the vets confirming there were puppies and we were so happy for our friends.

Our plans are to have an ultrasound next week. As we get closer to the moment of truth with Holly Beth I'm hopeful the results will be what my heart desires. Although it's my nature to be optimistic and positive it is my Christian faith that sustains that ability.  The only way I can truly distract myself and avoid being anxious is to turn to my Bible for guidance. So that's what I did. In doing so I quickly found 15 verses beginning with  'Do not be anxious ...'  and including an exhortation to trust in the Lord. (Back to basics, Ann. Back to basics.) Time for a little personal declaration:

"I will be anxious for NOTHING! I'm making a decision not to worry.  In every thing that concerns me, through prayers and petitions to the Lord I will make my requests, my desires known to Him.  Because I delight myself in Him, His Word promises to give me the desires of my heart. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guards my heart and my thoughts in Christ Jesus. I commit my way to the Lord, I also trust in Him..."Paraphrase Philippeans 4:6,7 and Psalm 37:4 

Ann & Billy

By the way, this declaration isn't just about the dogs.  It is about ALL THINGS that matter to me.  And tonight, that includes the concern in my heart for my nephew Billy who is fighting hard against cancer. We'd appreciate your prayers.

Stay tuned. Take care and God bless. John, Ann, Holly Beth and All Things Brittanys.

J&A's Brittanys Strike a Pose!

It is such a cool raw day here in Southern Maine and believe it or not I turned the heat up inside the house! Toph went back home this morning so the previously discussed waiting games have officially started.  In the meantime I had fun this afternoon putting together the following 4 collages of Holly & Bullet, and of Toph & True.  Today is such a quiet, peaceful, uneventful day here at home.  The dogs are all so content. Actually, I'm in the mood for some Ted's Fried Clams. I haven't eaten any fried food since December intentionally which has paid off but! Tomorrow is Mother's Day, John will be judging a field trial so this will be my present to me 😇and to him too of course after his long day of judging today!

Holly-Beth

J&A's Carry the Dream of Acton JH, NA 110 Prize 1

Sire: CH J&A's Magnificent Obsession of Acton JH (Hemi)

Dam: J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton JH (Treasure)

Bullet

CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special SH, CGC, FDCH

Sire: J&A's Apple Jack of Acton JH (JackDog)

Dam: KJ's Bouncin' Crysta (Chrissy)

Toph

J&A's Birch Spring Breaking New Ground JH, NA 107 Prize 1

Sire: CH J&A's Magnificent Obsession JH (Hemi)

Dam: CH Birch Spring PC Lunar Eclipse JH, NA Prize 2 (Luna)

True

J&A's Keeper of the Stars of Acton SH

Sire: CH Gibson JH, CGC (Gibby)

Dam:  J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton (Treasure)

J&A's Brittanys: The Art of Raising a Litter

Puppy Cave = Transformed Grooming Studio! (Treasure above) 

NOTE:  Some of the following text is taken from pages I have previous written on this ATB blog and/or our from our website!

We enjoy a purpose driven breeding program that includes careful selection and planning well in advance for each successive breeding.  An ongoing evaluation of our fun loving Brittany crew begins at birth.  It continues through the years through important feedback from those who will love and own them. The years pass quickly by but every day is still an ongoing experience of the love of the dog, both given and received. The ones we held in our hands wet from birth are the same ones we kneel next to as they take their final breaths.  This, this for us is a lifestyle choice and for all the right reasons. 

Because we're a multi-dog family we make sure that an expectant mother has her own warm, cozy, private space away from other dogs to comfortably settle into prior to whelping.  She spends more and more time there as the due date approaches.  It's set up to have many creature comforts for canine and humans alike. Some people have a man-cave. Well, we have a puppy-cave!

When expecting, the mother receives the best possible pre-natal care and given the most respect throughout her pregnancy, whelping, nursing and rearing of her puppies. Although monitored closely, she is afforded privacy during labor and delivery with minimal assistance. Whelping occurs in a separate and quiet atmosphere of low lighting, soft music, and warm, comfortable and clean surroundings. The safety, mental health, and overall well being of the nursing mother and her pups will always preclude any thought of ever permitting another family dog into her whelping box and surrounding area during this time.

During labor, we remain close by, taking cues from the mother should our assistance be needed during delivery and to reassure her with our presence. Most of the time our presence is welcome but we respect cues that indicate otherwise! 
Shortly after birth each pup is carefully examined, photographed and weighed. Important information is quickly recorded and pup returned to it’s mother. This actually is their first “stimulation exercise!” We enjoy close observation of neo-natal pups and the interactions with their mother and siblings, sometimes simply sitting close by for hours. Neo natal pups are kept under an infra-red heat lamp, the temperature of the whelping box closely monitored. The whelping box is arranged so that one area is cooler for mom. A security surveillance camera, 2 way monitor, and a remote digital temperature sensor assure us peace of mind concerning their well-being 24 hours a day. It also makes it easy for us to communicate with each other of course.  (Pups will eventually  outgrow their initial need for such an intimate, private, and nurturing environment.) To avoid endangering any aspect of this stage of development we safeguard their nest and den on their behalf.  Lessons and rules learned from mother and siblings are crucial especially during the first 3 to 4 weeks for many reasons. (In recent years we have set up a private live video stream for the new families to enjoy the pups development.)    

Early interactions prepare the way for healthy and stable relationships with other dogs and the most important relationship of all, the one they will have with humans. The first 72 hours is critical as pups are weighed at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours to be sure they are gaining weight. During the first 36 hours pups and mother are brought to the veterinarian for dew claw removal and tail docking. This will also be their first health exam. (Tails of our neo-natal pups have been submitted in past years to UC Davis as part of their ongoing Brittany genetic DNA research.  DNA has also been collected from our adults for this purpose.)

We weigh pups every 24 hours and look for their birth weight to double around 10 days. Pups are handled daily.  Certain behavior is anticipated at various stages and it’s fun to watch for and identify each one. For several years we've kept an informal journal. This helps to compare similarities and differences in pups from previous litters including weight, size, and dates of significant phases of development. (These phases are noted in "The Art of Raising a Puppy by Monks of New Skete" which is required reading!)

Although the evaluation process is ongoing from birth we have identified key periods for individual testing and evaluations and have developed a series of tests and exercises for pups. The exercises help us evaluate the pups while providing them with new learning opportunities as they experience new sights, tastes, sounds, surfaces, scents, etc. The more things a puppy is exposed to during these first weeks the easier it is for them to learn and accept new experiences later in life. See our blog pages for particulars.

The animal - human bond is established gently with lots of love as we progress slowly and deliberately with them. Keeping our purpose based breeding program in mind we begin by reinforcing the canine rules taught by the mother Brittany, introduce human manners, and continually provide stimulus to enrich the environment of our Brittany puppies. Each puppy is a unique individual. Our methods of evaluating puppy development has been refined over time and is based on highly respected research by Pffafenberger, Volhart, Hastings, etc.

From about 4.5 weeks on life for the young Brittany pup changes rapidly.  Supervised and gradual introduction to the rest of the ATB family begins. Visits from prospective new families, evaluations by people unknown to the pups, vet visits, romps here there and everywhere, increased time with children, introductions to the crate, collar, and leash and so much more. It is a busy time where every moment of the day is devoted to puppy care in one way or another.  And it is perhaps the most enjoyable part of raising a litter of pups despite the hard work involved. Truly qualifying as "a labor of love"  

Weaning in itself is an important part of their development.  About 3 weeks old we introduce pups to warm puppy mash. It is quite a comical experience.  Each pup reacts different and in the end it is one big mess. It is a great photo opportunity!  Pups are separated from their mother for a few hours so as not to nurse and then have quite the appetite to try something new.  When they are finished mom comes back in to clean up the dish and her babies.  Once weaning is well underway pups are separated  from their mother for several days and fed warm puppy mash 5 times daily. This helps with mom's milk drying up. When weaning is complete they are reunited with her for extended periods right up until the time they go home.  No one can teach respect to a young puppy like a mother dog. The dam is always able to escape her pups however she often chooses to be with them especially at night. Pups are usually eating dry puppy food 3 times a day when they go home. 

We are devoted to our Brittanys and consider it of utmost importance to be aware of specific things about each pup as well as be personally familiar with the great dogs behind them in their pedigrees.  We make an effort to maximize the learning potential of each sweet little Brittany puppy by making learning fun for them while stimulating its learning ability, interests and natural instincts. We begin this at birth through the SMART PUPPY program.

It is a labor of love to get a pup ready to spend the rest of their life as an alert friendly, fearless, inquisitive, happy, and smart Brittany. It is perhaps the most important thing as breeders that John and I do. Our preparation includes establishing a firm, solid, foundation of trust and respect. The groundwork we lay involves the potential new owner as we guide and direct them in their own preparations to eventually bring pup home. We have always referred to puppy take home day as "the first day of the rest of their life". As we entrust the care of a Brittany puppy by placing them into the loving arms of fully prepared new owners we are assured and confident they will be responsible to continue what began here, long before pup was even born. 

Breeding Better Gundogs

We have now bred four generations of OUR line of close working Brittany gundogs who are actively hunting with their families.  The quality attributes and strengths which we have identified to be consistent in our Brittanys include:

• high intelligence level
• natural bird hunting abilities
• natural retrieving skills
• soft mouth
• versatility
• ease of training, cooperative
• biddable with a well balanced, fun-loving disposition with children and adults
• dual quality 

Of course, the ’genetic recipe’ of all Brittanys should always include the ability to work and perform as an intelligent hunting dog.  When possible, we maintain the best evidence of this is seen by going out into the field to work with an adult relative of a Brittany pup under consideration.  Great hunting dogs produce great hunting dogs. We enjoy supporting our claim about the natural hunting instincts prevalent in our Brittanys by actual field work (weather permitting) on an actual game bird. Despite what the dog has inherited, and regardless of how well prepared it is when it leaves us - training must be ongoing.  Just obtaining a Brittany from a good line is not enough. The new owner must provide proper nutrition, nurturing and training regardless of pups intended purpose. If the dog is to be hunted, early, consistent and frequent exposure to birds is a must. (All J & A’s Brittanys pups are introduced to birds before leaving.)

We believe there are critical factors in a hunting dogs performance to consider. and that the younger a Brittany is introduced to birds (correctly) the better.  The purpose of a Brittany is first and foremost a sporting dog bred to hunt. While the AKC breed standard should be adhered to in regards to conformation the existing hunting standard is equally as important and should not be overlooked. We desire to see Brittanys from our program participate at the youngest age possible in the AKC and/or NAVHDA hunting tests.  The most successful examples of a dogs ability to fulfill the purpose for which it was bred will also be the dogs that are best adapted physically to perform that purpose. Here is where adhering to the breed standard is the most important. Form (conformation) follows function with the function being the purpose for which the dog was bred.

We know just how to guide a new Brittany owner to help their pup reach its full potential. We stand behind every Brittany puppy we are responsible for bringing into this world and will remain available for the lifetime of the dog. 

J & A’s pups are not defined with a single function in mind. They are dual purpose dogs. Our client’s homes are not defined as a show quality, pet quality, or a hunting quality home. My belief is that they are full quality homes. We encourage involvement in showing, hunt tests, field trials, fly ball, agility, obedience etc. Although our primary focus is on close working gun dogs, many of them are show quality pups and do very well in the ring! (Check out the column on the right).

In closing, I apologize that some of this is redundant to those who are already on our waiting list. You read most of this in our puppy reservation policies! But right now there is not a lot to share on the day to day. Toph is ready to go back home though, so the waiting game continues. As always thanks for your interest and following along!  Take care and God bless you and yours always. John, Ann, & All Things Brittany 

J&A's Brittanys Waiting Game

Holly Beth 2 weeks post breeding

WEEK 2

John is Holly's "Person." 

Throughout the entire gestation period of a dog there are often times of second guessing and right now is no exception. Is it wishful thinking or is there really a deeper color in Holly's teats?  Is it being overly optimistic to suggest that even in the above picture she appears slightly thicker through her middle? Is it self deception to suggest I detect a very subtle change in Holly's behavior?  Frequently, as the 3rd week of pregnancy approaches a momma dog will actually experience morning sickness.  Sometimes it is simply a matter of discovering that they have vomited or their entire appetite may be a little off.  I have read that they will actually get nauseous. Holly is not a Brittany that typically would go lay down in her crate in the middle of a busy day, although there are others that do routinely.  (We have several crates throughout our home with doors always left open with a soft blanket inside. That is unless you are Hemi and you pull your blanket out and proudly prance around with it but I digress. Positive crate training is so important from the start.) Neither is HB likely to prefer my company over John's as he is her Person with a capital "P".  Lately though she frequently tucks in next to me for some serious snuggles and I am more than happy to oblige her as we play the waiting game! Holly is one sweet Brittany and seems even more so now.

 As John definitely is Holly's Person and also his top hunting girl she is accustomed to being top dog regarding his daily outings to the field. There's an early morning routine here which the entire crew recognizes and it begins with the sounds and activities associated with John loading the All Things Brittany truck with his dog training gear.  From the time he unplugs the training collars from their charging ports to when he first opens the dog topper they are all revved up for their greatest joy awaits them. (Full disclosure: Getting up at dark o'thirty in the morning is not my idea of joy. Pulling my act together in time to head out before the sun comes up and being 'Suzie Sunshine" isn't something that will always work well either!) Weather permitting, our dogs are run several times a week. Some of this is for training, most is for conditioning and exercise, and all of it is for the love of the dog both given and received. Some days birds are involved, other days they are not but the dogs always anticipate encountering them and that always makes for an exciting morning whenever John loads the truck.  In order to keep Holly's stress level from bouncing off the charts she rides shotgun in the truck with John to the field.  Caution is exercised as far as she's concerned though and her amount of field running has been curtailed.

Holly and her momma Treasure.

I know there are plenty of people who show, trial, hunt etc. with their dog even if a pregnancy is anticipated. I'm not one of them. I'm over protective and I admit that I am careful to avoid potential problems, risks, or even dangers.  Although I know my girl is healthy, disease free and up to date on vaccinations how do I know that other dogs where we're going are?  I also consider the possibility of injury caused by any number of reasons so I err on the side of caution. I rarely will even go to a dog event when there are puppies involved or the possibility of them!  (If I do, I spray the bottom of my shoes with Lysol and then change into another pair before setting foot onto my property.)  Perhaps I am over cautious but I'd rather play it safe and think twice before risking the well being of my girl. We even limit visits by our friends and/or their dogs during this time! But they understand and still love us.

Well, that's enough rambling for now.  Time to call it a day. The windows are open tonight and the peepers are singing "cold feet, can't sleep"!  At least that's what John's mom use to tell me they said. All is quiet. Toph is still here tonight. Tomorrow I plan to groom her and make her pretty before returning home to her family where she is greatly missed.  So the waiting game continues as we will wait and see if her time here has been successful.  Thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany and as always God bless you and yours.  John, Ann, and our canine crew

J&A's Brittanys - The Art of Anticipation

Can you spot Bullet?  September 2008

ANTICIPATION : a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen: the act of preparing for something.

There are several hopeful families at this juncture including my own! There are at least two families who have had or currently have a J&A's Brittany starting this journey with us all over again. I am reading over new questionnaires as they arrive and then referring to John for his opinion as well.

ATB Family at a Hunt Test

It is our preference that the majority if not all pups from any given litter will be going to bird hunting homes but an exceptional pet home is always a requirement! Hunting season is only a couple of months each year. A Brittanys natural instincts cannot be turned on or off so in the off season we also desire involvement in American Kennel Club (AKC) and/or North American Versatile Hunting Dogs Association (NAVHDA) hunt testing. This is not to control the future of any dog we have bred. It is to ensure you and your Brittany will have the best relationship possible!  It also will show that our breeding program is consistent from generation to generation.  Hunt tests are NOT competitive in nature and shouldn't be perceived as such.  It's about having fun with your Brittany, letting the bond between you become stronger, learning from each other. A great place to start learning more about them is AKC Pointing Breeds Hunt Test.  Pups can be entered in an AKC hunt test at 6 months of age! Brittanys from our program have earned their Junior Hunting title at just 2 weeks shy of their 6 months birthday!  Take a look back at some "Braggin' Rights" about several J&A's Brittanys and their owners at various stages.  The majority of these owners were brand new to hunt tests!  (As you read beyond the photographs to what I wrote you'll see where our anticipation for a litter of pups was growing.)  Our pups will be registered with AKC and also with NAVHDA.  They can be tested at an even younger age.  The first level of testing is called the Natural Ability. There are local NAVHDA chapters that meet for training on a regular basis. And there's always an opportunity to hook up with other dog owners with pointing breeds through various clubs including local Brittany clubs as well. Likewise, we're available to help teach you as well.  The thing is, the natural instincts are there, they are proven to be strong and you have a window of opportunity to continue to develop and fine tune them!  The training and the testing are also a wonderful opportunities for the entire family.  Here's additional photos and a look back  to past field events.  We are "All for the love of the dog, both given and received" and are sincerely interested in setting our puppy people up for success right from the beginning.  Pups born in June or July will have so much fun because by the time they are 8 weeks old we'll have introduced them to birds and had some fun in the field with them!  

Ann & Hemi (Holly
and Toph's sire)

Holly field trial major win.

A friend of mine wrote this great article about the Brittany as a dual dog. In every litter there exists the potential for a puppy as a show or field trial prospect. As we identify this we'll discuss it further with you. While our personal focus since 1986 has been on the Brittany as a close working gundog for the walking upland game hunter we actively promote our breed as a dual dog. We will absolutely guide and support a puppy owner who wishes to further pursue this.

Thank you for following along!  As always take care and God bless, John, Ann and our canine crew. 

J&A's Brittanys - 8 Days A Week

8 Days A Week because I am a huge Beatles fan and I found myself singing to Holly "Love you every day girl, always on my mind.  One thing I can say girl, love you all the time" and so on and so forth.  Yup. I sing to my dogs. Doesn't everyone?

Yesterday we returned Bullet to Julie, Sassy, Thistle, and his son Quincy. His wiggly butt was so very happy to see them because although ours is his second home there is no place like Home.

It will be awhile before we can or cannot confirm Holly Beth's pregnancy but if she is, then we now have one 7 day week behind us.  We (John and I) spoke about keeping this all quiet until we knew for sure, which is very logical. To share openly from my heart again via this blog  is a little scary to be quite honest.  The reality here is that I've had the hope I held in my heart crushed to smithereens. Sadly,  that is a reality all dog breeders face at times for one reason or another. Another sad reality for dog breeders are knowing some folks passionately thrive on gossip, criticism, and create drama concerning other people's business. Fortunately, our ATB family and friends have carried us through the difficult times with their love, prayers, and support. We're cautiously hopeful as we move beyond a season of sadness.

The ending here is unknown yet we obviously long for a happy one. We've always believed in transparency. Writing is something I have always enjoyed doing.  Remember when I use to fall asleep at the keyboard in past years? I want to do that again by sharing the moments of expectations and inspiration as well as those moments of questioning all things. The what ifs, the highs, the lows but above all I desire to share the potential of the joy that lies ahead.

As I write I am always reminded that God is in control of all things.  And that included "All Things Brittany".  He alone is my inspiration, my source of strength and trust. Not only concerning the dogs although He is the one who led us down this path. But in every waking or sleeping moment.  God speaks to us through His written Word, He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, and He speaks to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior.  There's a lot more to life than our minds can comprehend and our eyes can see.  I am convinced that the God of all mankind who created the universe and all things can also work through His 'lesser creatures'.  Thankfully so! I've seen it and perhaps you have too.

"Aunt Julie" has already made several puppy blankets God love her. If you're new to ATB for many years she has crocheted a puppy blanket for every Brittany puppy born here. The puppy blankets are kept with pups and mom, they are well loved and when a puppy goes home they bring home the scents they are familiar with.

We'll do an ultrasound at the proper time. I'll remain positive by putting together a playlist of 'whelping room' music. Speaking of which, I've found several wonderful new artists to follow including Danny Wright and Keven Kern.  Their music is similar to Doug Hammer.  I am all about using music, lighting and mood for the benefit of momma to be dog and puppies.

So I'll get on with this day. It started with John running dogs at the training field with some friends and their Setters.  Speaking of which, Charlie did earn his first two qualifying scores towards an AKC Junior Hunter title.   We're so proud of him! Ticks are bad this year. We've been picking them off ourselves and our dogs.

The inquiries continue to be welcomed.  Because of the length of time since our last litter in 2014 we just did not expect anyone would wait that long although a few folks have. That in itself is humbling. I'm screening ruthlessly as I always do. That is not a bad thing but I am actively seeking qualified homes so please visit our website so that we can send you the necessary information. You'll get our puppy reservation policy, a copy of our purchase agreement, and a questionnaire to return if you feel we'd be a good fit for you!

As always thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany and God bless you and yours.  John, Ann & the crew

Check our Facebook page "J&A's Brittanys/All Things Brittany" for public photo albums and take a look at our slideshow galleries on the website too!

WILSON - AKC MASTER HUNTER!

We are so proud to share the news that today, "WILSON" became the first Brittany from our breeding program to earn the coveted title of:

AKC MASTER HUNTER

 CH J&A's Quiet Courage MH, NA 107, Prize 1

Sire: CH J&A's High Caliber Harris Special SH (BULLET)

Dam: J&A's Dreams Come True of Acton JH (TREASURE)
Loved and owned by Pete Sipperly & Kira Lajeunesse

Wilson with Dave, and Master judges
L. Ruffini and M. Moser

Let me tell you all about this incredible dog!  "Wilson" is a handsome, stylish, highly intelligent, incredibly gifted Brittany with strong natural instincts and with an extremely personable temperament.  He is loved and owned by two awesome people who have become very dear friends to us ever since they took him home several years ago.  Pete and Kira recognized Wilson's potential at a very young age. Faithfully and consistently from his youngest months they set Wilson up to succeed.  They believed in him. Within 15 months the stunning Wilson finished his AKC Bench Championship with 3 majors with many wins at Brittany Specialties.  As a pup he earned his first hunting title with a near perfect NA Prize 1 score.  Handled by Kira, he quickly went on to earn his AKC Junior Hunter title, finishing on the same day that his father was testing at the Senior level, handled by his owner Julie! (see inset) Bullet was 'our' very first AKC Senior Hunter. Wilson also came home with an AKC Award of Merit ribbon during the 2015 American Brittany Club Show Specialty show in Maine!

Julie w/Bullet & Kira w/Wilson his son -  2013

WILSON -  AKC SENIOR HUNTER
2015 

Our third generation of close working gundogs, the breeding behind Wilson indicated potential for strong natural hunting ability. He demonstrated the reality of that at an early age. Pete & Kira never took anything for granted and made a commitment to consistent training for this sweet and special boy. It's not easy for anyone to maintain a focus and continually strive for excellence no matter the sacrifice. But from the start, the focus was much more than  'getting the dog on a few birds' in hopes of a successful field event or hunting season. It just doesn't work that way. A hunting dog needs to remain active, stay in shape, and never be taken for granted. Sometimes, even a JH title can seem daunting and doubtful without preparation or an actual hunting background.  Once obtained, the progression from Junior to Senior is like comparing pre-K to a post-secondary curriculum. More so for Master!

Impressively successful, Wilson went on to earn his AKC Senior Hunting title in 2015 handled by Kira and also Dave Molyneux who finished him (pictured). It was said that Wilson's "performance was what one would expect out of a Master Hunter!" (John and I had the honor of watching him test in NY along with two of his daughters Bella and Brooke, and also his father Bullet.) The focused commitment to training continued and another goal was set for Wilson.  Rain or shine, warmth or chill at every opportunity Wilson was in the field either informally or within a structured NAVHDA or AKC training clinic. Pete and Kira continued to appreciate and support the progression of their beloved Brittany and always sharing their journey with John and I.  In the experienced hands of Dave Molyneaux Wilson's training was kicked up a notch. This was not only in preparation of the coveted AKC Master Hunter title, but also in hopes of training for a future NAVHDA UT test.

Dave & Wilson 4th leg

Wilson is a much loved Brittany by all of us. Julie, who co-owns Bullet with John, is just as proud and happy of this special boy.  There's a lot of emotion and sentiment and symbolism here of course. I consider that Jack, who is Bullet's grandsire, was our first junior hunter. Jack's son Bullet, J&A's first show champion and the first senior hunter. And now, Wilson - the first AKC MASTER HUNTER from our program as well as also a bench champion!  His mother Treasure's AKC name includes the phrase "DREAMS COME TRUE".  Indeed they do. (Wilson's half brother "True" was our second AKC Senior Hunter, also a Treasure son!) 

Progression of Ribbons

As always, every good 'gift' is from above.  Thank you, Lord for these blessings.
Not to us, but for Your glory.