Happiness Is...

Happiness Is A Journey...

-- Father Alfred D'Souza

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

Dance as though no one is watching you.

Love as though you have never been hurt before.

Sing as though no one can hear you.

Live as though heaven is on earth.

A very special day here at All Things Brittany.  Thank you Ralph and Donna from the bottom of our hearts.  This journey together began last summer and we look forward to the weeks, days, months and of course years ahead knowing how much love you have to give to "Clay" and what a wonderful home you are giving him. By the way you have spoiled all of here, dogs and humans alike!  Take care and God Bless and may your first night at home be uneventful - but glad to know you have ear plugs!!! John & Ann, Treasure and ATB

PS.  I may have to move closer to that Italian bakery - you have hooked me on their delicacies!

Brittany Pups at the Vets - FUN!

A Poem for New Puppy Owners

Author unknown.

Don't smell crotches, don't eat plants.

Don't steal food or underpants.

Don't eat my socks, don't grab my hair...

DON'T RIP THE STUFFING FROM THAT CHAIR!

Don't eat those peas, don't touch that bush,

Don't chew my shoes, what IS this mush?!?

Eat your cookies, drink your drink,

Outta the toilet! Outta the sink!

AWAY FROM THE LITTER BOX, IT'S FOR THE CAT!

(and must you kiss me after that?!?)

Raising a puppy is not for the lazy,

Those rugrats are funny but also quite crazy.

Don't despair through the toil and the strife,

'Cause after three years you'll get back your life!

So let's go for walkies, so you can do your "thing",

And maybe I'll get back my good diamond ring!

 

(Thanks Marilyn for referring such a great link!)

You'll Be In My Heart, ALWAYS...

Dear Prescious Puppies of our Nova Litter:

We are drawing near to the first day of the rest of your lives.  Daily now the time spent with you here becomes even more meaningful.  John and I have done the very best we can do for you and this will continue right up until the moment we place the lead into the hand of your new owner. We have given of our time, resources, experience, knowledge and poured our lives into your own.  The love affair only once alluded to has become a strong commitment of trust, affection, and a deep love and concern between our hearts.  You each look into my eyes and as you do I hold your attention with my own gaze.  I look as deeply into your eyes as you are looking into mine. I see YOU and you see ME.  You are so smart! You have learned the very basics of clicker training, and this is the first time I applied this to puppy socialization, it was an experiment, and I am amazed at what I see. When I approach you somehow to manage to contain all that excitement and energy and focus on sitting quietly.  For a few brief seconds, you remain steadfast without jumping up, mouthing, or demanding attention.  You watch me.  I watch you.  Eyes meet: Click. Treat.  You stay put. Eyes meet: Click.Treat.  This is repeated several times with 8 of you.  The click is replaced by the words 'go-o-o-o-o-d puppy'.  The words are then replaced by a gentle scratch underneath your chin; underneath your chin so that you will not feel intimidated by the approach of my hand coming down on top of your head.  I think you're brilliant!  I think you're amazing!  I think... no.. I KNOW... I LOVE YOU.  I love to toss your mother's quilt out on the floor among you and quickly make my way to sit down in your midst.  Private, quiet times are shared with all of us.  John has his special times with you just like I do.  We enjoy you together, and alone.  And so many people have met you, interacted with, loved on and held you. Sometimes you are like piranhas, other times a little sleepy, and sometimes actually most of the time - absolutely sweet, cuddly, loveable and everything anyone could ever hope for. I am running around checking my lists twice, getting puppy take home bags ready, preparing for the vet visit tomorrow, packing a few days worth of puppy food, making sure everything is ready for your big day. You look at me with questioning eyes, eyes that ask the question, "is this ALL there is to life?"  And my heart answers that question with joy saying 'you are going to have a wonderful, full, happy, life'.  I know this is true because John and I have worked very hard to assure this, planning long before you were born or even conceived.  You are wanted, and you have been wanted in some cases for a very long time.  Puppy babies, you pull and tug at my pant legs and my shoestrings but the tugging is strongest on my heartstrings this day.  Yes, we've had Brittany pups before and we will definitely have Brittany pups again in the future - near future hopefully. But that does not lessen or weaken any of the love I feel for you, for each of you as individuals.  This will not change in the weeks, months, or even the years to come.  In most cases we'll see each other again over time, often sharing pictures and updates and staying in touch through your wonderful owners, hand picked just for you. I'll remember things about each of you, private and public things, but all noteworthy and important.  Knowing you were born on our grandaughters birthday will always make you special.  And that you are the first litter we successfully clicker trained by 7 weeks old will remain significant, and encourage me to try that again for sure.  Being a winter litter is wonderful for hunting families - it means you'll hit the woods this fall after a summer of training!  But it also means a need to be more creative here with your socialization and development stages. And guaging by your behavior, the creativity has been ample!  Over the next few days you will be separated more and more, learning about the leash, collar, and crate.  Your instincts to keep your living area clean are strong and I'm sure you'll continue to housebreak yourselves under observant eyes of anxious owners hoping to keep accidents at a minimum.  Pups, you and I will be busy together the next few days as we savor each remaining moment together.  When asked if it is hard to say goodbye to you, I will be ready with my big brave answer and reasons why.  The words roll off my tongue but, as John knows...when I turn and walk away as you drive happily away on the first day of your rest of your life, it will be tears that roll down my cheeks, tears of joy and tears of letting go.

You'll Be In My Heart"

Come stop your crying, It will be all right

Just take my hand Hold it tight,

I will protect you, from all around you

I will be here, Don't you cry

For one so small, you seem so strong

My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm

This bond between us,  Can't be broken

I will be here, Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart, Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart, No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart, always

Why can't they understand, the way we feel

They just don't trust, what they can't explain

I know we're different but, deep inside us

We're not that different at all,

And you'll be in my heart, Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on, Now and forever more

Don't listen to them, 'Cause what do they know

We need each other, to have, to hold

They'll see in time, I know

When destiny calls you, You must be strong

I may not be with you, But you've got to hold on

They'll see in time, I know

We'll show them together

'Cause you'll be in my heart, Yes, you'll be in my heart

From this day on, Now and forever more

Oh, you'll be in my heart No matter what they say

You'll be in my heart, always, Always

Take care and God bless you ALWAYS... John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

NEW VIDEO: Brittany Pups Reactions to Sound Effects

Using the Library of Sounds collection CD (Columbia Rivers 2001) our Brittany pups listen to 101 various, brief sound effects. The original intent for this is to lay a positive foundation for gundog training and to prevent any chance of being gunshy. It also builds confidence in normal day to day experiences. In the beginning a young puppy will react to a loud noise with a startle response and most often return to whatever activity they were enjoying after they initial reaction. As a puppy begins to mature the timing of these noises and new experiences can be very critical based upon the various periods of normal fearfulness. It's really important not to coddle a puppy who does have a negative reaction though, to do so will reinforce the fearful behavior and may cause problems earlier. You want a puppy to be used to all kinds of sounds so that's why we have used this particular sound effect tape. We begin playing it quietly at 3 weeks of age, as pups drift off to sleep. Then we play it during meal time coinciding with banging pans etc. Eventually we play it randomly throughout the day. When it comes time for the Puppy Aptitude Tests they are almost oblivious to the deliberate noises made. Interstingly enough though we have noticed they are much more receptive to our voices. Anyhow! All of this is fun for us and for the pups, just giving us one more reason to love and enjoy them madly! They turn 7 weeks old tomorrow - UNBELIEVABLE to think that they will go to their new homes for the first day of the rest of their lives next week.

If you haven't heard from us it's because we have been crazy busy in a wonderful and enjoyable way and it looks like more of the same. Email and Facebook usually get a response sooner than the telphone (as many of you know!). Don't give up on us, and we hope to have a few more visits for those of you waiting for future puppies while Treasure and Gibson's pups are still here. In the meantime we are just so blessed by the interest in All Things Brittany and appreciate everyone who follows this blog because I do enjoy writing it. Please take care and God Bless you always, John, Ann and our Brittany crew.

New Photo - 6 1/2 week old Brittanys

PAT resulted in few surprises and a very balanced litter, confident, well structured, great temperaments. 8 out of 8 pups chased and then retrieved an object to tester. 8 out of 8 pups demonstrated puppy points with quail wing with 4 of those pups bringing the quail wing to the tester, in addition to the normal retrieve evaluation. (Click on thumbnail to the left for a full size photo.) All accepted social dominance without issue. Personalities are clear at this point and we'll be sending out our recommendations which in reality is not much different than the selections of the owners first choice in most cases.  As in last years litter, the majority are going to experienced Brittany owners who want a close working gun dog.  2 - 4 pups will be NAVHDA trained/tested, 1 pup will go to a dual home (show and field interests)  and ALL are going to QUALITY pet homes with responsible dog owners.  It was work today but it was so much fun. Thank you to our ATB seasoned, veteran PAT evaluators - Pam Jackson & Julie Harris!  Vet visits for health certificates and puppy shots will occur next week.  Pups begin the first day of their life starting on March 9, 2011.  Scheduling puppy take home day will coincide with order of pick.  The rest of the crew is doing great, Treasure is enjoying time with her pups as playmate and disciplinarian all wrapped up into one. I'm working on a really cool video taken of the pups playing/interacting as the sound effects library plays.  OH - someone here at ATB has a birthday this Thursday, March 3rd... Let's just say it is the TRUE ALPHA MALE in all of our lives!!!!  Take care and God Bless, g'night all!  John, Ann and All Things Brittany.  

6 Week Update / Future Pups

If you've been following the development of Treasure and Gibsons new Brittany puppies then you'll remember that I said there would come a point where updates, photos, and videos would not be quite as frequent. Well, that time is NOW!

Days have turned into weeks have turned in a month here at ATB.  When I mentioned how tired I was to our vet he joking said 'you brought this on yourself!'  And, he is right.  This is not complaining by a long shot, for it is a labor of love to care for our Brittanys - especially these very precious now 6 week old pups.  Another breeder told me she loves to have winter puppies; for one thing it makes the winter pass by a lot faster and for another thing, it's also the time when many bird hunters are looking for their new hunting companion.

This is a time for me to really appreciate how awesome a mother Treasure is. From the time her puppies were born up until the time came to wean them she kept them immaculate and she also kept their 'nest' spotless.  Such is the maternal instinct of not only Treasure, but of her mother Wish.  Remember the posts of thos early weeks of being in the quietness of the puppy cave, reflecting and meditating to my heart's delight, having time to write about every little detail of pups development? Those days are also GONE! Treasure has passed the baton to John and I, entrusted us now to continue to care for her puppies in the most excellent manner according to the standard she set before us. No kidding.

These are the days of repeated little puppy baths (thank God for bath in a bottle products and puppy wipes).  These are the days of constantly cleaning up for as we all know - what goes in one end, must come out the other.  Layers and layers of unprinted newspaper are laid on the floor for the pups only to be replaced within a few hours.  Even so, our puppies are doing well using the framed litter area John created.  Filled with shavings most of the times they will actually trek across the floor to eliminate.  Notice I said 'most of the time'.  There are no guarantees here friends!  We also have a crate inside their puppy pen and it's cute how some of them will pig pile inside, fighting for supremacy in the crate. 

Weaning is complete but Treasure still does interact with them. She has a little milk left and sometimes she will allow them to nurse briefly. The rest of the time she clearly communicates in no uncertain terms "NO WAY".  What I love to see her do is play with her puppies with their toys. Treasure will take a tug toy and drag it across them, to get their attention and then get her pups to chase her.  She lays down and lets them climb all over her. She's no pushover though - Treasure won't put up any disrespect from them. This is when we can learn better ways to correct, discipline, and train older puppies by observing mother dogs techniques.  She'll take them by the scruff of their neck and literally shake them briefly to make her point. Then she loves on them and vice versa. 

All pups have explored our house, outside, the garage and a little bit of snow. There's still time for all of that. They have enjoyed multiple visits from family, friends and their new owners to be. I am having fun with clicker training the litter which simply is to get them to look up at me when I bring their food in, and to sit down and wait for me to pat them. Again, not 100% compliance however they are getting this, they are grasping the relationship between praise/treat/click.  I love it!

As I type we await another visit from a family getting a boy puppy. I'm excited for this visit for they are bringing along their older Brittany which they got from us several years ago!

NOTE:
We're moving along in meeting goals for our 2011 breeding program as some of you already know ;o)  and you also know I'm always cautious about sharing particulars until a pregnancy is confirmed.  There's been a couple of changes and we are still screening all of our applications although our future waiting lists are clearly full.  But suffice to say... I am VERY excited.  Please know too, if you've been waiting with ATB for awhile and there appears to be no availability there will be two additional litters this spring within our line via other Brittany breeders. We do have a good size list here for 2012 which amazes me but we also realize people do not always like to wait.  Even though the demand for close working gundogs is great, we only have pups available at certain times and many of you know that we are more than happy to refer you to experienced breeders who have been proven to produce what you look for in a Brittany. Speaking of which - this weekend is the PAT evals and we are happy to announce that Pam and Julie will be here to help us again!  I am awaiting word regarding our final conformation evaluation as well.

Take care and God bless and look for photos soon!  John, Ann and our canine crew

2011 Westminster Kennel Club - Brittanys

Congratulations to all the winners! All the Brittanys were so beautiful.

4 Week Old Puppies !!!

Here they are, turning 4 weeks old today and boy are we active, smart, busy and intelligent!  Just a quick update for I have fallen way behind and for that I apologize.  I wanted to share all about our amazingly fun visit here with Pam and Julie this past weekend but there is no time to sit and write so much at the moment.  Even so, I have set up obstacles in the puppy pen for them to navigate and climb around. It is amazing how quickly they figure things out. Personalities are emerging and confidences strong. This is the period in which to make intentional loud noises to get a startle reflex versus a fear response and they are doing just great.  Visits are beginning this week and more to follow in the near future.  Bear with us, things are so busy but it's a good thing.  Momma Treasure is doing fine we are in the beginning stages of weaning.  If we get some warmer temps and sunshine these pups will find their way outdoors very briefly of course.  They will learn to go from one room into the next without difficulty, to climb some stairs, and so much more.  Right now the best part of it all?  The interaction from them to me as I hold them, snuggle, call them, pet them, and their part of falling in love with humans is going strong!!!  Hope you enjoy this quick update, will share more when I can.  Take care and God Bless you all! John, Ann and ATB

Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You

GETTING TO KNOW YOU!

There is hardly enough hours in each day to fully enjoy all that these 8 beautiful, loveable, funny, cute, intelligent, sweet 8 new Brittany puppies have to give! Likewise a quick look at the calendar reveals how very quickly time is passing by and there is so much more left to discover as we get to know all about these pups.  In the past week the greatest changes by far have taken place, changes noticable in the latest photos and videos we've been able to share.  Clearly and evidently the puppies eyes are wide open and now becoming very accustomed to their immediate surroundings.  Each new day brings something new to marvel about.  Every litter of new Brittany pups brings with them a renewed sense of awe and wonder to us as proud breeders and lovers of All Things Brittany.  Indeed!  The love affair with these new pups is in it's earliest stages.   They become aware of our approach as their momma reacts to the opening of the door leading into her puppy cave and her joyful response to seeing us.  Her puppies immediately sense the change in their mother's behavior as she joyfully sings to greet us.  Greeting my beautiful Treasure always comes before acknowledging her pups, this is very important to us and to her.  We tell the puppies hello and call to them and they answer joyfully with their little woofs, yips, and barks.  The pups woof and react to the as we approach them and are in their direct line of vision. Sometimes Treasure runs ahead of us as if to show her babies off to us - other times she is clearly in need of 'getting out of the house' and quickly races out the door to freedom!  The pups each react in their own way to my presence and that of John's. Of course our approach and voices are very different which is so beneficial.  Some pups will approach readily, others observe then approache, another watches from the puppy blanket, and there are those who can't make up their mind and play a game of cat and mouse with me. It's all so fun but all so important.

 I definitely AM in love with these new Brittany pups and it is hard not to rush through this process.  In these early days of courtship it is all about getting to know them, and about them getting to know us. I do not consider any of this to be work, a better definition would be to define it as a labor of love. We have a friend who is a Maine nature artist, (http://www.mainenatureart.com/home.html) and her slogan is she loves what she does and does what she loves.  She says it best and I echo her sentiments when I apply it to All Things Brittany.

Three weeks old through three months is considered to be a key 'dog/human socialization' period.  This is a recognized time frame when the potential for the absolute strongest human/animal bond exists.  Laying a strong foundation for the best possible lifetime relationship between people and dogs is the absolute responsibility of all breeders.  If you are following along in the Monks of New Skete you'll know what we are focusing on at this point in time.  A lot of interaction and training are common sense but some of it is deliberate and structured. But always it is fun and enjoyable. This weekend a giant step occurs in the pups socialization as the extended loving arms of ATB embrace the pups with a visit from our friends. 

Puppy Visitation

Pups turn 4 weeks old soon. Take a look at your schedules as we'll be sending out dates to choose for the first puppy visit, which is a time to come and fall in love with the entire litter. We'll offer some potential dates. As this will not be a time to select pups, the visits will be done to accomodate the schedules of each family. The actual selection occurs when the pups are older and have been evaluated and based upon order of pick.  Of course everyone usually has a favorite based on photographs!  You'll bring with you a well worn article of clothing with your scent(usually people will sleep in a t-shirt the night before) packed in a ziplock bag with your name on it.  Also a small lightweight adjustable puppy collar & leash, Lupine brand is best for young pups.  Just like school, if you could make a small identifying mark on your collar that will be great. The pups enjoy getting new toys to play with and the toys survive, will also go home with you!  We do have extra crates here to begin crate training (all pups will have been introduced to crates and gone for at least one car ride) but it's helpful if a few of you could bring one to leave here.  It's kind of about that new car smell and our crates don't have it LOL. Any questions you have about collar, leash, crate etc. will be happily answered either personally or within our never ending source of printed information!

First Day of the Rest of Their Lives

We anticipate pups will be ready to begin the first day of the rest of their lives @March 9. Pups will visit the vet that week for health exams, shots, and certification.  Check your calendars again!  Before pup leaves us remember that we will need (1) name of your vet and date of pups well puppy visit  (2) name of a training class/school where pup will go for basic puppy kindergarden/socialization/obedience.

Hope that this information is helpful and does not take away from the enjoyment of simply reading about the pups, seeing the latest photos and videos.  Thanks for all your interest, comments, input and simply for being you - for sharing this love of the amazing Brittany, and for the encouragement, the thumbs up, the support, and in some cases sharing our love of God with you!  Take care and God bless, John, Ann, Treasure and ATB... OH!!! Almost forgot !  A great report about Miss Piper who is South Carolina - heard she is really cutting up the place - and that my friends, is a VERY GOOD report!

Beautiful Brittany Puppies - 3 weeks old

Will soon be writing a complete update bringing us from week 2 into week 3 today or tomorrow.  Celebrating the eve of that anniversary with yet ANOTHER major snowstorm!  In the meantime, hope you enjoy the black and white collage of some very beautiful 3 week old pups in their more candid moments, all with their eyes open now.  We LOVE sharing these pictures! Take care and God bless you and yours, and as always THANK YOU for your interest in ATB. John, Ann and our wonderful funloving Brittany crew!