ATB: Pups 1st New Experiences

Here's a treat if you haven't seen this before.  This video has been viewed over 4,000 times and for an ATB amateur video - that's really way cool!  Before viewing be sure to pause the PlayList which is in the right hand corner.  Here you go - this is Treasure with her 1st litter of 11 puppies in 2009:

Winchester, Marlin, Bolt, Henry, Colt, Rugar, Browning, Grace, Patience, Hope, and Heart have a very special visitor coming tomorrow to see them and we just can't wait.  She will be arriving 'dogless' in consideration of our nursing mother's level of stress when other dogs are around.  A little too early for much interaction among other dogs besides a few here. I wonder if Treasure will offer the kind of greeting she gives me when I approach her and the pups - lately it's kind of funny as she does here little 'woo woo woo' and dances around - it is just too cute!  I tend to think she is saying I love you.  We're working more every day on the tactile stimulation for neo natal pups (Carmen Batagglia's S.M.A.R.T. puppy program).  Today I added something new as I cleaned out the whelping box. I placed the pups inside of a fleece crate pad with bumpers which was located on the floor about 3 feet away from the box. It was an intentional move to have them in a cooler place and on a completely different surface. It really was pretty interesting what they did. Of course they rooted around and around in little circles bumping into and crawling over each other.  Eventually they settled (they don't have a lot of energy to keep going and going at this early age and simply crash suddenly, sleeping most of their life away right now.) Treasure was not sure she liked having them there and after circling the pad holding her puppies hostage she gently lay down alongside of it, backed up to the edges. Her closeness was enough to elicit responses from some of her puppies.  One of the pups manipulated them self up and over the top of the crate pad, onto Treasure.  Yes we are talking total cuteness again as pup crawled over to her face. Treasure was wide awake with open eyes but she didn't move, she simply lay there and let her pup explore.  A couple of other pups also ventured up and over onto her back, but they decided to turn around and plop back down onto the pad with the others. I imagine for heat.  At first they were content to remain in a single layer laying together.  Then they began to crawl over each other and made a puppy pile.  At this age it's an indication they are chilly. Overall, this was an intentional attempt to introduce low level stress into their environment which is actually beneficial towards the intelligence of these neo natal puppies. Another thing which we (I) do daily with every pup is to stimulate their senses further is by laying them down on my lap, between my knees belly side up.  Then using a soft Q-tip, gently touch the bottom of each foot, their ears, and their belly. As they mature additional little exercises will be introduced. None of this is intended to take the place of handling the pups several times a day. A little goes a long way in regards to intentionally stimulating the pups. We have been using this technique for a long time with new Brittany puppies and I like to think that the things we do like this go a long way towards laying a very positive foundation for the first 8 weeks of their life as we prepare them for the first day of the rest of their lives. For anyone reading this who is a breeder or may one day be one - the program I refer to here can be researched simply by googling Carmen Batagglia. Years ago I came across an article he wrote for a magazine detailing a program used by the military called the S.M.A.R.T. Puppy program.  I tend to gobble up everything I can about early puppy development. There's a lot of things I just can't do (physically) but there are many other things which I can do and making sure that the pups we are responsible to bring into the world have the best start possible is one of them.  As in anything, all of this must be done in moderation - you never want to push a puppy too far in ANY situation. 

There are other early puppy development exercises and evaluation techniques which we employ here which are all loosely based upon a combination of Pat Hastings "The Puppy Puzzle" as well as her "The Other Piece of the Puzzle" (EXCELLENT),  Jack and Wendy Volhardt "Puppy Aptitude Tests" or P.A.T., and of course use a lot of what is in The Monks of New Skete.  We also refer to some of the techniques in the book by Bill Tarrant "Tarrant Trains Gun Dogs"for early targeted gun dog training. Last but not least I have found for those who are interested in showing dogs that the two books "Raising of A Champion" and "Show Me"are totally geared to the novice beginning exhibitor.

We do several structured evaluations at various points of the pups development as well as run an ongoing log of daily activity.  I think one of my favorite parts of it all is when our friends Pam and Julie come spend the weekend and we evaluate a 7 week old litter - too much fun!  And of course we are all always eager for that first introduction to birds - but in Treasures case, she has been known to that herself as the video above testifies! Should you be one of our new WONDERFUL soon to be puppy owners, there's a whole channel of very amateur videos featuring our Brittany dogs which may help hold you over until the day you bring your pup home. Speaking of which, most of the entire litter is all spoken for and most of 'you' have prior Brittany experience and are a bird hunting family (or couple as the case may be.) Barely awake enough to end with a proper signature. I may take a day off from blogging - famous last words?!  Take care and God bless you all - John, Ann and ATB

ATB: Pups at 8 Days / Don't Wanna Miss A Thing

To be focused on this beautiful litter of 11 Brittany puppies means I may at time be totally oblivious to other things going on around me.  John and I have two very opposite types of personalities. He is definitely a "Type A" person who wakes up with his whole day planned, beginning to end because he spent the whole night creating an imaginary list in his mind while he was sleeping and gets up at the crack of dawn (or sooner) to put it all into motion. Phew! Doesn't that just exhaust you thinking of that? Me on the other hand, I am completely the opposite.  Add to that reality my current focus and all i can say it's a very good thing John is the way he is because NOTHING and I mean NOTHING would get done around here.  I wasn't really noticing (doh) what was going on outside this afternoon until I saw one of our recall/johnny houses heading down the road on the back of John's trailer. Normally I would have probably been involved somehow, making an attempt to be helpful while John proceeded full speed ahead with the game plan that was in his head.  There are times I wish I could be more like John with his high energy drive and ability to map out a daily plan in advance and do his best to follow through.  (Did I mention I have a very dear friend who is the exact same way?  God, why did you do that to me?!?)

Of course I do get many things accomplished and I am very organized in regards to certain things.  Just not everything.  So while John was loading the other johnny house and birds I returned to something I was working on.  This 'something; was organizing the weight photos I had taken of the puppies for the end of their first week. With 11 puppies this takes time to do it right.  I also baked a pan of lemon squares in the afternoon.  I helped John with some of his hunt test responsibilities, responded to some emails, dried a load of laundry but all the time I was really just chomping at the bit as they say to return to the puppies.  I did notice that for some strange reason all the t-shirts I had put out on the line to dry on Monday were still blowing in the breeze. Hmmm... wonder how that happened.  Oh well, it was too late in the day and dampness had set in - we'll leave them there another night so they will smell especially clean and fresh.  So really the fact of the matter none of that amounted to diddly squat and neither does what I am rambling on about! 

I'll tell you what matters though.  Watching and learning more and more about Treasure and Bullet's puppies as I sit on the floor next to the whelping box.  Taking a damp, warm washcloth and gently rubbing it across Treasure's belly and teats and seeing how much she enjoys it matters.  Picking up each puppy matters, placing it in the cradle of my arm with it's belly up too and taking just one finger to scratch under it's neck, touch it's feet, and then hold it to my face in hopes of a hit of puppy breath. Going outdoors with Treasure matters so she can run and stretch her legs taking a break from her pups.  Making another batch of nursing mother's pudding which helps with Treasure's milk supply while she looks on patiently matters.  Sitting down and sharing all about these puppies with those of you who enjoy reading it, and especially for those of you who will one day begin the first day of the rest of their life with them, that matters. 

This afternoon, I was seated on the cot next to the whelping box and updating my notes in the whelping journal. Treasure stepped into the box, walked to the far side of it and simply lay down. Within a minute two of the pups had sensed her arrival and quickly discovered where she was laying. I love this! They can be sound asleep and Treasure will approach without the slightest touch and ever so gracefully position herself for "easy access".  Sometimes all 11 will nurse at once.  Other times it is as if they take shifts.  If Treasure decides it is time for dinner, she'll simply paw at them to get their attention to draw near, lovingly cleaning and turning them over as they approach. I heard the sweetest sounds this afternoon while the instrumental music softly played. The sound of very fulfilled little Brittany puppies who nursed from their mother's abundant supply of milk for them.  I heard what contentment sounds like.  It's quite hard to put into words but the best way to describe their sound is to imagine a very low, mewing similar to a young kitten accompanied by an occasional squeal of delight. It is possible to even hear and decipher the oh so personal and intimate noise of hungry neonatal puppies strongly sucking. 

Speaking of neo natal, that period is rapidly drawing to an end. The Monks of New Skete speak of this in their book.  Soon, the darkness of the whelping box will be a thing of the past for the puppies.  I noticed this evening that their little eye slits are very well defined now.  And, I also noticed that in a couple of the pups there is the teeniest of openings beginning to appear.  Keeping the lighting deliberately low where they are, I look forward to looking into their eyes for the first time. The pups will only be able to 'see' images and movements in the beginning but this literally opens up a brand new world for them. 

Last but not least there are a couple of the puppies who are unbelievably close to truly walking.  Each day the coordination and the movement of the entire litter greatly improves. So many things going on and as I've said all along, I don't want to miss a thing. I will never tire of this experience although exhaustion may accompany this reality.  But this is such a short period of time in comparison to so many things in life.  For a breeder, the dedication to commit to ones own puppies must be strong.  I have a friend who is a nature artist whose motto is "I love what I do and I do what I love."  I totally echo those sentiments when it comes to this season of my life. 

Take care and God bless, John, Ann, and ATB

ATB: Whelping Box Day 7/ Names / Hunting /Training

Sweet little puppies, I am hopelessly devoted to you!

DEEP EMOTION

At the risk of dating myself here I am thinking tonight of the name to a song which Olivia Newton-John sang back in the day called 'Hopelessly Devoted To You.' While the lyrics would not quite apply themselves to the full expression of devotion I feel towards Treasure and Bullet's pups, that title certainly sums it up.  I found myself also considering lyrics to another popular song a little before that era called "Close To You"which was written and performed by The Carpenters.  "On the day that you were born the angels got together, and decided to create a dream come true..." Well, here I sit tonight hopelessly devoted to a beautiful, healthy, thriving, intelligent, strong litter of 11 puppies as well as to their mother, whose name appropriately enough for this reflection contains the words 'dreams come true.'

NAMES

Speaking of which, John and I put a lot of thought into the names of our Brittanys.  Coming up with names for the litter 'theme' and 'nicknames' for pups themselves is really something new for us as I've shared before but I'm talking about both the AKC registered name, and then the call name, or every day around the house name.  When I was pregnant with our son (and that would be about the time we were listening to those songs mentioned above, give or take a year) I read an intriguing statement about naming a child. That you should speak that name being considered softly and gently into the empty hallways of your home, to see what it sounded out echoing throughout the house.  I think the same can be said for naming a puppy. The AKC name might reflect the integrity of the dog itself.  The call name could in some instances be a reflection of your own heart, or it could fit a description of the dog.  Think about saying that name as you call your pup to you and what it sounds like in various tones of voice.  With a puppy - you use LOTS of tones of voice.  Think about being in the woods and calling your dog to you. And mostly think how will it sound with the prefix "Go-o-o-d" spoken with it. 

TREASURE

Treasure - is because 1. She is a treasure.  2. The word means pride and joy, and her father is a Pride & Joy Brittany.  3. Last but not least the Bible verse "For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also." (Matthew 6:19-23 is J&A's Brittanys foundation verse.) Dreams Come True of Acton came about as a result of our hopes and dreams to accomplish and meet the goals we have set before us as gun dog breeders. Treasure was born here on June 16, 2006.  (Bullet, the sire of these pups was also born here on September 17, 2008.) She was the firstborn of her litter and her mother Wish delivered Treasure right into my hands. Treasure was a breech birth and I will never forget seeing her extend her right arm out of the placenta as if to reach for me to give her a hand. As a puppy being born it looked like Treasure had a white sock on her otherwise liver colored leg.  To this day she will paw at me in the same way she did moments before drawing her first breath of oxygen. That's just a sight that breeders never forget.  (Like Treasure, her mother was always what is considered an easy whelper. God willing that they all might be easy whelpers but the fact of the matter is they are not.) We knew we wanted to keep a liver and white female which I could learn about showing with, a dog which we had bred. We also knew we wanted to keep what Wish 'has' going strong into the future. In fear of sounding redundant there is more information about Treasure on her own page over at the our J & A's Brittanys website.  Suffice to say, Treasure has and continues to fully live up to her name. 

EARLY PUPPY DEVELOPMENT

Once again this evening I have enjoyed spending the hours simply being in the moment with Treasure and her beautiful new Brittany pups. This is such a tranquil time for the most part. Once in awhile I will turn the TV on but mostly enjoy the quieter less stressful sounds of piano and acoustic instrumentals.  This is the environment that the pups will audibly enter into when their ears first open.  They will learn all about sounds and noises soon enough, just not during this very intimate time of development. When they are old enough, John and I will intentionally introduce them to a myriad of different sounds via an amazing CD of sound effects which we have used for years.  We watch for their reaction the first few times.  When a pup has a new experience they will react in one of several different ways.  Some will run right to the sound, others will stand and look around trying to locate it, others will run away from it yet return and approach the sound, and still there are those who may run and hide. For those who run and hide the worst thing to do is to coax them back out. Instead, what we do is simply wait - not saying a thing or making any motions. In this way the puppy quickly learns there is nothing fearful associated with the sound that is unpleasant to them and most of the time they will work it all out in their own psyche and come out from where they went to hide.  There should always be a positive association with everything that is new and that extends right through all of their training experiences. In regards to the sound effects CD after awhile they become so accustomed to all the different noises (over 120!) they totally ignore it. They will even wind down and take their naps.

LITTER DYNAMICS

Another interesting observation tonight is how the pups will 'arrange' themselves. I know I've talked of this before but it is always so cute and really it's amazing when you think of it.  After Treasure is finished nursing them she may stay with them for awhile or she may simply stand up and if one is still nursing - oh well! They look like little monkeys hanging on for dear life for the briefest of moments.  When all 11 pups are crawling around the floor of their whelping box it seems like a signal is given, a telepathic message to line up in a row.  Sometimes I think there is a secret code included which tells them in which order to line up and even what colors should go where. Seriously. I have seen this.  Suddenly a couple of the pups will lay down, side by side.  Soon they are joined by other pups, one by one who take their place in this line.  Sometimes you see all the liver and whites grouped together, other times you will see one liver, one orange. Then there are times they are all headed in the same direction, other times in opposite ones.  But always in a fairly straight line laying across the whelping box.  Most of the pictures you see of our pups lined up like that are not posed.  I take a picture of this formation whenever it presents itself.

SPEAKING OF OUR PHOTOS

Although I sometimes pose a Brittany for a picture most of the time the photos are spontaneous, candid shots.  I enjoy capturing a Brittany who just happens to strike a pose in the most rawest expression of beauty.  I prefer photos of a Brittany genuinely pointing a game bird while hunting or otherwise engaged in authentic pursuit of their 'prey.'  Of course there are times that, like most of us do, that I stand waiting, camera in hand and with baited breath to 'catch' that same gun dog in an pose closely resembling the real deal - usually we don't have to wait very long.  (I think of taking young children to the department store photographer who works their heart and soul out to capture just the perfect pose which brings out the maximum level of cuteness in their subject.  Or like the professional show photos which we all pay big bucks for in hopes we'll get a decent picture to document that important win.)  I love to see a picture of the bird in front of the dog AND the dog.  Kind of like the Ross Young portrait that hangs over our couch called "Silent Bells." I do some photo editing, of course I crop, clean up and enhance pictures but not to the extent that the photo itself is being untrue. It's important to me that the photo actually says something important if possible.  It could be that the dog is acting like a total bonehead as he or she rolls in something gross but their expression indicates they are reveling in the moment!  Or it could be one of our stud muffins laying on the couch on their back so explicitly it makes me feel the photo should be censored as the J&A's Brittanys family jewels for all the see! The best photos of all, the ones that I love love love are the photos our extended ATB family send to us on a regular basis - they are so candid and real and reflect the pride and love the dog's owners feel for their Brittany. 

ACTIVE HUNTING HOMES w/PRIOR BRITTANY EXPERIENCE 

At this point in time we're just so happy to share that the majority of pups are going to active hunting homes and/or going to homes with prior Brittany experience - which is our priority because first and foremost we breed close working gun dogs.  Even so, two of these families also have an interest in showing and they will have the very best show prospects from this litter while guaranteeing those pups most certainly will hunt.  Most of the pups from Treasure and Bullet's litter are going to those who have learned of this breeding via word of mouth. For this we are ever grateful and appreciative - especially to those who have been waiting for a couple of years now.  Finding just the right home takes time and we realize finding just the right breeder takes time too. It works both ways. We're truly blessed here at J&A's Brittanys with the reality of these pups who are going to be in very special and loving homes.  We are still accepting inquiries but availability is extremely limited (thankfully!) at this point. I do know that some of this is personal business but I also like those of you who follow our blog that all is good, very very good in regards to homes for the babies. 

ABOUT TRAINING BRITTANY GUN DOG PUPPIES 

NOTE: OCTOBER 2, 2012 I am curious why this particular page is getting so many views this week. If you have questions with training your pup, please leave a comment. We enjoy helping out our ATB family and friends.

If at the end of 8 weeks a couple of pups from this litter remain, John and I will simply continue to train them for home and field.  Pups from this litter will be about 6 months old when Maine's 2012 bird hunting season begins. In the hands of a mature and seasoned upland game hunter with experience hunting over gun dogs, Treasure and Bullets pups can be taken to the field for a no pressure introduction to the reality of their future. Although not every one will agree, I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't do this with another dog or with a group of your hunting buddies with other dogs.  Those days will come.  Just not the first season.  Pheasants can scare the crap out of a young pup and some just don't like the taste of woodcock.  Line upon line. Precept upon precept. Nurture those hunting instincts, identify them as they surface. Don't be so interested in a super star bird dog that you rush through the process. Above all please know what you are doing, do not rush the process but absolutely DO get your pup on as many birds as early as possible. And remember we are always just a phone call away and will happily head down to the field for some one on one Brittany informal help.  We do not ever train our Brittanys specifically for field trials and this is explained next.  Often we are however training our own dogs for hunt tests.  But ALWAYS, we are in training them for bird hunting at some level which is dependent upon the age and ability of the dog.  We train or run our dogs as frequently and as often as time and weather permits.  We want to see the dogs from our breeding program excel as a close working gun dog for the walking upland hunter who does not want to find their dog pointing that night's dinner over in the next county. Editorial Comment: Every outing should count. Yes, it should be fun. But you need to know what you're doing.  When you don't know what you're doing, it's obvious to those who do.  And it goes from being a win - win situation for your dog, to being a lose - lose situation. Trust me. I cringe when I hear about some of the ways pups are introduced to gunfire especially.  Good grief. 

 

 

ON FIELD TRIALS

One more time and simply said yet again and quite honestly, field trialing is just not our thing. I do applaud those who have the passion, the desire, the time and the money to enjoy to the fullest and I'm happy for them when their dogs do well.  Of course we are always very pleased about the decent field trial placements from different dogs we've bred including winning amateur and/or open puppy and derby stakes where points have been awarded and we do have placements in gun dog stakes as well. But we're not chasing points, we are simply having fun and supporting our clubs. (Shogun, Vegas, Bailey, Bullet, Piper, True, Timber, Sassy, come to mind and there are probably more.) One of Jack's daughters did us proud by placing 4th in the American Brittany Club 2010 Gun Dog Futurity.

 

Even so, for anyone who has an interest in field trialing, the genetics of the 11 Brittany pups of this litter indicate the potential is there to excel if someone wanted to take that route. The pedigree behind Treasure and Bullet testifies to the validity of this statement and anyone wishing to undertake the endeavor of trialing has our support. Field trialing is a sport unto itself and there are very specific training needs and methods which are not necessarily needed for the close working gun dog. Simply said, we don't want big running Brittanys and most of our clients don't either but that's not a criticism for those who do.  We're of the opinion that NOT all Brittany hunting dogs should or need to go through a formal 'breaking process' or that our Brittanys need to be "stone broke" dogs. Quite frankly I abhore the term "broke dog" because to me it indicates a breaking of their spirit. First and foremost, our Brittanys and those we breed are family hunting companions. We hunt with the same dogs we breed, show, live with, and love. 

 

In regards to our philosphy regarding any formal gun dog training program, we believe the best way to train any particular Brittany pup or adult is by being out there in the field with them on a regular basis. Frequently get them on as many birds as you possibly can early on.  Some are pigheaded and stubborn. All go through periods of defiance. Each one has good days, great days, as well as days you are certain they have forgotten everything they knew the day before.

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YOUR BIRD HUNTING STORIES WANTED

Speaking of bird hunting, I wonder if those of you reading this who do hunt with one, two, or more of our crew would write for me an account about an honest to goodness hunting season or two?  For those of you who travel, I'd love to hear about how well your Brit did in other areas of the country as well as New England. Just send it to me via the link over at www.mainebrittanysitejas.com - thanks!

GOOD-NIGHT, or IS THAT GOOD MORNING?!

Glancing at the clock it is once again time to call it a day. Technically is a new day but when I began writing it was before midnight. Then of course I came back in the morning to revise what I had written.  My hours are a little wacky these days but having pups also allows me to indulge in my night owl tendencies. As always, thank you for your interest in this litter. We are beginning to schedule our May visits for new owners to be to come visit.  Our self imposed 4 week quarantine does not provide visits prior to that time - this for the well being of the pups and Treasure.  Take care and God bless you always - John, Ann, and ATB

ATB Video: 1 Week Old Brittany Puppies

The Triple J&A Litter - 7 days old (video is about 5 minutes long)

Last week at just about the time I am now writing this blog, Treasure had started to leak amniotic fluid and was becoming increasingly restless.  She just could not make up her mind as to where she wanted to be or what she wanted to do.  Her temperature had dropped below 100 degrees and remained just a little above 99.  I had expected to take it again to discover it had gone down even more.  That was not to be because  the first stage of her labor began immediately, proving any further temperature taking to be an unncessary discomfort for Treasure. And now here we are 7 days later and enjoying getting to know the beautiful new litter of 11 Brittany puppies, Treasure and Bullet's puppies to be exact.

Earlier today I explored the ATB archives regarding pups of this age and what I have had to say about them in the past. Just as each litter of pups is unique, it was a pleasure to discover what has been shared in the archives was equally as unique. I also did something brand new in regards to blogging by sharing what I posted here on the Maine Hunting and Sporting Dog Owners blog over at the Bangor Daily News.  The intention has been to keep these two very distinct blogs separate. Today that didn't make sense as there is a category there for blogging about the breeding of hunting and sporting dogs.
One week old - already.  So many changes during this neo-natal period which lasts until about the time that the puppies open their eyes.  This is that period of development as I shared yesterday where it appears that nothing is happening.  It is a period of darkness for the pups but one that is so important.
Our 'program' of early sensory stimulation has already started for the puppies. Not surprisingly, I am already seeing results of my efforts in this.  But most importantly the love affair with Treasure and Bullets pups is just beginning.  Holding their puppies close to my face as they adjust to the newness of who I am is just the beginning of the 'getting to know you' stage. I know that in a very short time the reactive, spontaneous responses will change into deliberate reactions and responses. I don't want to miss a thing.  There is so much to do, and each step we take closer to the first day of the rest of their lives is just as important as the other ones before. The ultimate goal is to prepare these pups to spend the rest of their lives with humans while introducing them to the wonder of their immediate world around them  A world which for now is limited to the whelping box.  Although their environment is currently and temporarily restricted in the whelping box there is no limit to the way in which they are already learning about love and trust.  It is something they are learning about from their mother Treasure. It is also something they learn from John and I at this early stage.
For those families and couples who are awaiting your new puppy in about 8 weeks, I want to remind you that Monks of New Skete is required reading so I hope you have that book in your possession by this time. If you do have it, I hope you are reading along in the chapter which speaks about the neo-natal period.  Following along in that book will help you understand what is going on with your puppy when you know you cannot be here to enjoy him or her at this point in time. 
Well my dear readers my head has bobbed down to the keyboard a time or two in the past few sentences so all in all, I know it is my bedtime! And I do not mean maybe.  Thank you as always for following this blog - take care and God bless you always. John, Ann, and our wonderfully amazing Brittany crew.

ATB: Notes from the Whelping Box

Sitting in the quiet of a room lit only by the overhead infra-red head lamp watching my beautiful Treasure and her beautiful 11 Brittany puppies it is easy to block the world out. For there, in those moments of time, all that matters is the well being of momma and babies. It takes a few days to get settled into the routine again, not only for John and I, but for Treasure as well. No matter how many times a dog breeder experiences this miracle of birth and of new life, each time is as if it was the first time all over again. If we should ever get to the point where we take it all for granted, think there is nothing new, miraculous, or unique about this miracle then that will be the last litter of puppies ever. It's easy to get lulled into a false sense of security that all is well, that you know just what to expect and that all will proceed according to plan. Well, in some aspects it is true all will go according to plan but just whose plan is that?  It is a combination of course of the biological responses of the mother in regard to having been bred and the gestational period of 63 days. Most importantly though, it is according to Gods plan and learning to quiet one's soul enough to appreciate the simplicity of all that is complex in a given moment. In this instance, gazing down at 5 day old neo-natal puppies.

These precious new Brittany puppies have changed immensely in a brief time.  Sometimes it's easy to be too tired, too exhausted to really appreciate how they grow and develop.  Sometimes the most subtle changes go unnoticed. But I don't want to miss a thing. These first three weeks afford a breeder the opportunity to learn so much about the puppies they are responsible to have brought into the world. For it is during these first weeks that 99% of the care of these precious baby dogs is taken care of by their mother. There are exceptions of course, and John and I have experienced those times when things go wrong. Yet it is Treasure who keeps her pups and their whelping box (nest) immaculately clean. It is Treasure who stimulates them to go to the bathroom and also who rolls them around the box to keep them active.  It is Treasure who, if we were not providing an overhead heat lamp or heated room, who would keep them warm by keeping them tucked up close to them.  It is Treasure who feeds them all, several times a day.  It is Treasure who lovingly licks their faces while drawing them closely to her with an outstretched paw. In a few more weeks all of this will change.

It is also easy to look at this period as a time when not much is happening. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pups are usually born with a peachy fuzz around their muzzle, if at all.  Their faces are squished in and sometimes they even have an amphibious look about them with little eye sockets bulging out. Their eyes and their eyes are fused shut at birth.  The little ears look as though they are made out of rubber. But in just a matter of hours and a few days this all changes.  Today I can see that the muzzles are beginning to take shape, and it's so cute! The peachy fuzz is covering more of the area around their mouths. Speaking of mouths, nothing is cuter than when a little tongue is seen sticking out. Their ears are losing the rubbery look and hair is growing there too. When I put my hand down on the surface near a pup, she will move closer and eventually snuggle into my cupped palm.

The movement of these new Brittany puppies continues to grow stronger. The bottom of Treasure's 'cradle' or whelping box is lined with an all weather rug cut to size. We have several of them which we rotate and disinfect on a regular basis. Depending upon what is happening in the development of the pups or their age we may also add paper from the rolls of unprinted newspaper ends. We feel in the beginning however that the all weather rug best meets the need of mom and pups. I do not like to place anything like blankets or towels in the box that the pups can get entangled in. They can even scamper underneath the paper when very young and become 'lost'. Any time a young pup cannot find it's way back to it's heat source puts pup at risk of chilling which is the #1 cause of early puppy deaths. In the beginning these babies have no 'shivering mechanism', no ability to regulate their own body temperature. The best reason for using the rug in itself is to aid the little nursing puppies.  When they 'belly up' to Treasure seeking a free nipple from which to feed from it is frustrating for them when their little hind feet go out from underneath them. Over and over again, every time they nurse the action is repeated. The greatest benefit comes when they have the necessary traction for their rear legs and feet to keep pup in one place. We also believe that the muscles in all 4 legs and shoulders develop quickly and become stronger, thus enabling them to walk at a much earlier stage. This evening I observed some of the pups actually moving with their bellies lifted up. Although technically still a crawling like movement, it is already much more deliberate.
I noticed something interesting which shows the intelligence and instincts of the pups already.  I wondered why some of the 11 pups remained huddled in one particular area of the box where some of the others gravitated to the source of warmth as provided by the heat lamp.  After observing Treasure entering her cradle to nurse the pups and then leave once they were finished feeding, I realized what was happening. She always enters and leaves in the same direction.  So the smart little piggy puppies have figured out that by staying in the place where momma last fed them, they are assured of being first in line when she returns. She's actually very methodical in the manner in which she does let them nurse though. Although Treasure may appear to randomly nurse the pups, she is very clever at positioning herself for certain pups to feed and others to remain just out of paws reach.
So maybe these are trivial occurrences and oh well, the pups are going to grow and develop and yeah, there are more important things going on that I could be devoting my time to. NOT. Despite the amount of time that actually is involved with raising a litter of pups, all the work that does go into making sure everything is all right at all times, and especially once the first 3 weeks have passed - Treasure and her pups are for all intents and purposes the object of my undivided attention. I remember a very matter of fact comment from our dear Dr. Chapin a couple of years ago when we had taken puppies for their second vet check before going home to their new owners.  As I whined and moaned to whoever would listen how tired and exhausted I was, how my body ached, and how I never had a moment to myself the good doctor looked at me and said he had no sympathy for me because I had brought all that on upon myself when I made the decision to breed.  And you know what? He's absolutely right.  So for the next 8 weeks my sleep schedule will be radically altered, my level of energy pushed to the limits and my patience and goodwill drastically challenged but 11 new little Brittany puppies will get the best possible start that we can provide them, as we prepare them for the 1st Day of the Rest of Their Lives.  And how wonderful to be getting to know those families who are counting the days until that time.  In the meantime, I'm going to try to catch some Z's!  Take care and God bless  you and yours - John, Ann, Treasure and family, and ATB

ATB: 11 Beautiful Brittany Puppies

Treasure is doing wonderful and the pups are all gaining well. She went out for a swim in the pond today and I am sure it felt delightful. There was a weight range of 7.2 oz. through 12.2 oz. when they were born but now the average weight of the entire litter is 10.9.  I like to see the weight double by the time they are 10 days old and to see an average weight gain of 1 pound more or less a week. Already the puppies are interacting with each other although it is more reactive and instinctive than social of course.  They are all quite mobile in the whelping box and some of them are beginning to use their little leg muscles. This afternoon I did enjoy my first official 'hit' of puppy breath!  The rest of the crew is doing great and all of them spent the entire afternoon outdoors (sans Treasure) spending most of the time pondside.  Treasure is of course aware they are around and will make her presence known. She's been outdoors a lot and today we watched Pippin, Hemi, and Jack with Treasure. All went well.  Treasure wants to seek out denlike areas, similar to places she was digging in before whelping her pups. I told John I would not be surprised that if given the chance (she won't be) Treasure would probably carry her pups out to a more natural cavelike setting, it's just the way she is.  Actually when the pups were born she picked each one up in her mouth and took it to the far corner of the box to lick and clean it off. 

I'm very happy with the increased interest in this litter.  We are still adding names to our "Serious Inquiries" waiting list while in the process of screening applicants.  At this point in time there is limited availability for this litter because several reservations have been confirmed with deposits.  Thank you!  If you're still interested, we need to know this for sure now  - thanks!   Take care and God bless,

John, Ann and ATB

ATB Video: Morning Has Broken - New Brittany Pups

ATB: Oh Happy (David) Day !

Congratulations to our son in law for becoming an American Citizen today at an official ceremony held in Portland, Maine!  John was there to share in this very meaningful event for our family. Tomorrow is David's birthday and we think there are many reasons to celebrate 'all things family'!  On the puppy front, all is well.  Pups and Treasure had their vet visit today, and the reports were totally positive all the way around for the 11 pups who are thriving and growing.  Each pup has gained at least 1 oz in their first 48 hours of life.  They are changing already right before my eyes. Treasure is doing well, she was a little restless due to the process involved but is now back in the comfort of her own space and environment and under our watchful eye.  Our vet gave us a total thumbs up!  I'm working    on a collage slide show/video if I ever find time to put it together. We have taken so many pictures of the pups it is not funny.  I love that they are already ALREADY responsive to my touch in that some of them will snuggle into the palm of my cupped hand.  These puppies are incredibly strong and active.  They hardly make a peep. So much more to share however I am falling asleep as I type and it really would not be too cool to give in to the desire at this present time to use the keyboard as my pillow. After the critical 72 hours since the last pup was born are over, we'll post a slideshow video here from our photos taken during that time.  We'll also share a formal presentation to introduce them via their nicknames.  We are so appreciate of all the notes and cards from so many of you.  We're also pleased with the word of mouth referrals finding their way to us.  Take care and God bless,

John, Ann and All Things Brittany

ATB: 24 hours, Boys & The Girls

The Triple J&A Litter @ 24 hours

Boys & Girls Identified

We have passed the 24 hour mark and all is well.  The 11 pups have strong suckling instincts and have begun to gain from their birth weight. The overall average birth weight for this litter is 10 oz which is actually smaller than her two previous litters.  I'm pleased about this because both Treasure and Bullet are at the top of the AKC Breed Standard for the Brittany. Treasure is doing excellent in spite of how tired she is.  Her appetite is great and we are enjoying indulging her in some very special meals. Tomorrow she will have her post-whelping exam and the pups will have their neo-natal exam and procedures. John and I remain at the whelping box 24/7 during the first 3 days.   Once we have passed the 72 hour mark which to us is extremely critical - there will be more posts and photos.  There's a lot of things we are both busy monitoring and observing right now and we are like two ships that pass in the night. I have started writing the  "armchair whelping box" blog posts in my whelping journal and once sleep becomes a reality to me hope to share them with all of 'you'.  One really cool thing happened to day though with one of the pups.  I frequently weight and photo ID each pup while on the scale many times during the first 72 hours. It is a lot to go through but it's a safe and sure way to know without any doubt exactly which pups are gaining and how much. Typically after weighing etc. I will place the pup onto the table which has a puppy blanket covering the slick surface. I check for signs of dehydration, cleanliness of pups, etc. and then put my hand out for them to discover and snuggle into briefly.  They actually seem to pick up my scent early on by doing it this way which is pretty cool. I also hold them close to my face and let them discover my breath (which hopefully is fresh LOL). Anyway, you know you can expect most of them to swing their little heads back and forth, then try to propel their bodies somehow which typically results in a circular movement.  Or sometimes a forward movement so you have to be ready come what may! Well today I think I saw a glimpse of things to come in regards to doubling up on known hunting instincts and ability - no hype - no kidding.  Usually I don't worry about what supplies are off to the side away from the surface where the pups are placed. I mean who expects a 24 hour puppy to scamper across the table, off the blanket and try to climb into a box of surgical gloves lying there, or push the aspirator lying there out of the way, or better yet expect that same pup will try to conquer the bag of cotton balls lying there.  Exactly...

Take care and God Bless,

John, Ann, Treasure and pups and all of ATB.

PS Please remember our dear friend Stephanie in your prayers. She and hubby Steve have "Starr" and "Nash".  Steph is recovering from major surgery and I know she'd appreciate your prayers.  Thanks.

ATB: Puppies 1st Photo

The TRIPLE J&A Litter (Jim, Julie, John, & Ann)

Sire: J&A's High Caliber Harris Special JH

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

DOB 4.11.12

7 males (5 liver/white, 2 white/orange)

4 females (all white/orange)

Some availability exists for active, bird hunting families and/or with prior Brittany experience !

Ready for their new homes mid June.