J&A's Brittanys: Seasonal Reflection

Recovery From Two Short Family Tragedies

Can you believe that it is already June?  I sure can't.  Life has been one big blur since John's massive heart attack, angioplasty (stent) surgery, and his 5 way bypass. Happily I declare with all certainty that his recovery has been nothing less than a miracle. John is back to doing most all of the things that he shares a passion for and of course that includes All Things Brittany.  Try as I may to offer reasonable suggestions about taking it easy, slowing down, listen to your body etc., etc., John is just happiest when he is actively pursuing some type of project. I am so thankful for the strength and determination I see in him and also how he has conceded to the reality of a change in diet, activity level, and the very real need to rest. Above all, we remain grateful to God.

Within days of my previous post back in April, our son's beautiful Katahdin Log Home was destroyed by fire.  Praise God no one was at home at the time as it was Sunday morning and all were at church when the call came in.  But their home was totally burned to the ground.  I was there at church when the call came in to the family. We were just shocked. My heart was broken for them all but our church family pulled together and we saw the love of Jesus in action. This is a very challenging time for all of the family as they truly are displaced. Fortunately they have excellent insurance and will be in a position to rebuild.  Emotionally though, it has been devastating especially because they lost their beloved family pet in the fire, a lovely Great Dane by the name of Stormy.  This has been surreal and very hard for all of them but especially my grandchildren. 

THANK YOU I wanted to take a moment and just say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support that has come to both John and I as well as to our son and his family.  While the intent of my heart is truly to express appreciation individually I know that may not always be possible.  No gesture of kindness has gone unnoticed and has truly been a blessing. Please forgive us if we have not personally expressed our gratitude.  The support has been awesome and overwhelming, thank you!!

Speaking of Blessings

Our family experienced a very joyful and blessed event last month.  On May 18, 2019 our oldest granddaughter, Nova Marie was married to the love of her life, Chase Stearns.  It was such an amazing day and so full of happiness, happiness that the entire Short family really needed. I had the honor of making their wedding cake. Nova, who has always exemplified true beauty, was just stunning.  My favorite part of the wedding?  The father/daughter dance when they danced to Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly.  When she was a little toddler, John Jr. always sang that to her. I watched them on the dance floor and my heart melted.  Thank you Lord for your faithfulness, generation to generation.  And soon, it will extend to yet another generation.

I have also been blessed to be back on the worship team at Maine Life Gate Christian church.  Most Sundays I have been on the platform with my other grandaughter and the team.  Brook is an anointed and gifted worship leader and the team in itself is amazing. I can't always be there this time of year but I treasure those Sundays I am.

And Then There's Revere

Revere is 11 months old now and continues to mature nicely.  We have taken several levels of training since December at Inspire K9 over in Alton, NH.  Our trainer is Megan Arey and she's one of the best as far as I'm concerned!  Revere and I continue to develop as a strong and bonded team. He is highly intelligent. Consequently, this means he either needs to be constantly challenged to learn new things or he will be constantly challenging! Right now it's a little bit of both. John and I recognized his potential early on to become an outstanding field dog.  At a very young age he was finding, and pointing upland game. We've been able to take hold of the zest and zeal present in this young puppy prior to introducing too much obedience.  For the first 12 months of a Brittany pup's life I believe that fun, spontaneity, natural desire and instinct are the building blocks to future success. This means little to no pressure or restraint around birds.  There is plenty of time for that.  Revere has a tendency to run big and I have learned it's a lot easier to bring a dog in than to teach them to go out. Revere is incredibly versatile. I do not want Revere to respond to strict obedience commands that results in a mechanical dog who gets the job done but only because of pressure exerted on them. Even so, Revere will turn a year old in less than a month so we have started to increase our expectations of him.  His inherent abilities and strong desire to naturally point, retrieve, back have been proven. Now it is time to polish the rough edges and graduate from kindergarten!

Once I saw the 'run' in Revere I consulted someone who I consider to be the best bird dog trainer. This trainer is more into hunting dog training than training focused on trials. Even so, he's a field trial judge and knows what to look for.  He's handled his own bird dog to a 4 pt major in gundog stakes and has 4 other adult placements with her as well as placements with other dogs he bred. (With dogs 'we' bred. Yes I'm talking about my awesome husband!) John agreed with me that we should give it a try with Revere. 

We brought Revere to grounds used for trialing for a serious run. With a tracking collar on and my heart pounding in my chest we set off.  Revere covered a lot of ground, ranged out and came back in nicely.  He made wide sweeps of open areas while seeking objectives and working the edge. Revere worked nice in the woods.  At one point he was out of sight which was briefly hair raising for me but the GPS showed us he was responding to my call. 

Physically speaking I have my own set of challenges and issues and I am not always up to handling. But I made a decision that day and entered Revere in not only two field trials but also in an upcoming NAVHDA Natural Ability test.  And I'm so glad I did. 

In the Central Maine Brittany Club spring trial Revere did so well.  I handled in two 20 minute puppy stakes both days and John handled him in two 30 minute derby stakes.  He came home with first place in both Open Puppy and Open Derby. Also a second place Amateur Derby.  (Holly also garnered a 2nd place Open Gun Dog that weekend.) Revere earned all his juvenille points towards an AKC Field Championship that weekend! 

The following weekend we left at 4 a.m. in the morning to be at the Sebasticook NAVHDA chapter's Natural Ability Test. (The prior day Revere's cousin Monroe earned his NA title and came to visit us on Sunday to cheer Revere on.) The only other time I'd been at anything NAVHDA was when Revere's mother Toph won a Prize 1 NA title, handled by our daughter. I've never attended any training clinic. So as the testing is based on natural abilities and instincts, I was confident Revere could do what was expected. He did not disappoint.  I handled him in each of the categories that were judged.  In the field he did run a little bigger than I think the judge liked so we were dinged slightly in cooperation and search.  But Revere found and pointed 4 birds and successfuly found a 5th one that was put out just for him.  He had to track a pheasant trail into the woods which he did perfectly.  Swimming is also tested and since he's naturally just loved jumping into our small farm pond that part of the test was perfect too! He jumped off the side and retrieved the two bumpers I sent out.  On the day of the test it was pouring rain on and off. It was quite a workout for me physically and I was grateful for a friend in the chapter giving me a ride down to the water on an ATV!

But I did it myself!

Next up, we will be testing for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Title and AKC Trick Dog Novice title.  I have also entered him in an upcoming dog show and plan on handling him.  I know that he'd do great in the hands of a professional handler but he's stuck with me and I will do my best to make him shine. Which really isn't too hard. Conformation wise, I like what I see in my boy!  I just have to do my best not to embarrass Revere.

Life has changed since John's heart attack and also since our son's house fire.  It's a time of reflection as I try to understand more about what really matters.  Above all it's a time of focusing on the things of the Lord. It's been a few years since experiencing a "refiner's fire" and it's not especially pleasant.  Seasons come and seasons go. I have always felt it was important especially for a woman to be aware of what season she is in in her life. Lately, as I wrestle with heart issues of a spiritual nature, I am nudged by Holy Spirit to remember my focus should be upon "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phillippians 4:8

Most of our beloved Brittanys are senior dogs.  I joke about having a geriatric ward but it's true.  Often it has been a sort of hospice here with certain dogs. That is a side we keep very private and

J&A's Ever Ready Rose of Acton - 14+

rightfully so.  I know that soon we're going to be saying goodbye to at least one special Brittany. All for the love of the dog, both given and received.  I am thankful for the 5 generations of Brittanys we have bred and I will always strive to perfect that which we have been responsible to create, by the Grace of God. As we know the inevitable awaits us, so too we consider all the special ATB families whose Brittanys have lived their lives, those that they have said goodbye to, and those who are (like Rosie) nearing the time of walking over the Rainbow Bridge.

Guess that's enough rambling for now.  Thank you as always for your interest and do stay tuned, check back! Take care and God bless you and yours, John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

Update: Happy Day In the Field

John is so happy to be back in the field with his dogs!

I'm so pleased this evening to share a very happy-happy, joy-joy update with you. For a few days I have wanted to carve out a few moments in time to share what is going on in our corner of the world mainly because so many of you are a part of it, whether you realize it or not.

This past Saturday John, Maryann, Alana, Ayden and I returned together to the Wildlife Management Area in Kennebunk Maine where 15 weeks to the day John began to experience the early signs of what was to be a massive heart attack.  Through the Grace and Mercy of God alone John survived what is known as the "widow maker" having 100% blockage to his main coronary artery (and 70-90% blockage in 3 others). I wrote about this previously in "Surviving a Heart Attack" and in "Update: John's Recovery." 

Grounds looking good!  

Last week, John and I took a ride down to the plains where we often run our Brittany bird dogs to get an idea of what the grounds looked like. The snow had all but melted and the fields were not in bad shape at all.  That was all the incentive needed for John to make a phone call and order some birds. He has been going to cardio-rehab classes for several weeks now for building up his strength and stamina under close supervision.  Never one to sit idly by he has also slowly but surely resumed a lot of the chores and activities that are part of his life. I'm not always comfortable watching my husband push the envelope but I cannot do much about his Type A personality traits so let's just leave that right there.  I am thankful how God will frequently remind me that He has everything in His Hands and He's working ALL THINGS out for our good. Since fear is truly a liar then returning to the very place where my husband almost died and basically picking up where we left off is something that needed to happen. So, I kicked my worry and fears right in the butt and chose instead to simply encourage him and help get things together for our first day afield in 2019.

We'd let a few people know that we had birds and were going to run dogs on Saturday morning, weather permitting. Before we knew it we had generated a lot of interest in getting together. I was happy that some of our ATB family with 9 month old pups from Maryann's litter and ours were going to join us.  With spring hunt tests just around the corner it was great to have an opportunity to work together with all of them.  Our friends who breed French Brittanys came out too with a few pups from their most recent litter.  All in all there were about 14 dogs there.  If there was to be a prize for traveling the furthest, it would go to the owners of Revere's brother "Rocko" because they came all the way up from Connecticut to join us!

John, Polly (Holly/Bullet) and her owner.

There wasn't really a specific game plan other than to be sure every dog there had a chance to run, find a bird through scent, establish a point, and hold still until the bird is flushed and then a blank gun fired.  John is a dog whisperer when it comes to working with inexperienced dogs. He could especially be confident of the genetics behind 'our' 5th generation bird dog puppies that were present. There was no doubt that if they were not already turned on to birds they would be by the time they left. They did not disappoint!

What stood out to me personally was observing how happy John was to be back in his 'element' for the first time since his heart attack. He

A literal family reunion of pups!

enjoyed once again interacting with people and the dogs they love. He smiled so much and I saw a happy guy, strong and confident, surrounded by family and friends all working together. I saw new friendships forming. I saw the past, present, and future. And of course, I saw God at work in the midst of it all which is right where He always has been, afterall:

"All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, 

ALL THINGS BRITTANY, the Lord God loves them all!"

There are so many different stages of training and ability.  And each one is different.  Every owner and trainer have their own way of handling a dog in the field.  John likes to work with a person right where they are. He seems to have an uncanny ability to quickly surmise the level of exposure to birds and amount of training (or lack of) unique to each pup and owner. One thing for sure, the more positive the foundation that is laid the better. There is always going to be plenty of time for strict obedience training and that first year should be as fun as possible. The three quotes on our J&A's Brittanys homepage sum it up perfectly for me!

I'm still looking through the videos and photographs from this past weekend which have been forwarded to us.  A lot have already been shared via Facebook, Messenger, E-mail, and Google photos. Thank you so much! I was hoping to share many more here on the blog but it's very hard to limit them so there's just a few here.

A word of appreciation.  John's medical bills have reached $300K, over half a million dollars! Thanks to financial support through  The GoFundMe fundraiser  , donations from Christian Healthcare Ministries, and many private financial contributions given to us we are paying those bills slowly but surely.  We are hopeful that by the end of this year they will be completely paid off.

A paradigm shift is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way. We are experiencing this very thing.  Our lives have changed dramatically over the past few months.  On the surface it may look like our 'new normal' is not all that unusual.  Although the day to day routine may resemble what was once familiar and comfortable to us, the fact is a true paradigm shift has taken place in our life together.  By the Grace of God in which we stand we will continue to move forward.  Our faith in Jesus Christ has never wavered through the storm we just came through, while at the same time it was often challenged.  We have so much more to do together, so much to look forward to!

If I tried to list every person who has been part of our journey the last few months I know I'd miss someone. The first hour after the heart attack a powerful prayer chain was started that reached hundreds of people near and far. I thank God that He heard and answered the prayers that were said. Our family drew together and stepped in to help at every turn.  All of our needs were met throughout the winter months. ALL of them!  Our friends and neighbors could not do enough to help us.  And total strangers also found a way to reach out to us. I'm not going to lie.  There are days the reality of what happened, rather, of what almost happened hits us squarely in the gut and knocks the wind out of our sails.

In closing and as an aside, let me share that we attend Maine Life Gate Church in Limerick, Maine.  Our son is the pastor there.  Yesterday our son preached an amazing message with the declaration that "GRACE IS A PLACE"  Indeed, it is.  Last week, I was on the worship team for the first time in a couple of years.  One of our granddaughters is going to have a baby this summer, making John and I great-grandparents! At one point, she and her sister were both ministering together in music and I was still on the stage singing with the rest of the team.  At that precious moment in time and because life absolutely begins at conception, there were 4 generations worshiping our Lord! God works in wonderful and awesome ways. He's been faithful to us for several generations, even long before I was born.  And I know that is going to continue for generations yet to come.

UPDATE: John's Recovery

John visits with Miss Skye at the Longley's home recently.

It's been two months today since John's quintuple (5-way) bypass. I am happy to share that his recovery is going very well since I last wrote a month ago on January 16th.  Most of our weeks have been filled with medical appointments of one kind or another as the follow up truly is intense, but that's a good thing.

One thing I am also thankful for is that even without medical insurance the level of care does not diminish and quite honestly that was a concern.  Speaking of which we do continue to be thankful for the support that has come our way via the Friends of John Short Sr. GoFund Me page as well as privately.  We're very humbled and appreciative.

John enjoys teasing me by saying I nag him but that just means he is taking me seriously. Lately however it as if he has taken hold of the scissors and is attempting to cut the apron strings! I never realized the fine line that exists between encouragement and discouragement but I'm learning. On one hand I am beyond thankful for the strides John has made and the determination he's demonstrated on this long road to full recovery.  It's just awesome and at times miraculous! Then, on the other hand there are also times when a gentle reminder not to push too, too hard is needed. Do you know this man? If so then I am quite sure you can probably read between the lines.

I am proud of John and so pleased for how far he has come.  The day that his doctor told him he could drive again was such a happy day.  We did start out with John driving for local and brief trips as was recommended and worked up to longer ones including the annual Central Maine Brittany Club members meeting, couldn't miss out on that and the opportunity to see our friends.  And last week he enjoyed heading out on his own to have breakfast with several very good pals of his.

He just had to give the tractor and warm it
up for our son who came over to plow.

Each challenge faced at home has been overcome in one way or another.  Our family and friends have been so amazing! Our son and family, our daughter and family, my nephew and nieces, our neighbors and our friends have each helped in many, many situations and in a variety of ways. We really have been blessed and everyone knows that it's very hard (impossible?!) for John to ask for help. Yet he is always one of the first ones to offer to help or respond to a plea when it is needed by others.  Because of the time of year snow removal has been such a big concern. But our driveway has been kept plowed, all of our pathways kept clear, sanding and shoveling etc. Lately, John has resumed taking care of some of those tasks within reason.  SOME within reason is translated to mean: "those things that Ann does not stand and scowl at John while shaking finger at him."  He isn't sick. He is recovering and healing so well.

We enjoyed a brief walk on Wells Beach recently.

The recovery process is different for every person.  A lot of factors come into play. The amount of heart disease affects the healing as well as how physically fit a person is. And sometimes it just doesn't make sense, there is no rhyme or reason. Genetics play a huge role in health issues.  John is someone who routinely walks about 3 miles in the field most every day during spring, summer, fall months because of his commitment to work and train our Brittany. He's always been super strong and a very hard working man. A stress test several years ago did not show any evidence of a pending heart attack.  Over the past year or so the meals that I prepare for us at home have primarily been low sodium, low fat, whole grain, clean, low carb, with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Whole, clean, heart healthy. foods.  We all but eliminated white, starchy products (think bread, pasta, flour, rice, etc.)all canned and processed food.  I enjoy preparing and cooking healthy meals and trying new recipes.

On December 15, 2018 John could not believe he was having a heart attack but as he continues to recover I understand accepting that reality still is not easy. For him nor for me.  I'll never be able to fully comprehend the fear that will rise from within him from time to time.  Healing from any surgery of any kind involves pain and a lot of it. Pain lessens in time, we all know that.  This guy had never been in the hospital for any reason, never had any surgery and overall for his entire life basically, compared to others, fairly healthy. But therein lies the rub.  Comparing oneself to others is where anyone can get discouraged. (I know that happened to me when I was recovering from my two total knee replacements. There always seemed to be someone who could do more, move better, walk or run earlier and faster than I could.)  Even when you are living with the person, even when you love them with all their heart, you can't ever really understand or truly know what they go through. Especially when unexpected but probably normal twinges of "discomfort" surface related to healing. Each doctor visit, every lab report, the EKG's, at home monitoring etc. have all been positive.

Most days are good to excellent for John and that means that they are good to excellent for me too. Sometimes fatigue comes into play but not as often as in the beginning. Part of the healing process occasionally involves discomfort of one kind or another. I can't imagine what it is like to wake in the middle of the night and begin to doubt and wonder if something is normal or if it's something to be concerned about. Trust comes into play now more than ever. Trust in a God who loves, watches over, and protects those who love Him and acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Trust in the physicians who expertly performed the 5 way bypass.  Trust in modern medicine. Trust in your very own body knowing you have survived a major heart attack, a widow maker, and that you've been given a second chance with many more years to follow. Going back to what could have been a fateful day we know that we know that we know - God was there.

Fear is a liar and perfect love casts it out. We know that and embrace it.  Some days it's easier to walk in that truth than in others.  Fear can paralyze people. Have you ever watched a scary horror movie at home and been so scared you didn't dare get up and move? An exaggeration perhaps but one I can relate to. (For the record I hate thrillers, horror movies, science fiction weird/whacko stuff.)  Fear is ugly and debilitating. Christians really have to take hold of God's written Word, stand on His Promises when fear tries to surface. God actually commands Believers not to worry and not to fear! He's our 'Dad' and we know He is 'our rock and our fortress, and our deliverer.' We know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.

I'm not the one who had the heart attack but I am the one who watched this man I love with all my being, my best friend have it. Likewise I watch, pray, support, encourage and yes nag if needed. We spoke marriage vows of love to each other in 1975.  They are (to us) just as eternal as God's Word.  

 Love always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, always perseveres. 

1 Corinthians 13:7

Soon the days will be warmer, longer hours of sunlight, and the snow will be gone. Our dogs will once again know the joy of early morns afield with John. Although we call it training, they simply approach it as fun.  The enjoyment from being involved with all things Brittany still exists and that especially includes the ATB family and friends, hunt tests, field trials and more.

But there is something even more important.  We have been blessed with the gift of more time together as a couple, as parents, as grandparents, as uncle and aunt, friends and neighbors to spend with those who we love. I will always remember something John said shortly after his heart attack. He was lying in bed in the cardiac intensive care unit. Each of our 7 grandchildren came in and stood at his bedside. With tears in his eyes 'Grampa" said he planned to live a lot longer because he intended to be there for all of our grandchildren's weddings and for all of our great grandchildren. And by the GRACE of God, he will! Onward and upward.

J&A's Brittanys - Surviving a Heart Attack

There are many sayings about not taking life for granted, saying that every day is a gift, and that you should always kiss the one you love goodbye when they leave or never go to bed angry. As a Christian I'm especially aware of the importance to walk by faith and to trust and thank God for every breath and step I take, from the moment I rise until I lay my head down at night because He alone knows what the future will bring. And He sure knew what was about to unfold on Saturday morning, December 15, 2018.

John had been focused upon the recent and unexpected death of a field trial and Brittany friend, Les Casselbury.  While out bird hunting and doing what he loved, Les died of a heart attack. It came as a shock to the entire Brittany community as he was greatly respected and well known. John sat down on the side of the bed that morning as we prepared to go to the field with our dogs with plans to meet our daughter there with hers.  We talked about Les, about love and life, and how much we love each other no matter what. In retrospect, I had to wonder if this was some kind of premonition as we hugged each other a little tighter in that moment.

We arrived at Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area just as our daughter, grandson and granddaughter did.  It would be the first time Revere's brother Sokka was to be introduced to birds and also a chance for Zuko, Toph, and also Revere to get some more bird work in. We were having a great time and the pups all did so well! It was nice to be out running dogs this time of year and not have to worry about too much snow and ice. We had a great time.  I decided to stay back at the truck for the last run. John, Maryann, Alana, and Ayden struck out with Toph (Revere and Sokka's mother, and is also Hemi's daughter.)
In a few minutes they all returned and as they crossed the road I noticed John had a very concerned and worried look on his face.  I reached for dog gear and began to put it away for him which is something typically he would have just started to do himself in his own particular way so I thought that was sort of odd. I watched him go sit upon a rock and mouthed to him "are you okay"?  And he said he didn't know. I stopped what I was doing and walked over to him and felt his forehead.  It was cold as ice but he was sweating profusely.  I looked at him and those deep blue gorgeous eyes of his were nearly drained of color!  Maryann had a watch on that included a fitness device so she could monitor his heart rate.  We quickly realized that something serious was going on.  Without hesitation Maryann drove John to a nearby walk in clinic and I brought up the rear with the kids and dogs.

John was on this LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center.

911 was called, EMT's showed up and we learned John was in the throes of a massive heart attack! Next thing I knew I was in the front seat of an ambulance, sirens blasting on the way to Southern Maine Medical Center, Sanford campus. At that juncture Maryann and I were texting each other, neither one of us knew what to do or where to go or what was happening.  I ran into the ER and found a team of medical professionals surrounding John and making a decision about taking him by helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. Time was of the essence as they wheeled him out on a stretcher to the waiting helicopter. Maryann and I watched them lift off.  Ironically, I was on the phone with our son John who was already en route to Portland. Within minutes, he arrived at Maine Medical Center just as the helicopter landed and waved to his dad. Maryann and I arrived a little later and the waiting began.  The helicopter trip was 15 minutes long. It would have taken about 40 minutes by ambulance. Family gathered together in the small waiting room on the 9th floor. It was hours before anyone came to see us and let us know what was going on. I felt the presence of the Lord so close to me and I knew that prayer chains were being established among many of our friends and family. But I was so very frightened. I can't explain that fear although I know perfect love casts fear out. Still, it was the scariest moment of my life.

After a long, long time the surgeon came and explained to us that John had been experiencing a very severe heart attack, with 100% blockage in his main artery and 70% in three others of them. He showed me several actual 'pictures' of my husband's heart. The first picture showed where the blockage was and I could see that the flow of blood into his heart ended. The second picture showed where two stents had been put in and the flow was restored, praise God!  The third photo showed additional arteries with blockages. The decision was for John to gain a little strength and then undergo bypass surgery in a few days.

Our entire family came to visit John in the cardiac intensive care unit.  Two by two we gathered around him. Seeing our grandchildren encouraged John greatly. We prayed, we cried, we thanked God that he was alive but he was not out of the woods yet and we were all painfully aware of it. If stents or a bypass are done in a non-emergency situation the risks are lower and timely recovery more certain but this wasn't the case with my husband.  First he had to gain much needed strength before open heart surgery could be done. So we waited, prayed and three days later he underwent a successful 5-way bypass. That was the second most frightening day in my life, the first being the day of his heart attack.  When the surgeon stepped into the family waiting room four hours following 'first cut' my own heart was pounding. When we heard the words that he was out of surgery and in recovery the flood of tears I'd been fighting back finally burst forth. And so did my joy and relief.  Our family as well as other families were  waiting too for news of their loved one's surgery and in that moment we formed a bond of support and encouragement.  I gathered all who wanted to into a circle of praise and prayer and gave thanks to Jesus for bringing John through.

Christmas came and went with John still in the hospital. That was hard on him but indeed our Christmas gift was the fact that John was alive and "Jesus saves" took on a whole new meaning to me.  There is more that I could share including about how awesome my entire family is and how wonderfully supportive our friends have been. The help that has been given is overwhelming at times.  So that I didn't have to travel a guest room was made available to me in a friend's apartment four blocks from the hospital. At home family stayed overnight to watch house and dogs, meals were prepared, groceries bought, errands done, snow removed and driveway plowed, dogs and horse well cared for, house cleaned, fuel ordered and delivered, wood stacked, and many other very real ongoing needs have been met. Including a "Friends of John Short" GoFundMe account set up on our behalf. John's bills already total over a quarter million dollars so we are very humbled and appreciate that this account was set up, as hard as it is to accept this kind of need. They say to count your blessings and name them one by one. We have experienced so many it would be hard to know where to start. But we know that God is faithful, that He is good, and that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We may not know how we're going to get through this, but we are certain that we will.

Yesterday, January 15th, was 1 month since John's heart attack. Today is three weeks since bypass surgery. Recovery is going well but this is a marathon not a sprint. There are steps forward followed by pauses and steps backward. John is strong, determined and each day his stamina improves. His endurance grows, daily he can do a little more. It's not easy to get him to rest but it's my job to make sure he doesn't overdo it. I love this guy and the life we share together. By the Grace of God we're going to enjoy many more years together with our family, our friends, and of course our Brittanys. It was hard for the dogs not to be able to interact with John for several weeks.  But they seemed to understand. Slowly but surely they have been allowed to interact with him and have that one on one time with them which has been wonderful therapy.

As we look forward I am aware that surely, the first day of the rest of our lives began on December 15, 2018. We are more aware of God's providence and faithfulness than we have ever been before and I will give Him the glory, the honor, the praise. There are no coincidences and I don't believe in luck. God's hand has been upon our family through it all. This could've had such a different ending and I am so thankful it did not. This has been and is a life changing event and I am learning what it really means to live one day at a time.

Thank you for your prayers, please keep them coming!
Love, Ann

J&A's Catching up - wow

Holly Beth turned 5 years old today!  Happy birthday sweet girl. We found a wonderful way to celebrate her special day and to also enjoy introducing 'the kid' to quail.  (He was already pointing chukar partridge at two+ months old) With the temperature in the high 30's and the sun making a brief appearance we went to the Kennebunk Wildlife Management Area for a bit of fun with birds.  Despite the amount of snow we have had lately the grounds were fairly clear with the exception of a few icy spots. Even so it was bone chilling cold on the Plains today thanks to the sharp north wind.  Holly, Hemi (her sire), Charlie, and even Revere each had nice individual runs and birdwork. Holly now has four adult gundog field trial placements including a 4 point major to her credit and we couldn't be happier with this sweet girl. She is daddy's girl that is for sure.  I have frequently written about Holly sharing both photos and videos in past posts  beginning with when she was born. The collage seen here is one that I made awhile ago a few of my favorite photos of Holly. The other photo taken today is self explanatory as there is no mistaking the pure joy and exuberance on her face! Shortly after that picture was taken Holly zeroed in on the scent of a planted quail which she pointed with great style and intensity.

Revere turned 5 months old on December 8th.  I'm happy to tell you that the prior "ahem" puppy challenges have become less problematic. What is funny is that many of my readers wrote to say they were experiencing similar issues with their young canine juvenille delinquents and actually thanked me for making them feel they were not alone.  My mum use to say misery loves company and while I don't know if that is true I'm glad others could identify with Revere's puppy adolescence! We've been making progress at an exceptional dog training facility over in Alton, New Hampshire run by Megan Arey called Inspire K-9's Training Center.  This program is not focused on puppy play and socialization but upon developing the human/animal bond through focused skill sets of training. I love the slogan of 'two feet, four paws, one team'.  The classes are small and very well structured.

UPDATE... So I never finished this blog post which I wrote exactly one month ago.  How could I ever know that in just a few more days, in just the exact same spot we'd been running dogs which I wrote about above, John would suffer a massive heart attack! I intend to share about this here soon. He continues to recover from home following open heart surgery. Please keep us in your prayers.

Revere - Approaching Adolescence and Surviving It

Puppy Adolescence = Rebellion!

Keep a puppy they said! It'll be fun they said!  Well yes, it truly is fun most of the time but thank goodness that I am familiar with the nuances of this breed and the various stages of development puppies go through.  Beginning from the day they are born the experiences and behaviors of a pup can be somewhat predictable and identified.  There are many books on the subject as it is deep and fascinating with many levels to fathom.

One of those developmental stages in a young puppy is comparable to the adolescent stage that children go through.  Adolescence, in humans, is described as:

1. the transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development, extending mainly over the teen years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached; youth.
2. the process or state of growing to maturity.
3. a period or stage of development, as of a society, preceding maturity. 

Sounds familiar doesn't it?! Dogs also go through an adolescent period during 'puppyhood'.  Although the age and time frame for each puppy is different typically they can be extremely challenging from about 4 - 10 months of age. Up until now I have believed I had the most perfect and obedient puppy. You see, Revere came when called, he seemed to have a basic understanding of bite inhibition as he mouthed and nibbled less, and was just sooooooo very very good! You may even remember if you regularly read my blog here what I wrote previously about Revere, the perfect puppy.

 Remember this nursery rhyme? "There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good she was very very good and when she was bad she was horrid." How I wish I were clever enough to put a spin on that rhyme and substitute Revere's name because these days indeed - 

WHEN HE IS GOOD HE IS VERY VERY GOOD 

AND WHEN HE IS BAD HE IS HORRID!

And I guess this naughty behavior is right on time!  He is so cute and smart, I love him to pieces.  I enjoy teaching him things because he grasps so much the first time around. But boy is he one fresh little guy right now. I have had to resort to tethering him by a leash to my belt loop when I am doing things around the house. When my back is turned Revere will bolt across the room, jump up and grab a magazine, run as fast as he can with a 'catch me if you can' look on his face.  If I'm trying to get dressed in the morning he thinks it is great fun to try to pull at my clothes or steal my socks. He is one busy boy.

We are experiencing the 'Puppy Tweens' here at All Things Brittany where all the previous learning up until now seems to have fallen by the wayside.  Where Revere had been recalling to the whistle, now he acts as if he is stone deaf.  Through clicker training he was pretty solid on sit, down, wait, up, and off but now he thinks it is great fun to play bow and bark at me, or jump up and paw at my hands.  When Revere is at his worst it is usually when he is very tired so I make it easy for him by having crate time as he will not give in himself.  He doesn't protest the crate at all and in some ways I think he is grateful to have time-outs. Basically what some consider normal  puppy behavior for the first few months has escalated to naughty puppy behavior. Revere is a puppy with attitude, an adolescent and just like a teenager what is said to him goes in one ear and out the other!

Fortunately this is not, as they say, my first rodeo. Rodeo is a good way to describe some days when Revere reminds me of a bucking bronco! He does get plenty of both structured exercise and free play. He loves to be outside and run with the big dogs. They're not putting up with his foolishness although I do have to intervene when it comes to how he unfairly taunts Treasure. When he's having an especially difficult time comprehending who IS the leader here I work hard to get his focus back and distract him from his misbehavior.  I will correct him in an appropriate way when needed, appropriate being the key word. (Let me interject - please do not do the so called alpha roll. Just don't.)

Fortunately Revere and I have signed up for obedience classes. And just in time.  I know that he will eventually outgrow this undesirable adolescent bratty horrid stage but he's going to get a lot of help along the way! Oh, I know it's normal.

The good outweighs the bad and when you look at the big picture it truly is hard not to laugh at some of the antics because he is so cute! The kind of cute when a very young child innocently uses a cuss word for the first time. You know you don't want them to swear but your reaction may betray that desire. Bad behavior shouldn't ever be overlooked because a dog or a kid looks cute doing it. As for the puppy, you should never let a puppy think it's okay to  do something that you would not want them to do when they are an adult. So this puppy who thought the sun rose and set by me, this sweet boy who could do nothing wrong and had such wonderful manners has turned into Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

In the meantime I will continue to expose him to new people, places, and things while giving him every opportunity to experience life to the fullest. Socialization is ongoing, it doesn't EVER stop. And training doesn't ever stop either. Morning to night, training on some level continues because I want Revere to learn what is and what is not acceptable behavior. In a couple of weeks, we'll begin more structured training together. For now, I look forward to what each new day brings. When he is good he is very very good, and when he is bad - well you know the story!

Let me back up though for a moment. Although he's so exasperating at times there is so much joy and love wrapped up in this little guy.  It's especially noticeable as I look to our senior Brittanys. Life passes by faster than any of us can imagine or even comprehend. This 'puppy tween' stage will pass all too quickly. It's sort of like what they say about childbirth, once it's over you forget the pain.  I totally forgot how difficult and challenging puppy adolescence can be but the journey is one I wouldn't miss for the world. The bonding, the discoveries, the journey, the joy and laughter and then  that precious moment when one tired little puppy snuggles up under my chin and falls asleep.

We are in the middle of our second snowstorm with significant accumulation.  Revere has been running around like a Tazmanian devil today thus earning yet another new nickname.  I should probably mention that "Taz" is a lot milder than some of the other superlatives which have escaped my mouth in recent days concerning my sweet puppy boy. Focused games, time-outs in the crate, brief excursions outdoors, and peanut butter filled bones all failed to settle Revere this afternoon.

As daylight began to fade I donned my winter coat, hat, gloves and boots,  opened the door and said "Let's Go!"  My entourage of multiple Brittanys jumped for joy and leaped down over the snow covered stairs.   I reached for my walking stick and set out with them all to explore our own little winter wonderland which is our yard. Together we tromped through the snow along the perimeter of the fence line. They raced, made snow angles, climbed snowbanks, buried their heads in the fluffy snow and had a blast. The best part of it was seeing this snowfall through the eyes of little Revere. I made myself stop right there in that one moment in time. He was exuberant, playful, happy, and joyous at this experience which is all new to him.  I think some of that was because I was there with him to enjoy it.  I glanced around me and saw the generations of Brittanys that I have known, loved, and yes lost. For a few moments it was almost surreal walking outside this snowy evening. And so, so special to be there with them, in that moment in time.

The silence of snow falling from the sky when you are in the woods is a beautiful sound. Peaceful.  One must stop in their tracks to enjoy it which is exactly what I did. Yes, I leaned my head back and let the soft snow fall on my face.  I heard and felt the soft and gentle crunch of snow under my feet  as I walked. I was reminded me of  early childhood and playing out in the snow for hours.  I watched Treasure romp. It made me so happy to see her "inner puppy"  surface as she kept pace with the rest of the pack of which I was their leader.  I allowed myself to anthropomorphize briefly.  I wondered if she too was reminiscing about her first winter and would Revere some day remember his?  These first experiences, these moments in time seamlessly stitched  together bringing  such joy to both young and old, canine and human.  Such was the sense of peace as dusk rapidly fell and we made our way back to the house. And I thanked the Lord for the unexpected blessing.

Clearly, Revere's energy level was depleted yet there was still one more burst of it waiting to surface and explode as he ran back into the house. I cautiously watched the return of Taz as he zoomed from couch to couch, from one of the house to another, running circles around the dining room table, and then jumped up to grab a dish towel from my hands to claim as his own. Just as I was about to intervene Revere simply plopped down on the floor next to my feet and fell fast asleep. He's so cute. Seriously, he is.

Cute little puppy jumped up and knocked the dog food over. 

Cute little puppy ran to his bed with my Croc in his mouth. I know they are ugly but I like them, Revere.

Whee! First snowfall

Winter Wonderland.

Tethering cute little puppy to my side while I eat dinner.

Cute little puppy tore cover off Dog Training For Dummies. No comment. 

Sweet dreams Treasure and Rever

Take care and God bless.  And may you and your family have a very special Thanksgiving.  Thanks for your interest in All Things Brittany - John and Ann and our canine crew.

J&A's - Revere at 4 months Old

On Sunday little pup-pup will be 16 weeks old. Born on July 8 in a litter of 10 to Holly and True, "Revere" is my keeper puppy.  I'm not sure I was thinking wisely when I decided "Awaken The Dawn" would be his AKC official name though.  Perhaps " Awake AT Dawn" might have been more appropriate! Even so, years ago I composed a worship song by the name Awaken The Dawn. The lyrics were based on the words found in Psalm 108:2.  I use to play it on my guitar. Here is the verse:

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my being. 

 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.  

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing Your praises among the nations..." 

The past (almost)t 4 months have flown by.  Of course the first 8 weeks of his life John and I were busy nurturing all the puppies. I waited until after Revere turned 7 weeks old and we'd had the entire litter evaluated using Pat Volhardt's Puppy Aptitude Test  to decide which pup to keep. I was determined not to select our puppy based on gender, color, markings or even cuteness factor. The personality really matters in a young pup coming into an established pack of adult dogs. I knew that I didn't want a feisty, over the top, dominant pup but neither did I want one that was hesitant or insecure in any way.  I was screening each pup in the litter for the best home, and that included the most perfect fit for us! Being personally familiar with most of the dogs in the pedigree behind the pup I had the benefit of knowing what to expect. Some people think it's a crap shoot and maybe in some ways it is. But like most breeders, my hopes, dreams, and goals come into play regarding what the future will bring. It would be nice to go back about 20 years to be able to  physically pursue some of them based on what I now know, that I didn't know then.

In the meantime, every day is a new and fun adventure for Revere.  We're not taking anything for granted and getting the most out of life that is possible at this age.  The best puppy advice I ever was given is the same advice I pass along now.  Let the first year be all about fun, fun, and more fun! I like to play a little with a young pups natural hunting abilities at the youngest possible age though and that's exactly what's been going on with Revere.  There is plenty of time to polish a young Brittany's style and manners. Second only to the importance I place on the first 8 weeks of a pup's young life, I believe it is critical for the majority of early bird dog training be based on what we as owner/handlers/breeders observe in the most natural settings of their first experiences, what we expose them to.  This transfers over to preparing for the ring too as well as the field. Revere shows me moments of brilliance in both of those venues.

Revere appears to be a very serious, deep thinking dog.  He retains so much of what he is shown.  I am relying on clicker training in short bursts for informal obedience training. I've discovered that ongoing crate training throughout the day sets him up to succeed and that following the Day In The Life schedule still works for him.  Revere is most apt to become an uncontrollable, naughty pup when he has played hard, is very tired, or if I have not spent that all important one on one time with him. Although he loves to initiate play with the older dogs he can't handle the resultant overstimulation. At regular intervals throughout the day he enjoys time-outs in the privacy and quiet of his crate with a Kong stuffed toy or bone.

We all know that Ann is not a morning person 😏, right?!  Unfortunately, Revere hasn't grasped that fact completely but he is doing much better.  I went against my own advice and put his crate in the bedroom.  It works though as the location is convenient for quick early morning outings.  When he comes back in I simply toss a handful of kibble in and he's happy to 'go back to bed.'  In recent days Revere has been allowed up on the bed to lay down with me as I teach him the art of sleeping in, much to Treasure and Pippin's chagrin.

One thing anyone with more than one dog has to learn is not to rely on the other dog(s) to become the pups leader or greatest influence. At times it's easier to let them all out together and you know pup will get exercise and activity with them as they play, inside and out. But if the pup doesn't have the one on one time with their owner it can be a challenge to teach them to respect and obey all humans. I'm a fan of using a spray bottle to interrupt any unacceptable behavior from Revere.  I simply keep the bottle out of his sight but if a situation requires intervention, I yell NO (or LEAVE IT) and spray a steady stream directly at him.  He then is startled suddenly which is all it takes to change his focus to redirect his attention to what I am asking of him. ( By the way, I never allow any play between two dogs to physically escalate to where they are both standing on their hind legs, biting at each other's neck. They can enter into a dangerous zone of no-return where they are no longer playing.)

Training, socialization, and learning is ongoing especially for Revere at 4 months old.  It requires lots of patience as this is a very busy time in his life. Here's a glimpse:

Exposed to wild birds as well as pen raised

Finds birds and holds a point until they are flushe

Carries a dead bird

Retrieves

Loves the water

Pointed his first grouse

Understands sit, down, wait

Comes fairly reliably when off leash

Learning leash manners

Introduced to show lead and accepting it

No issues with nail clipping, baths, or light grooming on table

Understands and reacts to "Kennel Up" by running to crate

Does a nice free stack

Enjoys outings to local mall, sidewalk, stores accepting dogs

Rides for several hours without any problem crated in car

Introduced to many different dogs and strangers

Doing well with housebreaking (no poop ever, peeing different story, working on it)

Accepts new experiences with confidence and boldness most of the time

Even when wary of something, he will return to investigate and not run off

Was a proper houseguest in two new home situations for a weekend and for a week

I always love hearing from our ATB family.  The photos that are shared on Facebook or via email mean the world to me.  Staying in touch with families who love our Brittanys is total enjoyment but I won't intrude or pester. Some of you are faithful with an annual check in which is okay. There are a handful of folks though who don't seem to understand the importance and while that is definitely not okay, I have learned many lessons through those occasional situations. The very best part though is sharing the journey beginning to end with the majority of you in the ATB family for you are amazing friends and family now. I get busy too though and don't stay in touch as you may like but it doesn't mean I care any less! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy hearing about Revere as much as I enjoy hearing about your Brittany(s). And don't you think it's time to share some new hunting photos with me?! 

As always take care and God bless you and yours - John, Ann, and our wonderful canine crew

J&A's Bird Camp Recap

John relaxing at bird camp with Charlie and Holly Beth.

We're back from a fall getaway up to the 'County'.  Our vacation was originally planned for the first two weeks in October which has been the best time for us to go with all the dogs.  Unbeknown to John however I had accepted a judging assignment for Penobscot Kennel Club for their fall match show thus we left later in the middle of the month. I did enjoy my judging assignment tremendously but especially loved having a couple of days with Julie as she'd invited me stay with her.  It was the first time we'd seen each other since our girl's untimely passing last month. This blogpost wasn't intended to be about that but as it appears to be on my mind I'll share.

It is always difficult to see someone the first time following a deep, deep loss.  You want to be strong for them and do your best but in this case, I have also been grieving Thistle's death.  Seeing Julie was what I needed along with spending time with her remaining three Brittanys; Sassy, Bullet, and Quincy.  Like Thistle, I was there when they each took their first breath and in fact it is Sassy who indirectly brought Jim and Julie into our lives over 12 years ago.  And, as far as friendship goes, as they say the rest is history. Thistle was named to honor the special bond that Julie and I share as sisters of the heart. Needless to say many tears were shed as we hugged each other close. Once I unpacked and got Revere settled Julie asked me if I 'wanted to see Thistle'.  My mind was screaming no! no! no! I do not want to see her because I knew exactly what that meant.  But my heart was begging yes! yes! yes! I do want to 'see' Thistle because I knew that I had not yet accepted her death. Julie brought me into her living room and pointed to a beautiful, cozy corner with a rocking chair, a portrait of her Rosie, and a shelf.  Resting on Julie's shelf was a beautiful wooden box and I could see that Thistle's name was inscribed on the top of it.  Next to this box was an empty collar. I looked away towards Julie and then I looked back to the corner and walked towards the shelf, reaching for the box.  With tears flowing and sobs overtaking me I tightly held that little box with Thistle's cremains close to my heart with a sense of acceptance mixed with complete denial.  It seemed like I held her forever but within a few moments I gently set the little box back on the shelf.  There were three other Brittanys there who were curiously watching me and without hesitation I reassured them how much I love them and how happy I was to see them!  It was a great weekend, I enjoyed the match and especially the time with Julie. There's never enough time for that. Revere was very happy to meet and play with his own extended Brittany family who were very gracious and welcoming to him.

John drove up to Julies and picked Revere and me up.  The truck was loaded and the dog topper full as the entire ATB crew was on board.  Julie has an awesome play yard for the dogs so they all had a chance to get out and stretch their legs.  Our special needs girl, Rosie still has issues as she goes on 14.  And then there is Treasure who at 12 and a half her canine cognitive dysfunction continues to progress.  Everyone else is doing well although I lovingly refer to them as our geriatric ward of Brittanys because of their ages with the exception of Hemi, Holly, and of course Revere.

Once we arrived at our little home away from home at Higgins Brook Cabins in Oakfield, Maine we let all of the dogs out to run.  The proprietors there are just wonderful folks who allow us to stay at the close of the season. There's just three cabins there, off of the road and very private. At first Revere was a little overwhelmed but soon he was running with all the big dogs.  We have our dog topper for some of the dogs who are used to sleeping there. We brought groceries from home to stock the shelves and refrigerator with. The cabin is fully furnished, we only have to bring our own linens etc.

John is an early riser and I am not. We worked into a schedule of a leisurely breakfast and then headed out by mid morning. The foliage was just at peak when we arrived and was breathtaking as only autumn in Maine can be.  Each day more leaves fell and by the time we left to come back home the colors were a muted, rust color although still pretty when the sun hit them just right.

The ruffed grouse really were plentiful but we did not run into one woodcock.  Evidently the flight birds were not in.  But the dogs had a blast hunting as each one hit the ground running!  Revere actually pointed his first grouse (with a little help from his friends).  We did not shoot over him although he was exposed to the sound of John's shotgun.  No reaction as he was sitting in the truck being offered a treat at the same time of the gunfire.  At the end of the week when everything was said and done the final score is GROUSE - 7,  J&A's - 1.

I didn't get a lot of great pictures.  For one, I used my cell phone for most of them just because it ended up being more convenient. And another reason is that my Canon camera was set to record the date and time.  A pet peeve for me is seeing that date stamp on an otherwise nice photo.  Unless puppies are involved. Then I like it. So now you know. I did have my camera at the ready though on the day we took off looking for moose.  We never spotted one! The photos that I have could never reflect the mutual joy shared between the dogs, John, and me.  The are happy when we are happy and it shows.  I took pictures of Revere and True (his father) running happily up a hill together but they look like ants in the photograph!  There's pictures of Rosie on her

many long walks on the check cord with either John or me.  Like Treasure, Rosie can no longer be off leash in situations where they once loved to simply follow wherever the scent would take them. I do think they feel more secure though, accepting a gentle pull of resistance to guide them back in the opposite direction.

I think of the years we have spent bird hunting with our canine crew.  With those thoughts are the memories of being with beloved Brittanys no longer with us. How quickly time passes until one day all you have are photographs and memories.  Indeed, we never know what life will bring us from one day to the next. It can change in the blink of an eye as we listen for the whisper on the wind that at times leads us to believe they are still near. As they age so are we made aware of our own physical shortcomings. We work to accommodate them as they navigate through their own changes.  But perhaps they are actually the ones who accommodate us! (I only have to think about showing Hemi

to his AKC championship bench title when my knees were at my worse. That little bugger adjusted his perfect gait and movement to match my gimping around the ring. He pulled it off and I proudly handled him to the finish.)

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Uh oh.... those of you who are faithful readers know what just happened! I just glanced at the time, it's almost 11:30 and almost a full month to the day since I last wrote.  The World Series is on but I'm so tired from our trip north I can't fight it anymore. Red Sox lookin' goodsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss  oh no there it happened again and you can't make this stuff up.  It's a wrap.  Take care and God bless and as always, thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany!

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