Things of the Heart - The Best of ATB

Best of All Things Brittany (from the ARCHIVES)

On my wall there hangs a beautiful framed print of a little girl kneeling next to her bed, head bowed in prayer with her Brittany dog seated next to her.  The paws of her dog are up on the bed and he appears to be praying too.  It's a lovely print, reminiscent of an old fashioned, country cottage bedroom.  I gave this print to John one Christmas.  On the bottom of the frame these words by Helen Kelen are engraved: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."  I have loved this quote and believe there is much truth to it.  I have experienced many remarkable and beautiful things through all of my 5 senses at one time or another. Unlike Ms. Keller, I do have my sight and she would probably caution me against never taking it for granted.  There are many things in life which none of us should ever take for granted.  So many things for which we should be thankful for on a regular basis.  None of this is by chance.  All of this is by design, by Providence.  And for some reason God uses this amazing animal we all know and love as the Brittany to speak to my heart about His ways  which are always are higher than ours and most often a complete mystery to us.  But believing means having faith in those things that are not seen.  I think that Ms. Keller understood that.  My Favorite Book puts it this way: "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."

Life is full of experiences that we see.  But what of those things that are unseen? The things of our heart, for which no word exists to even describe them? We do not need our natural sight to know they exist. We need faith to believe that they do exist and we also need faith to hope for them to happen.  That takes confidence but confidence in what?  In a God we cannot see with our eyes nor touch with our hands?  That is absolutely right. Because indeed, the best and most beautiful things are felt with the heart, and they are most often seen through the eyes of faith. Look around you and think about the beautiful things in your life, seen and unseen! Enjoy them and maybe, just maybe you too will agree! Take care and God bless you and yours always... John, Ann and All Things Brittany 

Archive: August 12, 2010

Seasons - Best of ATB

Best of All Things Brittany (from the ARCHIVES)

This beautiful liver and white Brittany puppy is "Crickett's Hunter" from our very first litter of pups born in 1990.  He was right around the same age as "Hemi" in this photograph.  I had just raked a pile of leaves in the backyard and Hunter took the opportunity to give us a real photo gem. Don't you think he looks a lot like Treasure?  I always have and they are related by the "belly button theory" as most of our Brittanys lead back to Hunter's grandparents.

I'm writing on the backside of yet another totally enjoyable weekend spent once again with family, good friends, and with neighbors. The only problem is time is passing so quickly these days that there are still so many others that I had planned to visit with before the summer passed us by. Not that I am rushing things or anything like that but I do want to mention that there are trees on our road with leaves at the tippity top that are already changing color! And my last trip down to the berry patches revealed that some very small but beautiful maple leaves had fallen to the ground.

In years past I would often pick up the very first leaf that I discovered as fall approached and set it aside. I've always looked at my own life as a series of seasons; seasons of growth and maturity full of various experiences. Sometimes we are aware of what season we are in. For instance, when our daughter graduated from high school and was headed to college I knew as a mom I was in a season of letting go so that I could be prepared emotionally and spiritually for whatever the future would bring and where God may lead me. When our first grandchild was born it was on the horizon of a brand new millenium, also the year marking our 25th anniversary and a trip to Israel. This was a season of personal growth as well as digging deeply into my heart and spirit, asking God to show me the way. Which He did.

Things leveled out and one season came to an end and another began. Eventually leading to where I find myself now. Seasons of the heart and the spirit do not coincide with the natural seasons but we can learn so much when one of them is coming to an end and another is about to begin. I remember clearly a specific season winding down in my life when it was time to leave my job behind for various reasons. Full of uncertainty as to what the future held but confident that it was time for a change. A single leaf fell from the majestic oak tree that shaded the path leading away from the office to the parking lot. I picked it up and held it to my nose, savoring that wonderful musky scent of a fallen leaf. Closing my eyes I simply thanked God for this gentle reminder that He's in control. In control of everything. As surely as it was time for that leaf to fall to the ground so was it time for things to begin to line up and fall into place for another season in my own life.

Seasons change from one to the next whether or not we are ready or if we want them too. Think about that pile of cordwood out in the driveway. Even if we're not ready to stack it and put it on the porch before the temperature drops, those temperatures will drop just the same and we will either be opening the door and walking a few steps to get wood for the stove - or walking out into the cold weather, across the yard to get an armful. So it is with the spiritual aspect of personal seasons. It is enough to be aware and recognize the sign(s). It is much better to be prepared for them. So I'm not really sure why my blogging tonight took this direction. I was going to write about the particulars of a particularly enjoyable weekend and talk about Julie and Bullet, Pam and True, Hemi and Thistle, John and All Things Brittany including our grandaughters birthday party. Maybe I'm inspired by a recent lunch with a longtime friend I'd not seen in way too many years and listening to the story of what she has been through for the past couple of years. Now she is on the threshold of her own change, finding herself in a place she never dreamed she would be. A "place" where God took all the difficulties of recent years and turned them around for His purpose, and as a result is blessing her through them. She wouldn't be who she is now if she'd stayed in that prior season but neither would she have experienced the reality of knowing indeed - God is always in control. Especially those times we all have when nothing in life makes sense at the moment. Be blessed this night readers. Know that whatever is going on in your heart, that all it takes is a teeny bit of faith - the size of a mustard seed - to see you through. Faith in One Who knows and loves you more than you could possibly believe. As the leaves begin to change color and fall, with summer slowly transitioning into the beauty of autumn, think about your own seasons of life. Be still. And know. That He is God.

Take care and God bless you always. More about the Brittanys next time I promise. ~ Ann
ARCHIVE: August 8, 2011

Notes From a Whelping Box - Best of ATB

Best of All Things Brittany (from the ARCHIVES)

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
ARCHIVE: APRIL 12, 2012

How my ailing dog has inspired me

Please follow the link for a complete update and personal accounting of Thistle as published in the Bangor Daily News by Julie:

How my ailing dog has inspired me: You may remember the story of my Brittany girl dog Thistle. She became part of my family as an 8-week-old pup just months after my husband Jim died from pancreatic cancer. She brought me so much lo...

Monday Morning Rambling

Screenshot of Landing Page

THISTLE UPDATE: Thistle's biopsy was a week ago.  Early results focused on two particular types of bacteria which can be responsible for infections. These tests were found to be negative and many more test results will follow in the coming week(s). She has been recovering nicely at home with Julie with curtailed activity. Julie is so appreciative of the generosity extended to her regarding help with the medical expenses associated with exploration of Thistle's liver issues. 

Last week I took another look at our website and decided it was time for a little refreshing.  I tweaked some of the language on various pages and condensed information.  The intent of our website is NOT to sell puppies.  Instead it is used to highlight our beautiful Brittanys.  It also offers another outlet for me to write and design, even using my own amateur photography.  A long way from being professional, having a website presence is purely for the enjoyment of it.

Now our blog and website both have similar headers.  There were 15 more candid hunting photos added to the Gundog Slideshow.  Many of the photos were taken back at the truck, after the hunt with the actual bounty. There are few if any staged field photos although they are pleasant to look at.  It's enough to carry a shotgun and handle a dog while out bird hunting  but there are still a few actual 'in the moment' photos.  (Believe it or not there have been times it was suggested certain photos of ours were set up and not authentic at all!)

I tweaked our Shining Moments Slideshow a little bit too.  There are more photos to add and at some point I'd like to make each photo of the featured Brittanys interactive like I did with Hemi and Pippin.  Quincy and Ammo, two of Thistle and Bullet's sons are both closing in on their AKC Championship titles so we'll be looking forward to sharing those photos at some point.

Although we're not "All Things Puppies" we do receive many, many inquiries and maintain an ongoing waiting list, forever screening for future homes or for those who we may pass along to other like-minded breeders. There were some changes to the information shared on the Breeding 101 page. I can always tell when someone has taken the time to read this or not prior to contacting us.  Tire kickers randomly use the Internet to search out breeders doing nothing more than asking for a specific gender and price.  They say they don't care about pedigrees or health clearances and often don't even mention the breed!  Their messages are copied, cut, and pasted into various forms and emails and are a complete waste of time.

I didn't make any changes to  Our Story.  There were a few other edits made to some of the pages but nothing really significant.  Although I'm not a web designer and far from being professional Wix does make it easy for someone like me to have some fun creating a website.  There are always new features and aps to try out.

If you made it this far to this boring post then congratulations!  I'm really just trying to fill the time as I recover from a lung infection, or so the doctor says. It's been about 6 weeks. I've had pneumonia before and it left me feeling as exhausted as I am right now.  I battle chronic fatigue as a result of Lyme Disease and Hypothyroidism anyway and some days it is like walking through sludge just to push myself through normal daily activities.

The thing is I do have so much more I'd like to write about as we wait in anticipation of something. But, I promised to keep things on the downlow so I'm doing the best I can to honor that because there may or may not actually be something to share.

I will say I'm sick of winter and being housebound. I'm tired of snow and ice. Usually by now we've been to the field and running dogs. Instead, they must be content for a daily run here. Which they are. That's not such a bad thing but it's not the same as getting out where there's birds where they have a chance to do what they love.  And guess what?  The forecast for tomorrow is a possible blizzard on the entire East coast with snowfall potential to be 8" - 24" in this area.  Kind of sad to be hoping for "just" 8" of snow.

Nothing inspirational to see here.  And having said that, it's time for another cup of coffee. Take care and God bless, All Things Brittany

On behalf of THISTLE

TO OUR DEAR ATB FAMILY & FRIENDS:
A little background so that what is shared below does not come as a complete surprise.  I first wrote about the initial discovery of Thistle's liver issues in "AS THE SEASONS CHANGE"  dated October 26, 2014  when Thistle was facing a life threatening medical emergency.   Then Julie shared "How a Puppy Named Thistle Saved My Life" in her own blog "When Life Gives You Curves" as published at Bangor Daily News. Two and a half years later, we now work together to save Thistle's life through prayers, friendship, support and by helping Julie in any way possible with the veterinary expenses. (I was going to set up a "gofundme" page. This post has been edited to reflect that will not be the case at this time because some of 'you' have so kindly contacted me to ask for Julies address to reach out to her directly. Thank you and may God bless you.)

Picking up where we left off from the last update... recently, Thistle's vet determined it was time to consult a specialist.  Here are some personal notes from the outcome of her visit with the specialist on February 27, 2017:

"I am not sure where to begin with Thistle, except that we are on a cusp. If we are going to identify this thing and get a handle on it, we need to do it now. That means biopsy. Thistle's liver is starting to get smaller and odder shaped, and the vet says if she starts to go into serious fibrosis as her enzyme levels indicate she will, there is no bringing her back from that. If we can get it identified, we can get her on appropriate meds and she can have a long life. The vet is not sure what it is, but she's seen some of this kind of thing that ended up being a weird bacteria. Anyway, she is recommending a biopsy with several different tests to the liver tissue that I will write in a few minutes, including sending samples to Cornell for specific tests. Estimate is $3,000-$4,000.  If we do nothing, she will have a very short life. The vet has suggested checking the liver for very weird aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, a metal analysis (sent to Colorado for a special test), tick-borne disease screen, histopathology to be sent to Cornell, Bartonella Antibody and God knows what else. She wants Thistle to stay on antibiotic and Denamarin and has added Ursodiol, and is putting her back on a liver diet food... So many things have changed [since her original liver biopsy] and the specialist feels that the progression of this disease is now at a point where we might find answers that were inconclusive before.  This has progressed to a point where we have to get aggressive or accept her fate if we don't."

Her first surgery for this second biopsy is scheduled to take place now in just a few days.

You know I'm a person of deep Christian faith and I can stand on God's Word and on His Promises, believing for divine intervention and healing.  I also know God works in amazing ways through science, medicine, people, through family and friends,  through professionals and through total strangers.  Thistle's medical expenses may skyrocket. It's not easy to ask for help, in fact it feels downright awkward. But I ask. Not on my behalf but on Thistle and Julie's behalf. They need each other.  Please keep Julie, Thistle, and all of us in prayer.   And as always God bless.  Feel free to comment, we'd love to hear from others.  We covet your prayers, above all, we covet your prayers.
John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

UPDATE: 3/6/17
Thistle is home tonight with Julie following surgery that was performed today for her second liver biopsy.  We are hopeful for an uneventful recovery.  Several liver tissue samples removed today are now on their way to specific testing facilities throughout the country in hopes of nailing this thing down.  For those who express an interest privately we'll be happy to share and exchange information.

I am happy to share Julie's mailing address. Please email me at jasbrittanys@comast.net with "JULIE" as subject line.

Bird Dogs In Winter

"Patience is not the ability to wait but how you act while waiting."
Joyce Meyers

It's the middle of January here at All Things Brittany.  We've had a few significant snowfalls and as I write the white stuff is still coming down.  We've had a bit of a catastrophe here the last couple of weeks concerning our flock of homing pigeons.  A persistent and vicious varmint has gone on a killing spree and despite all of John's efforts to trap the thing, we have lost a large number of them. Some of the pigeons are second generation. It's sad.

This morning I happened to notice Treasure, Hemi, and Holly standing motionless in front of the porch door. John was out on the tractor so I figured they were watching him.  I observed them for a few more seconds and realized these three Brittanys were on point as they watched the pigeon outside on the porch railing.  Although sight pointing is something we do not encourage I decided that this offered a true "Kodak moment"for me.

Our pigeons are not in the habit of coming this close to the house, and certainly not sitting on a porch rail!  This seemed very odd.  They often do what I call 'fly-bys' when the flock soars over John as he works in the yard.  As their primary caretaker, they seem to have an affection for him and will often respond to his whistle.  Although not one to often anthropomorphize I surmised the pigeon must be traumatized by what has been happening in the johnny house and possibly looking for him.

Whatever the reason, I realized that I could turn this into a training moment despite the oddity of it all.  I uttered a slow and easy 'whoaaaaaaa', walked up behind them and gently made contact with each so they knew I was there.  Slowly I opened the door, expecting the pigeon would take off immediately upon seeing movement.  But it didn't and I had three Brittanys watching my every move. Okay bird.  Thats enough of this. I looked back at the dogs, scooted out the door closing it behind me, and shooed the pigeon off the snow covered railing and watching it as it flew away.

I went back and released my anxious but patient bird dogs. Obviously they'd marked the flight of the pigeon as they ran off in the direction it had flown.

Although not exactly the most ideal situation for serious gundog training, we'll take what we can get here in Maine during the middle of a January snowstorm. The best is yet to come!

Take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittanys

ATB: Success of Hemi & Wilson

Thank you to those who have remained faithful to my blog. I've posted a lot of photos and updates on the ALL THINGS BRITTANY page on Facebook this year.  I'm happy to brag about some of our recent happenings here beginning with this brief video. 

CH J&A's Magnificent Obsession of Acton JH "HEMI" and Ann back together again!

Due to lingering issues my orthopedic surgeon gave me strict orders to wait a full year before trying to show dogs again following my second total knee replacement surgery. With November 9 being the anniversary date I felt I was ready to try my two artificial knees and entered a small show. Hemi and I were both a little rusty but ended up he was more than ready to go show off again.  I held onto Hemi's lead for dear life as he put his 'internal combustion engine' into power drive! I came away thinking that particular ring really was much to small to adequately show a Brittany but we did just fine. Our granddaughter went with me for support and took the above video for me to critique afterward.  Overall I'm very pleased all things considered. I felt there was some choppiness in his movement but that probably that comes from my handling. Hemi wasn't sure what I wanted and I wasn't ready for his power! It was wonderful to be in the ring with him again. A very happy and excited Hemi won Select Dog for 2 more points towards his AKC Grand Championship title! And I walked away feeling exuberant.

CH J&A's Quiet Courage SH, NA 107 Prize 1 - Photo Credit Lynda Ruffini  

Hemi wasn't the only J&A's Brittany to have a successful weekend!  This handsome Brittany above is Wilson pictured here with his handler David Molyneaux.   Having finished his AKC SENIOR HUNTER title already Wilson, working towards his AKC MASTER HUNTER title, qualified for two more of the necessary 'legs' required to achieve this goal.  He's more than halfway there!  AKC defines a Master Hunter as the "complete hunting companion that any hunter would be proud to own."  The AKC Rulebook for pointing breed hunt tests contains the specifics.  We're very blessed when the owners of dogs which we breed exclusively for close working gundogs also recognize the limitless potential within them to excel in other venues and such is the case with Wilson's owners who truly have become as part of the family.

As a side note, stud service is available for "approved" bitches from both Hemi or Wilson. Their health clearances are in place. Both boys have proved themselves and their ability to pass on the exceptional natural hunting instincts which we aspire to preserve in our dogs. Wilson has 1 litter on the ground and Hemi has 3. Each boy has sired pups possessing varying levels of AKC and/or NAVHDA hunting titles. They have each produced show quality offspring as well.

We desire the very best for any of our awesome Brittanys and believe that happens when they are a well loved and integral part of their families daily life. The dogs which are seen in most of the family photos of birthdays and celebrations, family vacations and not only in the hunting pictures are the dogs we know are the happiest. First and foremost they are family companions but additionally, we know that they thrive when given opportunities to remain active on a daily basis and to work at doing what they were bred to do.  We have not wavered from our goals for our purpose driven breeding program since our first litter in 1990 and in doing so we have achieved more than we hoped for.  I think we'll continue to do so!

Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19

As always thanks for your interest in All Things Brittany.  Take care and God bless you always, John, Ann and our wonderful canine crew. 

ATB: Dog Training Recap

Breeding Better Bird Dogs - Two Pheasants and a Turkey

It's the end of October already! How quickly the seemingly long hot summer transitioned into brisk autumn days where leaves go through glorious stages of change, to eventually cascade from branches
and lie scattered on the ground, reminding me of a quilt of many colors. And this, THIS is the time of year the dogs live for. From Holly Beth, almost three,  to Molly and Wish who both turn 14 on their next birthday, all things Brittany enjoys this time of year most of all. Most everything we do all year long leads up to the joy and anticipation of the moments that October ushers in.

Bird Hunting 2016. Scooby, Maryann, John.

Beginning in the spring and continuing right up to opening day most mornings John leaves the house very early and heads out to run and train dogs.  They all get to go but not all at the same time.  It's a lot of work but it's also a lot of fun. We have great friends who regularly meet up with their dogs too. On any given morning over the course of several months our Brittanys are regulary run with not only other Brittanys (including French Brittanys) but also English Setters and Pointers. Occasionally a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Vizsla, German Shorthair Pointer, Gordon Setter and a Munsterlander have joined them.

Although he's not a professional dog trainer John is often contacted for advice and tips on training a close working gun dog for the walking upland bird hunter. He's always happy to take the time to offer suggestions over the phone.  He might suggest  bringing their dog to the field so he can informally evaluate them.  John does not train dogs for competitive field events although sometimes our own Brittanys or those from our program will participate in them, usually resulting in a placement.  We do enjoy introducing people to AKC hunt tests, especially those with young pups and that type of training can go hand in hand with training a bird dog in most instances.

We have a purpose driven breeding program and have achieved goals that we had in mind when we bred our first litter in 1990 and in doing so we have  reached a lot of milestones as well.  Breeding better bird dogs has been and always will be our first priority. Everything else is frosting on the cake!

Molly Rose - puppy at heart, going on 14 enjoying Moosehead.

Our circle of 'bird dog friends' grew immensely when John retired. Prior to his retirement he'd been working up to and over 60 hours a week leaving little time for dogs.  We'd been given landowner permission to use over 100 acres of field, orchard, and woods just down the road from us. Not that I really knew what I was doing but I did sure enjoyed those early training days with Molly, Wish, Rosie, Jack, Timberdoodle, Treasure, and Pippin! While I thought I was the one doing the teaching the fact of the matter is that they were the one teaching me. They showed me honoring before I knew what it was.  They taught me about the intensity of the point before I understood the importance of it. I observed strong, natural and inherent instincts hard at work before I could even articulate what I was seeing.  I delighted to learn about the scent cone by watching my dog naturally quarter a field in front of me, and so much more.

The summer of his retirement John and another friend helped a nearby pro-trainer in the field with the dogs he was training at his facility.  The following year John returned to assist on a full time basis when his trainer friend had a few serious health issues which fortunately were resolved.

Since we still had permission to use the field near our home that's where John started to run dogs the following summer. We could have two johnny houses there for our our quail, pigeons, and chukar partridge. Some mornings John was joined by others and their dogs and other times he had

Molly's daughter Rose, Moosehead Lake 2016 (almost 12)

the morning to himself with our dogs. For almost 10 years we enjoyed this property and many very special memories were made, leaving us grateful to the landowner for that opportunity.

This spring the news was disappointing when we learned we could no longer use that property as it was going to be turned into a hay field. Friends understood our disappointment and began to look around on our behalf for a new space.  Before too long new 'grounds' were obtained with another generous landowner. The only downfall was that the new land is 40 minutes away. We were spoiled with the other location being so close but everything worked out.  A good time was had by all from spring through to the fall. We were happy to hear how,  as a result of training efforts, a lot of the dogs did well in field events and hunt tests before Maine's bird hunting season began on October 1.

Bird Hunting - Canine family Affair

I make no excuses about not being a morning person and I'm not the early bird that catches the worm! Most of the actual bird hunting is left in John's capable hands and that of our friends.  I did enjoy one morning of hunting with our daughter.  Additionally, John and I headed to the Moosehead Lake Region in Maine for a few days with our entire ATB crew.  Ol' Ruff was rarely sighted! But the dogs loved the total freedom and the chance to spend one on one time with just the two of us. As did I. With the majority of our beloved Brittanys approaching 14, 12, 11, and 10 these moments in time are precious.  The younger dogs were actually taken out to hunt.  The seniors were happy to simply 'be'.

Speaking of lessons and things we learn from our Brittanys. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons we can learn from our senior dogs is the importance of living in the moment. We can experience this with dogs of any age but far to often we may be caught up with an urgency to

Wilderness paradise at Moosehead for ATB.

teach, train, or prepare them for something in particular. By the time the senior dog reaches their golden years the owners sense of urgency arises from the realization that the days of canine companionship are numbered. What may seemingly appear to be insignificant becomes a powerful demonstration of mutual act of love shared with and from them.  Or as we like to say around here "all for the love of the dog, both given and received."

As always thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany.  Take care and God bless.  John, Ann and our beloved canine crew

PS Looking for ATB family hunting photos for 2016 - you know where to send them! Thanks.

Hunting Dogs - Opinion

Seriously? Disposable Hunting Dogs?

Do you know how it is, to read something that just gets under your skin and makes you feel you just have to say SOMETHING, to somebody and speak out against what you know is wrong? Well, that’s the motivation behind this blog tonight and I definitely have SOMETHING to say to whoever will hear my heart.

Believe it or not, there is a shallow mindset among some (not naming any names, groups, organizations) that people who hunt with dogs do not care about their animals.  There is an assumption that we view them as disposable. For instance, if our hunting dog does not perform as we anticipate we abandon them and leave them in the woods.  Or worse, there is also the erroneous suggestion that hunting dogs are the reason for dog overpopulation.  You see, all these abandoned hunting dogs running at large seek out the nearest intact female, barge into the yard of the unsuspecting (so-called responsible) dog owner, have a grand old time, and leave behind an unwanted litter of hunting puppies which (according to something I was once told) then is taken to the local shelter, pound, rescue, vet etc. How absolutely preposterous, ridiculous, and yes asinine for anyone to believe such nonsense!!  Deep breaths Ann. Deep, deep breaths.

And here’s the gist of a conversation posted on one of the social networks just the other night. “Hunters think of their hunting dogs as disposable. They intentionally leave them behind at the end of the hunting season. They buy a new puppy every season.  The hunter throws their hunting dogs away. The hunters dump the dogs who don’t hunt or who are gun shy. After the season many will turn them out or shoot them because it’s cheaper to just get another dog than to feed one all winter long.”

I am very fortunate to have a wonderful circle of acquaintances throughout Maine and the country that enjoy the sport of bird hunting.  I also have friends who breed dogs for bear hunting, coon hunting, rabbit hunting and others. I know what goes into breeding a hunting/sporting dog.  It is not hit or miss. It is deliberate, and often the result of years of planning. The majority of dog breeders involved with improving their particular breed of sporting dog have purpose driven programs. By this I mean that they want to preserve the particular and unique strong instincts and traits within their line. They also want their dogs to not only hunt for them – but they want that same dog to curl up on the couch with their grandchildren, roll over for belly rubs, and share popcorn with them.

I’m tired of all hunters being painted with the same broad paintbrush. Sure. There are those hunters and dog breeders alike who do mess it up for the rest of us.  But the rest of us – the MAJORITY of us would really like to set the record straight.

By the way, I  know from my own experience with breed rescue that the majority of people surrendering are not bad people, and I feel it is wrong and unethical to make assumptions and judgements.  My experience in working with surrendered animals is that most of the time that owner is torn up pretty good about making that decision especially when it’s a local surrender.

A whole lot of time, money, resources, training, and most especially – love and caring – is the norm when it comes to a hunter bringing home a little hunting puppy.  I’d like to assume that most breeders work closely matching up a particular breed and it’s disposition to a particular family situation.  Most. Not all.

There are visits to the veterinarian, registration, micro-chip, health evaluations, puppy kindergarten, specific training tools, dog food, toys, leads, leashes, you name it the list is endless. Now I’ve not taken the time to itemize these expenses but suffice to say it all adds up.  You spend the first year or two just letting that puppy learn what it’s job is, expose them to whatever it is you want to hunt with them and you have fun. And as this is going on, a very strong human – animal bond is forming.  A strong human – animal bond that is just as powerful as it is with any other dog obtained under any other situation or circumstances. The difference here is that the hunting and sporting dog, bred with a particular purpose in mind is most often uniquely and supremely – a deliberate choice with much, much time and thought behind it. Some people wait for years for the hunting companion of their dreams, for their once in a lifetime best buddy.

It is absolutely ridiculous and ignorant to make a statement saying that hunting dog owners do not care for their animals!!!

If you’re not a hunter, then you’re not a hunter. Some of us are gatherers, some are harvesters, some are hunters.  Just because someone is a non-hunter, does not mean they are anti-hunting.

Many people who hunt with a dog own more than one.  Always in the back of their mind is the reality that one day their best canine bud is not going to move in the woods as well, that the hearing will go, perhaps the eyesight.  The last thing the hunter is going to do is leave that dog behind when they leave their hunting grounds then run out and buy another puppy for the next season. With all that is involved, most notably the time  -I cannot believe people think this way!

Many hunters absolutely WILL bring in a younger pup while the senior dog is still able to enjoy life. A new companion and many are the stories of how the senior dog rebounds for a while with their new young companion.

The strength of the loving human – animal bond is evident when the master is afield with their well trained hunting companion. There’s different kinds of hunting. And some dogs live in kennels, kennels that are dry, warm, and comfortable. The sporting, hunting dog is happiest when doing that thing they were created and bred to do while spending time with their family that loves them. The people who love and own them know this and provide training year round – just to give them the opportunity to hunt during the season of choice.  Those who want their dogs trained properly will often spend hundreds and thousands of dollars for their dogs to participate in a structured training program. During non-hunting seasons, many of these same dogs are actively engaged year round in various ‘performance’ events which simulate the actual hunting itself by competing in field trials or hunt tests etc. depending upon the breed.

As for the owners of sporting and hunting dogs.  Some participate with their dog in events targeted at youth and disabled veterans.  They provide training seminars for those with an interest in learning. They make themselves available to others to teach the basics. These dog owners may be surgeons, politicians, lawyers, small business owners or they may be your retired couple just down the street.  When their dog comes up missing, these hunting dog owners are frantic with worry until they are reunited with their dogs.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it friends!  In the meantime, there are several Brittanys lying nearby who will be out in the field tomorrow bird hunting with my husband and I. They most definitely are not disposable. ~ Ann H. Short, J&A's Brittanys, Acton Maine

NOTE: This original article first appeared in my expired blog "Maine Hunting & Sporting Dog Owners" at Bangor Daily News on October 7, 2012.