More photos and regular updates can be found on our Facebook page. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Happy Birthday...
Happy birthday to Hero and JJ's brand new litter of 8, the "Celestial Litter". 5 girls and 3 boys. All seem healthy and with the exception of one little girl (who I'll be keeping close tabs on) very hefty little squirmers! Hero is doing great, and last I checked JJ is denying having anything to do with them... haha just kidding his owners are ecstatic! This is Hero and her babies just a few hours old.
Hero with... Galaxy, Hubble, and Jupiter (the boys) and... Nova, Venus, Luna, Halley and Celeste (the girls)
More photos and regular updates can be found on our Facebook page. Enjoy!
More photos and regular updates can be found on our Facebook page. Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Update on Hero
I have been monitoring Hero's temp since Weds, so I can get a good baseline on her normal range. This morning she had dropped down .5 degrees lower than her normal so 5 hours later I retook her temp, which had soared to 100.4 (still a normal temp but her average is 99.7) and tonight it has dropped back down to 99.3 degrees. I think she's probably still a few days away from whelping but I will be keeping a close eye on her.
Hero has spent the last 4 nights in her room with her new box. I slept on the couch in there the first few nights so she could get used to the idea. As you can see she's quite happy to sit or lay down in her new box now! She's still fairly active for being so large, which is good since it will help her with her ordeal ahead.
And with that, it is time to get some sleep myself. One of these nights I will probably be lacking it completely so I better get some now while I can!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Making a Difference
NBRAN (National Brittany Rescue and Adoption Network) recently asked photos to be submitted for their 2011 calendar. They received over 600! They have chosen 5 as finalists for the cover, and the one I submitted of Izzy made the cut. To vote, click here and add to your cart the photo you are voting for. Each vote costs $1, and can purchase as many votes as you wish. NBRAN does a lot for less fortunate Brittanys, and is supported by a wonderful network of volunteers as fosters and transports. Please vote for your favorite, but just in case you need help deciding... here is the photo of Izzy I submitted!
Friday, July 16, 2010
ABC Summer National
Whew! I don't know how nearly a week goes by before I have a chance to sit and update for the blog but it sure does and quickly at that! The heat we have here in Maine isn't helping either, it's so humid I could almost wring out the air around me. Yuck. Not very comfortable for anyone here on the farm, regardless of how many legs you stand on!
I apologize in advance of a distinct lack of quality photos. My camera did not mosey over ringside nearly as often as it should. Five full days of showing was truly a lot. On the lightest day of Brittanys we were in the ring for 2 solid hours, on the heaviest, over 4! To say the least with such a multitude of Brittanys from across the country I was really hoping to get in the ribbons at least once! And we did!
Giving Oliver some words of encouragement Weds morning
For a quick answer to how we did... Oliver took a 5 point major on Weds!!!!!!!!!!! No one expects a 10 month old puppy to take such a large major, and it goes without saying how stunned I was! Weds was the lightest day of judging with only 10 class dogs entered (4 points) but my little boy held up with being in the ring almost 2 straight hours to also go Best of Winners which gave him 5 points since the bitch had won 5. This is known as "crossing over", and as BOW he effectively beat out 26 class dogs. The bitch was a absolutely beautiful roan girl handled by Donna Harrison (who also happens to own Oliver's full Uncle, Diesel) and it was nice to see a judge not only unafraid of putting up a puppy, but of color and putting up such a nice roan. Isabella made the cut Thursday in a extremely tough Specials ring, and Sunday Oliver was given another very considerate look from the judge, eventually taking Best Puppy. He then went on to place 3rd in the Puppy Sporting Group! Thank you to Kellie Miller and also the women from New England Brittany Rescue for coming ringside to cheer him on. What good experience for him!
Oliver and I in the ring Sunday
Photo credit to Ann Short
Sooo.... how about those other Brittanys? For one New England certainly represented well I must say! Congratulations to Peggy with Eve, Kim with Libby, and Ann and her Pippin, all took 5 point majors on their girls! WOW. Debby and Nemo (CH JMAT's Find Just Keep Swimmin') went Best of Breed Weds, followed by a first place in the Sporting Group!!! Go Nemo! Also in our "camp" was visiting celebrity Tally who flew away with BOB on Sat (the BIG day!), followed by a Group 1 and BEST IN SHOW!!! Tally is a half sister to Izzy's grandfather Adam (another BIS dog), Sporting Group winner at Westminster this year and this is her THIRD BIS! Brittany Girl Power!
If I were to talk about all the other visiting Britts I would have one heck of a long post for sure. Over a hundred Brittanys from all over, along with their owners, breeders, and handlers, came to Springfield, MA last week. I met some wonderful people, and had a great time with friends, old and new. The Central New England Brittany Club outdid themselves in hospitality and put on a wonderful dinner. With everything going on I am still catching up! Amazing amazing amazing is what the week was. I am so glad I didn't miss it.
Izzy and Ollie waiting together as I pack up Sunday
And on the home-front... Hero is halfway through her now obvious pregnancy... :o)
I apologize in advance of a distinct lack of quality photos. My camera did not mosey over ringside nearly as often as it should. Five full days of showing was truly a lot. On the lightest day of Brittanys we were in the ring for 2 solid hours, on the heaviest, over 4! To say the least with such a multitude of Brittanys from across the country I was really hoping to get in the ribbons at least once! And we did!
For a quick answer to how we did... Oliver took a 5 point major on Weds!!!!!!!!!!! No one expects a 10 month old puppy to take such a large major, and it goes without saying how stunned I was! Weds was the lightest day of judging with only 10 class dogs entered (4 points) but my little boy held up with being in the ring almost 2 straight hours to also go Best of Winners which gave him 5 points since the bitch had won 5. This is known as "crossing over", and as BOW he effectively beat out 26 class dogs. The bitch was a absolutely beautiful roan girl handled by Donna Harrison (who also happens to own Oliver's full Uncle, Diesel) and it was nice to see a judge not only unafraid of putting up a puppy, but of color and putting up such a nice roan. Isabella made the cut Thursday in a extremely tough Specials ring, and Sunday Oliver was given another very considerate look from the judge, eventually taking Best Puppy. He then went on to place 3rd in the Puppy Sporting Group! Thank you to Kellie Miller and also the women from New England Brittany Rescue for coming ringside to cheer him on. What good experience for him!
Photo credit to Ann Short
Sooo.... how about those other Brittanys? For one New England certainly represented well I must say! Congratulations to Peggy with Eve, Kim with Libby, and Ann and her Pippin, all took 5 point majors on their girls! WOW. Debby and Nemo (CH JMAT's Find Just Keep Swimmin') went Best of Breed Weds, followed by a first place in the Sporting Group!!! Go Nemo! Also in our "camp" was visiting celebrity Tally who flew away with BOB on Sat (the BIG day!), followed by a Group 1 and BEST IN SHOW!!! Tally is a half sister to Izzy's grandfather Adam (another BIS dog), Sporting Group winner at Westminster this year and this is her THIRD BIS! Brittany Girl Power!
If I were to talk about all the other visiting Britts I would have one heck of a long post for sure. Over a hundred Brittanys from all over, along with their owners, breeders, and handlers, came to Springfield, MA last week. I met some wonderful people, and had a great time with friends, old and new. The Central New England Brittany Club outdid themselves in hospitality and put on a wonderful dinner. With everything going on I am still catching up! Amazing amazing amazing is what the week was. I am so glad I didn't miss it.
And on the home-front... Hero is halfway through her now obvious pregnancy... :o)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
On the Road again...
Okay not quite, but definitely already in prep-mode to leave! A quick look back on last weekend...
Joan, Dottie and Jean all came to visit bringing Isabella's sister Monique, uncle Mac, and er... 3rd cousin(???) Leana with them. We started the festivities off with a small birthday party for Izzy and Momo, their 2nd! I had made a frozen yogurt and peanut butter swirl birthday cake, topped with puppy cookies for the dogs. Us humans had chocolate cake of course (what else?)
Joan, Monique, Isabella, Hero looking weird, Oliver, Leana, and Jean.
Saturday was the Central Maine Brittany Club Specialty Show. I gave Isabella up to good friend Marisa and focused on showing Oliver and Leana. Oliver was awful, completely lost his little head. Note to self: do not bring food in the ring with Oliver... Leana was perfect, and a joy to show. Oliver did win his class (thanks judge for seeing past his wiggles!), and Leana took second in a tough Open class. Isabella went on to win Best of Opposite to "JR", also taking her first Grand Champion Major, 4 points! Monique was Select Bitch, also taking a 4 point major for GCH. We were able to watch friend Kristyn of Triumphant Kennels judge her first Sweepstakes. She did a fantastic job!
Pretty Monique
Sunday we did it all again, only Momo was at the end of my lead for Best of Breed due to Joan not feeling up to showing her again. Oliver did MUCH better sans food, taking a Reserve Major! Go Ollie!!! Not bad for his 10 month birthday. Leana did not fair as well, though she showed like a dream! She took 4th in Open. Mo and I showed wonderfully together. She moves like her sister! Alas, the judge declined to give Select Bitch... Isabella however (after getting into 6 Portuguese bread rolls the night before and still looking much rounder than normal) was very competitive. The judge walked between her and JR quite a few times before finally giving JR BOB and Izzy BOS. I count that as a win, since JR is a Group Placing dog! Isabella picked up her 2nd GCH major bringing her to a total of 12 points in only 4 shows. I love my girl! Mac was Select Dog both days. I am quite enamored with him too, he was my lap dog all weekend.
Isabella
Now we're gearing up to drive to Massachusetts for 5 days of showing, including 3 Specialty Shows! One of those (Sat) is the American Brittany Club Summer National. Let's just say, I'll be happy with ANYTHING this coming week, as there are top dogs, breeders, and handlers converging in Springfield from all over the country. I have Oliver entered 3 days, and Isabella entered 3. Izzy is in all 3 Specialties and Oliver just in the big one on Sat. I will be handling both my dogs myself, no matter what (do you hear that? You know who you are! I will not fall for your sneaky tricks this time! LOL <3 ) Isabella and Mo go into the ring together as well with their father Morgan, competing for Best Stud Dog. Grampy Adam will be in there too. A BIG thank you to friend Cindy for giving Joan and I a hand Saturday!
And on a side note... I can't tell for absolute "certain" yet... but Hero is off her food and looking much plumper than normal... I am willing to bet we'll have puppies here at New Horizon sometime the 2nd week of August...
Mom, I don't feel quite right anymore...
Joan, Dottie and Jean all came to visit bringing Isabella's sister Monique, uncle Mac, and er... 3rd cousin(???) Leana with them. We started the festivities off with a small birthday party for Izzy and Momo, their 2nd! I had made a frozen yogurt and peanut butter swirl birthday cake, topped with puppy cookies for the dogs. Us humans had chocolate cake of course (what else?)
Saturday was the Central Maine Brittany Club Specialty Show. I gave Isabella up to good friend Marisa and focused on showing Oliver and Leana. Oliver was awful, completely lost his little head. Note to self: do not bring food in the ring with Oliver... Leana was perfect, and a joy to show. Oliver did win his class (thanks judge for seeing past his wiggles!), and Leana took second in a tough Open class. Isabella went on to win Best of Opposite to "JR", also taking her first Grand Champion Major, 4 points! Monique was Select Bitch, also taking a 4 point major for GCH. We were able to watch friend Kristyn of Triumphant Kennels judge her first Sweepstakes. She did a fantastic job!
Sunday we did it all again, only Momo was at the end of my lead for Best of Breed due to Joan not feeling up to showing her again. Oliver did MUCH better sans food, taking a Reserve Major! Go Ollie!!! Not bad for his 10 month birthday. Leana did not fair as well, though she showed like a dream! She took 4th in Open. Mo and I showed wonderfully together. She moves like her sister! Alas, the judge declined to give Select Bitch... Isabella however (after getting into 6 Portuguese bread rolls the night before and still looking much rounder than normal) was very competitive. The judge walked between her and JR quite a few times before finally giving JR BOB and Izzy BOS. I count that as a win, since JR is a Group Placing dog! Isabella picked up her 2nd GCH major bringing her to a total of 12 points in only 4 shows. I love my girl! Mac was Select Dog both days. I am quite enamored with him too, he was my lap dog all weekend.
Now we're gearing up to drive to Massachusetts for 5 days of showing, including 3 Specialty Shows! One of those (Sat) is the American Brittany Club Summer National. Let's just say, I'll be happy with ANYTHING this coming week, as there are top dogs, breeders, and handlers converging in Springfield from all over the country. I have Oliver entered 3 days, and Isabella entered 3. Izzy is in all 3 Specialties and Oliver just in the big one on Sat. I will be handling both my dogs myself, no matter what (do you hear that? You know who you are! I will not fall for your sneaky tricks this time! LOL <3 ) Isabella and Mo go into the ring together as well with their father Morgan, competing for Best Stud Dog. Grampy Adam will be in there too. A BIG thank you to friend Cindy for giving Joan and I a hand Saturday!
And on a side note... I can't tell for absolute "certain" yet... but Hero is off her food and looking much plumper than normal... I am willing to bet we'll have puppies here at New Horizon sometime the 2nd week of August...
Friday, June 25, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
What a crazy 2 weeks!!!
JJ arrived almost 2 weeks ago and made an impression from the get-go. The trip from NY was a good 6 hours long so we took him and his "brother" Josh out to my back field so they could stretch their legs. I had two quail left from my original 9 that I use for training so I brought those with me. JJ is 3 but has not had the opportunity to be on birds before. What a natural!!! Not only did he naturally point and hold his point, but when allowed he retrieved the live bird and brought it, unharmed, to his owner Jeff. Time and again he found the hidden bird and repeated his performance. Granted, not a wild bird but for a first time, WOW! He is as natural as Hero in the field. I will say these puppies will be bird finding machines if given half a chance!
Getting to know JJ the past week and some change has been a delight. His temperament is wonderful, just a complete cuddlebug. He is a people pleaser, like most male Brittanys, and is happiest hanging out at my feet. His favorite game is fetch with his frisbee, and is much the way Hero is with her tennis ball! I love this dog more than ever and am very confident he was the best choice for Hero. Seeing them side by side just shows how nicely they compliment each other.
JJ goes home tomorrow, and the wait to see if Hero is pregnant will ensue. The earliest we may know is a month from now, when puppies are about the size of walnuts. Hero is a lithe girl, so any extra weight will not go unnoticed. I know there are some very special homes waiting to hear puppies have been born. They will be due the 2nd week of August. I will have updates and photos posted on the Facebook page, and will continue to update this blog as well.
I would like to say life is going back to normal tomorrow, but I know the opposite is true! We do have a few sets of shows between now and August, and we're preparing for those.
Oliver gets a visitor this coming weekend in the form of Patricia, one of his breeders. She owns his mother Clarice, and is the daughter of Rejean and Johanne of Canipat Brittanys. We are excited to have her, and wish her a safe drive from Quebec! I wish she could stay for the upcoming Specialty show here in Maine, but she is only here this one weekend.
Speaking of the Specialty show, next weekend, my house is about to either become Brittany Heaven or Brittany Insanity! Maybe a bit of both. We have visitors from Mass, 3 people and... 9 Brittanys, coming to spend the weekend. Not all of those Brittanys are showing, but I have the pleasure of showing at least one of them for a friend. Even better is the company! June is certainly a month of visitors here at New Horizon Farm!
July will bring the American Brittany Club Summer Specialty in Springfield, MA. It is July 10th at the Big E, but the 7th-11th is all dog shows and I am hoping to go. If you haven't yet been to a dog show, and love the Brittany breed, I highly recommend coming to watch the 10th. There will be Brittanys from all over the country coming to show and Central New England Brittany Club is hosting (one of my clubs). We hope to see you there!
Getting to know JJ the past week and some change has been a delight. His temperament is wonderful, just a complete cuddlebug. He is a people pleaser, like most male Brittanys, and is happiest hanging out at my feet. His favorite game is fetch with his frisbee, and is much the way Hero is with her tennis ball! I love this dog more than ever and am very confident he was the best choice for Hero. Seeing them side by side just shows how nicely they compliment each other.
JJ goes home tomorrow, and the wait to see if Hero is pregnant will ensue. The earliest we may know is a month from now, when puppies are about the size of walnuts. Hero is a lithe girl, so any extra weight will not go unnoticed. I know there are some very special homes waiting to hear puppies have been born. They will be due the 2nd week of August. I will have updates and photos posted on the Facebook page, and will continue to update this blog as well.
I would like to say life is going back to normal tomorrow, but I know the opposite is true! We do have a few sets of shows between now and August, and we're preparing for those.
Oliver gets a visitor this coming weekend in the form of Patricia, one of his breeders. She owns his mother Clarice, and is the daughter of Rejean and Johanne of Canipat Brittanys. We are excited to have her, and wish her a safe drive from Quebec! I wish she could stay for the upcoming Specialty show here in Maine, but she is only here this one weekend.
Speaking of the Specialty show, next weekend, my house is about to either become Brittany Heaven or Brittany Insanity! Maybe a bit of both. We have visitors from Mass, 3 people and... 9 Brittanys, coming to spend the weekend. Not all of those Brittanys are showing, but I have the pleasure of showing at least one of them for a friend. Even better is the company! June is certainly a month of visitors here at New Horizon Farm!
July will bring the American Brittany Club Summer Specialty in Springfield, MA. It is July 10th at the Big E, but the 7th-11th is all dog shows and I am hoping to go. If you haven't yet been to a dog show, and love the Brittany breed, I highly recommend coming to watch the 10th. There will be Brittanys from all over the country coming to show and Central New England Brittany Club is hosting (one of my clubs). We hope to see you there!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Vacationland Dog Show
Okay so I'm about a week late (again) posting about a show. Whoops!
Isabella and I headed to the show early Sat morning just in time to see our good friend Marisa around the ring with pretty Fiona.
Saturday was great. I saw our friend Pam's dog, Paris (also Hero's BFF), take two more points to bring her to 6. She looked fantastic handled by Linda. Our friend Stephanie also took more CH points on her Indi. Bowie took Best of Breed (no surprise there) and my Isabella was Best of Opposite. Isabella was also awarded her first Grand Championship points! GCH points are not automatically awarded, they are at the discretion of the judge so we were quite happy about that.
Paris in the ring
Bowie in Group
My friend Julie did a great job with her Bullet, who incidentally went on to win his first field points the very next day! It was Julie's birthday so we surprised her with a cake and a card.
Julie and Bullet in the ring
Sunday I brought Oliver with me for a lesson in furry-boy grooming. He had a blast and was a total kid-magnet! I wish I'd had him entered but oh well! None of the dogs close to my heart did anything, sans Isabella taking another BOS and more GCH points, and Bowie was awarded GCH points as well going Select Dog.
Isabella in Breed
Izzy waiting to enter the ring
I'm currently in waiting mode with Hero. She's getting a lot testier, she's blown 90% of her rear feathering and she's entering the time frame for her to come into heat. Poor girl is grumpy, but it just means its that much closer to having JJ come up for his little "vacation". I hope to hear the pidder-padder of little paws here in a few months!
Hero enjoying the sun yesterday
Isabella and I headed to the show early Sat morning just in time to see our good friend Marisa around the ring with pretty Fiona.
Saturday was great. I saw our friend Pam's dog, Paris (also Hero's BFF), take two more points to bring her to 6. She looked fantastic handled by Linda. Our friend Stephanie also took more CH points on her Indi. Bowie took Best of Breed (no surprise there) and my Isabella was Best of Opposite. Isabella was also awarded her first Grand Championship points! GCH points are not automatically awarded, they are at the discretion of the judge so we were quite happy about that.
My friend Julie did a great job with her Bullet, who incidentally went on to win his first field points the very next day! It was Julie's birthday so we surprised her with a cake and a card.
Sunday I brought Oliver with me for a lesson in furry-boy grooming. He had a blast and was a total kid-magnet! I wish I'd had him entered but oh well! None of the dogs close to my heart did anything, sans Isabella taking another BOS and more GCH points, and Bowie was awarded GCH points as well going Select Dog.
I'm currently in waiting mode with Hero. She's getting a lot testier, she's blown 90% of her rear feathering and she's entering the time frame for her to come into heat. Poor girl is grumpy, but it just means its that much closer to having JJ come up for his little "vacation". I hope to hear the pidder-padder of little paws here in a few months!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
All About Britts!
WOW what an exhausting week last week, but I wouldn't trade it for the World. I spent a lot of time sitting down in a vehicle traveling along at 70mph. It was 4 1/2 hours to Joan's and another 4 1/2 hours to the hotel in New York. But the scenery itself made it worth the drive. The mountains were gorgeous!
Thursday morning was the Eastern Futurity. I was introduced more times than I could count as "Isabella's owner, you know, Winners Bitch at Nationals", no name, just Izzy's owner! I had every intention in the world of handling her myself, despite Kristyn reminding me repeatedly she'd be glad to! But in the end the nerves got to me and my stomach and at the very last possible second I handed the lead to Kristyn and hid behind someone as I watched my girl show her furry butt off to take 2nd money bitch! The Specialty was was in the afternoon, Isabella handled beautifully for me and Oliver was SO good, he made me proud! Our favorite "Uncle" took his second Best in Specialty Show. Congrats Bowie!!!
We had a great time the next morning hanging out at the field portion of the Futurity. I had been urged to get on a horse and ride a brace or two so I did (I happen to have horses of my own so riding is second nature in many ways), following behind on the first brace between Linda's Beau Smith and a dog named Tazer. I am happy to report Beau had many finds, if not being completely steady! He was 2nd money dog at the show portion of the Futurity. I had opted to not run Isabella, she hadn't quite made that connection yet so from fear of embarrassment...
Linda, Kim, and I on horseback with Kristyn and Jeff holding Beau ready for the first brace
Off To RI we went, Saturday I handled a beautiful bitch named Leana, and for not knowing me much more than a hole in the wall, she handled very nice for me! We ended up taking Reserve. Oliver also took Reserve (out of 2, haha!), but he'd decided to be quite a puppy in the ring. No big deal! He is having FUN! Isabella took Best of Opposite to Bowie, who went on to.... Take his first Group 2!!!!!!!!! The next day it was very similar (sans Leana), and Bowie took yet another Group placement, Group 4 this time. Congrats to Linda and the Russell's!!! Sunday also Oliver took Best Puppy in the Breed over another little puppy bitch, and went on to take Puppy Group 2!!! Yay Ollie!!!
Oliver taking a nap during the Group event
A very Happy multi-BISS, multi-Group placing Brittany!
Good boy Oliver!
And, for a update, since I really should have posted this almost a week ago... Isabella has had her field "awakening" and I can't wait to see where she goes from here!!! Oliver has done a little "whoa" training, and he picked that up so quickly, what a trainable little pup. Oliver is going to take a little time to mature before heading back into the ring, fill out a bit more. He definitely loves the ring, and that's half the battle! Hero's assignment is to try and gain an extra pound or two, in preparation for JJ's visit. We saw JJ in NY, what a nice surprise! Below is a picture.
JJ on the move!
Thursday morning was the Eastern Futurity. I was introduced more times than I could count as "Isabella's owner, you know, Winners Bitch at Nationals", no name, just Izzy's owner! I had every intention in the world of handling her myself, despite Kristyn reminding me repeatedly she'd be glad to! But in the end the nerves got to me and my stomach and at the very last possible second I handed the lead to Kristyn and hid behind someone as I watched my girl show her furry butt off to take 2nd money bitch! The Specialty was was in the afternoon, Isabella handled beautifully for me and Oliver was SO good, he made me proud! Our favorite "Uncle" took his second Best in Specialty Show. Congrats Bowie!!!
We had a great time the next morning hanging out at the field portion of the Futurity. I had been urged to get on a horse and ride a brace or two so I did (I happen to have horses of my own so riding is second nature in many ways), following behind on the first brace between Linda's Beau Smith and a dog named Tazer. I am happy to report Beau had many finds, if not being completely steady! He was 2nd money dog at the show portion of the Futurity. I had opted to not run Isabella, she hadn't quite made that connection yet so from fear of embarrassment...
Off To RI we went, Saturday I handled a beautiful bitch named Leana, and for not knowing me much more than a hole in the wall, she handled very nice for me! We ended up taking Reserve. Oliver also took Reserve (out of 2, haha!), but he'd decided to be quite a puppy in the ring. No big deal! He is having FUN! Isabella took Best of Opposite to Bowie, who went on to.... Take his first Group 2!!!!!!!!! The next day it was very similar (sans Leana), and Bowie took yet another Group placement, Group 4 this time. Congrats to Linda and the Russell's!!! Sunday also Oliver took Best Puppy in the Breed over another little puppy bitch, and went on to take Puppy Group 2!!! Yay Ollie!!!
And, for a update, since I really should have posted this almost a week ago... Isabella has had her field "awakening" and I can't wait to see where she goes from here!!! Oliver has done a little "whoa" training, and he picked that up so quickly, what a trainable little pup. Oliver is going to take a little time to mature before heading back into the ring, fill out a bit more. He definitely loves the ring, and that's half the battle! Hero's assignment is to try and gain an extra pound or two, in preparation for JJ's visit. We saw JJ in NY, what a nice surprise! Below is a picture.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Road Trip!
Ahhh bright and early tomorrow we set off, Izzy, Oliver and I, for a nice week of showing! It is Isabella's Futurity so I have been looking forward to this week for nearly 2 years. Izzy's mother, Zoe, was 1st Money Bitch at her Futurity, and we're going to try and do that memory proud. No pressure, right? Nothing can top her National win, but this time I am handling her!
There is a Specialty that afternoon, Oliver is entered as well. Then off to Rhode Island for two All-breed shows. We aren't staying for the field portion in New York, as Joan needs to get back to her dogs and I am traveling with her. We are sans Hero this trip. She went to stay with my good friend Pam, who owns Hero's best friend in the whole world, Paris. They were so excited to see each other! I will miss her but I know she'll have so much fun with Paris, and Sam and Pam have said they plan on taking her "hunting" on some land they own as well. I'll be lucky if she wants to come home with me come Monday!
Wish us luck!
There is a Specialty that afternoon, Oliver is entered as well. Then off to Rhode Island for two All-breed shows. We aren't staying for the field portion in New York, as Joan needs to get back to her dogs and I am traveling with her. We are sans Hero this trip. She went to stay with my good friend Pam, who owns Hero's best friend in the whole world, Paris. They were so excited to see each other! I will miss her but I know she'll have so much fun with Paris, and Sam and Pam have said they plan on taking her "hunting" on some land they own as well. I'll be lucky if she wants to come home with me come Monday!
Wish us luck!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Fun with friends
Last Sunday my friend Marisa and I took the dogs down to a beach nearby for a photo shoot. Marisa did a wonderful job handling the dogs why I did my best to capture the dogs at their best before they moved! Here are some of my favorites.
Archard's Etched in Stone... Ricco
CH Shady Brook's Measure For Measure... Isabella
Archard's Force Of Nature... Faron
Canipat's As You Like It... Oliver
Archard's Fireside Fling... Fiona
Horizon's Much Ado About Nothing... Hero
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sneaky puppies...
Well it's been a few weeks since the show and we're enjoying a few weeks of normal day-to-day while we wait for our next show. Who am I kidding? I'd rather be at a show!
Oliver has very sneakily grown a full inch in the past 2 1/2 weeks. Not at all what I expected when I measured him last night! A whopping 19" he is now. I expect he'll start to fill out now, he's reed-thin from all that growing. He's really turning out to be quite the handsome dude. Other than the fact he's gawky at this age, he's a solid little monkey.
Oliver 7 months
We picked up 9 healthy pen-raised quail last week, and though I haven't had a chance to get the dogs on them in the field yet, I have been busy working on making a larger hutch for them. Even though we use birds for training, they should be kept as humanly as possible, which also means trying to prevent a very birdy little 7 month old pup from rushing into the barn to see them at every possible opportunity!
A good friend and mentor in the Brittany world has been ill and we wish her a swift recovery. I know she is on the mend, and will be glad to see her at the Futurity at the end of the month.
Spring has Sprung and the dogs know it. A good run in the field is in store for tomorrow at some point. Brand new grass, woohoo! But for now they are lazing about on their favorite couch, waiting for me to join them so they can each grab their favorite spot around me. Time to watch a Red Sox game!
Oliver has very sneakily grown a full inch in the past 2 1/2 weeks. Not at all what I expected when I measured him last night! A whopping 19" he is now. I expect he'll start to fill out now, he's reed-thin from all that growing. He's really turning out to be quite the handsome dude. Other than the fact he's gawky at this age, he's a solid little monkey.
We picked up 9 healthy pen-raised quail last week, and though I haven't had a chance to get the dogs on them in the field yet, I have been busy working on making a larger hutch for them. Even though we use birds for training, they should be kept as humanly as possible, which also means trying to prevent a very birdy little 7 month old pup from rushing into the barn to see them at every possible opportunity!
A good friend and mentor in the Brittany world has been ill and we wish her a swift recovery. I know she is on the mend, and will be glad to see her at the Futurity at the end of the month.
Spring has Sprung and the dogs know it. A good run in the field is in store for tomorrow at some point. Brand new grass, woohoo! But for now they are lazing about on their favorite couch, waiting for me to join them so they can each grab their favorite spot around me. Time to watch a Red Sox game!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Northern New England Specialty Show
It was a great weekend in Fitchburg. It was a little crazy showing all 3 dogs but they were roughly spread out so it wasn't too bad. Certainly easier than showing 2 class bitches! I had some wonderful help in the form of a friend who has a Spinone Italiano she shows, named Spencer. She took pictures Saturday and helped hold Isabella while I was in the ring with Hero. I can't thank her enough for the help!
Firstly my main objective with Oliver was reached, and then some! Not only did he have a lot of fun in the ring, he even remembered how to move and gave me a couple of nice puppy free-stacks! I see so many dogs, especially young dogs be overwhelmed at their first few shows. Hero used to be one. But not Oliver, he enjoyed himself immensely! On Saturday he gave me the cutest play bow as we stopped running around the ring while the other puppy was being judged. He wanted to play! He was nearly half the size of the older puppy but then again, he's a peanut who will likely never get much more than 19-19.5" at the shoulder. Which in my opinion is a nice size, if slightly on the small side for a male. Much better than riding on that almost-oversized line. At least there will be no worry of that! I was very pleased with him and had a few people tell me how much they like him. I think I'll keep him! Saturday his puppy fuzz of a coat was stripped off under Linda and Kristyn's guidance (who knew there was something UNDER all of it?), and what a handsome dude with a very nice shade of orange!
Hero, oh Hero... the poor girl was not happy with me at all Saturday. You see, Isabella ate her quail wing, and then the pheasant wing I was drying as a backup! Hero loses her mind with food bait (typically I don't bait in the ring, but outside it only), so I didn't bring any in the ring with me Saturday. So Hero, was not her usual self in the ring, and I could even feel her movement was way off than what I am used to from her. Sunday we were saved by friend and mentor Linda McCartney-Roy. She had a quail wing and wow what a difference in makes in Hero. When we were first starting Hero would not stand still. No amount of "stay" commands helped. Around the same time I taught her "whoa" (essentially the same thing as stay but used to keep a dog from breaking a point) which she did quite well. Frustrated one evening practicing with her I said "whoa" instead of "stay" and she stiffened right up and did not budge. So now in the ring I bring a quail wing with me, place in in front of her and tell her to "whoa", which she does and looks great doing it. Also I toss it near the judge on our up and back and she gives me a very nice free-stack/point. Hero typically does not lift a leg so this works! It may not work for those that do though!
Isabella, my practice dog. I think I did alright with her Saturday but Kristyn was directly in front of us and Izzy only had eyes for her (noooo Izzy, I'm the one with your lead today!) We did have a nice surprise and walked away with our first Award of Merit! Sunday I caved and brought food in to get Izzy's attention back on me (or at least what I had in my
fingers.) She wasn't the absolute best I have ever seen her, but I think I did my absolute best ever with her! And that, is why I entered her. At one point she and another bitch were pulled out for consideration away from the other specials, the older much more mature liver bitch took the honors as Best of Breed but it was really nice to have my little 20 month old considered in such company! The bottom line is I really think I improved this weekend, and finally felt a glimmer of confidence.
BISS CH Triumphant's Savior Machine
In other brags, my friend Stephanie's dog and Linda's new Special, Bowie, took home his first Best in Specialty Show! He looked fantastic and in my opinion it was a no-brainer. His father is BIS/BISS CH Triumphant's Absolute JH, who is also Izzy's grandfather. So Congrats Uncle Bowie! I hope to see many more wins out of such a handsome example of the breed. But maybe someday I'll get to kick his butt just once... hehe!
We also saw quite a few new Champions this weekend, including TJ owned by Dennis Dugay and brother to our friend Pam's Gibson (a Champion and movie star in his own right!) Isabella's litter-mate and sister, Monique went on to win her first points, making a splash Sunday taking a 4 point major. She is every bit as beautiful as her sister, and I'm willing to bet under the handling of Linda she'll have finished in no time. Monique had a late start due to Joan not being able to show this past year, but I expect her to be caught up in a blink of an eye. We also saw our friends do a great job in the ring with their awesome dogs, and every bit as deserving.
Other highlights included seeing some great friends, getting to play with Izzy and Monique's parents Morgan and Zoe. Izzy is a dead ringer for her father in sooo many ways, just as Monique is nearly Zoe's clone. Our friend Sara and her dog Spencer took their first 4 point major, yay! Also a surprise 21st birthday "party" on Sunday for Kristyn topped a wonderful weekend.
Firstly my main objective with Oliver was reached, and then some! Not only did he have a lot of fun in the ring, he even remembered how to move and gave me a couple of nice puppy free-stacks! I see so many dogs, especially young dogs be overwhelmed at their first few shows. Hero used to be one. But not Oliver, he enjoyed himself immensely! On Saturday he gave me the cutest play bow as we stopped running around the ring while the other puppy was being judged. He wanted to play! He was nearly half the size of the older puppy but then again, he's a peanut who will likely never get much more than 19-19.5" at the shoulder. Which in my opinion is a nice size, if slightly on the small side for a male. Much better than riding on that almost-oversized line. At least there will be no worry of that! I was very pleased with him and had a few people tell me how much they like him. I think I'll keep him! Saturday his puppy fuzz of a coat was stripped off under Linda and Kristyn's guidance (who knew there was something UNDER all of it?), and what a handsome dude with a very nice shade of orange! 
Hero, oh Hero... the poor girl was not happy with me at all Saturday. You see, Isabella ate her quail wing, and then the pheasant wing I was drying as a backup! Hero loses her mind with food bait (typically I don't bait in the ring, but outside it only), so I didn't bring any in the ring with me Saturday. So Hero, was not her usual self in the ring, and I could even feel her movement was way off than what I am used to from her. Sunday we were saved by friend and mentor Linda McCartney-Roy. She had a quail wing and wow what a difference in makes in Hero. When we were first starting Hero would not stand still. No amount of "stay" commands helped. Around the same time I taught her "whoa" (essentially the same thing as stay but used to keep a dog from breaking a point) which she did quite well. Frustrated one evening practicing with her I said "whoa" instead of "stay" and she stiffened right up and did not budge. So now in the ring I bring a quail wing with me, place in in front of her and tell her to "whoa", which she does and looks great doing it. Also I toss it near the judge on our up and back and she gives me a very nice free-stack/point. Hero typically does not lift a leg so this works! It may not work for those that do though! 
Isabella, my practice dog. I think I did alright with her Saturday but Kristyn was directly in front of us and Izzy only had eyes for her (noooo Izzy, I'm the one with your lead today!) We did have a nice surprise and walked away with our first Award of Merit! Sunday I caved and brought food in to get Izzy's attention back on me (or at least what I had in myfingers.) She wasn't the absolute best I have ever seen her, but I think I did my absolute best ever with her! And that, is why I entered her. At one point she and another bitch were pulled out for consideration away from the other specials, the older much more mature liver bitch took the honors as Best of Breed but it was really nice to have my little 20 month old considered in such company! The bottom line is I really think I improved this weekend, and finally felt a glimmer of confidence.
In other brags, my friend Stephanie's dog and Linda's new Special, Bowie, took home his first Best in Specialty Show! He looked fantastic and in my opinion it was a no-brainer. His father is BIS/BISS CH Triumphant's Absolute JH, who is also Izzy's grandfather. So Congrats Uncle Bowie! I hope to see many more wins out of such a handsome example of the breed. But maybe someday I'll get to kick his butt just once... hehe!
We also saw quite a few new Champions this weekend, including TJ owned by Dennis Dugay and brother to our friend Pam's Gibson (a Champion and movie star in his own right!) Isabella's litter-mate and sister, Monique went on to win her first points, making a splash Sunday taking a 4 point major. She is every bit as beautiful as her sister, and I'm willing to bet under the handling of Linda she'll have finished in no time. Monique had a late start due to Joan not being able to show this past year, but I expect her to be caught up in a blink of an eye. We also saw our friends do a great job in the ring with their awesome dogs, and every bit as deserving.Other highlights included seeing some great friends, getting to play with Izzy and Monique's parents Morgan and Zoe. Izzy is a dead ringer for her father in sooo many ways, just as Monique is nearly Zoe's clone. Our friend Sara and her dog Spencer took their first 4 point major, yay! Also a surprise 21st birthday "party" on Sunday for Kristyn topped a wonderful weekend.
Friday, March 19, 2010
A Ode to the World's Best Breeders
And we're off! Okay, we aren't quite gone yet. I'll be leaving about 5:30 in the morning so I can get to Fitchburg with some time to spare. You know, to clip random stray hairs on my dogs the judge is never going to notice, fret that I can't find my scissors, realize I only have 5 minutes before ring-time to change because I spent so much time with tiny details... Haha okay I am not nearly that bad. However my house has been eating things as of late, I STILL can't find my keys and its been almost 2 weeks. This time I seem to be lacking my good show leads! Thankfully I found one good chain, and a call to Izzy's breeder brought a promise to bring a few extras just in case. Will I ever get to a show with everything I meant to bring? So far at least, I haven't forgotten any dogs.
Speaking of Isabella's breeder, let me tell you how lucky I am to have her. Not only is Isabella a silly lovable goofball who makes me laugh, and heals my heart when it is sad... but she also happens to be awful beautiful! But I think the most important thing about Isabella is her breeder Joan. What makes her so great is she is supportive not just about the dog she bred, but of me. She screamed just as loudly when Hero won her major as when Isabella took BOB the day before at just 10 months old. I can't tell you how much that meant to me. She is there when I have questions, when I was ready to quit, and ring side when Isabella finished. I know I am not the only one either, I just happen to be the only one around currently showing one of her dogs (which is crazy because she breeds some GORGEOUS dogs!) I know she routinely has dogs she bred staying with her, and keeps in touch with the families who call her puppies "family". She cares, and that's what a good breeder is supposed to be.
I am doubly lucky with Oliver's breeders. Rejean and Johanne invited me into their home the weekend I drove to Quebec to bring Oliver into my life. They even extended that invitation to my dogs (I brought Isabella) and a friend if I wanted. There is a bit of a language barrier between Jo and I (I don't speak French and she doesn't speak English!) but she is such a warm person. I can't wait for our trip back up to work on Oliver's Canadian Championship. I was able to talk to them online the other day, and using my webcam they could see Oliver in a way still photos just can't. With a firm request to call them tomorrow night, I head off tomorrow for Oliver's first show.
And with that, I bid goodnight!
My beautiful Hero in the field
Speaking of Isabella's breeder, let me tell you how lucky I am to have her. Not only is Isabella a silly lovable goofball who makes me laugh, and heals my heart when it is sad... but she also happens to be awful beautiful! But I think the most important thing about Isabella is her breeder Joan. What makes her so great is she is supportive not just about the dog she bred, but of me. She screamed just as loudly when Hero won her major as when Isabella took BOB the day before at just 10 months old. I can't tell you how much that meant to me. She is there when I have questions, when I was ready to quit, and ring side when Isabella finished. I know I am not the only one either, I just happen to be the only one around currently showing one of her dogs (which is crazy because she breeds some GORGEOUS dogs!) I know she routinely has dogs she bred staying with her, and keeps in touch with the families who call her puppies "family". She cares, and that's what a good breeder is supposed to be.
I am doubly lucky with Oliver's breeders. Rejean and Johanne invited me into their home the weekend I drove to Quebec to bring Oliver into my life. They even extended that invitation to my dogs (I brought Isabella) and a friend if I wanted. There is a bit of a language barrier between Jo and I (I don't speak French and she doesn't speak English!) but she is such a warm person. I can't wait for our trip back up to work on Oliver's Canadian Championship. I was able to talk to them online the other day, and using my webcam they could see Oliver in a way still photos just can't. With a firm request to call them tomorrow night, I head off tomorrow for Oliver's first show.
And with that, I bid goodnight!
Monday, March 15, 2010
A clean dog is a happy, healthy dog!
And in the tub they go! Bathing three unwilling dogs and one not-to-thrilled cat all in 20 minutes, may not exactly be my idea of fun but it is necessary. The cat, well the poor girl has allergies I think so the bath was in a effort to clean her skin and fur up so maybe it won't itch so much for her. Not a flea in sight and they all receive Comfortis anyhow. Frontline just doesn't do the trick when bathed every week. Bathed every WEEK you say? Just about, says I. Well yes, not only do I like a clean dog(they sleep on my bed, and in Hero's case, under the covers!) and it drastically reduces the amount of fur my vacuum needs to suck up... but just in case anything does start to bother them, I will see and/or feel it in a bath sometimes much more easily than not. Now natural oils are good for a dogs coat, so I don't always use the same shampoo, and I often use grape seed oil or a conditioner to help replenish their coats. Sometimes even a rinse with no soap at all is exactly what is called for.
In all seriousness cleanliness is just as important for dog health as a persons. Trimming or grinding a dogs nails not only protects your floors, personal flesh and is aesthetically pleasing, but it helps prevent injury to the foot and tears as well. Have you ever seen a dog get its foot and nail stuck in something? I have, and it is not fun for either you or your dog! It's also very important to check a dogs ears, especially if they are floppy like the Brittany's. Ear wax can build up as well as mites get in and possibly give your dog an infection. A cotton ball and some peroxide cleans ears nicely. I happen to have it easy there, with three dogs, they do a really good job at keeping each others ears clean. The wonders of pack dynamics!
Now not everyone really wants to get down and groom their dog. The Britt has a fairly easy coat to keep in general and doesn't require much brushing. Some do of course but on average it's easy to maintain. I personally enjoy the time I spend grooming my dogs, we get some one-on-one time and they love the extra attention. For the average Brittany owner there is no need for a "show" cut. Of course we don't take nearly as much off as some breeds, but for the average weekend hunter for instance, you would want the fur on the dogs neck to help protect him from briars. There are of course a few places that should be looked at on every dog, be it a dog for show, hunt or even just a lazy house dog (a lazy Brittany? Do they exist?) The extra fur between the toes should be pulled up and trimmed off, as well as the fur between the pads. Not only is it more comfortable, but there is less risk of picking up painful burrs that may stick to the fur. Secondly the fur around your dogs anus should be kept short, which will help prevent any "hitch-hikers" , which besides being just gross, can also carry worms or disease BACK into the house! Eww!
Now using great personal restraint I have gone without touching a pair of scissors to Isabella in a few months. It really helped when she was in heat, because then I didn't really want to, to tell you the truth! Her nails have been routinely ground as usual but otherwise she's been left au-natural! She certainly is not the furriest Brittany in the world, but she needs quite a bit of grooming none-the-less before ring time Sat.
In all seriousness cleanliness is just as important for dog health as a persons. Trimming or grinding a dogs nails not only protects your floors, personal flesh and is aesthetically pleasing, but it helps prevent injury to the foot and tears as well. Have you ever seen a dog get its foot and nail stuck in something? I have, and it is not fun for either you or your dog! It's also very important to check a dogs ears, especially if they are floppy like the Brittany's. Ear wax can build up as well as mites get in and possibly give your dog an infection. A cotton ball and some peroxide cleans ears nicely. I happen to have it easy there, with three dogs, they do a really good job at keeping each others ears clean. The wonders of pack dynamics!
Now not everyone really wants to get down and groom their dog. The Britt has a fairly easy coat to keep in general and doesn't require much brushing. Some do of course but on average it's easy to maintain. I personally enjoy the time I spend grooming my dogs, we get some one-on-one time and they love the extra attention. For the average Brittany owner there is no need for a "show" cut. Of course we don't take nearly as much off as some breeds, but for the average weekend hunter for instance, you would want the fur on the dogs neck to help protect him from briars. There are of course a few places that should be looked at on every dog, be it a dog for show, hunt or even just a lazy house dog (a lazy Brittany? Do they exist?) The extra fur between the toes should be pulled up and trimmed off, as well as the fur between the pads. Not only is it more comfortable, but there is less risk of picking up painful burrs that may stick to the fur. Secondly the fur around your dogs anus should be kept short, which will help prevent any "hitch-hikers" , which besides being just gross, can also carry worms or disease BACK into the house! Eww!
Now using great personal restraint I have gone without touching a pair of scissors to Isabella in a few months. It really helped when she was in heat, because then I didn't really want to, to tell you the truth! Her nails have been routinely ground as usual but otherwise she's been left au-natural! She certainly is not the furriest Brittany in the world, but she needs quite a bit of grooming none-the-less before ring time Sat.
Isabella before grooming, notice her furry feet!
Isabella after her pre-show grooming session!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The New Diary
Ahhhh, this is a much better place for the Diary. I admit, I don't often update purely because my setup for the diary takes time, and I'm usually pretty tired at the end of the day! Besides, I'd much rather spend the time doing my needed chores and spending time with my poor neglected dogs, or so they think they are! I admit my current problem is all three dogs just cannot physically fit on my lap. For a while there Izzy managed to squeeze on my lap as well as Oliver and the cat (that takes talent on ALL their parts let me tell you!), but Oliver is now just as big as Izzy in many respects and it is not happening. So now I take Oliver outside with me alone for a little bit of play and some show lead work. Isabella's favorite thing is to be allowed to sit on my lap for a while, so that is her special time in the evenings, and Hero wants me to throw a toy a couple times for her until she's content to chomp on it at my feet.
We are definitely gearing up for our first real show of the season. January is a nice little hiccup for me but really feels like it's still part of last year. This year I can honestly say I have no idea what my show schedule will look like past April, normally I can tell for the entire season due to my work schedule. April I will take Isabella to New York with her breeder Joan, and sister Monique for their Futurity. I have not entered her for the field portion, as I just have not had the time to get her ready. Izzy and Monique's mother Zoe took Best of Opposite (sex) in 2008, her Futurity year, and we hope one of the girls will follow in her paw-steps, or better! Linda McCartney-Roy, who brought Isabella to the Nationals this past November, will be handling Monique. Even though Kristyn, who does such a fantastic job with Izzy, does not have a bitch to handle, I have been looking forward to it for so long so will be taking Izzy in myself. Oliver will also be coming for the Specialty portion, but Hero will be going to stay with her best friend Paris and Aunty Pam. Hero will be getting close to coming into heat and being bred so I want to minimize her stress and exposure.
But about next weekend we are very excited! For quite possibly the only time ever I will have all three of my dogs entered. Oliver will make his debut, I'm hoping he will have FUN first and foremost and if I am lucky he will remember the things I have tried to teach him. Well, as much as you can teach a scatter-brained male Brittany puppy! He does move quite nicely, but occasionally forgets himself and bounces and bounds like his legs are made of springs! This is also likely Hero's only show for the year. She is entered in the Open class, which I expect will be fairly large (16 bitches total entered in the classes) so while it would be great to place, I am not expecting a win. She does look great right now, her last heat did her wonders. Hero happens to love the show ring, and very visibly sulks if left out.
Isabella, now she is a different story. But not one people may expect. She isn't even two yet and look at what she's accomplished! After going Winners Bitch for the 5 point major at Nationals, and then finishing with another major at her very next show going Best of Breed with a dazed me at the end of the lead... what is in store for her next? Yes, she is going to continue to be shown. Occasionally I am reminded by those I love that though she is my dog, she isn't "just" my dog. Alright! I get the hint! But she's far too young to Special, and currently I just cannot afford to really get her out there. So this year when she is shown it is not for her, but for me. I need to hone my skills as a handler, and more importantly I think I need to develop the confidence in the ring I currently lack. So, we are not going for the ribbons, but for the experience! If we happen to do anything this next year, yay! If not, that's okay too because it's not our objective. What I really want to do with Izzy is work on getting her JH title, and I am actively training her for a obedience title as well. I have some tentative plans for her regarding when she's older, but that is a long way off. Mostly, she's just my buddy!
We are definitely gearing up for our first real show of the season. January is a nice little hiccup for me but really feels like it's still part of last year. This year I can honestly say I have no idea what my show schedule will look like past April, normally I can tell for the entire season due to my work schedule. April I will take Isabella to New York with her breeder Joan, and sister Monique for their Futurity. I have not entered her for the field portion, as I just have not had the time to get her ready. Izzy and Monique's mother Zoe took Best of Opposite (sex) in 2008, her Futurity year, and we hope one of the girls will follow in her paw-steps, or better! Linda McCartney-Roy, who brought Isabella to the Nationals this past November, will be handling Monique. Even though Kristyn, who does such a fantastic job with Izzy, does not have a bitch to handle, I have been looking forward to it for so long so will be taking Izzy in myself. Oliver will also be coming for the Specialty portion, but Hero will be going to stay with her best friend Paris and Aunty Pam. Hero will be getting close to coming into heat and being bred so I want to minimize her stress and exposure.
But about next weekend we are very excited! For quite possibly the only time ever I will have all three of my dogs entered. Oliver will make his debut, I'm hoping he will have FUN first and foremost and if I am lucky he will remember the things I have tried to teach him. Well, as much as you can teach a scatter-brained male Brittany puppy! He does move quite nicely, but occasionally forgets himself and bounces and bounds like his legs are made of springs! This is also likely Hero's only show for the year. She is entered in the Open class, which I expect will be fairly large (16 bitches total entered in the classes) so while it would be great to place, I am not expecting a win. She does look great right now, her last heat did her wonders. Hero happens to love the show ring, and very visibly sulks if left out.
Isabella, now she is a different story. But not one people may expect. She isn't even two yet and look at what she's accomplished! After going Winners Bitch for the 5 point major at Nationals, and then finishing with another major at her very next show going Best of Breed with a dazed me at the end of the lead... what is in store for her next? Yes, she is going to continue to be shown. Occasionally I am reminded by those I love that though she is my dog, she isn't "just" my dog. Alright! I get the hint! But she's far too young to Special, and currently I just cannot afford to really get her out there. So this year when she is shown it is not for her, but for me. I need to hone my skills as a handler, and more importantly I think I need to develop the confidence in the ring I currently lack. So, we are not going for the ribbons, but for the experience! If we happen to do anything this next year, yay! If not, that's okay too because it's not our objective. What I really want to do with Izzy is work on getting her JH title, and I am actively training her for a obedience title as well. I have some tentative plans for her regarding when she's older, but that is a long way off. Mostly, she's just my buddy!
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