My favorite color

In all the crazy that has been going on the past week prepping for this one and the arrival of Isabella and Oliver's puppies, on top of this nagging chesty cough that just won't go away, and everything else... I did manage to step away for the weekend for another field trial. I packed up Merlin and Tristian, and brought Alaïs along for good measure and drove down to Massachusetts Friday night. We stayed with Joan which we often do. Though I don't think I have ever been there without Izzy! Joan is Isabella's breeder and a good friend as well.

I am admittedly new to field trials. It's something I have wanted to do for a long time but I severely injured my back 3 1/2 years ago so Izzy never saw much field work and then she took off in the show ring... Oliver I never meant to field trial but he has seen plenty of field work. I had him evaluated the other week and it is now my intention to finish the breaking process and run him this coming fall. He is just a joy to work with and train. Even if he never places, I will learn a lot by running an adult dog. A little over a year ago Isabella was bred to Victor, and I knew the puppy I kept I would be here trying my best at trials. Little did I know I'd have two.


The boys running the treeline this winter

Because it can be expensive and I'm looking at added expense raising my upcoming litter of puppies, I have entered Merlin both days of the trials and Tristian just one day. In fact I almost didn't enter Tristian in this trial at all. I've grown him up intentionally but he is available to the right home, that won't waste his potential. Those homes are exceptionally hard to find however, and mix in my own requirements for a loving caring HOME first and foremost. SNEBC a few weeks ago didn't go as planned. I honestly was not healthy enough to be there but I am the stubborn type. Trist ran okay and Merlin was passed off to his grammy and did not. It was a learning experience.


A head shot of beautiful Naiha S, owned by Guy Pagella

CNEBC was also a learning experience. Merlin ran better for sure but he also was harassed on Saturday for a good 5 minutes starting off by the other puppy. He spent a lot of energy trying to get away and then did not work the woods like he normally does at home. That was where I was disappointed, normally he never fails at that. Sunday he ran far better, worked the woods but petered out getting towards the end. I couldn't make him drink the water, not that I blame him it had a bit of a sheen from gas on it. But he caught scent with just a few minutes left, ended up popping the bird and boy did he come to life! He worked those edges and wanted to find another bird! What an improvement! He'll get better the more he gets out. And I do need to work on his stamina.

Tristian was the last brace of the day, I said to his "grampy" Ed he's my rocket but he hasn't had near the amount of birdwork his brother has. His breakaway was very similar to Merlin's the day before, with one exception, the judges were having none of it. So the other dog was told to lay off and we let them advance pretty far up before we let Trist go again (we couldn't catch the other dog.) Trist still ended up in front, any time we saw him it was coming out of the woods or in it hunting. He set a pretty fast pace so we had time to spare when we finally reached the field, and he listened to my whistle and then my command to hit the treeline. Then he hit scent big time and..... yeah. Time was called and Trist was NOT DONE! Kind of embarrassing for me, he was not coming in when called but he did come around (at least so I spotted him look at me than take off around a upper field again.) It took a bit to get him in, he wanted to keep going. Ed had walked the brace and told me on our way back he thought he'd have a piece of the pie. It was a 8 dog stake so a pretty large entry for puppies. Trist had only ever run once before and I was quite ill at the time.

Listening to placements being announced was a bit nerve-wracking. Knowing what Ed said to me and hearing 4th-2nd called and none were my dogs... what can I say about how I felt when I heard Tristian's name and a blue ribbon was handed to me. Pride, joy, and a million other feelings swept through me. My first field trial ribbon and it was the blue. 8 puppies were entered so it was good for 2 Amateur Puppy points, he'll never need to run another Amateur Puppy stake again. When we had been driving to the trial Sunday morning I had turned and said to the boys, I'd like a ribbon, don't care what color but to keep in mind my favorite color is blue. Thank you Tristian for listening to your momma! This is just the beginning... and I can see all my plans and hopes and dreams in technicolor now not just a far off hazy vision. Out of that litter most are in active hunting homes and doing very well. Five had successful hunting seasons at just 6 months of age, and my two were not hunted. What an amazing breeding this is turning out to be, and I couldn't be prouder, not just of my blue ribbon boy, but all of them.


Tristian and I after our win!

So much to do...

A lot is happening this week. In a way so much more happens this week than next, when I expect Isabella to whelp her litter. Time is running out for me to finish painting the front room. Those that know me also know I had a severe back injury a few years back and I can only do so much at once. So painting is done in small spurts with plenty of ibuprofen! But I do need to finish up within the next day or so, and then work on setting the room up for next week. There is a dilapidated couch I'd love to send to the dump that maybe with some help I can at least banish to the barn! The couch was old to start with but it has taken the brunt of owning and breeding dogs the past few years. The first incident was Hero, she dug out the end of it nearly 4 years ago when my dearest friend was visiting with her small son. Hero had bonded quite strongly with Derek and was quite upset when he was put to bed upstairs where she is not allowed! The second incident was also Hero. Sneaky girl she is, and I out of dog food, she waited for me to run to the store quickly only to whelp her first puppy on that couch! Last year really did it in though, Izzy dug out an entire cushion as her hormones took a hold of her prior to whelping. Needless to say, it's time to get it out of here!

I have a cot I set up when I am waiting for a whelping. Isabella will spend a night or two prior getting used to her box, which means a sacrifice from the other dogs for a few nights. They will have to sleep crated in the living room. Every bitch is different in how they react and Isabella is a very dominant personality. Even though she's normally the sweetest dog you've ever met and quite passive to the other dogs (as long as they respect pack rules!) when she has babies she's extremely protective. The cat found that out the hard way last year! Hero wanted her pack members close by, Izzy wants them in another country. At least for the first few weeks, and I respect that. I'll spend the first few nights after the puppies arrive in that room w/ her as well, so I'm really looking at almost a week of sleeping on the cot.


Isabella with her 2011 litter


I talked to a friend who owns one of my dogs today who asked me how I manage with 6 dogs. The truth is we have quite a routine here, and it works. I've found once you hit 3 dogs (pack mentality) everything after that is about the same. I have a wonderful large dog yard that is safe for me to allow the dogs into unsupervised. I don't ever leave my property with them out (I'm just too paranoid!) and that makes life a breeze! Best thing I ever did! I had a great fenced yard when I lived in Virginia, and not having one after that even for just two dogs gave me one of my biggest heartaches. Yes, I have very strong feelings about fencing! When inside they're all couch potatoes for the most part. The dogs will have their routine disrupted over the next two months. I'll be spending a lot of time with the puppies, which for the first 5 weeks means much reduced time with the others. Individual time with me when I go out for errands will cease until the pups go to their new homes. I'm cautious about accidentally bringing something into the home that could harm the pups.


Tristian having fun in the yard

My last real outing will take place this weekend in Massachusetts. Part of me wants to stay home and be happily paranoid, but a much larger part of me looked forward to the spring field trials for far too long to not go! So along with the painting, couch moving, building of gates, and day to day life... I'll be in the field all week with Merlin and Tristian prepping them for their runs this weekend. Maybe I'll even remember to pull out my camera this time!

Spring is for all things New

Just like this past winter (which mercifully is gone according to my calendar!) Spring is proving to be just as topsy-turvey. One week we have 80 degree weather (in MAINE!!!) just to see it drop right down again and actually see white stuff fall... but it didn't stick around. It's cool again, and if I'm honest with myself it feels like April... but could we just compromise and have 70 degree weather?

The boys and I headed down to the Sporting Specialties the other week. Just Merlin was entered and all seemed fine until my car passed the state line into Massachusetts. I could feel myself getting sick... and fast! What a miserable weekend in that respect. I can't imagine being so sick. I stuck it out and my good friend Kristyn took pity on me and showed Merlin, and I dragged myself to the ER Monday morning (turns out I was VERY ill, and two weeks later still on heavy antibiotics I'm still not 100%)


Kristyn w/ Merlin

Last weekend since I was feeling dubiously better I took all three boys down to Connecticut for a field trial. I had a blast, rode a gundog brace to watch Rock It, a FC half brother to the boys. I ran Trist myself in puppy but my lungs weren't as ready as the rest of me, so I rode in the gallery during Merlin's run which his grammy Darlene handled him in. It was a very large entry so we didn't place but we did learn a lot and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I also brought Oliver with me and after the trial on Sunday Darlene and I brought him out for a short run to evaluate him. I'll be working on finishing the breaking process with him with the goal of running him in the fall. He's just such an enjoyable dog to train! It was a great weekend with friends old and new, and I am looking forward to our next trial.

Now for the news people actually want to hear about. Isabella is a tank! With 3 weeks to go she's ballooning and there is no doubt she's got puppies packing her full. Yogurt and cottage cheese has been added to her diet and she's being fed multiple times a day to help accommodate the fact she doesn't have much room for food in her stomach. It's important she gets her exercise right now as that will help her during the whelping process. Her last litter of 10 was tough on her and it looks as though she might be repeating the feat. Of course getting a lazy blimp off the couch and moving is no easy task! She is Lazy with a capital L!


Hello Tubbymuffin

We are accepting serious inquiries still. Due to Izzy's obvious size there is room on the waiting list for this exciting litter.

Pet Peeves

I'll admit it, I have them. Pet Peeves. I'm even pretty specific about them, they have to do with pets! I normally content myself with biting my tongue, occasionally offering education, and sometimes complaining roundly to someone who knows where I am coming from. I know that may seem a bit like preaching to the choir, but after a while some of these things build up inside you and you just have to let them out. But here I sit writing about them for the first time, recent events haven driven all of these things to the forefront of my mind.

Meet Jessie. She is 12 years young and still full of that sweet Brittany life. She was brought to a local veterinarian in Massachusetts to be put to sleep because she would not hunt anymore. Her nails were overgrown, she tested positive for Lymes, has ticks everywhere and needed to be treated for worms. The vet took her in, refused to euthanize and contacted NBRAN. She was cleaned up, treated, and even brought home that first weekend to the vet's so she would not be alone. She will be headed to her new foster soon. Lucky for Jessie, many people offered to help her. I was one of them, though I didn't feel she would be happiest surrounded by a bunch of young dogs. Trust me though, had 2 days gone by and no place for her, I'd have driven down to get her myself.

For a Brittany, twelve years of age is often not the end. My Chester lived to be 17! I hope so very dearly that none of the dogs I bring into this world ever end up at a vets office because they will no longer hunt. Does Jessie not deserve a retirement? How could you not fall instantly in love with that sweet face, and want to protect her? If I come across as picky when working with people interested in a puppy... it's because I want to know that the love and value I place on my dogs, with be given to each puppy for their entire lives, not just until they stop hunting due to old age. Sometimes, dogs end up in rescue far earlier due to the same reason. Forget that training, and nurture is needed to hone the skills of these natural bird dogs.

My second pet peeve of the day. Designer dogs. I am sorry, but poodle mixes are NOT hypoallergenic. Their coats vary, their dander varies, and so does their saliva makeup, ALL of which can cause an allergic reaction. There are just too many genes involved that make up a dog that is actually considered hypoallergenic. Get a Poodle! Get a Bischon! Get a dog who has a predictable genetic makeup and temperament. Slapping a catchy combo-name on a mutt like people do to celebrity couples does not make them a breed OR worth much. Yet these mutts, are sold for often 3X what their purebred counterparts are sold for. Purebred counterparts that have been health tested, brought to their AKC Championships, and come with a knowledgeable breeder who will be there for the life of the dog!


That's right people, Poodles are a HUNTING dog!

I have one more, but it really deserves its own post. More so, it deserves its own permanent page. But alas at the moment I am dealing with painful arm due to carpal tunnel and need to get off this box and rest it. Thanks for letting me ramble on and vent!

A new year

Once again, it's been a while. I keep meaning to write but I don't. Life gets in the way! But I have been busy and somethings just get away from me. But boy does time fly! The boys, as I like to call them, are 9 1/2 months old. They are growing beautifully and they are the snuggliest boys on the face of the earth. We spent the fall learning to use our legs in the field and wood, getting used to varied terrain and a few whistle commands. Now I look at the calendar and our first field trial is just a month away! It will be a large one with many puppies entered so I am not expecting anything, but it will be good to see people and get a little help from their "grammy" who has been running trials since the boys daddy was a puppy. I am looking forward to focusing more on field training this year.



I am looking forward to the puppies out of Isabella and Oliver. They are due around the 20th of April, give or take a few days. I really think it is a wonderful breeding. The waitlist has opened up (I do not typically carry a wait list) to qualified homes. Please take the time to fill out the puppy application if interested.

I have also put together a page detailing fencing options on a budget that will keep your dog safe. I get so many questions regarding fencing I felt it was time. It can be found off of the puppies page.


Happy dogs have a safe place to play!

Well that's all for now. I have a full plate this week, and that doesn't include taking advantage of time off and good weather to get the boys in the field prepping for their first trial!