| Archive for The Brittany Forum For all friends of the versatile Brittany |
| johnhod |
HiJust a note to say Hi. I'm new to this site and to Brittanys. I hope soon to have a brittany that can accompany me on rough shooting outings.Any advice on selecting a puppy and how early training is different from the springers that I've had in the past would be welcomed. |
| Annie as admin |
WelcomeHi there, John. Welcome to the Group. As you can see it's not just about Brittanys, nor even about dogs
If you haven't already contacted a breeder about having a Brittany puppy, then you should do so as soon as possible(there are some on the Club website - follow the links button on the left. There are oly a few litters bred each year and most are sold before they are a few weeks old. Contact our Puppy Register, Jayricnbrits@aol.com, for details of any litters on the Club's list. When choosing a puppy, ask to see the hip scores (a green card from the BVA) to ensure the parents are below the breed average of 18 and that both hips are more or less equal (e.g. 4/4; 5/3; 7/5 etc, with a total of under 18 ) Ask if either parent is working, and check the pedigrees for FT Champions or Triallers, and for dogs common to both the Sire and the Dam. You will get lots of views on temperament, and some people say take a forward puppy for working, but I have found that I don't usually have a particulary forward puppy in a litter, they are all forward brats! You could also watch for one that picks things up - bits of paper or bedding etc, and don't make a final choice till they are about 4 to 6 weeks old. Most Brittanys will hunt, but they don't all retrieve well so a puppy that loves retrieving from the beginning has a head start. You should start obedience training as soon as you get your puppy home - come, sit and stay - these are the basics needed to control the inherent instinct to go deaf when hunting.  Our new Anniversary Handbook has a number of training articles which might be useful to you. Details of these are in the guest book and on the website. Let me know if you would like one. If you join the Club (Your breeder may give you the first year free with the puppy - I do) you will receive two newsletters a year, plus training advice at any time from our Field Trial Secretary or any Committee Member. Check the Committee list for someone near you and pay them a visit - you will be very welcome to go and meet their dogs.
Good luck and keep us posted Annie |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Hi John
Welcome to the site. Brittanys are not quite as manic as Springers seem to be and are [or mine is] more trainable, having said that they are also more intelligent and can think up lots of things to do that perhaps you might not like, so just keep your eyes on the little darling when you get him/her.They are brilliant dogs as a breed, great with children, and you will not regret your decision to have one, unless it eats the canary, or the cat. they also seem to like water and once in prefer not to come out swimming up and down just out of reach Jan |
| johnhod |
Thanks for the info and tips. I've taken the advice of contacting the puppy register but am having difficulty in finding details on the site about committee mebers and how to join the club. This is probably due to being distracted by the variouis information on the site them forgetting where I was up to in my search.javascript:emoticon(' ')
Confused Any chance of making it easy for me? Joining details would be appreciated. I'm assumnig that I can join without actually having a Brittany yet. |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Hi John
You are able to join without a Brittany and you can download a membership form from here [somewhere] Anne will no doubt tell you how. The list of committee members is on the main page, go into Club and then click onto officers and committee members. I think Fiona Cook on 01625 879 393 is closest to you as she is in Cheshire. Anne is in Scotland and I am in Hertfordshire, however if you ring after six or on a weekend it will only cost 5p per hour to talk to one of us, thats if you are with BT. My number is 01763 244071. Jan |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Sorry John its Sunday and we had a heavy night last night, when you go into the club bit there is a menu along the top of the page, click onto membership and the forms are on there.
Jan |
| Andrew B |
Welcome John,and well done on going for a Brittany.They are pretty much everything you need in a dog whether it be for work or play,they're just the best. |
| johnhod |
Thanks Jan
I've read that page before and completely missed the table at the top. 
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
I know the feeling, been there and done that!! |
| Victoria |
Hi John, the BCGB is wonderful; they even let we from the colonies join!!
The only advice I can give you about having one of these wonderful little dogs is this; be warned, you will never be the same again!!!! They are wonderful; couch huggers one minute; persistent amazing hunters the next...best of luck getting a puppy! |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Don't forget, one is never enough>
Jan When oh when is this silly b.... going to come into season? |
| Annie as admin |
numbersHmmm, yes, they can become addictive - I only have three plus a German Wirehaired Plonker, but at one time we had 8 when John was alive. I can only say that I fully admit to being nuts
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| Annie as admin |
testing photos
Click to see full size image No problem uploading to 'Hi' Jan so must be you! |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Working OK now, I think!
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| Andrew B |
Another cracking picture. |
| johnhod |
Yes, a great picture. So good to see a working breed that isn't being changed to the point of ruin by the show bench.
So many of the gundog breeds, that are shown, wouldn't last 5 minutes in the field |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Ghillie is about 18 months in this picture which is why she is rather like a rocking horse.Both she and I have leant a lot since then.
Jan |
| Lin Dyke |
Hello John and welcome. The Brittany is a very special breed, once you have been owned by one you will never be without one. Rudi is my second and I can't wait to get my third (fourth,fifth,sixth...  ) They are very intelligent, great thinkers, and always assume they know better than you (if it's where the bird is they are usually right  ) They are wonderful affectionate companions and truly great hunters.
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| Victoria |
And so say all of us!!!! |
| johnhod |
STOP. You're all getting me so jealous now. Why have I taken so long to find this wonerful breed?? 
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| Victoria |
John, cos good things take time!!!! I know from experience - I often wonder when I see my boy after pheasants 'where have you been all my life" - and I reckon Breton people are on the whole different from most dog people; little wonder really how could we not be; these little bundles of love, energy, brain, trust, hunt are just so giving and joyful; even when you are ratty with them they draw their ears up and look so dreadfully cute that you have to turn away...not cos you are scared of turning into a pillar of salt but to avoid laughing out loud. I have also made the observation that they are one of the few dog breeds (that I have been associated with) which will actually LOOK into your eyes without averting their gaze; its not an act of defiance but one of friendship and interest... |
| Andrew B |
Very true Victoria,i've often felt the same. |
| honeys humans |
hihello everyone, finally signed up to the forum, have always enjoyed browsing this site, hope to post some pics soon, regards mike and honey |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Where in Hertfordshire Mike, I'm in Royston.
Jan and the Ghilldog. |
| Annie as admin |
welcomeHi MikeAnd I'm up here in Bonnie Scotland - the Frozen North at the moment. Welcome to the Group. Annie |
| honeys humans |
thanks for the welcome ;)thank you very much for the welcome, honey lives in bushey (southwest herts) with myself and my wife sharon. would be lovely to meet up some day with any other brittanys and their owners to exercise the dogs.honey is 9 but still plays like a pup, she is a family pet - great with our children and their friends, even though she's not been trained in the field she displays wonderful natural hunting and pointing instincts and it's a joy to watch her at 'work' and play. she's not registered with the kennel club because her mother was a rescued brittany and i know some people have strong feelings about this but her tail is not docked (hope we're not going to be banned from the forum for this lol) looking forward to sharing some brittany 'tails' on the forum best wishes mike and honey |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Hi Mike
If I were you I shouldn't worry about Honey's tail, from next April ALL Brittanys born here will keep their tails [except those with the tailless gene and/or working dogs that is] so she will be in good company. Any idea who her dad was? Regards Jan and the Ghilldog |
| honeys humans |
hi jan, we met honeys mum (black & white) when we went to pick honey up - she was 10-12 weeks old and last of the litter. her dad was orange and white, we were given his details - but i'm afraid it was a case of in one ear and out the other at the time (we just didn't care tbh)
she was the most gorgeous pup and we were totally besotted by her
best wishes mike |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Can you remember where she was from? Just curious. Any photos?
Regards Jan The Ghilldog with her mouth full! 
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| honeys humans |
hi jan i'll have to ask sharon, have lots of photos - only had a digi camera for a year though so i'll have to dig the scanner out am playing with hosting images atm - will take me a while to figure out, i'm even having dificulty changing the avatar lol. The Ghilldog is adorable btw!
best wishes mike |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Thanks Mike, I think so too.
Jan Unless of course she is hightailling it after a bird when we are on a shoot!! |
| Tache |
Jan, hope you dont mind me asking but what is Gills parentage? She looks so much like Tache, I always do a second take when you post your photos!!
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
She is by
Sh.Ch.Raoul du Sulon at Brittyhill X Brittyhill Pastiche I bet Tache has either Raoul or Tchao in her, Tchao is Ghill's grandfather. Jan Have you got a picture of Tache on here? |
| Tache |
Got it, Ghilly is Taches aunt!!!!There is a picture under new baby page 3 I think, they are a little old I will try and post another more recent one soon.Thanks Jan! Jenny 
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
So what is her pedigree? Ghill is a virgin at the moment, we are looking to change that as soon as she comes into season [we have only been waiting for the last 12 months] Chris is waiting for a little boy to go out to NZ. Ghillie takes great delight in rolling over to show me that NOTHING has changed!!See picture in the next post.
Jan |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
There you go!
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| Tache |
Aunty Ghill!Brittyhill Varrim( Ghillies brother I assume) X Bestobel Unis. Tache came into season a couple of months ago, she is only just one, so at least a year until we need to think of such things, if ever! |
| Annie as admin |
Yup, same way bred later litter. Suggest you get Tache's(Brittybarton Lulu I believe!) hips done when she is just over a year old. Then you don't have to rush and get it done in a hurry if you decide to mate her after she is two(recommended minimum age) Knowing Connors he won't have put an endorsement on the pups.
Annie ps Did you like the handbook? |
| Victoria |
Now the gorgus one is showing her undergarments, honestly!! You know the old adage Jan, a watched kettle never boils! |
| Tache |
Thanks Annie, right on all counts ( how do you do it!) and yes I will in due course, for my own peace of mind! Will probably not breed from her and certainly not before she is two.It's such a huge undertaking and responsibility to both the dog and breed. Loved the handbook thankyou, I am very tempted to get the calendar if theres any left, Jenny. |
| honeys humans |
it's a hard life
sent you PM Jan regards mike 
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
Typical Britt this. |
| Victoria |
What a sweetie!!! Whats this about calenders????!!!!!! |
| Ghilliegumdrop |
Send me your address!!
Jan On this forum as my emails are up the creek. |
| andrea |
I was registered as Vanilla Ice but have just changed email address,so just saying hello to everyone,Happy New Year and good luck in 2007. |
| wizard |
Merlin is a J.Connors Dog tooHi Guys, long time without sticking my head in, apologies.France is still great, and my dog is even better! Merlin is coming up to 20 months now, he is maturing finally. He is just starting to build a bit of body and his coat is finally thickening up. His manners are coming along too, a great step in the right direction. He loves living in the Pyrenees, he sits on his terrace looking over his half acre garden to the foothills ahead and looks simply content and relaxed, a vast contrast to his time in the UK with the twinset seaside old ladies constantly wanting to stop me to tell me my dog was in need of a training class. Merlin is from Brittyhill Varrim X Bestobel Unis born 4/11/05, any of you guys have a sibling? Hoping for some pics Kind regards Susie & Merlin[/img] |
| Tache |
Yes we have his sister!!! If you read back in this thread I have posted a few photos somewhere! Love to compare notes please pm me if you wish,regards Jenny.
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