| Archive for The Brittany Forum For all friends of the versatile Brittany |
| Andrew B |
Just a little bit about myself.Although i contribute to the site regularly i'll introduce myself any way.I am 38years old and work in the traffic office for a large haulage company near Wells Somerset.My first love was always Formula 1 motor racing but not any more,that accolade now belongs to Brittanys,especially my Brittany,registered name Eastonite Viva of Grannus or Tilly as she's known.Tilly is now 21 months old and after our children,our lives pretty much revolve around her.My wife and i love to watch her running in the fields not exactly knowing what she's doing because we're sure she doesn't know herself.Because of work commitments and general family life,we don't get to show her as much as we'd like,however when we do show her, we generally do quite well at champ shows,2nds and thirds mostly but no first as yet,her day will come soon though i'm sure.I'm slowly starting to get to know the other owners at shows and we're looking forward to getting to know everybody as time goes by.That's enough for now i think, i don't want to bore anyone so i'll sign off.All the best. Andrew Bevan. |
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| Lin Dyke |
Like Andrew I also contribute a bit but just a bit more about us. Rudi is our second Brittany, he is a five year old black tri, Presthill Papillon is his official name. Zac is a b/w English Springer, nine years old going on two  They love to hunt, together or seperately. They are basically pets but the working instinct is very strong in both of them. They adore Oliver the grandson and he adores them. My first Brittany was Josh an o/w roan, he was thirteen when he left us, just over three years ago now. I can't imagine our home without a Brittany, in fact without a Brittany it wouldn't be home  I work part time for Waitrose as a checkout supervisor so for thirty two hours a week I am either dashing about sorting out customers , tills or juggling the rota. Sometimes I even get to sit down on a checkout
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| jackie |
who am IHi my name is Jackie Hope, I work as a supervisor/dispenser for a well known pharmacy. I have been animal trained to degree level and have also got my Vet med certifcate. I first became interested in Brittanys 8yrs ago. Our first introduction was an orange and white bitch who was called Jessie. She was a brillant dog with a good nose and a brillant working interest. Her only fault was that she needed half an hour or so to go mad in a field that we was not going to work, then she would settle down. Unfortunatly we lost Jess at a very young age of six to meningtsis. The house and our lives was turned upside down. People talk about the house being quite when the kids leave the nest, but no one can knows how it affects you when you lose your best friend, and hunting partner as well. Jessie was worked with Birds of Prey, we had two kestrels that would give out an alarm call and Jessie would go tearing out into the back garden to protect her birds only to find that they had tricked her and that nothing was wrong. It was not long before we could no longer bear the silence and we had Ozzie from Maggie and Richard Welch. Ozzie is proving to be very good at what the breed is all about (HUNT POINT AND RETRIEVE). He is very affectionate and loyal and I love him to bits (better than the Old man). Six months later we had megan, she's completely different to Ozzie, still affectionate, but tries to be a lot more dominate. (The other half say's typical woman), but her hunting skills are also developing and proving that the breed is just the best. Unfortunatley the Kestrels have yet to train them into responding to their every call, maybe one day!!!Sorry to have waffled on so much. Jackie, Ozzie and Megan 
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| Annie as admin |
MeHi - well you probably know me better than I know you. Treasurer since 1997, thrown in at the deep end just because of my line of work, cruel I say! Have had Brittanys since 1984, founder member of the Club, Sandy never worked them although Brett and Bonnie didn't ever know that. A couple of years after he died, John tried to take us all in his stride, with a little sucess (with the dogs, not me ) and took part in a number of field trials with a couple of the girls. Now on my own again, I still have his GWP (who ignored me for three months after he died, typical wire  ), and two Brittanys, with a couple of pups waiting to go to their new Mums and Dads next weekend. Basically showing and judging is my scene, but my dogs go shooting with my friends Simon and Pamela.
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| Tache |
Hi, we are Jenny and Rod, (Alex 9, Abigael 7, and Amelie 4). I'm a part time staff nurse in A&E and Rods a qualified building surveyor and a corgi registered plumbing and heating engineer. We have Tache, an orange and white female of nearly seven months (doesn't time go fast!). Her natural instincts are prominant and abundantly clear, a pleasure to see. However she is a family pet and a muched loved fantastic one at that! We are currently doing basic training classes. Walking to heel is a a bone of contention but that seems to be a bit of a problem for a few of you! I aim to move onto agility and hope to start when Tache gets to her 1st birthday. Rod has a long association with the breed. His french uncle bred espagnol bretons and introduced him to the breed 35 years ago when he used to help feed and train the dogs for hunting during long summer holidays in Brittany, and we continue to have regular contact with french relatives who own this wonderful breed. | ||
| guy |
I now have two EB - previously having had ESS;
The first is Topaz - he is now about 16 months, out of Chandale Orange Blossom of Tailliside by Eastonite Talapion. His first love is hunting, if it has a scent or moves he will point it. have just come back from France where the lizards were wearing him out. I would describe him as an HP - we are having to work on the R bit. retrieves well in the garden but out and about - hmmm. Have been beating with him where he was very much admired, also GWT's. The second - Barley - is about two and was found on a welsh mountain top some months ago. Pictures of both can be found on the website below. Me - 50 something, Julia and three children who are mostly away - uni / work; I have a small company making garden strutures http://www.egcc.biz/ so i will have to talk to Andrew B about deliveries - we hope to have something going to Scotland July / August. |
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| bluehawk |
Hi All
My name is Gareth Jones and I've just picked up my (bitch) pup, Briagh from Anne last Sunday. I have two birds of prey, so am looking forward to having a proper falconers' dog to work. Brittany's came to me by recommendation as I hadn't heard of them or seen before, to be honest I thought the first one I saw was a spaniel mongrel of some sort (!), but I've come to appreciate the breed. I hope to post some sort of diary to cover her more advanced training, as a falconers' dog, the retrieve command isn't necessary, but I hope to keep you all informed of her progress (any advice and tips are most welcome). Regards Gareth |
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| Andrew B |
Welcome aboard,posting a diary sound a brilliant idea i'll look forward to reading your adventures with your new bitch. 
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| F.RENAUD |
hello I am fred. I live in france in sologne near Orléans , Bourges and Blois. this region situate in the center of France.
I am 40 , and I hunt the woodcock ( scolopax rusticola) ,perdrix and pheasants. My region to origine is Bretagne ! 
I have two britannies orange and white . the first is 13 and second is 2 years. the second is very good dog. She is a champion to field trial . Also I participate in the differents dogs show with her. I am very happy with its performances. 
If you want to look my dog (viva), you can go to : http://www.epagneul-breton-crestani.fr sorry for my english that is not very good !!.... 
bye F.R |
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| Andrew B |
I wish my French was as good as your English Fred. Just been to your web site,Viva is a stunner,very nice indeed.
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| Annie as admin |
Talie!I really like Talie's shape |
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| Victoria |
VivaHi Fred, will you have Viva at Beauvais, sorry more correctly Baillel sur Therain? I understand the woodcock which we do not have in New Zealand can be a very difficult bird to hunt.We only have two quail the Californian and the Australian Brown Quail. I only shoot the pheasant which my Gaston (13 months) is excellent on. 
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| wizard |
A short intro...Hi there, my name is Susie and I am lucky enough to share my life with Merlin my 8 month old orange and white roan. I have been training with the basic social stuff and am just starting to get my head around learning to become a gundog handler, Merlin knows what he should be doing, I on the other hand am a complete beginner and would love to receive any advice and encouragement available... please.....The wizard and I move to France in October and I hope he will not let the brits down when out on the hunt  One question, will I ever get his ears to connect to his brain when he has seen a bird but I want him back rather than have him disappear to just a dot on the horizon? I know it is a Brittany thing, but my nerves...
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
Hi Susie
If Ghillie is anything to go by, the coming back when you are just out of reach is definately a Brittany thing. She lulls me into a false sense of security and then goes, mind you she still comes back...eventually!! Jan 
She is breathing down rabbit holes, the rabbits stand behind her and snigger!! |
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| guy |
Susie
welcome to the forum. hi. whereabouts in France are you off to?? selective hearing - involves a lot of leg work on your part :-) Those that seem to know say you have to make coming back more interesting than hunting - yeah right as if that is gong to happen! The double whammy looser is if they disappear from sight and then go on point. |
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| Victoria |
painted on earsHi SusieOur Gaston does the usual Brittany thing; I do not believe they take off for any other reason than their speciality dictating them to do so; they are one of the most highly scented of all the gundog fraternity if not all the canine world. I have found that when all I could see was that gorgus derrier disappearing into the shrubbery and beyond what I had to learn and learn fast was to RELAX. I had a good return whistle on him which in usual Brit fashion he was and still is a bit slow (you know good old Brittany time) to respond to depending on what scent he was on and I no longer fret about that; I mean hedgehog poo has to be investigated afterall!! The whistle is important; rather the type of whistle noise you use. I observed at a QC trial here a girl with a GWP; her stop and return whistles were weak, staccato noises yet her side whistles were really strong noises. Wrong way round!! Once I understood what his need was then I relaxed and soon our forays into the wilderness were much less anxious for me. ( And our anxiety is based on our love for them!! The thought of him being lost and/or hurt is just too awful to think about) It was me wising up in that until I figured his routine out. I took him to controlled areas like the vineyard where the parameters are obvious etc. He was learning too because he now knows that no matter how tantalizing a hare and its scent may be he cannot run it down. Then I observed his foraying pattern and his system. The more tense you become the more things get a bit custardy. Of course, to make it even more scarier is the speed at which they travel. Once we got into pheasant shooting; him with nose and me with gun things changed and lots just fell into place. You were overnight able to use all that instinct and he could work out all that retrieve stuff and everything. I think the thing is to expose them to as much as possible so they learn what scent means what. And your Merlin (neat photo) at 8months is at that wonderful age where they are just so full of themselves and the whole world is one great big glorious pong. Gaston is 13months old and the change from 8 to 13 months is amazing. Chris and Barry and Robyn and John all top shooters and trialists in New Zealand have given me the very best advice; its not a formula, its not rocket science; it comprized only three words; ENJOY YOUR PUPPY!! |
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| wizard |
Thanks for your replies guys.Good Morning, what a lovely way to start the day, a nice welcome. Thank you.I am off to a village in the foothills of the Pyrenees with Foix (SW France) just 15 mins away. The more I am reading about the Brittany the more I am understanding and therefore my enjoyment of Merlin is growing all the time. I am reading a 1970's copy of a Hammond and Hammond Book on Hunting and Training the Brittany and it has been a great source of understanding this sensitive creature. Thanks for the info, please keep it coming. Who is off to Broadlands for the Game Show? Susie |
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| guy |
the boys (left) are on the Brittany stand Saturday | ||
| Benabump |
Hello everyonePamela here - of Simon and Pamela. We have Flash(Fosscott Phlash Gordon) and Aberdon Beinn an Oir(Bena) from Anne. Look forward to joining you on the forum. |
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| Victoria |
HiHi Pamela and Simon! Do you show and/or hunt with your dogs? |
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| Annie as admin |
PAmela and SimonHi VictoriaPamela isn't online much at the moment - laptop giving problems - so let me explain. They live an hour from me, and have one of Freckles pups, and I gave them Flash a couple of years ago to train and work. They don't trial, and I will be showing for them occasionally. They have an interest in my afffix - Aberdon. Annie |
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| Victoria |
Thank you, Annie. Best of luck in the showring! | ||
| dibnahs-dad |
Please allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Mike Porter and I am married to Junko and our Brittany is Dibnah or Yarak Valliant whom we got off Joanne Hague in May 2004. Our interest in Brittanys to some might seem extremely strange as the path that lead us to purchasing a Brit very un-usual. In early 2003 we made a decision that we wanted a dog and began a search of breeds and initially wanted a border collie or labrador, but after filling in an online survey on Pet planet which asks questions about your lifestyle, etc. both my wife and I came up with nearly the same results. Brittany was my wifes number 1 and my numbers 2. So we dug a little and started looking to find out as much about the breed as possible as neither of us had heard of brits before. After reading lots and discussing with a few breeders we ended up at the doorstep of Yarak brits choosing a puppy from their latest litter. We chose Dibnah and 5 weeks later we where enjoying the joys of brittany ownership and over 2 years later we are still loving every minute. Despite the last few months being extremely trying due to Dibnah being knocked over and seriously injured. He is on the mend but its proving extremely difficult keeping him immobile whilst his broken leg mends! Personally, I am the managing director of Milkshake Design and also own several other businesses and in my spare time I am love nothing more than taking dibnah out into the nearby peak district and walking for hours whilst photographing the local scenery. I also write news articles for various websites and local publications. We have been members of the Brittany club since July 2004 and regularly attend meetings, so maybe see you there. |
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| Liz |
Hi Mike - Welcome to the forum. Glad to hear that Dibnah is on the mend. I don't envy you trying to keep him immobile - it's not in a Brit's vocabulary.
All the best. Liz |
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| Annie as admin |
WELCOMEHi Mike and Junko and WelcomeGlad to hear Fred, oops sorry Dibnah, is on the mend Maybe see you at Le Weekend. Hope you enjoy this forum.
Annie |
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| dibnahs-dad |
Just like to give you the follow up on Dibnahs accident, see above.
He was knocked down in August of 2006 and our vets transfered us immediately to a specialist vets In Frodsham on the Wirral, North West Surgeons to be exact - http://www.nwsurgeons.co.uk/index.html who have been superb, honestly I cannot rate this place highly enough. Superb surgeons and staff. Anway when we took Dibnah in there they gave him a 1 in 10 chance of getting back to normal, I know they have to be pesamistic but they where honestly not optimistic about a full recovery due to the spiral nature of the break. 6 months later we've been given the all clear at his last x-ray and am now excercising Dib at the same level I was before the accident. His leg although fractured in 10 places is now held together with a plate, 12 wires and three screws. Hasnt slowed him down though he's still as mad and running everywhere and looking forward to the next Brit event. |
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| johnhod |
Great news Mike, sounds like Dibnah has a cat in his ancestry (9 lives) | ||
| Liz |
Fantastic news Mike - looking forward to seing you around again
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| honeys humans |
hi mike, nice to hear about dibnah, got any photos of him back in good health to share with us?
regards mike and honey |
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| guy |
Mike - great news. i have just been reading back through this post - Topaz came from Poynton !!
Simon Potter and Fiona Cook . If you don't already know them, I will PM you contact details - or look in the club handbook. Look forward to seeing some of your photos and meeting up at an event. |
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| dibnahs-dad |
Guy,
I know fiona admitedly not very well though, only from the club meetings, but I know a few people who know her. I've even been stopped by somebody when out walking with Dibnah and asked "Is he a Brittany?" which always shocks me when somebody knows what breed Dibnah is, but apparently she knew Fiona! here's a few pictures of Dibnah taken in the past 2 weeks 
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| honeys humans |
great photos of dibnah mike, honey stares out the window in exactly the same way - nosey brittanys lol
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| Victoria |
Gorgus!! | ||
| Annie as admin |
window watchingYup, mine do too - and tell things off if they shouldn't be there
Click to see full size image |
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| Liz |
Bliss and Sherry keeping an eye on the world going past (or as Bill puts it "two Scottish ladies on the neb")
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| honeys humans |
must be a favourite pastime lol
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| dibnahs-dad |
Annie,
I have put all the puppy images I have online for you to look at. If you want any of the larger images then PM me with the file names which are shown below each picture and I will Zip them up and email them over as they are 3megabytes each. view them here: http://www.mykp.co.uk/gallery.asp?id=puppy%20pics Some are a bit blurred as puppies dont keep still for very long and have no sympathy for you when your trying to take their picture. mike |
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| Annie as admin |
Thanks Mike
Ooohhh I get all gooey lookimg at puppies, can I have 8, 11, 23, 24, 25 and 26 please. 26 looks a but like Belle must ask Joanne if it's her. I'm going to mate Belle early next year, either to Flash (black tri) haven't decided yet. Annie |
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| guy |
Or? |
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| Annie as admin |
or?Sorry, brain not in gear tonight - keep getting flashbacks to Thursday. Maybe it's the virtual knives in my back
Or Allez(Orange tricolour) |
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| Ghilliegumdrop |
More likely the brain is rotting!!
We didn't get home from discover dogs till 11pm last night, not I add, because we were there till then but because my friend Dawn and I stopped at a pub for something to eat. We had a brilliant time, although Barbara's two boys insisted that Ghill was in season and she insisted she wasn't so a good time was had by all. didn't seem to put people off as she stopped growling at the boys long enough to make a fuss of all the children who wanted to stroke her then went back to telling the boys off. We went into the ringcraft demo ring were the woman commentating called her a brittany spaniel. I would have thought a KC employee would know better, anyway I put my two cents worth in and told her they were now just brittanys. Richard went home with around 50 lb pedigree chum freebies in his box, we had a contest to see who could get the most and I think I may have won. Unfortunately I couldn't carry it as I had not taken a trolley...oh well there is always next year. |
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