Lizzy is doing well in her bird dog training and continues to impress me with her drive and desire to find birds. She has a nice point and holds her head and tail high. We are working on whoa breaking her and getting her ready for her first pheasant hunting season. She was entered in a dog show in Idaho but we couldn’t get her a ride up there. I hope to find out if she has what it takes to be a dual champion.

Got the AKC registration back today for our new brittany female “TJ’s White Shadow”. Her call name is Scout and she just turned 2 years old. She is currently in training at Hideaway Kennels in Colorado. Ben Garcia has promised to send me some updated pics of Scout when the weather clears. We hope to get her back in a month or so and continue her bird dog training. If all goes well and her OFA comes back good we will plan on breeding her in the fall to a Shadow son.

This is Lizzy’s sister and littermate Polly. She became available to me because her tri-color markings came in too heavy to be in show competitions. She has good bird drive and loves to get out and run. She moves well and holds her tail nice and high. She is currently in training with my personal friend who wanted to try a Brittany after years of shorthairs. We will try to get some pictures of her dog training.

Everyday it seems we hear about dogs that need rescuing. As dog owners, we already have that sensitive place in our hearts for man’s best friend. After all, we probably spend more time around them than anybody else. Most of us would say that our dogs are spoiled rotten, that they have lives we could only dream of. But a lot of dogs don’t. That’s where organizations such as the Illinois Birddog Rescue (IBR) step in.

IBR is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and licensed shelter by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. They are dedicated to saving, transporting, vetting, fostering, and adopting homeless American field-bred pointers and English setters. Since October 2000, IBR has saved 786 dogs and puppies from all over the U.S. from overcrowded shelters and humane societies. The dogs live in foster homes to receive the attention and socialization they have been deprived of. They are taken to the veterinarian for an exam, and many need special drugs or surgeries due to negligence and tick-borne illnesses. And of course, they are taken out to the field to do what they were bred to do — hunt.

This is from a pass-along article from this months issue of The Pointing Dog Journal. To get a FREE no obligation trial issue click here. PDJ is the best hunting dog magazine published.

To see brittany dogs and puppies available for adoption please visit the American Brittany Rescue website.

Had a great time today running down for a few days to Sonoita, AZ to watch the 2010 American Brittany Club Western Futurity. I met some really nice brittany owners and made some great new friends. The picture above is the intermediate male winners. To see all the official results click over to the American Brittany Club website.

My favorite dog at the show was a beautiful tri-color female SHADOW’S TEQUILA TRYST owned by Jessica Carlson. Tristyn ended up winning the Best Opposite Sex & 1st Money Female and was a shining star among an exciting group of wonderful young brittanies. On the field trial portion of the futurity Paul Doiron cleaned house winning both the All Age with Midas Smoke’s a Blazin’ a fine puppy from the late Dale Shores. Paul also won the Gun Dog with Mikey’s Spice Girl owned by Jerry & Carolyn Cape. Picking up a fourth place in the all age was enough for Tristyn to take the coveted dual award. Congrats to Jessica Carlson of Alar Brittanies for all her hard work.

The puppies are getting pretty bold this past few days and venture out quite a ways from Annie. However, they do seem to run out of energy in a very short period of time and often find a spot for a nap after we have had them out to play for 20-30 minutes. My children love to follow the puppies around the yard as they explore and sniff around. They are doing a lot of growling and wrestling with each other which is funny to hear these little fur balls try to sound mean. They are eating straight solid food now without any water added and are still nursing a bit each day. Sometime in the next week or two I think they will have to start to leave Annie alone.

The puppies are doing well and are growing so fast. Annie is a very good mother and keeps them fed, clean and warm. They started opening their eyes on day 13 and the tail docks are healing very nicely. Can’t wait till they start walking around and learning to use their legs. My kids love to out with me to check on the puppies and make sure that they each get held and cuddled on a daily basis. They will be ready for their new homes after they have their shots on the first of December.

We had 5 beautiful Brittany puppies this morning October 12th, 2009 and they are all doing well. Annie was a little nervous at first but is settling down to be a good mother. There is one Liver and White female (SOLD to Wyoming) and 4 White and Orange females available. These should be excellent hunting dogs with average size and great noses like their momma. They seem to be eating well and make such cute little grunting noises.