American and French Brittanys as companion gun dogs. Hunting, training, trialing and more.

Tonight I want to share some Brittany fun.  I always write about serious matters but sometimes I like to share my fun with my Brittanys.  I suppose the most fun days are when family comes out to the farm with their own Brittanys and we enjoy Brittany antics together.  …   [Read more →]

One off season recommendation I can offer is that one should take their dog afield as if to hunt, away from your normal training grounds.  Staying within your states regulations is important so make sure that the time of year you go afield is allowable, especially with hunting dogs since some states have restrictions during nesting season.

One of the best ways to test and reinforce your dogs obedience is afield as if on a hunt.  If an experienced dog that is wise to hunting vs. training, take …  [Read more →]

We had a wonderful hunting season this year.  Good rain elevated quail populations from a previously terrible year, to acceptable levels.  We found big coveys though the total number of coveys encountered per day were average at best.  We were happy and proud of mother nature for bringing back the numbers from a terrible year.  Season ended with good numbers still being found. 

This season’s moisture is off to a good start so we have great promise for this next year.

Trial season has ended for me.  My son Brandon was trialing full time but with new responsibilities to his new bride and now a future daughter, he has pulled back the reins a bit to focus on his new family.  …  [Read more →]

Gunner is my favorite all-age dog for one reason, he is extremely challenging.    I have worked with him for 2 1/2 years and have encountered many hundreds of wild birds as well as multiple field trials thanks to a terrific owner who has faith in him (and me).  All-age dogs are big running dogs for the field trial uninformed.

Though Gunner started as a ‘hunting dog’ his owner and I quickly recognized he is special.   He is definitely in the ‘extraordinary expresser of the breed’ category.  You got to love him.  Even when he screws up, he’s got that grin that says ‘Yeah, I screwed up but you love me don’t you?’  Some folks call that grin the “Shi* eatin’ grin”

I have pulled nearly every trick and technique out of my private ‘bag of training techniques’ on Gunner.  He has made me ask myself in a mirror “hey, are you a trainer?”.  He makes one think from time to time that you might be inadequate to own or handle him.  Gunner epitomizes the “I’m special and a handful, can you hang with me?” phrase.

It has been tough.  His owner relates to me how he was surprised the first time Gunner shows up with a wild quail that was NOT shot in his mouth down in west Texas.  He was 6 months old!  His owner couldn’t believe it and thought it was a fluke.  No, it wasn’t.  Gunner repeated that feat.  Gunner not only could hunt but could CATCH his WILD quarry.  Try trainin’ THAT dog!

Gunner finally began to listen about a month ago (at 3 years) and when he did, he began to place in field trials.  Most recently, he took 1st out of 45 dogs in the open all age (big running Brittanys).  Gunner had a fantastic run and finds way out there!  He made me so proud!

I am so proud of Gunner.  Is he going to be perfect and reliable…ARE YOU KIDDING?  He’s got that “grin” I mentioned earlier and he WILL use it again!  Wow, he’s fun.  When you get one like this, hold on tight!  Thanks Nubbin’!

They are our companions so give ‘em a treat and tell your Brittany that  ’Dave loves you, He means it!’, no kiddin’!  God, I love this breed.

Dave

Nothing causes bad breath like plaque on your best friends teeth.  Soft foods and a dog that does’t love to chew is a recipe for teeth needing a cleaning.  Are you reluctant in having your dog put under anesthesia for dental care?  If so, you may want to do more than just brushing.

You can take your dogs dental care in your own hands.  Many dog catalogs offer tooth ’scalers’.  The use of a scaler in addition to regular brushing will help immensely.

Like my article about using the dremel for nails, you must build up to it.  Always start out slow and work your way up.  Always start with brushing before moving to the scaler!  There are some terrific tasting doggy toothpastes out there.  Again, I recommend you START with brushing before ever trying to perform scaling.  This is because your dog needs to trust you with his teeth over time.

Your first few ‘brushings’ may actually be more about the dog chewing the paste off the brush.  Over time and days of continued attempts, your dog will eventually let you begin to work on his teeth because he will trust that you won’t hurt him.  Remember this, always be careful to not accidentally cause your dog discomfort!  If you make that mistake, it will be difficult to approach him again.

It is always best to ask your Vet for advice on how to scale your dogs teeth.  Professional scaling is always best but if you are a DIY type person, you can scale your dogs teeth all by yourself.  Lots of folks do it or they wouldn’t sell the scalers in almost every dog catalog!

Deep scaling (under the gum line) is ALWAYS best done by your Vet.

Take care and give your dog a treat for me!

Dave

You know, I didn’t really care not too long ago but now, I’m hooked on dremel.

I purchased a 20 dollar battery operated dremel from wally world several years ago and now I can’t do without it!  It’s a terrific way to do nails.  The clippers are not a very exacting method when trying to cut back to the quick as it is easy to get into the quick.

If you start dremeling nails on your pup and do it every two weeks from the time you get them home, you will find that your dog enjoys it!  It can be very relaxing for a couple of reasons.  First of all, it is not painful.  Second of all, it’s fast and offers together time!

I dare you to find that cheap blue dremel and begin using it, you’ll be hooked!

If your dog is older than ‘a just weaned’ pup then begin slowly.  Start out with just letting the dog hear the dremel.  Offer a treat or reward for coming to you with the ‘whirring’ sound of the dremel.  Progress over several days by doing more and more.  The first time you try it you may only be able to do one nail.  Keep treats nearby and be lavish in your praise.

Just remember, the first few times, make very certain you don’t go past the ‘white tip’ of the nail into the ‘pink’ (quick).  If you get too near the pink, it is uncomfortable for your dog so don’t go too close.  Over time you will be able to get closer so that the quick recedes.

You may use the sandpaper roll (coarse is better) or you may get a coarse stone for doing the nails with your dremel.  I prefer the coarse stone but it can heat up a bit faster than the paper which is JMHO.  Short and mulitple application is better so the nail doesn’t heat up from friction.

Try it and let me know.  I will bet that you will never go back to the nail clippers.  Oh, and don’t forget to use your dremel on your dogs nails about every two weeks thereafter.  Touch-ups are quick and the polished edge you get from a dremel will eliminate sharp edged nails that hurt!

Give your dog a treat for me,

Dave

Well by now everyone is either hunting pen raised birds or done for the season as most wild bird seasons are over.  With that, I have changed my journal theme to coincide with the change. 

I like the new theme though it’s not necessarily a ’spring theme’.  It is clean and refined, much like what I like to produce from a dog in my training program.

Hope you like it and happy trainin’!

Dave

I’m not going to use this headline to tell you about the virtues of the products I use.   I just thought I’d share what I do to keep my companions healthy.

The first thing one seems to forget is the monthly administration of heart worm pills.  After that, regular application of your flea/tick preparations followed by regular vaccinations and prophylactic treatment of intestinal worms.  Annual health exams and testing slip by too.

I have my heartworm pill administration set for a certain day each month.  I time it with something I remember month to month.  Flea and tick can be a combo preparation, which for me is a combination approach that kills and prevents fleas/ticks. 

The biggest advice I can give you   …  [Read more →]

I suppose that aside from training, hunting and associated matters involving our Brittanys, the Brittany is mostly a family companion.

What does your Brittany do for 52 weeks a year? 

Even if you live in Texas where quail season is 4 months long, in an average year you may hunt 2 weekends a month which equates to 16 days afield pursuing quail.  If your Brittany is used as a verstile hunting dog, you may hunt 3 or 4 days for dove.  Maybe 3 or 4 days for waterfowl.  Maybe a few other days if you use your Brittany for squirrel, rabbit or tracking purposes.  With that, the number is only about 28 days a year hunting with your Brittany.  I think that most folks will come closer to 2 weeks total ‘in the field’ time in an average year (excluding travel and such)

As much as we love to enjoy our Brittanys afield, their truly number one ‘job’ is to be our family dog.  I call the Brittany “America’s great compromise dog”.  Show me a bird hunter with a young family and I’ll show you the perfect dog for that family, a Brittany.  I think an equally large group of hunters with Brittanys are those of us who are getting to be senior and have an empty nest.  What a perfect fit!

We hunters and owners of Brittanys can sit and tell many long stories about great days afield with our hunting buddy however, we can tell you so many more stories about great times at home.  Of course the Brittany is not perfect for sure.

Take care and give your Brittany a treat for me,

Dave

Here in bobwhite quail country I get to see a lot of vehicles for quail hunting.  Interstate 20 runs smack dab  in the middle of prime quail hunting west of Cisco, Texas.  I-20 is only 13 miles from my home so I travel the I-20 quail corridor quite often.

On a typical quail season weekend you will mostly see pick-ups with dog boxes in the rear.  This isn’t so different than anywhere else.  Now days though, …  

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