New pups this spring?

[Evenflow]

It's show and tell time.

After a 9 month wait that seemed like an eternity, My wife and I picked out our new pup last weekend. We take her home June 5th and I can't wait. Here's a few photos.

She was pretty tuckered out that afternoon.

Anyone else pick up a new pup this spring?

Evenflow

[Grabs]

I did too,...you can see them here:

http://fishingminnesota.com/ubb/Forum36/HTML/000102.html

So any plans to come fish LETS this summer? I think Cory may be looking for a partner,...

[Evenflow]

I guess I missed that thread.

I'd love to fish the LETS series, but man did my weekends ever fill up quickly this summer... and we only have 1 wedding to go to this year. And I thought my summer would open up a little this year...
Maybe the dates just fall poorly for me this year.
June 5-6: Cass Lake, (pick up the pup)
June 26-27: Le Homme Dieu chain, (Black Hills -Yellowstone trip)
July 24-25: Bemidji (Mystery) Lake, (family vacation weekend)
As of right now I could do the last weekend, but you know how that goes.
August 28-29: Pokegama Lake, Grand Rapids...

I guess maybe next year?

When are we going to meet on a West Metro lake after work?

Evenflow

[Wild Willie]

Evenflow - Great looking pup! Congratulations!

[Evenflow]

Thanks Willie.

[Wild Willie]

Evenflow - Is this your first Brittany?

[Evenflow]

This is my second. Why do you ask?

[Wild Willie]

Evenflow - Just curious as my pup is a Brittany too. I moved up from Missouri to Minnesota about four years ago and since then I have only met three individuals that hunt Britts. It's always nice to meet people that hunt the same breed of dog. I think it is good to compare notes regarding breed tendencies, traits and hunting style. My pup was introduced to birds in the field last year when he was just about six months old. We have done a lot of work with pheasants and chukars since then at a game farm in Princeton and he is progressing nicely. I can't wait until this fall to see how he picks up where we left off. I would also like to try some grouse hunting this fall. Never done that but I hear it is a blast. I got my pup from a breeder down south in LeRoy Minnesota. About yours?

[Evenflow]

Oh yeah, you're the one who got the pup in LeRoy. Huh, I have quite a few relatives in LeRoy and have never heard of a Britt breeder there. I got my pup through Gold Wind. They are based in Bloomington, but this female lives with a family in Delano.
Have you ever done any of the hunt to shoot trials?
I've just recently learned of them and I'm very curious.
I have to admit that from the outside the St Croix Valley Brittany Club seems to have some people in it that are very knowledgable about breeders. That is where I have received most of my info to date, as well as here.
Their HSOforum is www.scvbc.org (I hope that's ok)

Evenflow

[Wild Willie]

Evenflow - Never had the opportunity to witness any sort of field trial event but I would really like to attend one and observe how the dogs and handlers interact with one another.

The breeder in LeRoy is Ben Jacobsen. I'm sure your relatives have heard of him. He is relatively new to the breeding game but has been around Brittanys all his life. My pup came from his dog Ike, son to Nolan's Last Bullet (aka - Buddy.) Ben drove all the way to Kentucky to get Ike. Ben had been following Buddy's progress ever since he broke into the NSTRA. Not sure what all that means...but I believe it means he comes from a good gene pool. The dam, Babe, is out of the Maverick line. Best of two worlds I guess. I was just looking for a good hunting dog not a field champion or anything like that.

I have had many discussions and conversations with Ben since we acquired our pup and he and his wife seem to be salt-of-the-earth people. Hope your relatives say the same.

Let me know if you hear of any field trial events close to the cities in the future that are open to the public. I know I would really get a kick and learn a great deal from watching the dogs and handlers hard at work.

[Evenflow]

SF-
I just found out they want us to pick up the pups ASAP, so we're going to pick her up tonight. I'm very excited.

Which pup is yours?

Evenflow

[Slowfinger]

I was fishing in Brainerd the weekend of the picks and had to send my wife. She chose the smaller female with a triangle white marking on her forehead (similar to yours only thinner). Since there were only two females left, (the white one also) she was the one my wife chose. May I ask how you came about your choice? I wish I could have been there for the occasion...

[This message has been edited by Slowfinger (edited 06-01-2004).]

[Evenflow]

Well,
My wife and I were lucky enough to make it out to see the pups several times from 4 weeks on. So we really made an effort to notice behavorial things. Shy, timid, outgoing, playful, etc... We really wanted a female so that removed the two males from our list of options. We had second pick, so originally we made out a list of our top three picks and would refine it after each visit. On one of our last visits I brought a pheasant wing and played with the pups to see what their reactions were. Actually the pup you are getting was third on our final list. Jess's owners took our first pick which really bummed my wife at first, and I was bummed for my wife because I wasn't as set on any of the three as much as she was. But all three are great dogs, so now she's very excited.
On a side note, I think the two best dogs in the litter happen to be the two males. Both are extremely outgoing to people, they seemed to really want to be around us when we were there. At one point we even discussed taking a male because they were so good. They are going to make some people VERY happy.

Evenflow

[This message has been edited by Evenflow (edited 06-01-2004).]

[Slowfinger]

Even,
Thanks for the info. From what you have said, I feel good about my wife's choice (Terri said similar things). I envy you for heading to Delano this evening. Have fun...!
Brian

[Slowfinger]

Evenflow - I too have a dog from that litter. And I pick her up tomorrow night. My first dog came from the same lines as Jess (I got her from Michael) and she was fabulous! I miss her dearly. But if there were some way of making tomorrow come earlier....I'd like to know how. Good luck!