Braebrook Dobermans

A "pup"date. ;)

2012-01-21T21:55:00.001-08:00

The six(not 12 like I accidentally put on the website) puppies are doing very well. They are staying strong and beginning to gain weight now. It's always stressful right in the beginning as puppies are so fragile and the first real relief comes when they start putting on weight. That's when you know things are going well. I don't know how many people realize how exhausting puppies are. I have gotten just a few hours of sleep in the last few days. When puppies are very young like this I sleep right beside the whelping box so that if Momma needs my help I am right there. Whether it be a puppy who has wandered too far away and needs help getting back, or a puppy that has difficulty latching on to nurse, or just to sit with Momma until this whole motherhood thing sinks in. Dogs do have amazing instincts but some need a little more reassuring than others. I like to bottle feed the little ones a bit in the beginning too as it helps them gain weight a little quicker and get up on their feet a little sooner.

I did a major update to my website that was long overdue. There are still a few things to be done and updated but now that the bulk has been done it won't seem quite so daunting.

Before I go I would like to share an old poem by Peggy Adamson who is considered the first lady of Dobermans and she talks about what it's like to be a breeder. I just have to share it with you as it really describes dedicated breeders like myself to a T. Enjoy!

What is a Breeder??

A Breeder (with a capital B) is one who thirsts for knowledge and never really knows it all, one who wrestles with decisions of conscience, convenience, and commitment.
A Breeder is one who sacrifices personal interests, finances,
time, friendships, fancy furniture, and deep pile carpeting!
She gives up the dreams of a long, luxurious cruise in favour of turning that all important Show into this years "vacation".
The Breeder goes without sleep (but never without coffee!)
in hours spent planning a breeding or watching anxiously over the birth process, and afterwards, over every little sneeze, wiggle or cry.
The Breeder skips dinner parties because that litter is due
or the babies have to be fed at eight.
She disregards birth fluids and puts mouth to mouth
to save a gasping new-born, literally blowing life
into a tiny, helpless creature
that may be the culmination of a lifetime of dreams.
A Breeders lap is a marvelous place
where generations of proud and noble champions once snoozed.
A Breeders hands are strong and firm and often soiled,
but ever so gentle and sensitive
to the thrusts of a puppy's wet nose.
A Breeders back and knees are usually arthritic from stooping,
bending, and sitting in the birthing box,
but are strong enough to enable the breeder to Show
the next choice pup to a Championship.
A Breeders shoulders are stooped
and often heaped with abuse from competitors,
but they're wide enough to support the weight
of a thousand defeats and frustrations.
A Breeders arms are always able to wield a mop,
support an armful of puppies,
or lend a helping hand to a newcomer.
A Breeders ears are wondrous things, sometimes red
(from being talked about) or strangely shaped
(from being pressed against a phone receiver),
often deaf to criticism,
yet always fine-tuned to the whimper of a sick puppy.
A Breeders eyes are blurred from pedigree research
and sometimes blind to her own dog's faults,
but they are ever so keen to the competitions faults
and are always searching for the perfect specimen.
A Breeders brain is foggy on faces,
but it can recall pedigrees faster than an IBM computer.
It's so full of knowledge that sometimes it blows a fuse:
it catalogues thousands of good bonings,
fine ears, and perfect heads...
and buries in the soul the failures
and the ones that didn't turn out.
The Breeders heart is often broken,
but it beats strongly with hope everlasting...
and it's always in the right place !
Oh, yes, there are breeders, and then, there are BREEDERS!!

By Peggy Adamson

The puppies are here

2012-01-17T22:08:00.000-08:00

For those of you waiting for news the Remy x Safi puppies arrived last night and today. Safi was very large and unfortunately there were quite a few stillborn puppies. I think they were just crammed in too tight. :( But in the end we did end up with three black males and three black females. They are big puppies with almost all six being over 18oz each, and they are healthy and nurse with great gusto. As sad as I am about the stillborn babies I am thrilled to have the six that I do and that everyone is doing well. For now we just concentrate on keeping everyone happy and fed and growing. More updates when I've had some sleep!

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T10:29:00.001-08:00

Ok, so it's been quite a long time since my last post and I do apologize. Maybe one of my New Year's resolutions should be to do more blog entries?? ;)

We had a wonderful holiday here filled with lots of overnight visits with family and friends. Our new house can easily accommodate the extra guests but still remains very cozy, and we continue to love it.

The dogs are doing great and I love the sense of purpose that comes with a New Year. 2012 is going to be a good one for Braebrook with breeding plans, shows, obedience and tracking tests all on the agenda.

We want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year, may this be the year that you make your dreams a reality!!

Rain rain go away.....

2011-09-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

It's absolutely pouring rain outside today. The morning started out looking like it could go either way, but the dark clouds won out and the skies have just opened up. The puppies of course are very unhappy about this and loudly voicing their protest. They want to be outside and playing! When the yipping got to be a bit too much to handle I decided to grab my umbrella and take them outside anyway. They ran around and played, took care of some business and pretty soon decided that actually they might want to be back inside. They are now happily back in their ex pens munching on great big dog cookies and warming back up. All is right at Braebrook again. ;)

The puppies were cropped a few days ago and came through this minor surgery with flying colours, and in fact their ears are healing faster than any other litter I have had. Their ears are kept upright by being taped to a cup on their heads, and to protect the ears from over zealous playmates they wear little sock hats overtop of the cups. They look unbelievably cute like this and it's really quite amazing how they run around completely forgetting about the cups.

The puppies are looking better and better everyday, and there is no doubt in my mind that every puppy could finish their championships with ease. I work very hard planning each litter and to see them come to such successful fruition makes me very proud indeed. My hard work is paying off! :)

Dog improvements to the new house continue and make the daily chores smoother with every change. There are now two wire fenced dog yards, with a third huge wood fenced yard close to being finished. A new door directly into the first wire yard makes it much easier to put dogs out for their morning constitutional, and lighting directly into the yards makes the last visit of the night much easier than trying to wrestle with a flashlight. I couldn't be more happy with our move to this new property and look forward to many more generations of Braebrook dogs being born here.

I do believe the rain might be letting up just a little. I wonder if I can get some new stacked photos of the puppies before it starts again.......

Home sweet home

2011-09-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

We finally did it! We are all moved and settled into our new digs and enjoying it SO much. The new house is exactly what we had been hoping to find with 2+ acres for the kids and dogs to enjoy and a great big house that is well set up for entertaining. We are thrilled!

I did a little bit of updating to the website tonight after setting up my old dinosaur of a computer. I use my iMac for everything but had originally done my website on the old PC and have just never learned how on the iMac. I guess since we have had it for over a year now it is probably time I learned. My old PC is so slow that I just get frustrated and never do all the updating that I want to do. I did manage to upload six week stacked photos of the Rogan x Safi puppies. Pictures of the Mick x Coco kids to come!

Lots planned here as usual. Now that we are moved and no longer living in limbo(I just hated that...so glad to be done) I can start to make some more concrete plans. The local dog club meetings start up again tomorrow night after taking time off for the summer and I have been starting to look at what shows I would like to attend this fall. The puppies are growing like crazy and will be off to their new homes in less than a month already, I can hardly believe it. Speaking of puppies I have some exciting news, Bravo has been bred to Am/Can Ch Holmrun's Bo Coup CD ROM "Boca". This is Bravo's first litter and puppies are due at the end of October. Inquiries for this very exciting litter can be directed to Cherie Holmes: holmrun@shaw.ca

There will be no more Braebrook litters until next year. I had planned on possibly one more as I only have the six puppies between the two litters, but things didn't come to fruition. The next Braebrook litter will be out of Phoebe( Ch Modadobe Sunset Dreaming), with breeding likely taking place in February.

Update.....

2011-08-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

We had a bit of a rough go here. Safi was showing very little interest in her puppies right from the beginning, something I was told she was like with her previous litter(before I owned her) as well. I started bottle feeding the little ones and thankfully they started to gain weight and were doing much better. Safi would clean them and nurse them but only if I sat in the box with her and made her lie down. She didn't have much milk, and whether this was from her not nursing enough or she just didn't get much I am not sure, but in any case I definitely had to bottle feed or the puppies wouldn't have survived.

Coco's foursome arrived on July 31st, and Coco's mothering skills are excellent. Once I knew that Coco's little ones were doing well I decided to try Safi's puppies with her and it worked out beautifully, she loves them. Unfortunately even with Coco's good care and my watching like a hawk we still lost two of the Safi puppies, one black boy and one red boy, leaving just two black boys. It was very stressful and difficult for all involved but I am just happy that the two black boys are doing well.

So with two litters I only have six puppies in total. I am planning another breeding this year that I had originally planned for next year so if you are still interested in remaining on my wait list please drop me an e-mail and let me know. I will be updating the website with info on this breeding shortly.

The Rogan x Safi puppies arrive. :)

2011-07-29T00:16:00.000-07:00

The big day arrived pretty much right on schedule and Safi presented us with four lovely boys, three black and one red. She took her time while in labour with lots of time in between each delivery, which gave each puppy plenty of time to learn to nurse before the next one arrived. All the nursing has not provided too much milk however and I have been bottle feeding the little ones. This is exhausting and so I have once again gotten behind on my e-mails. I'm sorry everyone, but I will get back to you...just as soon as I get some sleep! ;)

I am giving Safi fenugreek which is a herb that helps with milk production so with any luck it will do just that and I will be able to back off with the bottle somewhat.

Making this a quick one as the babies are calling again. More soon...

This house is SOLD!!

2011-07-18T20:36:00.001-07:00

I was starting to feel like this day would never come but it finally did. Our lovely Cobble Hill house has SOLD and we are moving on to a lovely, more dog(and child) friendly home in North Cowichan. We do have a place in mind so please keep your fingers crossed that all goes as planned. We are very excited!
Safi and Coco are getting closer everyday...in fact Safi is just eight days away from her whelping due date. I don't expect really large litters, as neither girl is looking huge, but they are both definitely pregnant. I can't wait for puppy breath. :)
We recently replaced our computer and in doing so I am unable to update my website for the next little while. I will be relying on my blog and the Braebrook Facebook page to keep you all abreast of what is happening here.
Puppy news soon!

More points for Pony. :)

2011-07-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

I received a new show photo for the lovely Pony(Can/Int Ch Holmrun's Chulo Pony Braebrook) yesterday. She has matured beautifully and is now working towards her American championship. She picked up six more points towards her Am title while out with her handler recently, and has a few more shows lined up for the month of July. You can see her new photo on her page on the Braebrook website.

Pony is a littermate to Coco(Ch Braebrook's Coco Chanel Holmrun). This litter was born and raised here at Braebrook, but was co-bred(meaning the dam, in this case London, was owned by two people) with my very good friend Cherie Holmes of Holmrun Dobermans. As per our original agreement Cherie was to get a puppy from the litter, and she chose Pony, which is why her name starts with Holmrun instead of Braebrook.

This has been a very successful litter for me as you will see from previous posts and I am very proud of them. More titles are still coming in and I am excited to see what this litter will accomplish when all is said and done. There is still lots of time left, as they are only three years old now. I have to say a big thank you to all of their owners for piloting these great dogs to their many accomplishments. You are invaluable! :)

It's looking like Safi is pregnant. She is looking full in the waist and her nipples are starting to fill already. I think all those positive thoughts worked! ;)

Coco is starting to look different to me as well, so I am pretty sure both girls were successfully bred. I can't wait to see the results of those breedings in the form of sweet little puppy faces.

I hope you are all enjoying the sun today and that you had a great long weekend. Happy Canada Day!

Off to a great start...

2011-06-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the Nanaimo Kennel Club dog show in Nanaimo BC. Coming out for the occasion to make his show ring debut was Bravo's brother Remy or Braebrook's Remy Martin. Remy was shown just two days of the show but did a wonderful job and was best of winners both days for his first four points! He also picked up a best puppy in group win under judge Shirley Limoges.

I was so very proud of Remy this weekend. He had not been stacked since he left our house at just three months of age, but he remembered exactly how to do it and showed beautifully. He was an absolute pleasure to handle.

He also came and stayed the weekend with us so I was able to groom him up for the show and do a little bit of quick training the night before. It is always nice to have my puppies back for a visit and Remy loved being back. He had some great playtime with Lexi, and was very well behaved in the house. I just love the temperaments on this litter, very easy going and biddable. I'm already looking forward to the next show! :)

What a way to finish!

2011-06-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to report that Bravo is now a champion. He finished in fine style at the Comox Valley Kennel Club show taking the breed over specials(dogs who are already champions), and went on to take a third in the adult working group. He also picked up two best puppy in group wins and a best puppy in show! I was thrilled to say the least! He is now going to stay home to do some growing up and will come back out as a special once he has matured some more. I couldn't have been more happy with his attitude and how very well he behaved. I just love this boy, and am so proud to be his breeder, owner and handler. His great big best puppy in show ribbon is now hanging on my office wall. :)

It's now time for Bravo's brother Remy to get out into the show ring, and we will be starting him right away at the Nanaimo Kennel Club dog show this weekend. He is only entered two days of the show, a nice way to transition him in and see how much he remembers about being a show dog. He hasn't been stacked since he left here at three months of age! He is maturing into a very beautiful dog and I am excited to get in the ring with him.

While I was at the CVKC show this past weekend with Bravo I got a chance to see Thakoon(Braebrook's Thakoon Holmrun) and he has matured into a very fine dog. He is a littermate to Coco who is Bravo's dam, and he is now three years old. I am excited to see what this boy can do in the show ring. I think he will finish very quickly.

Hurry up and wait!

2011-06-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

After a very busy few weeks I am happy to report that both Safi and Coco have been bred. If everything goes according to plan than puppies will be due at the end of July.

I decided to go with the new ICSB(International Canine Semen Bank) veterinary clinic in Courtenay for Safi's breeding: http://www.icsbvancouverisland.com. I honestly can't say enough good things about this clinic. Monica, who is the go to girl for all things semen was outstanding. This was the first time I have imported semen from the USA and the first time I had done a surgical implant when breeding one of my bitches. Needless to say I had a lot of questions! Monica was there to answer every one, and responded to my many e-mails and phone calls with lightning speed. The clinic was absolutely beautiful, and the front end staff were very friendly. I have never had such a good veterinary experience.

After many progesterone tests to pin point ovulation, and only one small hiccup in getting the semen(fedex missed getting the semen on the flight over to the Island, but we hired a private courier to get the job done) the implant was performed successfully(I hope!) by Dr Renooy. Safi recovered quickly from the procedure and while not yet allowed to run in the yard with the other dogs she is ready to take on the world again.

Coco was bred to BISS Ch Holmrun's Play for Keeps "Mick", a lovely dog who I saw win the BC Specialty this past April. I had seen him one weekend previously as a very young puppy, and even then it was obvious that this dogs forte was his outstanding movement. He never puts a foot wrong, beautifully balanced, nothing sloppy, and he holds his topline like a rock. These are qualities that are very hard to find in many dogs these days so I'm very excited to be able to use him on Coco.

Looking forward to getting Bravo back into the showring to finish his championship. While out running he managed to put a big gash in his side, and so had to miss the Victoria dog show this past weekend. I am hoping he will be ok for the Black Creek show but time will tell. He is finding it very hard to stay quiet and really misses his outdoor runs but for the time being that is how it has to be.

I hope to be reporting some puppy news soon. I'll keep you posted! :)

Now the Island shows begin!

2011-05-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Now that May has arrived the shows on the Island will start. The first show weekend will be the Tyee Kennel Club show on May 13th to 15th. I will be going two of the days with two different dogs and so I am looking forward to it. The best perk of this show?? It's only five minutes from my house and I can easily go back and forth during the day. My favourite and most convenient show of the year.

Following the Tyee show there is VIDFA in Victoria a couple of weeks later, and then Nanaimo and Comox in June. Lots of shows to keep me busy while I wait for Coco and Safi to come into season. They will of course be ready to breed on one of these show weekends, as that is just Murphy's Law. ;) We'll see...

Had a wonderful weekend in Sayward visiting family and took some of the dogs along. My parents have a fabulous 40 acre property and the dogs(and kids!) love going. They just run all day long, and sleep well at night. I posted a photo of the dogs running to the Braebrook Dobermans Facebook page so be sure to check it out.

Spring has really spring here in Cobble Hill. The trees are all growing leaves, there are flowers everywhere and the birds singing and frogs croaking is nearly deafening. I love it!

Speaking of the outdoors I best get off the computer and enjoy some of that fresh air. Be sure to say hello if you see me at a show, I love to talk about the dogs. :)

Recent wins

2011-04-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

First off, for those of you who have e-mailed me recently I apologize for taking a bit of time to get back to you, things have been very busy here. I think I am caught up now so if I have missed you please just drop me a reminder e-mail.

Bravo made his show ring debut in Chilliwack BC and walked away with a huge five point best of winners win as well as a best puppy in group. He showed very well, and I could not have been more happy and proud of my eight month old boy. It shouldn't take him long to finish his championship, and starting out with a win that brought him half way there sure made it easier. I also got a chance to see Bravo's two brothers, Cooper and Remy while I was at the show and am so pleased with how they are coming along. I'm excited for them to hit the show ring! The litter may have been small with just three boys but the quality was deep.

London and I ventured into the obedience ring as well. I haven't been to a trial since I competed to get Lexi's CD and it was fun. I always forget how laid back the trials are compared to conformation showing, and you don't have to wear a suit. :)

London did fairly well at the first trial, getting the first leg(passing score) towards her CD(companion dog) title(you need three "legs" or passing scores to earn your title). The second trial was going along about the same until she decided to stand up from her long sit when I came back to her. This was an automatic fail unfortunately. The building was very cold and I think she was just tired of sitting on the cold cement. I wasn't able to attend the next two trials on the following day as a fuel truck had overturned on the Malahat highway which shut it down for nearly 24 hours. It was disappointing but we will continue to train and trial for our next two legs. Not sure yet what trial I will enter, but I will make sure she gets her CD.

I have finally decided on a stud dog for Coco. I am just working out the details now, and as soon as I do I will be posting the information to my website so stay tuned!

Breeding plans

2011-03-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Nothing takes more time, effort and serious studying than trying to find the right stud dog. Sometimes it can be down right exhausting!

I have finally made a decision on who Safi(Am/Can Ch United First Edition) will be bred to. Drumroll please....... Am Ch Cambria's Commander in Chief "Rogan"! I have loved this dog since I first saw a video of him at the 2006 US National. He is a short backed, strong dog with a great topline and very nice bone. He moves very well, his pedigree fits in nicely with Safis and he is fully health tested. He is what is called a "stallion" dog, a dog that has a great presence and really owns the ground he stands on. Safi is exactly the same so I think I will get some lovely show dogs from this breeding. Safi is due in season in June and if all goes well than puppies should arrive sometime in August.

Still looking for the right stud dog for Coco(Ch Braebrooks Coco Chanel Holmrun), but I have a few dogs in mind and am continuing to research. She is due in season in May, so not long now!

I have posted a breeding announcement and a photo of Rogan on the litters page on the website. Click here to have a look: http://www.braebrook.com/Litters.htm

Safi is a new Canadian champion!

2011-02-22T07:13:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to report that in only two weekends of showing Safi is a now a Canadian champion! This makes her Am/Can Ch United's First Edition. She was shown by my friend Heidi Gervais who did a lovely job with her and in her words "she showed like a rock star!". I love hearing that. :) Safi is a very "up" dog, and is always on alert. To me she embodies the Doberman temperament laid out in the official breed standard: " Energetic, watchful, determined, alert, fearless, loyal and obedient". That is Safi to a T! I love this bitch(let's face it, I love them all. ;) ) and now that she has her dual championships I will continue on with her in performance.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather was beautiful and sunny here, and looks to be continuing in that vein today. The sun is coming up over the hills right now and the sky is clear. It's cold out there, but I'm not complaining, makes for less muddy feet to clean up after. ;)

Showing, training and making plans!

2011-02-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

Well, both my little ones came down with an awful cold/flu and after caring for them for two long weeks I ended up with a nasty sinus infection myself. Needless to say there was no dog show for us! I did end up sending Safi over to the Ladies Kennel Club show with a handler though and she did very well, winning all the points on both Friday and Saturday, putting her at a total of five(halfway to her championship) her first weekend out. Everything worked out so well with her handler that I am going to send her to the next show with the same handler and concentrate on getting things caught up here.

London and I have been attending obedience class as we work to get ready for an obedience trial in April in Victoria. After a lay off of the last few months she was a little rusty to begin with but is coming along very well. I train multiple times during the week, and really look forward to our Thursday class as it gives me a chance to see how she can perform with all the distractions being in a group of other dogs can bring. She is doing very well. :)

I have been playing with the idea of getting Lexi ready for some rally obedience trials as she really loves to work and rally is very fun for the dogs. You are able to talk to them during the trial itself, and it offers a real change of pace from structured obedience(which is also fun, just different). With Lexi already having her CD(Companion Dog) title in obedience, a RN(Rally Novice) title should be pretty easy for her. For more information about rally you can go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rally_obedience

Still on the continual search for a stud dog. This can be downright exhausting as there are just so many variables to consider. Not only do a need a pretty dog who is capable of winning in the show ring, but I also need a good temperament that is easy to live with, and train(no skittish dogs allowed at Braebrook!), and I need a dog who has passed all his health clearances, and comes from generations of dogs who have done the same. As if all that isn't enough I also have to find a pedigree that is compatible with my bitch's pedigree. I'll let you know when I come to a decision! :) I have found a few front runners that I am very excited about so it is just a matter of going over the details listed above.

The very best part of dogs is the day to day living with them. They are your companions, and all have their own special personalities. If you want to see a fun video of Phoebe that I posted to You Tube you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDX4yXtToQ

Hope everyones year is going well and that you managed to stick to your resolutions! I have managed to stick to mine, although rousing myself out of bed at six in the morning can still be tough on some occasions. ;)

Gearing up for a new show season

2011-01-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

I have put my entries in for the first dog show of the year here in BC, which is the Ladies Kennel Club of BC. The schedule is now up and there are seven class bitches so Safi and I will definitely have some competition. I am really looking forward to it, as it feels like it has been forever since I have been to a show.

I have started my current show dogs on a regular training schedule to get them ready for their time in the ring. Safi will be going to the shows until she completes her championship, and then will be taking time off to have a litter this summer. I should be able to get her to a CGN(Canine Good Neighbor) test this spring as well. This is a title that I like to have on all my dogs. It is open to all breeds(and cross breeds) and shows that your dog is well behaved and can be a good member of society. If you are interested in learning more about the test, a run down of each exercise can be found here: http://www.dogtraining.ca/canineGoodNeighbour.php

Bravo is my up and coming puppy. He is a lovely boy, but puppies go through all kinds of growth stages when they can look gangly or awkward, so I will see how he is looking as he continues to mature. He will be old enough to show next month already. Time sure does fly. :)

Phoebe is also back in training and conditioning to return to the ring selectively as a special(a special is a dog who has already completed it's championship, but continues to be shown). She is an exceptional bitch, but having come from Australia where they don't crop will hold her back with some judges. She will be shown to judges who know a good dog when they see one, and are willing to look past the drop ears.

I hope that those of you who read this blog and are located on the Lower Mainland will take the time to come out to the Ladies KC show. Please come by and say hello once I have finished showing(I tend to be quite focused before going in the ring. ;) ). The show will be at the Cloverdale Exhibition grounds in Cloverdale BC from Jan 28th to the 30th. I will be there on the Sat and Sun as I just wasn't able to get away on the Friday. For those of you with Braebrook puppies who you would like to bring by for me to see(I love it when you do! :) ) be sure to send me an e-mail and I will e-mail you my cell phone number so we can be sure to get together.

Here is a link to the show schedule:

http://www.westerndogshows.com/SCHED/2011%20Ladiesschedule.pdf

I hope those of you with dogs are enjoying them. Remember there is a fun sport out there for everyone, and it is a great way to bond with your dog. If you need suggestions, or already know what you would like to do but are having trouble getting started be sure to drop me a line as I would be happy to help you out.

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

I know I am actually writing this blog entry on January third, but because New Years Day fell on a Saturday this year it didn't really feel like the New Year started until today.

I feel like 2011 is going to be a good year. There are lots of good things planned for the dogs and Braebrook, the biggest one being an impending move. Now if only the house would sell and we could get that plan in motion...... It will happen, I just have to be patient. Living in limbo can be difficult. You don't really want to do anything permanent as you could be moving at any time, so you just live each day as tidy as you can, ready to pack up kids and dogs at a moments notice for a house showing. I will be glad when it's done!

I have my first dog show of the year coming up at the end of this month. I am looking forward to getting back in the ring. I haven't shown a dog since June when I finished Phoebe's championship at the Nanaimo Kennel Club dog show. That is a long time for me, but with the things that are planned for this year I think it will be a good thing that I rested up. ;)

There are two exciting breedings planned for Braebrook this year. I am still sorting out stud dogs etc, but will post the information to the website once I have made my final decision. I have several people on a wait list already so if you might be interested in a puppy please send me an e-mail or give me a call so we can get the ball rolling.

Must run and feed the hounds. I was up at 6am this morning as part of my New Years resolution of "early to bed, early to rise and get more outdoor exercise". Yes, I know it rhymes, but it makes it easier to repeat to myself. ;) I'm watching the sun rise as I type this so I am on the right track.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday and has lots of great things planned for 2011.

I leave you with this quote from Walt Disney: "If you can dream it, you can do it".

Not a bad quote to start the New Year with.

Rita Mae Brown

2010-12-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

I recently started reading a series of books by the above author and have enjoyed them so much I just had to share. They main character is Jane "Sister" Arnold and she is MFH(Master of Foxhounds) of the Jefferson Hunt Club. The stories are essentially murder mysteries but they are so much more than that as well. I love reading about the beautiful countryside in Virginia and the care of and connections made with the foxhounds and horses. I have been having a hard time putting them down at night(which is about the only time I get to read) and am nearly through the fourth book in just a couple of weeks. If you get a chance I suggest you try a read. Here is a link to all the books in the series:

http://www.ritamaebrown.com/content/books_ja.asp

Things are going well here at home. All the dogs are in lovely condition and enjoying their runs outside, followed by a sleep on one of the many dog beds spread around the house.

Hope your Holidays are going well. Only seven more sleeps as my daughter would say! :)

Michael Ellis

2010-12-05T22:34:00.000-08:00

There are so many ways and methods to train dogs. Most types of training nowadays leans towards positive training thank goodness. Gone are the days of popping collars and jerking chains to get your point across. Granted, this method worked for many dogs but generally that was because they wanted to avoid another correction not because they wanted to work for you.
My very favourite trainer is Michael Ellis. Having been involved with training working dogs in the working dog sports(schutzhund, mondio ring, french ring etc..) he really understands how their minds work. He uses marker training(this is when you "mark" a correct behaviour..some people use a clicker to mark, others use a voice command), and mostly positive methods. There is some compulsion(correction) in his training but very little and I believe that dogs need this. It helps them to learn to handle a little bit of stress, as well as helps them learn more quickly.
If you are interested in learning more about Michael Ellis's methods here is a link to him giving a lecture at the beginning of one of his training seminars: http://leerburg.com/ellislecture.htm
He has several DVDs(yes, I have them all) and they can be ordered here: http://leerburg.com/dvd.htm#ellis
He has definitely brought my training to the next level.
Happy training everyone!

Vaccinating

2010-10-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

I decided to post about my views on vaccines after having a conversation about this with one of my puppy people. It was a good and open conversation but it made me realize that perhaps I need to make my puppy people and potential puppy people a little more aware of my views on the subject.

With my own dogs I vaccinate minimally, usually doing two sets of puppy vaccines(the most important of which is for parvo and distemper) and then if they end up going across the border for any reason than I also do a rabies vaccine, but I try not to do this before they are one year of age. After that I don't vaccinate anymore and turn to titre testing if need be. This measures their immunity levels and if they are low than they can be boosted with a nosode, or they can even be revaccinated.

For those in the area there is a great seminar coming up in Nanaimo BC given by Jean Dodds DVM. Here is a link to more information if you are interested in attending: http://www.nanaimokennelclub.ca/files/Dr%20JeanDoddsSeminarFlyerNov20-2010.pdf

And for more information on Jean Dodds herself as well as her vaccination protocol you can go to this link: http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/ and: http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/VACCINE1.HTM

Hope everyone is getting out with their dogs to enjoy this beautiful sunny day today!

Training

2010-10-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy that I haven't gotten much time to really get the training in with the dogs that I like to. It becomes one of those things that you just have to make time for, or before you know it you have gotten lazy, or become an "armchair trainer". I read an article once on armchair trainers....you know, the kind who sit in their armchair and read about training and have all these great aspirations but never actually get out and do it. I have been guilty of that from time to time..... It's time to get back at it though, and I have done just that. I have different dogs training for different things as it keeps things varied for me, and expands my skills as a trainer. I have some in tracking, some in obedience and some getting ready for the conformation ring. Things are not dull!

I really believe that dogs should be tested and worked and bred for what their original purpose was. Dobermans being a working/guarding breed are often worked in schutzhund, which is a great sport to showcase their talent and to keep breeders on the right track as far as temperament and working abilities. Schutzhund brings together three different disciplines: tracking, obedience and protection work. Watching a trial is always very exciting for me as watching my breed doing what they were bred to do always inspires and awes me. If you have never been I highly recommend it. The level of training is amazing.

I am working more and more all the time to try to bring in and maintain working abilities in my dogs. I really think this is so important. The showring is only half of the equation. The showring is a place to evaluate breeding stock, a place to get a judges opinion of your work, and a place to showcase your efforts to other breeders, but I really feel that it is just important to prove the working abilities of your dogs as well. Pretty is as pretty does!

So with that said I am back at it! No matter how busy life gets, you just have to make time. :)

See you in the ring!

Cooper goes home.

2010-10-17T22:09:00.000-07:00

The time is here, I can't believe it, it seemed to pass so quickly. The "boys" are off to start the next chapter of their lives.

Cooper left to go to his new home on Saturday. The report back was great, a smooth trip home with Cooper taking everything in stride, meeting some new friends on the ferry ride to the Mainland, and settling in quickly with his new Chinese Crested buddy. Thank you Nancy for giving our little boy a good home. :) I look forward to hearing how he progresses in his training to be both a show dog and competitive obedience dog.

Remy will be with us for a couple more weeks until his family is ready for him and Bravo will be staying here at Braebrook for now.

That's it for now, just a quick update. Our house goes on the market on Tuesday and I am hoping things move along quickly.

Another new Champion!

2010-10-12T23:42:00.000-07:00

I had some lovely news this weekend that Ava (New Champion Braebrook's Dolce Holmrun) finished her championship with a Best of Winners win at the Fraser Valley Dog Fanciers show. That makes her the fifth champion from the Dirk x London litter to finish. I am just so proud of this litter. It takes good dogs and good owners to get to this point, so a big shout out to them. Thank you! :)

While Ava was finishing her Championship I was home getting the house prepped to go on the market, and I do believe it's not a moment too soon as we have found a good potential house for us. There would be lots of room for dogs and kids so keep your fingers crossed that all works out.

The puppies are doing so well and growing like crazy. Ears have been cropped and are almost fully healed so they will start to go to their new homes now. Cooper(green collar) will be leaving us first, going to his new home on Saturday. Having the babies go is always bitter sweet for me as they are my little charges and I have gotten to know each one so well, but at the same time you can't keep them all and I am excited for them to join their new families. Remy(purple collar) will be staying with us a little longer until his family is ready to take him and Bravo(red boy) will be staying at Braebrook to grow up and see how he comes along. If the right show home came along than I might let him go but for now he is staying. :)

Another thing I should mention is that the VCBC is asking for public input before a vote is made on banning cropping and docking. All letters/e-mails/faxes need to be in by Nov 1st so please take the time to write as this would be devastating to the breed. This is all about numbers so the more people that right in the better.

I am going to try to write in this blog a little more often. Life has been extra busy with getting the house ready and puppies and I just haven't gotten on here as much as I would like. I need to figure out how to jazz it up too, add pictures and links etc.... Must take some time out to do that.

Hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, there was much to be thankful for in this house. :)

New Champion!

2010-09-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

Just got the news this weekend from owner Michelle that Pony(Holmrun's Chulo Pony Braebrook) finished her Canadian Championship!! Very exciting! That makes her the fourth puppy from the Dirk x London litter to finish, and there are still two more who are pointed and well on their way.

Also got news from owner Melissa that Amadeus(Ch Braebrook's Hugo Boss Holmrun) passed his Canine Good Neighbor test! That is wonderful, and is a testament to his temperament.

It is very gratifying as a breeder to get this kind of news. I am so proud of this litter! :)

Life is a whirlwind!

2010-09-08T23:31:00.000-07:00

Life here at Braebrook is humming along at an unbelievable pace! We have been so busy with renovations to get the house ready to go on the market that has been taking every spare(ya right, not a lot of spare moments around here! ;) ) moment. Add to that two small children, big dogs, puppies and everything that goes along with it and there just hasn't been much time to get on the computer. This is a rare bit of time so I thought I would write a quick blog update.

The "boys" are doing so very well, and growing like crazy. They are running around everywhere they go, growling and biting at each other and generally just loving being under foot. Coco is slowly losing interest in feeding them so much, and has given up on cleaning up after them(that is my job now). She just jumps in with them for a quick feed and then moves on. Those new teeth they are growing can be a bit much. :)

I will be posting some new photos on the website in the next couple of days so be sure to check then out. The stacked photos will be starting in another week or so.

Saying good-bye is never easy....

2010-08-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

I just arrived back home from a memorial service for my friend Garry Holmes, husband of my very good friend and mentor Cherie Holmes, both of Holmrun Dobermans. They have had a great influence on my breeding program and provided me with three very beautiful bitches over the years. Starting with Lexi who was my introduction to the breed, but didn't turn out to the be the show/breeding dog that I had hoped. Instead she has been my good companion and obedience dog. London followed Lexi just a year later and was the most fun dog to show and has proven herself to be a great producer with three champions from her first litter and three others pointed. Finally, Safi who had come to stay with us here at Braebrook while Garry was sick but then just never left. I know that her contribution to the Braebrook breeding program will be a great one.

The service was both sad and happy, many good memories were shared with lots of laughs and of course lots of tears were shed too.

Garry was a very kind, gentle and all around nice guy. I am glad that I could call him a friend. He will be missed by many......

Big changes for Braebrook

2010-08-23T15:18:00.001-07:00

There are lots of exciting things happening here at Braebrook, but the biggest change for us will be a move in the very near future. Chris has taken a job change which will see him working in Parksville(about an hour and a half north of where we are now). We have been busy getting the house ready to go on the market, and the drywall dust and paint has been flying. My dog room that was being remade over into exactly what I wanted will soon be someone else's rec room. A little bitter sweet but I am excited about the move none the less. Change is always exciting. :)

The "boys"(Freddy x Coco puppies) are growing at an amazing rate. Their eyes are fully open and they are up on their feet and walking around the whelping box(albeit somewhat shakily). Coco has been an outstanding mother and has endless amounts of patience for her young charges. I can hardly believe that two weeks have flown by already!

This is a short one as there is just so much to be done around here. Will post again soon!

The puppies have arrived!

2010-08-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

Coco decided to take her time but the babies are finally here! :) A dogs gestation is 63 days, so when Coco hit day 65 I started to get a little concerned. I took her in to see the vet this morning and we decided it would be best that she had a C section as she still hadn't gone into labour. Usually the onset of labour is preceded by a fairly sharp drop in temperature. In most cases this means puppies will be arriving within 24 hours. Coco's temperature dropped the morning of the 6th and when she still hadn't gone into labour by the next morning that was a pretty good indication that she wasn't going to. This is actually quite common with a very small or very large litter.
I brought Coco in to see the vet at 10:15 and she was prepped and surgery was begun at 12:00. Everything went really well, and we welcomed our three little boys into the world. Two blacks and one red. I was able to work closely with the veterinary staff and was there to watch the puppies being taken out and worked to get them stimulated and moving/crying with vigirous rubbing and a bit of oxygen. They soon let us know that they were HUNGRY! Coco came out of anesthetic quickly and we got the puppies latching on right away. Coco started licking and cleaning them and forming a good bond. This is very important as sometimes the mothers can be a bit disoriented after having a c section.
After Coco had recovered enough to walk I was able to take her and puppies home and she has been an excellent mother so far. I have started a page on the website for the puppies, and you can see them here: http://www.braebrook.com/Freddy%20x%20Coco%20puppies.htm
I am sitting beside the whelping box right now and everyone is so content with the puppies occasionally making the most lovely little grunting and whining noises. :)
Stay tuned for more updates!

Freddy and Coco puppies

2010-08-01T19:33:00.001-07:00

I took Coco in for an x-ray yesterday to see how many puppies she was carrying. I had a feeling it wasn't too many as she wasn't very big. Turns out I was right, only three. They all looked to be a good size though, and only four more days until I get to actually see them. :) Exciting stuff!

Coco has tons of energy and with such a small litter she is still very mobile. Her "playmate" outside is Lexi right now. Lexi is a very calm, stoic lady and won't try to entice Coco into wrestling which Coco would be only too happy to do, belly and all! The two of them just walk around and lay in the sun which is exactly what Coco needs to be doing during her last week of pregnancy.

Keep checking back for updates on puppies. Not long now! :)

Feeding

2010-07-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

When I first got into dogs I fed what everyone else did...kibble, because that is what is best right? Everything is balanced with the perfect vitamins, minerals and protein and fat levels.......right? Well, I started to do some research on dog nutrition and found this wasn't really the case. I began to look more into the idea of feeding a raw diet, a much more natural diet for my dogs without the preservatives, fillers and all the nutrition cooked out of it.

My original breed was German Shorthaired Pointers and they got to be my guinea pigs. I couldn't believe the changes in them! One of the biggest differences was the amount of stool I was picking up....it was literally half the amount, and about a quarter of the smell! The ate their meals with gusto, and the feel of their bodies changed a great deal. Kibble fed dogs tend to have a much softer feel while dogs on a raw diet have a lovely hard, fit and lean feel to them. Their teeth were also very white...no dental visits for this crew!

Fast forward to the Doberman years...I started them on raw as well, again with the same wonderful results. I had a great, very economical meat source so everything was going along well. When I lost the meat source and started having to pay a great deal more for the food as well as had a few more dogs to feed I decided that I would try going back to the kibble. The dogs did ok on it, and it wasn't awful but nothing compares to a raw fed dog. I am now very happy to have found a good source for the raw, both economically and with lots of variation. The dogs are happily eating it with great gusto and the change in stool amount happens overnight. I still feed some kibble, usually when I am traveling as it is just so much easier than trying to pack raw food around with you, but for the most part my dogs are raw fed again and I couldn't be happier.

Running dogs...

2010-07-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

I try to get the dogs out everyday for a good heart pounding run. This keeps them fit and strong physically, does great things for them mentally, and lets face it...makes them a joy to have at home. A tired dog is the best kind of dog. :)

I am lucky that where I live I have several options for off lead romps. I usually change it up every day which is nice for me(new scenery) and the dogs(new smells). I love to get out everyday for this run. Even if I don't really feel like going I know that the dogs are waiting and once I am out there I can't believe I even considered not going! The exercise makes me feel great, the quiet time by myself is a nice treat, and the pure joy of the dogs running puts a big grin on my face. So next time you think to yourself that you might like to stay sitting on the couch, take a look into your dogs eyes and that will be all the motivation you need. It's worth it!

There are exciting things happening at Braebrook. Coco arrives this weekend for her maternity stay. She is due on Aug 5th, so the countdown is on now with just over two weeks to go. Keep an eye out here for future posts as well as the website for photos of the new arrivals.

The crop/dock/dewclaw fight

2010-07-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge supporter of the right to crop, dock and remove dewclaws. Not only do these procedures contribute to the beautiful look of many of our beloved breeds(174 different breeds registered in Canada are docked and/or cropped), but there are many health reasons for it too. I urge you to check out the K9 Alliance website for more information: www.k9alliance.com .

There have been some recent posts on various dog e-mail lists that I am on that there may be a c/d/dc ban coming into affect in BC in the very near future. Some say as early as the fall of this year! Please do what you can to make your voice heard, e-mail or call your c/d/dc friendly vet and let them know that you support them and how important it is to keep the choice to perform these procedures. E-mail or call the BC Vet Medical Association and the Canadian Kennel Club to let them know your thoughts. We can make a difference. If we just stand back and think others will do the job for us it will be too late and we will lose the ability to c/d and remove dc forever. If that is the case be prepared to say good bye to many of your favourite breeds. In the case of the Doberman, countries that have lost the right for these procedures have seen registration go down so far(as much as 80-90%!!) that the breeds may never recover.

Now is the time, so PLEASE make your voice heard!

Mariah

The idea of a blog....

2010-07-16T20:56:00.001-07:00

After coming across more and more breeder website with blogs I decided it is something I just might have to try out. I love following along with people's doggie lives and thought maybe somebody might like to do this with me...? This will be a nice way for my puppy people to keep up to date with what is happening with the Braebrook clan, as well as keep up to date on future litters etc..

You will have to be patient with me, as two young children, the dogs and everything that goes with that does keep me pretty busy, but I will try to post here somewhat regularly. :)

Thank you to those who decide to follow along with me on this adventure!