Breeding Announcement

Braebrook is thrilled to announce a breeding between

Am Ch Trotyl de Black Shadow

and Ch Esquire's Celtic Woman

It was a group effort of friends to get the semen here in time but the stars aligned and "Trotyl" arrived at just the right moment, was buckled into the van with his lady love and went off to the Mill Bay Vet Clinic for implant. 

The surgery was quick and Enya was back home within a couple of hours, looking a little groggy but none the worse for wear.

I'm sure all the blankets and gentle child love helped. Who wouldn't feel better with that smile. ;)

And old Lexi stayed close by for comfort too.

By the next morning she was gobbling down her breakfast and I was having to hold her back from running around too much.

I'm so thankful to have a good repro vet who stayed late to make sure this breeding happened, as well as good breeder friends who worked together to make sure the semen got here too. What a great group of ladies!

 Now we wait…..fingers crossed (toes too please!) for puppies at the beginning of May!

Bird dog training day with the VIPDC

First off I'll apologize that this post doesn't have much in the way of pictures. The few that I quickly snapped happened when it was lightly drizzling and after that it just rained. Much too damp for either my camera (which I did bring) or my phone. Next time, providing the weather is much better I'll get a lot more pictures.

I joined the Vancouver Island Pointing Dog Club in December. They had a training day mid month along with their AGM and I just happened to find them online a few days before, and low and behold it was only a couple of minutes from my house. The perfect way to check it out and to see how my Libby ( Ch LegacyK LibertyReigns Braebrook ) would react to her first birds. She did well, I joined the club, and now we are gearing up for their Field Dog Test and Trials in April.

I was happy to find out that the club was having another training day today as I don't have either my own field or birds to train on (yet…) and every opportunity I can get to work Libby is great experience for both her and I. We are both green as grass when it comes to the bird field...she has good instincts but we both need training.

Today's training was held at beautiful Woodwynn Farms. The fields here are huge and gorgeous, I really wish I had been able to take a few more pictures. I attended a tracking test here a year or two ago, not as a participant but just to watch so I could get a better idea of how they work, and I was so impressed with the fields then. I'm really glad the farm is so open to having people and their dogs come out to train, as areas like this are getting harder and harder to come by.

Unfortunately the pictures I snapped are facing the wrong direction, the big fields are behind me here.

Libby is really showing interest in the birds, especially if they move even a little. She will hold and watch that bird if I'm holding on to her and talking softly but she has a hard time containing herself if it flies up, all in good time. What I'm most thrilled about is how much she wants that bird and that's it's difficult to pull her away. She is also using her nose well….although sometimes she get's distracted by mice, shrews and other scents that are literally all over the field.

I'm really looking forward to the field test in April, a first for both Libby and I. I have no idea how we'll do but it will be a learning experience for the both of us.

Continuing Education

One of my goals in 2014 is to blog more so I thought I would share more than just pictures and updates on the dogs and expand to include other things I do here at Braebrook, such as things that are related to the breeding program, training, husbandry etc...

As I stated a couple of posts ago I really do think that continuing education is important, and when you're studying something you're really passionate about then it's not work, in fact it's downright enjoyable! I posted about the Neonatology seminar I went to and now I thought I would share with you some of the things I have coming up. These courses and seminars are available to everyone so if you think it's something you might enjoy than be sure to sign up and learn right along with me. I'll include the links as I go.

The Institute of Canine Biology is a wealth of information. The website is packed with articles, videos and blog posts that can keep me reading and watching for hours. If you have any interest in genetics in dogs and haven't yet seen it….click on the link…you can thank me later. ;)

The ICB offers online courses which is a wonderful way for breeders and others interested in dog genetics to learn and study without actually having to go to a classroom, something many of us just can't fit into our schedules. I have officially signed up for my first course with them and I am really excited to get started.  I took a few screen shots describing the course: Managing Genetics for the Future , but there is more to read if you click on the link.

This course does require a textbook, there is a link from the course description page to where you can buy it or you can download it as an ebook. I am a book fiend and don't do kindles or e readers, there is just something about having the material in my hands. It is quite a bit more expensive to order the book but to me it's worth it, and it will be a welcome addition to my extensive library.

I've also signed up for a Webinar put on by the DPCA, talking about the most up to date research on several breed specific health issues in the Doberman Pinscher. It is just one evening and very reasonably priced at only $15 ($10 if you're a DPCA member).

Like I said there is still time to sign up for either (or both) if you have any interest so if you'd like more information you can follow the links I've included.

Speaking of genetics and breeding, I have some exciting breeding news here at Braebrook and will be posting it soon!

Victoria City Kennel Club show

 We had a very successful weekend at the VCKC show this past weekend. Thursday night as I was grooming Hadley and getting her ready for the show I realized that I hadn't been to a dog show since August…I know, I was surprised too! Not quite sure how that happened but it was really nice to be back.

Chris came along to watch Ella and I in our rings on Saturday and snapped a few pictures. Love this one he got of the kids and I, and of course Sebastian, Ella's lovely Smooth Fox Terrier juniors dog. 

Sebastian is ten years old now, has a show record as long as your arm with many best in shows in both Canada and the US and has been a juniors dog for many very lucky children thanks to his excellent show attitude and temperament and his generous owner Heidi Gervais. Here are a few pictures of he and Ella doing their thing…

Maintaining serious cool during a lead malfunction.

Ella was very nervous but handled things well and I was very proud of her.

I showed Esquire's Haiku "Hadley", a recent addition to Braebrook (December), and a bitch who has never been shown. I was very happy with how she handled the show and all the noise that goes along with that. 

Dog shows are wonderful places to really see a dogs temperament and a great way to get them used to pretty much anything. Dog shows (especially indoor ones) are tightly packed with people that both dogs and humans need to weave in and out of, there is noise of all kinds…barking dogs, loudly talking people, clattering crates…and if your dog can't take the pressure then they don't show well, if they don't show well it's pretty hard to finish their championship and most breedings dogs should have their championships (there are a few extreme circumstances such as injuries etc..). Dog shows are not all fluff, dogs must have stable temperaments as well as good structure to do well, both things that are very important in a breeding program. I digress…back to Hadley. ;)

Hadley picked up six points towards her championship ( 10 points are needed in total with at least one win of 2 points or more at a time - Hadley had a 2, 3 and 1 point win), so in just one weekend she is more than halfway there, a very nice start.

I really did enjoy being back at the shows again after such a long absence. It was so nice to catch up with friends and other breeders, see the current dogs being specialed and campaigned as well as the new up and comers…and just be surrounded by what I really love…dogs. :)

If you happen to be at a show where I am please be sure to say hi. Next up for me is the BC Regional Specialty and the DPCC National Specialty in Chilliwack in April. I'm really looking forward to that one, National Specialty means large entries of Dobermans and lots of breeders getting together, and it's always nice to see what others are doing in their breeding programs.

Neonatology seminar

I think continuing education is really important. I love what I do with the dogs very much and there is always something new to learn, ways to do things better, new information to keep on top of, and seminars are a great way to do that.

Royal Canin put on a great neonatology seminar this weekend. It was a short one, just an hour and a half as it was held after best in show on Saturday night at the VCKC show, but it was full of information.

Attendance was by donation, and Royal Canin was generous as usual with gifts (this time attendees received RC diaries, neck straps and pens), always a nice touch and much appreciated.

Dr Emmanuel Fontaine is a reproduction specialist who works for Royal Canin and speaks regularly to breeders, and vet students all across Canada. Dr Fontaine is obviously very passionate about his work and brings the most up to date information to those who attend his seminars. I always learn something new.

The lecture was accompanied by a slide show, which is then emailed to all attendees which makes note taking very easy indeed.

The talk started with the in whelp bitch (did you know that folic acid is just as in important in bitches as it is in human mothers? Supplements should be started as soon as the bitch comes into season…either by feeding her a food which contains the correct amount or adding a separate supplement to her current food), continued on through whelping (a long or delayed whelping can result in a lack of oxygen and often puppies can come right around with the use of oxygen rather than using sub q fluids) and into the first few weeks of life (get the colostrum into them and keep them warm…do not try to feed a cold puppy, they cannot digest).

One thing I learned is that canine brucellosis can be transmitted via fresh chilled or frozen semen, not only through live breedings. I will now be making sure that males I ship semen in from have been tested as well as the males I take my bitches to directly.

If you are able to attend one of these seminars I would highly recommend it, there is a lot of information in a short period of time and Dr Fontaine is both knowledgeable and easy to talk to. If you are in my area, I'll see you at the next one!