For every Journey there is a Beginning

In a way New Horizon Brittanys started in 1992 when I was just turning 9 years old. Chester came into my life, and suddenly I had the best friend and dog I had wanted for years. He was certainly mine, never the family dog. I must have done 4 or 5 research papers on the Brittany as I grew up. In fact, I have an entire section of books devoted to the breed I have accumulated over the years. But that is not what defines me as an owner, handler, and yes, breeder. It is my love for the breed and each individual dog that has graced my heart.

In January of 2003 Sunny joined Chester and I in our new home in Virginia. I was in the Navy then, and although I wanted to do more with my dogs, I was working 12 hours a day and my time off was often unpredictable. I didn't know where to start, and didn't have a lot of time to find out. Then, it was enough I had my dogs and enjoyed them. Sunny excelled at obedience and Chester was happy to tag along behind me and curl up at my feet.

By the time we ended up in Maine, I had found time to enjoy the field with Sunny and cement my absolute devotion to the breed, as if it wasn't strong already. We hadn't even been here a year when I lost Sunny in a tragic accident. Anyone who has talked to me knows how terrified I am of a dog getting loose and heading to the road. Chester and I fell into quite a funk, which was broken by the gift of Hero for Christmas from my mother. Spring of 2008 I entered my first dog show with Hero. We were both terrified, and it amazes me to this day how we managed to take first in our class that day. I didn't even know which way to run around the ring!

Along the way there has been plenty of heartache, and moments of incredible joy. I am lucky to have some wonderful people as mentors, and breeders of my current dogs! All my dogs live in the house with me; in fact a pretty decent portion of my bed at night is occupied by them. I will never house my dogs in a kennel no matter how many I may have. The Brittany is a family dog, and not only deserves to be part of the family, but they need to be. They aren't a business for me, but a passion. If it were a business, I'd be bankrupt. The gain I get is in the love I receive every day from my dogs, and that to me is priceless.

I am committed to the dual Brittany, this is a dog who loves to hunt. I have always fostered this in my dogs, and they are regularly put on birds in my back field, when the weather permits! While my main focus is on showing right now, it is because I believe form and function is something we should not ignore. I don't want just a pretty dog who can trot around a show ring, I want a dog who is designed to do the job it was originally bred to do, hunt!

 

I am a member of the Central New England Brittany Club and its parent club, The American Brittany Club. As a code of ethics breeder all breeding stock have passing OFA's, clear eye exams, and are clear of known genetic defects and disease. All our dogs conform to the breed standard and have loving temperaments.