New homes here we come!!!!

Puppies are nature's remedy for feeling unloved, plus numerous other ailments of life"
Richard Allan Palm

Well, the 8 weeks since Seda's pups arrived have flown by and this weekend has seen a seemingly endless stream of new owners arriving to collect their puppy. Each family has a slightly different list of wishes and I hope everyone has the puppy of their dreams. The lovely family with two small children who's delighted faces (despite the puppy nips) gave me such pleasure, to the keeper who wants a LABRADOR not a Whipador - thank goodness some still recognise them for what they are. One to a first time dog owner, two  returning clients who have enjoyed their Brigburn's in the past one as a shooting companion and one as a pet. Finally one to a family who had a canine relation and wanted one the same. All in all just perfect - except for the almost empty puppy kennel - just three girls one or two will stay and one will be collected in a couple of weeks. Good luck and long and healthy lives.  x

News from Brazil

The following is taken from an email I received

............... I am so happy to inform that Brigburn Hardy , 2 year old boy is today
Braz CH, Great Braz CH, and soon Pan CH (he has already gotten 3
CACPABs of 4). In total 10 CCs, 74 CGCs, 2 races, 1 reserve of race, 1
reserve best.
He has for while only one litter in my country so far with a wonderful Bitch
from the Kennel Zack's........................Paulo and Renata Simm

I am delighted that he has proved such a success. His for his owners  who  consider him to be of very good type and of a more old fashioned English type than many of the dogs being exhibited.

Busy few weeks.

So much for my plan to keep this up to date! That didn't last long.
We have managed to fit in a couple of shows with Brigburn Thistle he won Junior dog at just 12 months of age at SKC - the judge was Mr Andrew Brown, when not at shows he still enjoys his mud baths but has developed a  new hobby - scrumping for apples!

We have been enjoying our busy summer - I think this is the first time ever we have had three litters in a year all born within 10 weeks! But amazingly with excellent help from the kennel girls we have really enjoyed every minute of having them.
First Smarties babies. My favourite black Smartie  bitch  pup has gone to a fantastic home locally with Elaine, Ian and Family (they hope to breed from her someday - they have had a couple of lovely litters previously and indeed can take the credit for breeding Tanner at Brigburn. The lovely dog pup pictured below has joined a lovely family as a pet.

Next came Tias pups just four, 1 choc bitch and 3 black bitches - most will stay home for the time being although one is going to a lovely pet/shooting home. They look very promising. :)

Finally and the last litter for quite some time (!), Seda produced a lovely litter of nine 5bd and 4bb just 4 weeks old at the moment (photo taken at 2 weeks)

Update on Tia

Tia whelped over a week ago we have 3 Black Bitches and 1 Chocolate.

A busy Friday at Brigburn!!

Yesterday we had a crazy day the sort we haven't had for a long time!

Our first planned  visitors of the day arrived to allow us to catch up with their two Brigburn's - Schweppes and Mollie. Thank you Lucy and Mike for bringing them to see us.Schweppes is three now and despite having to 0-0 elbow parents is one of the unlucky ones who did have a problem with her elbow when growing up - which was a great concern to all of us all, now as is usual in the middle years her elbows have settled and we hope that things stay that way for a long time allowing her a lovely  time particualry in the winter months when she enjoys accompanying  her owners shooting. Younger pal Mollie is from  last years litter to Ft. Ch. Darleigh Thunderbolt and whilst Mollie was one of the bigger pups in the litter she is now markedly  smaller than Pearl (our retained Puppy). Pearl was the smallest and lightest in bone in the litter but my daughter Laura wanted to keep as she was the "naughty, cleverer one" that hasn't changed!!  Mollie's gun training is going well and her owners report that she is very easy to train!  Pearl is very bright too and our foray into carefully chosen Ft lines has been a great success - what we do from here on in from a breeding point with them will be interesting.

Next up on the visitors list, the Nicholson family - I had promised them a bitch puppy Smartie's litter - but as the litter had grown up I really would have preferred the chance to run both on as they are both in really lovely pups,  but a promise is a promise and to my sorrow and their delight off they went with their new addition.

Hard on their heals came the Elliott's who are going to be having one of the boys from the litter- we had a lovely time play retrieving and studying characters and temperaments - none of us could spot any real difference's (this is a very even litter!) and off they went to think about it - before a planned collection on Sunday.

Our final visitors of the day were Martin and Carol Locke and friend Lynette who brought Hattie back to see me - Carol and Martin and I have been friends for a long time and last year when Carol rang to tell me she was looking for a foundation bitch - who she would like to work and show I really felt she needed something special - so complete with 0-0 hips and elbows, super temperament and fabulous looks Hattie went off to Herefordshire. Hat's has bodied up nicely- if a touch too much "body" on the day for me  - she looked happy healthy and settled - now together we can plan a litter!

Accompanying Carol and Martin was another potential "Brigburn" owner who wants one just like Hattie - don't we all! Lynette I will see what I can do! 

Charway Water Reed at Brigburn and Brigburn Simply Tia are pleased to announce they are expecting puppies!

Brigburn Tia is an Ole daughter x Brigburn Lyric her puppies are due in 2 weeks photos were taken a couple of days ago. 

Magic AKA Brigburn Thistle

After ages out of the ring I finally made it to a couple of shows last week, not with my own dog but with Lesley Orchard's lovely Magic.

Magic was placed in  both  his classes at Cots & Wye Lab Club and we came home very happy - Magic had taken to showing like a duck to water.  

After Cots & Wye, Lesley and I did have a chat about bathing Labradors the night before a show and how it makes the coat the wrong texture and we both agreed he wouldn't need bathing next time (4 days later) for East of England. However, it was a very worried Lesley who  I met at  4 AM on the morning of East of England, as she thrust her phone into my hand to show me a picture whilst blurting "I know I wasn't supposed to bath him but last night............"

The night before a show a mud pack is highly recommended!

Luckily for Lesley despite the bath, which even I had to agree had been essential, Magic won Puppy Dog at East of England. 

Lesley  I can't remember anyone being happier and it made the day so special to share it with you thank you for allowing me to show your lovely boy.

 P.S Lesley could  teach us how to  choose a puppy don't bother with the hours of analysing them point for point - choose the one that licks your face.  Every time Lesley  came to see the litter Magic smoothered her with kisses and she always knew exactly which puppy was hers- "I want the one that licks me you know which one don't you? Promise me you won't give him to anyone else!" I could never have fooled her.

I mention this method as it obviously works and could save us all a lot time and soul searching!