Untitled Document

Fred Overby's Violette Des Renfroe "Shug" Earns a Pass
in Wild Open Braces in Kansas

Topper Lyn Kennels Comes Home Heavy with Three Dogs Scoring in
the National Conformation Show In Salina Kansas

Lynda's Winners From Left to Right:
Capucine Du Hameau de Sorny a Female Puppy of Another Color: First Place
Topperlyn Hera a Female Puppy of Another Color: Second Place
TopperLyn Fonzie, Senior Male of Another Color: First Place

TopperLyn Horizon of Hope, Owned and Handled by Amber Tolzin from Iowa Earned a Third Place in the Conformation show as a Female Puppy of Another Color.

TR Zeus' Ebony Leaps Alot, Owned and Handled by Peter Wax at the French Brittany Gun Dog Associations Annual Meeting and Conclave in Salina Kansas: March 5th Open Braces Wild Pheasants: No Bird, March 6th Open Solo Wild Pheasants: No Bird, March 7th Open Solo Liberated Bobwhite Quail: First Place, March 8th Confirmation Show Adult Male of Another Color: Second Place.

A Gun Dog Named Vern Makes History

Vern & Mark Dinsmore

March 8th was a historic day for the Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Association and the United Kennel Club when the Regis Toulet awarded Mark Dinsmore a first place for his best friend Vernon de L'Escarbot's Open Braced run on wild pheasants at the Epagneul Breton Gun Dog Association's National meeting and Conclave. This first place completed the UKC's requirements for the title of Grand Champion - not just any Grand Champion but the first Grand Champion ever under the UKC pointing dog requirements. From this day forward whenever the UKC pointing dog program is researched GrCHF CH Vernon de L'Escarbot will be at the top of the list.

While a Grand Champion is a once in a lifetime achievement it is only one of many first for Vern and his co-pilot Mark. Vern ran a total of 11 UKC trials over a two-year period taking 6 first places. He was the first UKC Trailer, the first UKC Champion Trailer and the first UKC Champion of the Field. Vern's accomplishments are still building as Mark plans to again visit France and run in the spring trials and continue to develop him in AKC walking and horseback stakes.

While these are wonderful achievements Vern's greatest accomplishments are performed each and every fall in the field doing what he was bred to do - hunt. And each and every day as Mark's bedroom dog, honored guest, mastiff, consul, and best friend. In short Vern deserve the greatest title of all - the title "GUN DOG".

The Big Sky Epagnuel Breton Gun Dog Club conducted the fall field trials in the beautiful Paradise Valley near Chico Hot Springs, on September 16 and 17, 2006. All had a great time. Late summer in Montana was extremely dry with numerous wild fires starting on almost a daily basis. During the weeks prior to the field trials, the Paradise Valley filled with smoke and the fire lines could be observed daily.

Needless to say, the rain, snow and cooler temps that started falling on Friday were a much welcome relief to event organizers, participants and dogs alike. Saturday dawned cold, wet & windy and Ken Bruwelheide’s travel trailer made for a convenient and warm headquarters. Lynda Kieres from Stevensville, Montana was Saturdays judge. The field was well represented with dogs from Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota participating. Club members were appreciative that Glen Gunderson made the long trip from Minnesota, as well as Peter Wax and Sherry Niesar coming from North Dakota.

Butch Nelson judged Sundays trials and the weather was much more conducive to quality dog work. Participants and spectators were treated to some solid performances by several of the dogs.

We had a total of 17 dogs on Saturday and 15 dogs on Sunday participating in the event. Results are as follows:

Special thanks should be extended to the many volunteers who helped make our event a success. Special thanks to the lunch crew who served up some great chili, and to the folks who helped plant the birds throughout the 2-day event.

Saturday, April 22 2006 was a day to remember for Traveler Des Par Dessus Par and owner/handler Tim Powell. Traveler Des Par Dessus Par (Gus) and Tim are a fun team to watch as they have great chemistry developed over many hours and miles hunting and trialing together in Montana and other States.

This was not going to be an easy day as the wind was sharp and cold and the grounds were a dish pan grey field of old CRP inhabited by scattered and experienced pheasant. But today Gus was not going to be denied. On this morning Gus was going to make this field his.

Upon release Gus wasted no time covering ground finding his first bird in under two minutes. There was no question of his steadiness as the official gunner Jim Shurtz fired a 12 gauge blank in the direction of the flushed bird. After being collected by Tim, Gus restarted his run in much the same fashion as his initial start cutting first right then left then over a small rise and as the gallery crested the rise there was Gus standing steady as two more wild pheasant took flight. Another shot from the gunner solidified Gus' solid performance in very difficult conditions.

History is Made! On March 24, 2006, Destinée de l’Hospitalier became the first known Epagneul Breton to run in the VJP (Verbandsjugendprüfung) test in the United States at Boise, Idaho. The test was sponsored by the JGV-USA (Jagdgebrauchshundverein) which is a full member of the JGHV. The JGHV (Jagdgebrauchshundverband) is the umbrella organization of hunting-dog clubs in Germany which includes breed clubs, as well as individual training and testing clubs. Representative breed clubs include the Verein Deutsch Drahthaar; Deutsch-Kurzhaar; Verein Pudelpointer e.V; Kleiner Münsterländer; as well as the Club für Bretonische Vorstehhund (CBV – the German Epagneul Breton Club) and many more. The JGHV is recognized by the VDH which is one of the founding members of the FCI. In Germany the JGHV testing standards have been utilized by breeding organizations for over a 100 years [surviving both World Wars], as well as more recently by organizations in North America, i.e. Verein Deutsche Drahthaar/Group North America [VDD/GNA]; North American Deutsch Kurzhaar Club [NADKC]; and the Jagdgebrauchshundverein-USA [JGV-USA].

The purpose of these tests is to evaluate the breeding quality of dogs through examination of their performance record and that of their offspring through testing. The goal is to consistently produce dogs most suitable for the modern foot hunter. About a year ago we became aware that Destinée de l’Hospitalier, “Desi,” [who we imported from Belgium in 2005], was eligible to run in the JGV-USA sponsored tests. Only dogs that are registered with an FCI-approved breed registry are eligible to participate in the testing because of the association with the JGHV. The Northwest Regional Representative of the JGV told me “I don’t believe we’ve tested one of ‘this flavor’ before.”

The VJP – or spring “puppy test” – is comprised of 3 segments and is designed to measure the pup’s inherited potential. The pup is scored on Nose, Tracking, Search, Pointing, and Cooperation. Dogs participating in this test are those that were born the year before or in the last 3 months of the previous year. A panel of 3 judges uses a 12 point scoring system to rate the dogs. 12 = Excellent; 11; 10, 9 = Very Good; 8, 7, 6 = Good; 5, 4, 3 = Sufficient; 2, 1 = Insufficient; 0 = Deficient. A multiplier index of 2 is assigned to both the tracking and nose segments and a final score is tallied. A pup that scores in the upper “good” range (8) in each category would receive a total score of 56. The first part of the test is evaluation for gun-sensitivity. Any dog rated gun-shy may not proceed any further in the test. Gun-sensitive dogs may continue the test but will not receive a score.

The second portion of the test is the track of wild hare (rabbits in this country). The entire gallery; i.e. handlers, dogs, judges and spectators, proceed across the countryside, on foot, in search of the rabbits. When a rabbit is sighted the closest dog is called forward to try to locate and follow the track. If the dog sounds off [barks] while on the scent or during a sight chase of the rabbit it is rated spurlaut or sichtlaut [scent loud or sight loud].

The third portion of the test consists of field work over either wild or planted birds. If no wild birds are encountered during the rabbit tracking phase, planted birds are used. The dog is directed throughout the field in multiple directions and is judged on its ability to adjust its search to compensate for changing wind/scenting conditions. They are worked for approximately 20 minutes with the wind, across the wind, and into the wind. The dog must adjust its search pattern accordingly. When the dog locates a bird it is then judged on pointing. The dog’s use of nose and cooperation with its handler are judged throughout the test.

The score is annotated directly on the dog’s FCI pedigree and is reported to Germany for inclusion in the JGHV permanent database. It is also published in the German national hunting dog magazine (Der Jagdgebrauchshund) and in the annual publication of the JGHV's central registry, the Stammbuch. Desi is what I call a “passionate” dog and the thought had occurred to me that she could possibly experience a problem “shifting gears” from the new game of rabbit tracking (which she took to with typical enthusiasm) to the field work again. Desi held true to her task and showed intelligence, desire, and true Breton style with a final score of 10 in nose, 11 in search, and 11 in pointing. “Desi” ran alongside four Deutsch Drahthaar that day and upon achieving a total score of 70 points, was the second highest scoring dog of the day. Destinée de l’Hospitalier, VJP - 70 Pts; Handler Chris Kieres; Jeff Funke of Three Devils Kennel (Drei Teufeln Kennel); and the JGHV Judges; -

March 9 , 2006

The 2006 National meeting of the BOD was held March 1 thru March 4 at Cordele, a. National president Fred Overby and Mr. Wallace Huey President of the French Brittany Gun Dog Association of Georgia, and all the Georgia club members are to be commended for their organization, and hospitality making everyone feel welcome, and making the meeting a very positive experience.

The Georgia French Brittany Gun DogAssociation hosted 3 Field Trials, and a national confirmation show. Field Trial judging was amply handled be Mr. Henri - Xavier Geulou of Ploumagoar, France, and Mr. Butch Nelson of Bozeman , Mt. Additionally, club member Chris Kieres apprentice judged under both senior judges, completing his UKC judging qualification. Congratulations to Chris, and look for him to be judging one day of our trials this April in Choteau.

The quality of the field work of our Open dogs improved markedly this year, and for the first time in a national trial we had 2 placements, and a Pass in the Open stake. Congratulations to Tim Powell and Travler des par- dessus- par " Gus " for his "Pass" in the Open in the liberated bird trial ,and Jennifer and Matt Allain with Allaine de Grandview " Moxie " who received a TAN equivalent in the Novice stake.

In the confirmation show, congratulations go to Lynda Kieres, and Topperlyn Kennels with CH Topperlyn Draco Malfoy- Champion Class and NBOB CH TAN Beau de L'Hospitalier - Reserve Champion.TopperLyn D'Artagnan won junior male. reserve best male o/w, and reserve best male. Jennifer Allain with " Moxie " was awarded a 1st Place in the Best Female Puppy o/w, and a reserve. Best of Variety, and Fred Overby with " Shane " who got a 2nd Place in Adult Male.

Denton Trial May 17 & 18th Results