Breeders award “nothing easy about it”
I was determined to get a breeders award, for this my 2nd letter of Bracco Italiano's.
When Artie my foundation bitch came into my life 5 years ago, my intention was to
find a line or breed that was not crazy about fur as it was for feathers. For too many
years I had apologized for my German wire hair pointers less than neighborly habit
of collecting cats, and young deer, one of them even put a stalk on a cow with her
calf. Not to mention the half dozen or so fights that they started without
provocation. Now I still have one GW who took me all the way to the invitational. He
will always stay on the top of my list. But some of the crap he could pull could drive
me to taking my nameplate off his collar.
Being around NAVHDA for many years through judging training and testing I have
met and still know hundreds and hundreds of members. Who all but a handful were
flabbergasted to hear that I bought a B Italiano.
For those who do know my reputation for being “lets say” fun-loving and able to pull
my pants down and slide on the ice, and a capacity for laughing at myself as hard as I
laugh at others. Would be surprised to find out that my demeanor was challenged as
the broccoli Italiano jokes started rolling in. From Facebook jabs to an actual live
raccoon in a cage on top of my long eared Roman nosed sweetheart named Artie.
The biggest obstacle was so many people thought this new Italian breed would be
where the other famous Italian breed was about 20 years ago before showing their
skills in the hands of NAVHDA breeders and Handlers. Quite honestly other than my
own dog, I had not seen or judged any Braccos. Because of this breed’s rarity they
command a high dollar commitment to purchase and to import. Most of them go to
homes that are hunter friendly but not diehard bird hunters. I also later imported
a male from Hungary to train, Hunt, and hopefully use as a stud dog. “Bravo” at a
very young age showed me great early qualities that I knew would complement my
female. I pushed the NA test even harder this time to new owners. I managed to get
6 out of 9 to commit. The 2012 testing season started with a bomb drop. a male in
Montana was hit by a car and suffered a broken pelvis. This dog later ran but was
never the same after its accident. The next to fold up was a female pup who after
battling for its life for weeks from an obstructed colon. It was saved from near-death
having emergency surgery to remove the soft foam tip from a Nerf dart.
Now down to 4 pups I was concerned but optimistic. The female that I kept her
name is Dancing Duke Hope, received 110 points and prize1 in Michigan. Then her
brother “Hero” passed in Ohio with 103 points prize 2. In October another female
named “Halo” passed her test in Tennessee with 110 points and a prize 1. With the
testing year almost over and no do overs possible “Hugo” gained a spot in North
Carolina’s Dec 1&2 double test. The owner of this pup said there was no way he
could make those dates. Not giving up I asked if he would trust me with his puppy’s
care for a few weeks, he agreed. After finding out this pup did not know birds from
butterflies, and thought that water was only for drinking, I knew that lots of
exposure in the next few weeks would be needed. Fast forward to 1 week prior to its
test. My friend from Michigan, who was going to bond with the dog and act as it’s
Handler could not make it. I gave thoughts to putting an add out on craigslist for a
dog handler. 5 days before the test I spotted a friend's name on the running order
for Sunday's utility test. I called Meridith to ask her and eventually begged her if she
could bring her husband Bill to handle this puppy. She agreed but warned that she
was the dog mom in the family and Bill had no experience. They arrived on Saturday
late afternoon for a 15 min. bonding session with the puppy. On Sunday morning I
gave him the key to my van and he was off to the NA field. First-time handler and
first pup up to the line. I wished him luck and thanked him ahead of time as I went
off with utility handlers for a full day. I had to wait for the NA judges to read scores,
When I heard Dancing Duke Hugo 106 points for a prize 2, I almost fainted. This is
the 1st ever breeders award given to the Bracco Italianos. Of course I am very proud
of my dam and sire but even more so proud and thankful of the owners of these
pups, and and to the commitment of these first-timer’s. Thanks to Jay
Schwieterman, Gary Lewis, Matt Musto and of course pinch hit Handler Bill
Prillman. Here’s to them and the future of the Breed.