Author: N. Martin
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A Day in the Life: Pippa’s Therapy Training: A Lesson in Patience (and Acrobatics)
As an experienced dog breeder, puppy sophisiticate and groomer, I’ve worked with a lot of dogs. Some are natural stars when it comes to training; others require a little…extra motivation. Then there’s Pippa—lively, silly, smart, and as eager to please as she is to completely disregard everything she learned the day before. We’re training her…
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The Ever-Moving Target of Ethical Breeding: Balancing Genetics, Economics, and Accessibility
Ethical breeding is a concept that is often discussed but rarely agreed upon. What one breeder considers the gold standard may be deemed irresponsible by another. This shifting landscape makes it difficult to define what it truly means to be an ethical breeder. At the heart of the debate is a fundamental question: how selective…
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A Day in the Life: The Chaos of a Litter’s First Car Ride
Taking a litter of six-week-old Brittany puppies on their first car ride is a lot like herding caffeinated squirrels into a moving vehicle. The goal? Acclimate them to travel, introduce them to new sights and sounds, and ensure they won’t grow up believing that a car ride is a prelude to catastrophe. The reality? Absolute…
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A Day in the Life: The Definition of a Dandy Lion
As an experienced dog breeder, I’ve welcomed my fair share of puppies into my home. I have a structured program, carefully thought-out introductions, and a deep understanding of puppy behavior. None of that prepared me for Dandelion—Danny for short—a bouncy, mischievous little Brittany with more enthusiasm than sense and a talent for finding trouble within…
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A Day in the Life: Daisy the Angler
It began, as many absurd things do, with a single rogue splash. Daisy, my ever-enthusiastic Brittany, had been trotting alongside the pond with the air of a dog on a grand philosophical journey—ears flopping, nose twitching, soul brimming with purpose. And then, a fish, perhaps feeling cheeky, flicked its tail and sent a ripple right…
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Behavioral Genetics: Goal #1
Dogs have always been a part of my life. Like so many Americans, I don’t just see them as pets but as essential family members—companions who shape my daily routines and offer unwavering loyalty. But over the years, I’ve come to realize something that many breeders and owners of dogs, myself included, often overlook: temperament…
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From Groomer to Companion Brittany Breeder: My Journey into Raising Well-Balanced Dogs
If you had told me years ago that I would become one of the first stated professional companion Brittany breeders, I probably would have laughed—and then gone back to washing a particularly wiggly doodle in my grooming salon. But life has a funny way of leading you exactly where you need to be, even if…