news

Mike and I would like to congratulate fellow CBFQ member Franco Alfonsi and his Dog Pincher de Alexandro on being the first NAVHDA UT Prize I (204 points) Braque Francais in North America. Pincher is a half brother to our Rose and Brooke and we have plans to be adding Pincher to our breeding program in the future.

Jersey Sporting Dog Logan at 11 months old, owned and handled by Steve Elder of New Jersey, received a great score of 110, for a PRIZE I with the Del-Val chapter. Mike and I are so proud of both Logan and Steve for posting a top score without ever even attending a NAVHDA training clinic. This pup truly shows a great amount of "natural" ability. We hope to add him to our breeding program in the future. Ata boy Logan!

Jersey Sporting Dog Lea brings home a perfect score 112 for a PRIZE I on her first birthday. Lea is one of two pups we have had the pleasure of sending up to our Canadian friends. She is owned by CBFQ member Andre Passarelli in Quebec. Keep up the good work Andre and Lea (they call her Juliet)

Jersey Sporting Dog Belle, keeping up with the rest of her litter, performed perfectly with the Ottawa Valley Chapter and her result was a PRIZE I, 112, at 12 months old. Belle is owned by Duane Blevins in Upstate NY. Like her brother Logan, she too was new the the NAVHDA world having never attended a training clinic. Mike and I couldn't be happier, GREAT JOB Duane and Belle!

The natural ability measures seven hereditary characteristics which are fundamental to the makeup of a good, reliable versatile hunting dog. The importance of this test in evaluating litters can not be over emphasized. The NA test is organized into four main segments or phases. The field phase where the pup is hunted in cover where the presence of game has been assured by releasing game birds. The tracking phase is to show the pup can track a flightless running pheasant. The water phase tests the pup for it's willingness to swim and the judgement phase looks at conformation, coat, teeth, eyes, testes and temperament such as normal, sensitive or shy. Use of nose, search, water work, pointing, tracking, desire to work and cooperation are all things we want to be in our pups naturally, not trained into them. These are the areas the pups are judged in during a natural ability test. We do little in the way of formal training the first year and let the pup have it's first hunting season to learn the love of the game. After that we require them to be more disciplined and the training is much more serious. We do not require that you test your Jersey Sporting Dog pup with NAVHDA or any other organization. To us the true test is in the woods, but it a great way to evaluate your pup and see where your strengths and weakness lie and it's a lot of fun watching your pup do it's thing.

Our very own Jersey Sporting Dog Brooke tested with the Rock Tavern Chapter in NY and with Mike handling for the first time scored a 108 for a PRIZE II at 14 months old. Physical Attributes and temperament were all scored as normal. Brooke is the 4th pup from this litter to prize in natural ability. Mike and I are very proud of Brooke as we are all the pups and handlers from this litter that did so well testing this summer. Now it's on to hunting season.