Meet the Dogs & Humans
 behind Hunter's Heart

Home: About Hunter's Heart Brittanys: Meet Us & Our Dogs
Page Updated July 06, 2004

Topics included in this section:
* Chief
* Chief Agility movie
* NVee
* Spirit
* Storm
* Bastian
* Cuervo
* Phoenix
* Roxie
*  Specialty Wins

Hunter's Heart Brittanys Reg'd is in Western Canada, where we enjoy hunting, show, agility, obedience and tracking. Hunter's Heart is a small kennel registered with the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club). We strive for sound and versatile Brittanys, for shows, recreational hunting on foot, field trials, tracking, obedience & agility. We breed only purebred Brittany Spaniels. 

Stud service is available to approved bitches. Click here to learn more about "Chief".  

Sorry, we have no puppies available in the near future.  Carla has suspended the Hunter's Heart breeding program until graduating from University in January 2005.  Check our Breeder listings to find a breeder near you. 

We focus on quality, breeding the healthiest, most eager-to-please,  international quality Brittanys possible. Excellent health and temperament are fundamental. Most importantly, our dogs are our pets. All puppies are raised in our home with help from every member of our furry family.

We are members of:

• Brittany Spaniel Club of Canada (Carla is Director for British Columbia)
• Calgary Agility Association
• Canadian Kennel Club (registered kennel name “Huntersheart”)
• Carla is a Canine Good Neighbour Evaluator
• It's a Dog's World (agility training club member)
• NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council)
• USDAA member (United States Dog Agility Association)
• Washington Brittany Club/American Brittany Club (Carla is the Editor of the Tattle Tails newsletter)

   In 1995, Carla & Gary (& Tiki the ferret) moved from Toronto to Calgary into our first house. We enjoy an active outdoors lifestyle and Gary hunted with Spaniels  in Northern Ontario throughout childhood. A Brittany Spaniel seemed a natural choice. The breed suits us well and we can't imagine not having all the freckly faces in our lives. We currently share their home with 5 Brittany Spaniels: Storm, Spirit, Chief, NVee and Strider.

  During the fall, we head west to the Rocky Mountains for hunting game birds (mostly grouse). It's fun and very interesting to see the dogs working as a team. We feel it's been a good day when dirty dogs curl up to sleep contentedly on the ride home.

In 2002 "Chief" won the Canadian National Brittany Specialty Show under Colorado judge Dolores Maltz, and B.C. handler Carman MacKay. And the Brittany Spaniel Club of Canada Agility Prize, for the highest aggregate score.

  Chief is the son of Storm & Spirit (shown with pedigrees above). Even as a puppy he excelled in natural scenting & retrieving ability. He's matured into an eager, friendly male with nice focus. Chief demonstrated his promise when he achieved 197 1/2 at a CKC obedience match (a perfect score is 200) and consecutive scores of 198 and 197 in Rally obedience matches. He's an eager hunter and tracking dog, with a keen nose.

  Chief always seems to be having fun, but his favorite award might be winning the Kong Cup Challenge. In this timed event, points are awarded for retrieving the most Kongs and stuffed animals, while deductions occur for bringing back bones and food treats. (The Kong Cup is a fun event at the Charity Mutt Challenge based on Ian Dunbar's K9 Games).

• #4 in Canada for 2003

  Click here for a Video of Chief in agility competition. 
(38 seconds, 5 MB)  Or click here to view the Real Video  version instead. For the latter, you'll need Real Video player installed on your computer to play the movie. You can download the player for free at www.real.com.

  This video features Chief and Carla winning Second in Tunnelers in March 2002 under judge Pam Kaye (from Montana, U.S.A.). The standard course time (minimum time for a qualifying run) was 40.41 seconds. Chief's run time was 27.34 seconds.

  In February 2003, Chief won his Novice Touch N Go title in a single weekend, with 3 consecutive first place wins, and the fastest time of all Novice competitors.

  So far, Chief has qualified for 3 of 6 events offered at the NADAC North American Agility Championships. 

Chief placed second in the Sporting Group  at the FCI and FCM shows in Mexico. (For those of you who are new to dog shows, that means that he defeated all the other international quality Weimaraners, Pointers, Vizslas, Setters, Griffons and other Pointing breeds at that show, save one other dog.)  Thank you David Scheiris for handling Chief to these international honors.

  Chief was only shown one weekend in Canada in 2003.  He won Group 3 under judge Michael Woods (U.S.A.) and Group 3 under Anita Cairns (Alberta) in July 2003 at Swift Current, Alberta.  Thanks to the judges for recognizing Chief, and to Brian O'Reel for this unprecedented string of Group placements with our Specials.

  Chief won Best of Winners at the 2000 Brittany Club of Canada Regional Specialty. In 2001 International IABCA competition Chief received a V1 rating, the highest category possible. At the Washington Brittany Specialty June 2002, Chief won Winners Dog for a 3 point major towards his next (AKC) show championship. Thank you to handler Randy Schepper and judge Nancy Byrd, both from Washington.

  Stud service is available to approved bitches. Please contact us for more information.

EXPLANATION OF TITLES
NBB = Canadian National Best of Breed winner
BISS = Best of Breed in Brittany Specialty
Chief has show championships from the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), Federaciòn Canofila Mexicana (FCM), International All Breed Canine Association (IABCA), and Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). 
He won one 3 point major in American Kennel Club (AKC).
CD = CKC novice obedience: Companion Dog title
CGC = The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen award
AGN = Agility Novice Title in CKC agility
O-NGC = Outstanding Novice Gamblers Certificate (NADAC agility)
O-TNO = Outstanding Open Tunnelers Certificate ( NADAC agility)
O-NJC = Outstanding Novice Jumpers Certificate (NADAC agility)
TGN = Novice Touch N Go Certificate (a NADAC agility title)
O-NAC = Outstanding Novice Regular (NADAC)
GSN = Gamblers Standard Novice (ASCA agility)
RSN = Regular Standard Novice (ASCA agility)

TITLES IN PROGRESS: 1/3 NA
NA = one of three legs required for the Novice Regular Agility Title (AKC)

WIN HISTORY
In agility, Chief has 16 first place wins. He qualified for 3 out of 6 events offered at the North American Agility Championships (NADAC 2003).  In obedience, he has 1 third place win.

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Chief"
D.O.B.: June 21, 1999
CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registration # JL612894
AKC # SN899700/01
FCM #S1721, IABCA #119 5100, NADAC #3D706, USDAA #U119835, ASCA #T3D706
CERF normal #BS-424 Click here to see certificate
Hips OFA good, #BS-10791G30M-NOPI Click here for certificate
OFA clear of elbow dysplasia, #BS-EL00277-NOPI Click here to see certificate

  "NVEE was a great dog. She was special and I felt special being around her. While we were out hunting, her heart failed her mid run. It broke my heart that I could not save her. I love her and miss her dearly." - Gary - October 16, 2004

NVee is bred, owned, trained and loved by Dr. Carla Simon & Gary Andrusiek.  

  NVee is the daughter of Canada's #3 Brittany (2002): 7 X BISS Group Winner Am/Can CH Alar’s The Rocketeer JH Can CD, “Chase” (owned by Sovereign Brittanys in Minnesota, U.S.A.). 

  This little girl is very cute, very mischievous and always cause for laughs. 

NVee loved agility and hunting.

• #1 in Canada for 2003

  At the 2002 Canadian National Brittany Specialty, Carman MacKay handled NVee to Best of Winners & Best Puppy under judge Dolores Maltz, completing her CKC show championship from the Senior Puppy class. At the 2002 Washington Brittany Specialty NVee attained Best of Opposite Sex in the Puppy Sweepstakes, handled by Randy Schepper.  Thank you to judged Dianne Kroll for NVee's first U.S. win at the age of 6 months.

  At the American Brittany Nationals' 2002 Puppy Sweepstakes, NVee won First in her 12-15 month class, under longtime Brittany breeder Bev Millette, and handler David Scheiris.   Dr. Hal Engel awarded her First in Open Female at the 2003 Iowa Brittany Specialty. She took Best of Winners for a 4 point AKC major at the International Kennel Club in Chicago on Feb 23, 2003 under judge James White. NVee is handled in the U.S. by Dave Scheiris. 

In 2003, NVee's only been shown in Canada 3 weekends. She's racked up points towards a Top 10 Canadian ranking, handled by Brian O'Reel: 

• 16 Consecutive Best of Breed wins; including BOB at Westwind Sporting Dog Specialty (under Sporting judge, Virginia Lyne)
• 1 Group Third (under Sharon Francis)
• 3 Group Fourths (thank you Barbara Beland, Charles Francis, and Donald Palmer)

EXPLANATION OF TITLES
BPISS = NVee won Best Puppy at the 2002 Canadian National Brittany Specialty

TITLES IN PROGRESS: 
11/15 points in AKC conformation shows, with 1/ 2 majors

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "NVee" (pronounced "Envy")
D.O.B.: Sept. 25, 2001
CKC # LS763319
AKC #SN914464/01
FDSB litter #57569 (individual registration pending)
CERF normal #BS-451 Click here to see certificate
OFA certification pending (once NVee is 2 years old)

Once we made the decision to breed, we contacted breeders across Canada looking for a suitable bitch. We chose Spirit, a descendant of generations of hunting and show champions. That she has graced us with happy healthy puppies was recognized at the Washington Brittany Specialty in winning the Brood Bitch and Get Award under Judge Nancy Byrd. 

Spirit is a small, clever, energetic, orange and white beauty. She thrives on human affection, especially from children. She's a "natural" at hunting. As a puppy, she consistently retrieved wounded birds without any training. There's no doubt she's still our best tracking dog. When the pink hedgehog is waiting at the end of the agility course (see photo), she runs like the wind.

EXPLANATION OF TITLES
CGC = The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen award
CD = Companion Dog (a CKC obedience title)
NJC = Novice Jumpers Certificate (a NADAC agility title)
TNN = Tunnelers Novice Certificate in NADAC agility

TITLES IN PROGRESS 
CKC show pointed with 1/1 majors.  
Click to see photo of Spirit's "Major" BOB win over the male specials with handler Brian O'Reel.

WIN HISTORY
In agility, Spirit has 2 first place wins to date. In obedience, she has 1 third place win.

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Spirit"
D.O.B.: April 11, 1996
CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registration # FG357402
AKC #SN914572/01
NADAC #3D705
CERF # BS-410
OFA good, #BS-9395G34F-T 
Click here to see Spirit's Pedigree (hi-res), Spirit's Pedigree (lo-res)

After working with Storm for a while, we were hooked on Brittanys. Storm's sire was FTCH CH Wardancer, a dual champion (i.e. field trial & show champion) from Calgary. Like his father, Storm is a strong, handsome orange and white male, with prominent freckles and beautiful feathering. He is intelligent and learns quickly. He points staunchly and stylishly. He is very gentle with children, patient with puppies and invented many ways of playing with our pet ferrets.

		top: Freckles Striker Jo
	bottom right: Cheyenne San Dee
bottom left:  DC Wardancer, with  David Scheiris

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Storm"
D.O.B.: February 7, 1995
CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registration # EC269508
CERF # BS-411
OFA good, #BS-9411G49M-T 
Click here to see Storm's Pedigree (hi-res), Storm's Pedigree (lo-res)

Click here for Windows Media Video of Bastian Pointing
Or click here to view the MPG  version instead.
As you can see, Huntersheart Shoots He Scores has a nose for birds. Bastian is a son of Storm X Spirit from our summer 2002 litter. He pointed his first bird at 14 weeks of age.

  In the show ring, Bastian won Best of Breed for a 4 point Major from the Senior Puppy class, defeating the adults and Specialty winning Specials to finish his Championship at the age of 11 months. Congratulations to proud parents Danny and Amanda Vriend on this achievement.  We're glad you were there to share it with us, and thankful that you allowed us to show off Bastian. Thank you to judge Dave Markus and handler Brian O'Reel for realizing the potential of this amazing boy.  

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Bastian"
D.O.B.: March 28, 2002
CKC # ME792704
Owners: Danny and Amanda Vriend, Calgary, Alberta

"Cuervo",  is another son of Storm X Spirit, and brother to Chief and Bastian.  He

  won First in his regular and sweepstakes classes at the Washington Brittany Specialty.  With his mother, Spirit, and brother, Chief, he was part of the team that took first in the Brood Bitch and Get class.

  Cuervo was Reserve Winners Male at the 2002 Canadian National Specialty under Colorado judge Dolores Maltz and handler Shannon Scheer.  

  Watch for Lucia and Cuervo in agility and obedience competition. You're a great team that always makes Hunter's Heart proud, and we look forward to trying to keep up with you on course. 

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Cuervo"
D.O.B.: Aug 14, 2001
CKC # LQ747675
Owners: Lucia and Trevor Cochrane, Calgary, AB

Phoenix is a daughter of Spirit X Storm. (Her brothers include Chief, Cuervo, and Bastian.)

  Phoenix finished her CD in March 2003, and her CDX in June 2003.  Her first 2 Open legs were consecutive scores of 192 1/2 and 189 1/2. She was high in class both times, and went high in trial at the second.

  Phoenix is "a little fire ball… She is so eager to learn and has such a great energy level. She leaps around and jumps much higher than she needs to to clear jumps." She lives with her 6 canine friends, and is lucky enough to go to the office with Danielle.  The bad news is: "She is quite the trouble maker. Her favorite game is picking up medium sized rocks and running around the yard so that the other dogs chase her. No matter how many times you tell her to drop it she just looks at you and then a couple minutes later picks it up again. She also loves to chew on pine cones and sticks and run around with them in her mouth. She is a little dog with big spirit."

  Already very accomplished for her young age, Phoenix gains confidence at every competition. We're very proud of you Danielle and Phoenix! The sky's the limit for your future.

EXPLANATION OF TITLES
HIT = Highest score in obedience trial
CD = Companion Dog, CKC Novice obedience title

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Phoenix"
D.O.B.: Aug 14, 2001
CKC # LQ747664
Owners: Danielle Greanya, Saskatoon, SK

In 2002, Roxie got one leg towards her FDJ, and won her CKC Canine Good Neighbour award. She finished her PCD (Pre-companion dog) in three trials. She also achieved great scores to win her CD (Companion Dog) in one weekend: 196.5, 190.5, 191, and 195.5. 

  Congratulations to owners Cécile et Pierre Lambert of Quebec, Canada on these terrific accomplishments!  We wish you the best success in your quest for your show championship and further working titles in 2004.  

EXPLANATION OF TITLES
PCD = Pre-Companion Dog
CD = Companion Dog, CKC Novice obedience title
CGN = CKC's Canine Good Neighbour award

TITLES IN PROGRESS: 
2/3 FDJ in Field Dog Junior (CKC field tests)

REGISTRATION AND HEALTH STATISTICS
Call name: "Roxie"
D.O.B.: Sept 21, 2001
CKC # LS763320
Owners: Cécile et Pierre Lambert, Quebec, Canada

Chief won both the Canadian National Brittany Specialty and the BSCC Agility Prize.

  NVee won Best of Winners and Best Puppy to finish her show championship in style.

  Chief and NVee went Best Brace in Show.  "Skye”, Jayhawker Huntersheart Nflight, ranked first in the Senior Puppy Class. (Congratulations to Saskatoon owner Joan Krochko and to Jeanette Krochko for terrific handling at his very first show.)

"Cuervo", Huntersheart Snowdon, accomplished Reserve Winners Male. (Cuervo finished his show Championship one month later. Congratulations to owners Lucia and Trevor Cochrane, from Calgary.)

  We’re very proud of all our Brittanys. Thank you to Carman Mackay and Shannon Scheer for presenting our dogs so beautifully and to judge Dolores Maltz for these exciting National wins.

Although the youngest puppy entered, NVee obtained Best of Opposite Sex in the Sweepstakes.

  Cuervo achieved First in 9 to 12 Month Puppy Dog Regular and Sweepstakes classes.

  Spirit was awarded Brood Bitch and Get with her sons Cuervo and Chief.

  Chief took Winners Dog for a 3 point major win. The next day we qualified in Novice Standard agility our first time out at AKC.

  Thank you Randy Schepper for having some fun while showing our Brittanys at their best in our American debut.

Our first trip to the American Brittany Nationals was a memorable one. NVee and her brother Jeb both won First in their 12-15 month classes at the American Brittany Nationals under well-known Brittany breeder, Bev Millette.  We are very proud to have bred these  two wonderful Britts. Thank you to David Scheiris for handling NVee to these exciting National  wins.  

  We look forward to enjoying hunting and all manner of canine competition for many years in the future. Thank you for your interest in our Brittanys.