Briards at lebec

Wilma is the senior Briard in my house, born in October, 2008. Her name didn't quite make it through translation, and "Face" became "Fa". I compromise with "Fa(ce)". A natural eared import from the Czech Republic, Wilma has a huge personality and a happy temperament. She's a large girl, slightly over standard. Wilma is not a troublemaker, living easily with the other dogs in the house. She adores tummy rubs, and any visitor to the house somehow finds themselve with a large Briard upside down in their lap.

Wilma was waiting her turn to show when I hurt my knee. She briefly visited the show ring before I bred her, and she'll be back. She loves her agility classes, and obedience will go hand in and with that. Wilma wants to please!

Wilma is named after my good friend Wilma Awana, breeder of Franmas Silkies. Wilma started me in dog showing many years ago. I can still hear her telling me, "I'm not just a pretty face, you know." Wilma helped me whelp my first litter, many years ago. I hope Wilma is watching from the Rainbow Bridge, along with her husband Francis, Sassy, and the Silkies. I never go to a dog show without thinking of Wilma, and smiling.

Gamble is the Great-great-great grandson of Sassy, my foundation bitch. His dam Blondie has earned her first two herding test titles. His sire Caesar is an import from the Czech Republic, like Wilma. Gamble is a very smart boy. He needs to have that intelligence channeled, and we have begun agility classes as a start. Obedience is next. His handicap will be me as a trainer, not his ability to work! Trying to keep up with him in agility really makes me realize he has a lot of potential. It should be fun, if I survive. Agility takes running - a lot!

Gamble is protective of his toys, doesn't like other males in his house, and really likes people (takes after daddy in all these things). He loves to lay his head in my lap, patiently waiting to be petted and loved. Showing him was easy, although due to knee surgery, a handler did his last points. I wasn't in a hurry to show him, since I think he will take after his mother in his late development. Blondie changed dramatically as she approached three years of age. Her head and chest suddenly grew and matured, giving her a whole new look. Gamble is already a pretty Briard, but it will be interesting to see the changes in a year.

I tested Gamble for CSNB at 6 weeks of age (Optigen), and he is not a carrier. I haven't managed to get his results from that young test before he was AKC registered linked to his number yet.

Abby is a very special girl. She survived two bouts of a mutated corona virus before she was 9 weeks old. The second almost killed her - she literally was too weak to lift her head. It took intensive around the clock care to keep this girl alive. Once she recovered, she lost all her hair - was bald as a baby's butt. She looked very goth, which is how she came to be called Abby Sciuto - NCIS fans will get the connection. At the age of 10 months, Abby had a luxuriant adult coat (which looked pretty funny on a pup).

As a result of the virus and the extreme nutritional deficiency caused by not eating for 9 days, Abby has small, non-progressive cataracts, and dental defects. Otherwise, she is a happy, healthy, active Briard. This girl is a cuddler. Her vision problems don't slow her down at all, she keeps up with her friends as they run around. She's the first to get next to me on the couch, and sleeps at the head of the bed.

When I lost Burlington after an emergency c-section, it was Abby and her sister Zoe who took over the pups. They couldn't nurse them , but they could cuddle and clean and love them. Zoe liked them better at the younger age, before they got teeth and learned to use them. Abby liked them when they were more able to play. She spent many hours in the puppy pen, teaching the pups what they had to know. Even now, she occasionally gives Mori a lesson in manners.

"Mori"
Lebec's Factory-Made Memento Mori

Owned by Jeanne Lorang
Bred by Jeanne Lorang and Laurie Beck

A "memento mori" is a memory/memento of death. Mori's mother Burlington died following the c-section that brought Mori into the world. Her name is to remind me that we don't always get the time we think we'll have, so we have to make the most of the time we get with our dogs.

Mori is a live wire. She wants to be in charge (like Mom). She has tons of energy,is smart as a whip, and is completely social. She was fearless from her first agility lessons. I look forward to watching her grow and develop. Mori, Gracie, and Philippe are Burlington kids that help me cope with her loss.

Caesar came to live in Lebec in May, 2004. He currently lives in San Diego with Gilda and her family. Caesar made a very long flight from the Czech Republic, taking it all in stride. The only thing he didn't like in Southern California was the temperature. He would run from shade spot to shade spot, even on a leash. Luckily, he adapted!

Caesar's temperament is remarkable. On several occasions, he has gone into the show ring with a handler he met only minutes previously, and been perfectly happy. This is almost unheard of in Briards, who are most comfortable around people they know. I had the opportunity to meet his sire in 2004 in France, and was impressed by his temperament as well.

Caesar just really likes 99.9% of the people he meets. He is a very exuberant boy, so visitors are apt to find 80 pounds of black Briard in their lap. And then he moves from lap to lap, just in case the next person is needing a Briard hug. He did like to boss around his female housemates, and very much disliked living with another male Briard. The Grande Dame of Lebec, Sassy, thought Caesar was really cute, and even as a great-great-great grandmother loved to flirt with him. Caesar would let Sassy knock him over, even when she was 14 years old and a bit tottery. He was so gentle with her!

Caesar is an elegant, typey Briard. Caesar was bred by Naďa Střalková, of Nadina-Sis. He finished his Championship easily, and was Puppy Select at the 2004 BCA Rassemblement, and one of only four Black Males Selected at the 2006 BCA Rassemblement. His puppies have his outgoing personality, and elegant type. There were always two things Caesar didn't like about living in my house - too few people live here, and he had to share the only person with other Briards! Living in San Diego, he gets a houseful of people, and doesn't have to share laps with any other dogs.

I fell in love with a Briard named Tchibo, James Bond Dalido, when I was in France in 2010. When Nada said she would be breeding her beautiful Kennedy to Tchibo, I had to have a part of that. Sarka was also looking for a new puppy, so we joined forces. Sasi lives in Portland, OR with his co-owner Sarka. This Briard is all male. He has the head, the bone, the presence of a male. He has the temperament of a teddy bear, though. Raised with Sarka's young son Adam and an older male Briard, Sasi is just a sweetheart. While visiting me, at a park, he was thrilled to have half a dozen kids patting him at once. He loves to play with the girls when he is here, and can tire out several in a row.

Sasi has a lovely head, beautiful neck, great coat, and his structure and proportions show great promise. He is a boy I can't wait to see as a mature Briard! He will be a great addition to my breeding program. And he is a wonderful addition to Sarka's family.

Philippe is another of Burlington's babies. This large, natural eared boy lives near me with his co-owner Jerry Werk. Philippe was going to be sold as a pet, but I grew more and more attached to him. Jerry was helping with socializing him, and she fell in love. It works out perfectly, as he is close to me and I can keep in touch with him. Jerry's focus is on obedience and therapy dog work, and I will be able to show him, if everything goes well. Philippe lives with his aunt Liza, who keeps him in line.

Philippe was named by Claude. When he was three days old, she decided he looked like a Philippe, and the name stuck. "Flying Leap" comes from Caesar going out the window to get to Burlington. Philippe was the tiniest puppy in the litter from birth to 7 weeks, but he is making up for it now. He's a large puppy, all boy, and just a love. He is especially good with children, and a wonderful ambassador for the breed.

"Kismet"
Perfect Timing Nadina-Sis

Kismet is still a baby. He is a mellow boy, with a wonderful sweet temperament. Kismet lives with a family an hour from me, and makes a great addition to their home. More information still to come!