Soleil's last litter was a "vintage" litter, using 34 year old semen, with great results. Well, we're doing it again. This time, using 39 year old semen! Janis Charbonneau offered us the amazing opportunity to breed to 2 time National Specialty Best of Breed Am/Can Ch. Beardsanbrow's Utopia HOF ROMX (Johnathan), born Jan 25, 1983. Jeanne met several of his lovely offspring and other descendants over the years, and we jumped at the chance.
We would have been content with an expected litter of 2 or 3 or 4 pups. BUT at the ultrasound, we had the wonderful surprise of EIGHT lively pups in utero. We have to wait for the pre delivery xray for a more exact count. Pups are due May 29, 2024. Both black and tawny pups are expected.
"Soleil"
Lebec's Our Shining Star de l'Hermitage
OFA Hips Good, Elbows Normal, Eyes Clear 2022 (Update pending)
Bred and Owned by Jeanne Lorang and Claude Marie Cooper
Soleil is a high energy girl who also loves to cuddle. She's smart, happy to learn and work, and gets along well with other dogs and with people. She has excellent coat quality, a lovely head, and great proportions. She is a bit of a bed hog at night, but no dog is perfect. Soleil has a couple Championship points, but herding is her focus. Her learning curve would be quicker, but Jeanne is also new to the sport. At 6 weeks pregnant, Soleil earned her Junior Herding Dog title. When her pups were 6 weeks old, she earned her Pre Trial Tested title. She was a wonderful mother to her first litter, and we expect the same with this second litter.
"Johnathan"
BISS Am/Can Ch. Beardsanbrow's Utopia HOF, ROMX
Hips OFA Fair
CSNB Clear
Owned and Bred by Janis Charbonneau
Johnathan has an "old fashioned" pedigree. We love those "old fashioned" heads! Width and power, and dark eyes making a huge impression. He was a boy with substance overall.
Temperament wise, Janis tells us he was joyful and soft as a young dog, wanting to join in any activity. He turned into quite the show dog as he grew older. Good with other dogs, he never started a fight. He was very kind with people he knew, but was reserved with strangers, exactly as the breed standard describes (why we push socializing so much!}. His offspring and descendants I met all came across as very stable personalities.
Johnathan was an OFA Hips Fair. His parents and granparents were goods and excellent. To check out his offsprings Hip history, you can look at the OFA site here, https://ofa.org/advanced-search/?appnum=189824, click on show all test results.
WooHoo! Our webcam will be up when puppies arrive.
Another view.
The quality of a puppy is determined by both genetics and environment. How they are raised before you ever meet them is a major influence! Lebec and l'Hermitage believe in several things:
1) Mom knows best. We don't try to override or interfere with a bitch raising her pups. We add the human element, but Mom is in charge. Unless health issues interfere, she has complete access to her pups from day 1 to the day they leave. At 3 weeks, we start adding our food to the puppies diet, but Mom is always allowed to feed as long as she wants. And she is in charge of discipline!
2) Socialization begins at birth. We handle all the pups daily. Once eyes are open, we try to introduce new items and experiences regularly. In raising pups, doing things "later" is too late. "Now" is always the right time. We try to encourage visitors as early as possible, with Mom's approval, of course.
3) At 3 1/2 weeks, pups are moved into the puppy pen in the living room, with all the activity of living. Pups get turned loose several times a day to explore and broaden their world. The outside is added at about 4 weeks. The puppy pen has play and poop areas, to begin housebreaking. The play area is continually enhanced with toys, obstacles, and an environment to stimulate the puppies. Mom can hop in and out. The older dogs get to visit through the pen bars, and gradually get to meet pups in person.
4) Starting at week five, we are always looking for new experiences and new places. We try for different surfaces, different ages of people, even different temperatures, at each new place.
5) We continually encourage visitors, be it the kids from around the neighborhood, prospective buyers, friends - anyone we can get! The more people the puppies meet, the better.
6) Starting at 7 weeks, pups are fed in crates to prepare them for new homes. They spend several nights in their crates before leaving, giving puppy buyers a head start on house training.
7) Puppy buyers are provided with a long document giving our take on raising Briards, a puppy crate, collar and leash, a scented toy, and ready access to us for help and advice at any time. Pups are microchipped and receive their first vaccination before leaving.
Pups from Lebec and l'Hermitage are raised with love and experience - it's a winning combination.
- European titles are not reflected in this pedigree. There are MANY! European dogs often have Championship titles in multiple countries.
Photos
Soleil is holding this space for pics of her puppies when they arrive.
Claude Marie
Email Claude Marie
Cell
925-337-0830.
Jeanne
Email Jeanne
Cell 661-618-8798