02-10-2011: happy birthday puppies Promessa

On September 30 Promessa's puppies had their second birthday. All puppies are doing well. Promessa's babies have had a great first two years, with excellent hip- and elbow-scores for all of them and with some of them already showing great potential in the field. Only a week ago Marlotta and Matilde proved their talent in the Westernieland field trial. Marlotta won the youth trial and received an Excellent. Matilde also scored, she received the qualification Good.

02-10-2011: Genta, 2003 - 2011

From Zuid-Holland we received very sad tidings. Hanne and Don told us that their beloved Genta (Carlotta dei Vicini del Monastero) had died on July 12. Genta was eight years old. We wish Hanne and Don all the strength they'll need in coping with this terrible loss.

20-09-2011: Rivana del Monte Alago: 1998 - 2011

Yesterday Paolo Poggio had to make the incredible difficult decision to have his beloved Rivana put to sleep. Rivana was a household name in the world of the Bracco Italiano. Many experts of the breed thought that she was the most beautiful bracco that ever lived. Rivana was born in 1998. She would have become thirteen years old in December. We wish Paolo lots of strength in coping with this enormous loss.

04-09-2011: Field trial BIC: success for Marlotta

The anual young dog field trial held by the Bracco Italiano Club in the fields around Retranchement in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, was a success for Marlotta and handler Brigitte de Vries. The duo finished the trial with a first place. Marlotta was impressive in the field, with a concentrated and very accurately performed run, which was rewarded with the qualification Good, by field judge Cor Woets. This result was the perfect ending to an enjoyable and professional event. The organisation would like to thank the land-owners and the hunting syndicate Dossche for making all the participants feel very welcome.

30-06-2011: Raduno Caldes

Very hot, hospitable, a great atmosphere, lovely food and a perfect organisation. This pretty well sums up the Raduno that was held in Caldes in the Italian province of Trento. A large number of bracco-tifosi were invited by the Manfroni family, who took out all the stops to make this event a success. The days were filled with instruction on showing and training in the mountains, to check out the natural hunting ability of the participating dogs. The braccos were also judged by a number of repubable judges, who have been judging braccos in the field and on shows for many years. The friendly and constructive way in which they judged the dogs, was very educational. As were the other parts of the raduno. Besides learning and having fun with many bracco-friends from all over the world, there also was success for the Vicini-dogs. Promessa did very well. She received the qualification best bitch of the entire field. This earned her a CAC. Matilde and Marlotta both received an excellente, as did Ezzo, th bracco of travelling companion Harald Koska.

21-04-2011: ‘x-ray-party’ for Promessa’s pups

Promessa’s pups have reached the age of one and a half years and are old enough now to have their hips and elbows x-rayed. On April 18 all the owners and their dogs got together for an ‘x-ray-party’ at veterinary hospital Hopmans in Roden. Specialist Egidius Wientjes made the x-rays and took the time to explain the procedure and show the difference between healthy joints and ED-elbows and HD-hips. It is now up to the Kennel Club to judge the photos. After the get together in Roden, the owners and their dogs set course for Lauwersoog for a long walk. The day was ended with food, drinks and more bracco-talk in a sunny Kleine Huisjes.

12-03-2011: excellent field trial performance Marlotta

Again a good result for a Vicini-bracco in the field. This time Marlotta and Brigitte had a good run at the youth field trial held in Tilburg on April 9. Brigitte and Marlotta had an excellent run and finished the trial with a first place and the qualification Good.

29-03-2011: Pietro earns CAC in Italian field trial

Pietro and Rommert Hazenberg have achieved a fantastic result in Italy. Not only did they come first in their part of a prestigious field trial, they also did it in great style by being awarded with an ECC (excellent) and a CAC. Pietro and his handler earned praise with a steady point on difficult terrain, followed by an excellent display of restraint and handling skills. Judge Perani was convinced and honoured the duo with the highest qualification possible. In his report Perani praised the beautiful run and the natural trot, the breed-typical elegance and the beautiful head posture of Pietro. He was also full of praise for Pietro’s ability to pick up scent in a difficult wind-situation. We congratulate Rommert with this unique achievement. It is the first time that a Dutch bred bracco achieves this result in Italy.

03-01-2011: a birthday present for Romeo

A belated birthday wish for all brothers and sisters of Delizia and their owners. Giulia’s offspring turned six yesterday. And of course for all visitors to our site, the very best wishes for 2011. Ralph Minnitte from Nevada sent us the proof that he celebrated Romeo’s birthday in style. Romeo was treated to a day doing what he likes best: a chucker hunt. The hunt was successful, as Romeo and Ralph reached their limit of six chucker with ease.

13-12-2010: Galina: 1998 - 2010

During her lifetime of twelve years, Galina has never been ill. We were sure that she would live forever. But that wasn’t the case. Our always healthy Galine became ill yesterday and died just one day later. Galina wasn’t just a healthy dog, she was also an excellent gundog: she loved water and was a fabulous retriever. Galina was a faithful companion and as she grew older, she became mellower and kinder. She was a dependable factor in the group and we will miss her dearly.

02-12-2010: Sylvia Brinkman deceased

This morning we heard the sad news that Sylvia Brinkman had died after a short but severe illness. Sylvia was a regular guest in Kleine Huisjes. She always helped us with our correspondence and contacts with Italian friends and she lent a hand during the first weeks of Isotta’s and Promessa’s litters. Sylvia, who taught the Italian language and history, lived in Groningen with her bracco Giulia Locatelli. We will miss her dearly and we wish her relatives much strength in coping with this loss.

21-11-2010: Sam: 2003-2010

Yesterday we received sad tidings. Debby Filius from Maassluis called to tell us that their Sam (Italo dei Vicini del Monastero) had been put to sleep after a brief but violent illness. Sam was seven years old. He was a companion of the whole family and he had stolen the hearts of nearly everyone in the neighbourhood. He will be dearly missed. We wish Debby, Wim and the childrens all the strength they need in coping with this immense loss.

01-10-2010: Klaas Hindriks deceased

A feeling of anger and sadness came over us when we heard that Klaas Hindriks was suffering from a terminal illness. His death on September 28 was an enormous blow: mean, unjust and unimaginable. Klaas was our mentor, our inspiration and above all our friend. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of training dogs, working with dogs and hunting in general. And he was always eager to pass on this wealth of knowledge. Every day in the field, during a hunt or a field trial, was a feast. His energy and indestructible sense of humour were contagious. The untimely death of Klaas left a void with his big circle of friends and above all with his wife Annie, his children Petra, Ellen, Jan Willem and Sietse and his grandchildren. Today on the day of the funeral, the loss is still incomprehensible.We wish them all the strength they will need to cope with this enormous loss. Klaas was a constant and very welcome factor in our lives. We will never forget him and we will cherish the many dear memories of our wonderful friend.

30-09-2010: first birthday puppies Promessa

Promessa’s puppies are having their first birthday today. We wish all brothers and sisters of Matilde and their owner a very happy birthday!

20-09-2010: Field trial Eexterveen: wet fields prevent qualifications

The heavy showers of the past couple of days had made the sugar beet-fields around Eexterveen even less accessible than usual. The pheasants moved to dryer grounds which they found on the neighbouring patato-fields. Despite the difficult circumstances quite a few of the competing dogs found birds. Due to the water on the field however, it was next to impossible to fixate the birds. This trial in the open class, which was organised by the Bracco Italiano Club last Saturday, ended without qualifications and only one horourable mention, for the Dutch partridge dog and his handler Klaas de Vries. He received the ‘Woeste Wal’-trophy.

12-09-2010: Roma has passed away

Only a day after the happiness of the field trials we got very sad news. Ilonne called to tell us that she had taken the very difficult decision to have Roma put to sleep on September 9. Roma had been very ill for a while and couldn't go on anymore. She was 11 years old. From the moment Roma was part of Ilonne's household, she had Verdell as a companion, who passed away last year. Two years ago Lisa joined the group. Roma and Lisa had been close companions until the end. We wish Ilonne all the very best with coping with this great loss and we are sure that there is comfort in the thought that Roma had a wonderful life.

10-09-2010: field trials: triple Vicini-succes

This autumn's field trial season couldn't have started better for Vicini. No less than three dogs from the Vicini-stables finished their first trial with excellent results. In Retranchement in Zeeland Matilde and Hidalgo di Cacciola (breeder M. de Palmenaer) who lives in Kleine Huisjes, finished first and second with a Very Good and a Good-qualification. The quality of the bracco as a working dog was emphasised during this junior trial, organised by the Bracco Italiano Club, by an honourable mention for bracco Flint, owned by Jeroen and Jeannot Lohman. Thanks to the wonderful fields of Jan-Arie and the other members of the local hunting syndicate and judge Cor Woets, the trial was a great success for all participants and spectators.

In Haamstede (Zeeland) there was success for Pietro who won the field trial in the open class with the qualification Very Good.

15-08-2010: upcoming field trials: wanted, young braccos

Only a couple of weeks to go before the autumn field trial season takes off. Cracks and a growing number of newcomers are warming up for the season. They can’t wait to see their and other braccos strutting their stuff, head up high and looking for game in the sugar beets. This is what the breed was intended for. Like last year the Bracco Italiano Club (BIC) is one of the organising breed-societies. Because last year’s events were very successful, the owners of the venues in Eexterveen and Retranchement have again allowed the BIC to use their fields for a field trial in the open class in Eexterveen on September 18 and a trial especially for junior dogs on September 8 in Retranchement. With the opening of the signing in, the list of contenders filled in a couple of days. For the junior field trial the organisers are still looking for new bracco-owners who want to compete with their ex-puppy. Many owners are apprehensive about sending their young bracco out in the field for the first time. A junior field trial is the perfect place to gain experience and get tips and advice about working your bracco.

03-06-2010: Pietro BOB in Bennekom

Pietro dei Vicini del Monastero, owned by Rommert Hazenberg, did very well during the bi-annual hunting-dog show in Bennekom. The event was held on May 30 in the gardens of castle Hoekelum, where Austrian judge mrs. Jamer chose Pietro as best of breed out of a lineup of nine braccos. With this result Pietro gathered the points that were necessary to become Dutch champion. Unfortunately Pietro wasn’t selected in the final four for either group seven or the final working dog selection.

19-02-2010: Duca is dead

Yesterday we received the very sad tiding that Duca di Cascina Croce is dead. Duca lived a life like no other bracco in The Netherlands. His first five years were spent with Arie van Engelenhoven in Ostia near Rome and with trainer Vinicio Tognolo, where he was prepared for hunting and field trials. Duca was a real working talent, with an incredibly beautiful natural trot. At five years Duca moved to Kleine Huisjes where he lived with us. He soon got used to his place in the warm kitchen and to 'his' girls who all loved him to bits. Duca was a sweetheart, a dog with a sense of humor. Above all he was an inspiration for all the dogs around him, who learned from him how to hunt and work with unbridled passion. His last years were spent with Ineke and Dick in Friesland. Here he found a loving home and a family who took him for long daily walks in the surrounding fields. in his old age he became a 'waterdog' who loved to spend the holidays on Ineke and Dick's boat, together with bracco Pascal. Duca was eleven years old. We will dearly miss our old friend and we especially wish Ineke and Dick all the strength to cope with this enormous loss.

17-02-2010: training with Let

an extra obedience training won't hurt. So Matilde was allowed to join brother Luca and sister Marlotta in the class given by Let Stevens in Zeist. Apart from the educational value of the morning, the re-acquaintance with fellow litter members and owners Brigitte and Ulli, made the trip more than worthwhile.

09-02-2010: Matilde officially socialized

It has been a busy day for Matilde. When she got home tonight she ran to her bed where she immediately fell asleep against mommy Promessa. After her first visit to the swimming pool this morning, Matilde had her final lesson in the puppy course. Like all the other participating puppies, she walked away with a certificate showing that she is now officially socialized.

16-12-2009: Quinta is dead: 1997-2009

Today we had to make the tough decision to put Quinta to sleep. We are very sad about this, but we are happy that Quinta was spared the agony of enduring suffering. Yesterday evening Quinta had enough of life. She didn’t want to move from her bed and resisted against every movement. Quinta had given up. She had given us the sign that it had been enough. Quinta was never the picture of health. She actually was a walking billboard of everything that could be physically wrong with a bracco. But it never bothered her. She compensated her physical shortcomings with an incredible lust for life. Even when she got older her positive attitude helped her to be the leader of the pack. A gentle leader who only needed to give a look or a quiet growl to reinstate order in the pack. Even though we never worked with Quinta, she was always an asset to the group. As a self-declared surrogate mother she taught puppies from four litters the dog language. She was stubborn, hard on herself, but gentle and outgoing to visitors in Kleine Huisjes. Quinta had a special place in our household. She had her private moments of play end she was the only one allowed a place on the couch in the living room. Quinta, despite your limitations, you lived life to the full. We will miss you with all our hearts. Thanks for the wonderful moments you have given us.

16-12-2009: Verdell passed away

It is a tragic day for old braccos in The Netherlands. Just when we were starting to realize that Quinta won’t be with us anymore, we received the sad tiding that Verdell was also put to sleep today. Verdell, who lived with our friend Ilonne, wasn’t a healthy bracco. Ilonne sometimes called him the bracco with nine lives, who always bounced back. Verdell’s bad health didn’t deter him and Ilonne from being successful in hunting trials and in real hunts. Verdell loved life, and Ilonne made sure that he had everything he needed, and more. We know that losingf Verdell has hit Ilonne like a brick. We wish her well with coping with this tragic loss.

11-11-2009: Quinta 12, 'still going strong'

It is Quinta's twelfth birthday today. Despite her physical limitations and her respectable age, she is still going strong as leader of the pack. The pups know her well as the grumpy old lady who rules firmly but fairly. With a growl and a lip she puts them on their place. Quinta, many happy returns and please stay with us for another couple of years!

04-11-2009: St. Hubert: Delizia blessed

Delizia received a blessing on St. Hubert’s day, November 3, during the traditional St. Hubert mass in Brabant, in the south of the Country. Marieke and Delizia were invited to join this traditional ritual, by Nettie and Theo Peters. After the service, hunters and their dogs gathered for a day in the field. The hunters had lunch in the beautiful old Hertog Jan-brewery. Nettie and Theo, many thanks for this wonderful experience and for your warm hospitality.

St. Hubert is the patron saint of hunters. According to legend avid hunter Hubert was converted after he had followed a giant deer with a cross between its antlers. The deer summoned him to dedicate his life to the Christian faith. St. Hubert is said to have performed many miracles during his life.

28-10-2009: film-clips on bracco-kennel.nl

For the first time since we started our website, we have been busy with moving images. Through our , you can click to a page with film-clips of the pups in their first weeks. Our initiative with video, for which we thank Marijke (photo) who made the first clip, will in future also be probably be getting a follow-up in the shape of a page with film-clips of field-trials, training and hunting. Keep an eye on our site for more news later.

06-10-2009: check out the pups on the Bracco-Blog

They are nearly a week old. And every day enough happens with the ten pups and Promessa, to give a regular update on the weblog. It is not to difficult to find things to write about and take pictures of. That is why it is worthwile to bookmark the Bracco-Blog and check out Promessa and her offspring every day. We promise to update the blog every day.

05-10-2009: Stadskanaal: excellent for Pietro

Pietro and Rommert Hazenberg have won the field trial in Stadskanaal, last Saturday. In the open class judge Peter Eering rewarded them with a first place Excellent, which is a very good achievement. Our good friend Klaas Hindriks did also well. With his small Münsterlander Bente he scored a qualification and was placed second. At the field trial in Hoofdplaat, Jeroen Lohman and Flint redeemed themselves for their performance of last week. They were given an honourable mention by judge Cor Woets.