15-08-2010

03-06-2010

19-02-2010

17-02-2010

09-02-2010

16-12-2009

16-12-2009

11-11-2009

04-11-2009

28-10-2009

06-10-2009

05-10-2009

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.