Jolie is a lovely French import, with gorgeous coat and color, lovely structure, and a real need to cuddle with her people. Sion is an elegant boy who finished his AKC championship in a flash, loves to learn, and makes an impression everywhere he goes, with his looks and wonderful temperament. Jolie whelped 3 tawny girls, 2 black boys, and 1 tawny boy on May 24, 2019. (Claude was hoping for a black girl, but Jolie did not oblige.)
Wilma is my natural eared import from the Czech Republic. Wilma is a beautiful girl who has a huge personality mixed with a great sense of humor. Everyone she meets loves her. She is addicted to tummy rubbing and butt scratching. Visitors can never figure out how she ends up in their lap, presenting tummy or butt for attention. Wilma loves human contact. She loves hands on. And it doesn't take her long to make every new person a new best friend. Happy is her normal state of mind!
Wilma is slightly over standard ( I would shrink her 10% if I could), with a lot of bone and coat. Her beautiful thick coat is amazing, although she is currently shaved down. The coarse texture is exactly what the breed standard talks about. When I look at Wilma, I see exactly what I want in a Briard - proportion, structure, head, neck, and tail blended with a marvelous temperament.
Wilma's previous litters have produced pups with great personalities and her good looks. I guess she wanted to do it again!
"Wilma"
Ch. Not Just a Pretty Fa(ce) Nadina-Sis
OFA Hips Fair
OFA Elbows Normal
OFA Cardiac Normal (cardiologist)
OFA Patellas Normal
OFA Thyroid Normal
OFA Eyes 2015
CSNB Clear by pedigree
Owned by Jeanne Lorang
Bred by Nada Stralkova
Fate is a very sweet boy. Like his father Sasi and his half brother Hermes, Fate just loves people. He loves to put his head in a lap, or lean against legs, and just be petted. Stop petting, he moves on to the next person with free hands. He has never met a stranger.
Fate was a pleasure to show, finishing his Championship easily, and enjoying the process. Like his mother Mai Tai, his tawny color continues to change, getting darker as he gets older.
Fate is the Briard my 94 year old Dad always asks about, hoping Fate will be coming to see him. His gentleness with the elderly and kids contrasts with his energy when playing with his housemates. He loves to go on walks, and to tear around the yard. Fate's greatest joy is in hanging with his people, whatever they are doing.
"Fate"
CH Lebec's Let It Be de l'Hermitage
OFA Hips Good
OFA Elbows Normal
OFA Eyes Normal 2018
OFA Cardiac Normal (Specialist)
OFA Thyroid Normal
CSNB Carrier
Owned and Bred by Jeanne Lorang and Claude Marie Cooper
How we raise our puppies
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. Visitors start young, with friends handling pups within the first week.
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) Outside exposure to new places is the key. Starting at week five, we do field trips every weekend, to friend's houses, to puppy parties - anywhere a car ride and a new (safe) place can be experienced. We try for different surfaces, different ages of people, even different temperatures, at each new place. Thanks goodness for good friends!
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 before leaving.
Pups from Lebec and l'Hermitage are raised with love and experience - it's a winning combination.
Webcam!
Wilma will be alternating the webcam with Honor. If you see a short coated Mom with 5 pups, It's Wilma. A long coated Mom with eight pups, it's Honor.