Rufnit Kennels Braque du Bourbonnais - Rufnit "F" Litter Whelped March 12, 2006

Sole recipient of the prestigious

"Natural Ability Breeder Awards"

presented by NAVHDA for the

Braque du Bourbonnais

Proven to be superior in the "Braque du Bourbonnais" field

(all puppies are placed)

Companion	Sex	Color	Markings	Birth Weight
Rufnit Falicia	F	Liver	left eye/ear, right eye/ear, back	12 1/4 oz
Rufnit Felicity	F	Liver	left eye/ear, right eye/ear	8 5/8 oz
Rufnit Firman	M	Liver	right eye/ear, above left ear	12 1/8 oz
Rufnit Forrest	M	Liver	left eye/ear, right eye/ear	11 7/8 oz
Rufnit Fortune	M	Liver	between left ear/eye	11 7/8 oz
Rufnit Fletcher	M	Liver	right eye/ear, left eye	8 1/4 oz

Second "NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder Award" litter for the Braque du Bourbonnais

Rufnit Falicia Rufnit Felicity

Rufnit Firman Rufnit Forrest

Rufnit Fortune Rufnit Fletcher

03-12-06

Rufnit "F" Litter 03-17-06

Rufnit Falicia Rufnit Felicity

Rufnit Firman Rufnit Forrest

Rufnit Fortune Rufnit Fletcher

We are able to get a "visual" on our surroundings now!!

03-30-06

Rufnit Falicia Rufnit Felicity

Rufnit Firman Rufnit Forrest

Rufnit Fortune Rufnit Fletcher

04-30-06

The following are photos and video clips from our

May 3, 2006

Morning...

(click here: Going to the field)

Slowing down and getting drinks after a morning trip to the field!

(click here: Coming into the house following our morning trip from the field)

Settling down for our late morning nap!

(click here: Taking our late morning nap)

(click here: Getting out that last bit of energy before calling it a night)

Rufnit "F" Litter Updates!!

Rufnit Falicia's first day home...getting acquainted with her girls!!

Rufnit Falicia enjoying the sun, shinning through the window!

Rufnit Falicia and her girls...inseparable!

(~8 months old)

Rufnit Falicia, vacationing with her mother...while her "human" family vacations in France!

Rufnit Falicia and Rufnit Fortune, posing for a quick photo!

Rufnit Falicia, "I want to say HI to my girls...I hope you are having as much fun as I am!"

"Well, I found my profession...HUNTING BIRDS!!!"

Rufnit Falicia showing off her pointing abilities.

(~4 months old)

Rufnit Falicia...keeping up with her brother Rufnit Fortune on finding the quail!

(~4 months old)

Click here: Rufnit Falicia - water work 08-01-06

Rufnit Falicia retrieving the bird she tracked.

(~4 1/2 months old)

Rufnit Falicia

(~8 months old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FALICIA!!***

NAVHDA NA Prize II (103/112)

June 10, 2007

(~14 months old)

Falicia and her companion, Clare, had several unfortunate things happen to them the last few weeks prior to their NAVHDA NA test date.

Falicia was attacked by a canine while the dog walker was exercising her. During her recovery from her injuries, she began her first heat cycle. Finally her injuries were healing and heat cycle coming to an end, so they were able to participate in the last training day prior to the upcoming test which was now a week away.

Two days prior to Falicia's NAVHDA test, Clare's father (residing in FRANCE) had to undergo an unexpected extensive surgery. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, the Saturday before the Sunday Clare's daughter became ill and they spent the day at the hospital.

With Clare's determination, she was able to work through all of the unfortunate circumstances and run Falicia in the NA test, coming home with a 103 Prize II.

Unknown to Clare at the time, Falicia's test qualified Rufnit Kennels for another prestige award...the second “NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder Award” for the Braque du Bourbonnais. Falicia, in conjunction with her three brothers Forrest, Fletcher and Fortune received qualifying Prizes towards the award.

Clare, THANK YOU for taking the time to run Falicia through NAVHDA.

Your family has provided Falicia with an OUT STANDING home!

Falicia is very fortunate to have you as a companion...and I...to have you as a friend!

Rufnit Falicia (Lottie) visiting her mom (Jasmine)

(~2 years old)

Rufnit Falicia enjoying an afternoon in the field with training birds!

(~2 years old)

Rufnit Falicia - working birds in Nebraska

(~2 years old)

"Very nice pointing style indeed! This is exactly how we want the Bourbonnais to point." Michael Comte

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Rufnit Falicia (Lottie) and Rufnit Fortune (Fortune) celebrated their second birthday together!

(click here for a short video clip)

Rufnit Falicia (Lottie) taking a break from the field to have a family (Rufnit "O" Litter)

04-27-08

Click here for "Lottie" introducing her new arrivals

Rufnit Opal "Lilly" (her dam is Rufnit Falicia)	Rufnit Falicia "Lottie" (Rufnit Opal's dam)
A pair of bookends!	Taking a break...
Hey Mom, enough rest...lets get going!	Having a wonderful holiday!

Rufnit Opal, Rufnit Falicia and family enjoying their holiday!

(~3 months old/~2 1/2 years old)

Rufnit Felicity...as adorable as ever!!

Rufnit Firman, settling in just fine!

Rufnit Dana teaching Rufnit Firman how to swim for water retrieves...

followed by Rufnit Firman re-thinking what he'd been taught, while relaxing on the deck!

(Rufnit Firman ~10 weeks, Rufnit Dana ~1 year)

Rufnit Firman taking a break with his "brother."

Rufnit Firman...a hunting machine!!

(~10 months old)

Rufnit Firman, all business in the field!

(~10 months old)

Rufnit Forrest ready for his trip home.

Forrest, after a hard day at work...showing his "dad" some love!

(~3 1/2 months old)

Forrest's first quail hunt! Preparing for his NAVHDA NA Test!!

(~6 months old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FORREST!!***

NAVHDA NA Prize III (98/112)

October 8, 2006

(~7 months old)

THANK YOU Mark, for providing Forrest the opportunity

to do "what comes natural," in addition to giving him an excellent home.

Your dedication given to test him through NAVHDA is extremely appreciated!

Forrest just returned with six pheasants from a three day hunting trip in South Dakota

...obviously using his hunting abilities!!

(~8 months old)

Following the extended search for his brothers and sisters, Rufnit Fortune taking a nap.

Rufnit Fortune...enjoying a day in the field with the chukar's!

(~11 weeks old)

Rufnit Fortune, during another excellent training session!

(~3 months old)

Rufnit Fortune...confident in his nose!

"Hey sis, I found another one!!"

(~4 months old)

Click here: Rufnit Fortune - water work 08-01-06

Rufnit Fortune retrieving the bird he tracked.

(~4 1/2 months old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FORTUNE!!***

NAVHDA NA Prize II (100/112)

October 13, 2006

(~7 months old)

Darin & Fortune opening day 2006

2 quail, 1 pheasant

10-28-06

(~7 months old)

Rufnit Fortune helping with "clean up!"

08-24-08

(~2 1/2 years old)

Rufnit Fletcher enjoying his post-flight meal and making himself comfortable!

Rufnit Fletcher enjoys boating with his "Dad"!

Rufnit Fletcher taking it easy...with his duck of course!!

(~3 1/2 months old)

Rufnit Fletcher during training...tracking and pointing!!

(~4 1/2 months old)

Rufnit Fletcher doing water retrieves!

He's ready for hunting season...beginning this month!

(~5 months old)

Rufnit Fletcher's, first hunt...five chukar's and one pheasant!

"Dad" had the safety on..so the pheasant isn't pictured!

Fletcher will continue to work with "Dad" so all the birds will be in the next photo!!

(~6 months old)

Rufnit Fletcher...second hunt...four chukar's and four pheasants!

Holding point on the first pheasant...to give "Dad" enough time to get his gun off safety this time!!

Putting some actual hunting under his collar preparing to participate in the NAVHDA test.

(~6 months old)

Claude & Fletcher

Fletcher 8, Quail 0

(~7 months old)

Claude & Fletcher making a fantastic retrieve!

8 quail

(~7 months old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FLETCHER!!***

NAVHDA NA Prize II (101/112)

November 11, 2006

(~7 months old)

Claude, THANK YOU for being an exceptional companion/owner to Fletcher.

It is obvious the two of you have become a superb team, in and out of the field.

The time and dedication you have taken to test him through NAVHDA is extremely appreciated!

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FLETCHER!!***

3rd place in the NAGDA - Puppy division,

qualifying him to participate in the 2007 National

Fletcher & Claude had a 15 minute time frame to raise and bag 3 chukars previously released in a field. Fletcher, at nine months, was the youngest participant . The other entries were twelve months of age.

Good Luck at the 2007 National!!

Fletcher preparing for his NAVHDA UPT test!

(~11 months old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FLETCHER!!***

NAVHDA UPT Prize III (145/184)

March 4, 2007

(~11 months old)

Fletcher is the YOUNGEST North American bred Braque du Bourbonnais

to receive a "Prize" for the NAVHDA Utility Preparatory Test at eleven months of age.

One of the questions prior to the NAVHDA UPT Test was; Is Fletcher TOO YOUNG?

My response; Only you know your companion!

Following the test the answer was; Fletcher is NOT TOO YOUNG!!

Claude keeps Fletchers training sessions fun, which is how Fletcher learns the best!!

What a FANTASTIC TEAM!!

Fletcher's accomplishments are unbelievable at just one year old!

Happy Birthday!!

(~1 year old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FLETCHER!!***

Quail Unlimited Dog Challenge

2nd Place

October 7, 2007

(~1 1/2 years old)

***CONGRATULATIONS RUFNIT FLETCHER!!***

NAVHDA UT Prize II (176/204)

October 28, 2007

(~19 months old)

Rufnit Fletcher is the YOUNGEST North American bred Braque du Bourbonnais

to receive a "Prize" for the NAVHDA Utility Test at nineteen months of age.

What an accomplishment for a first time dog handler and young dog!

Again, Claude going the extra mile and traveling ~600 miles round trip

to run Fletcher in the Grand Canyon Chapter (Arizona) test.

Fletcher did an outstanding job...and just over a year and a half old!!

Rufnit Fletcher wondering where the ducks are...

Wake me when they show up!

It was worth waiting for, thanks for waking me!

Rufnit Fletcher

(~1 year 9 months old)

When are they going to show up?	I'm coming...
OK...here it is, let's get some more!	Wake me when it's time...
Reflecting on the end of the season...	The last of the 2008 season!