OUR DOGS

ABOUT HUNTER'S HEART BRITTANYS

Welcome to the home of Canada's top working Brittanys. We've been breeding and training  Brittany Spaniels since 1999. Our dogs are professional scent detection dogs who find target odors ranging from wildlife conservation to pipeline leaks, from mantrailing to pointing birds. Their eagerness to please and athleticism makes them versatile partners and pets. In addition to lost item recovery, tracking, hunting, and field titles, our Brittanys have won multi Elite High in Trials in scent detection, gold at AAC Regional Agility Championships, Best of Breed at the National Brittany Specialty, and achieved numerous top 5 national rankings in obedience, conformation and agility. 

OUR PUPPIES

We breed occasional litters of outstanding Brittany puppies. We're currently taking reservations for 2025 (for hunting, scent detection, dogsports and pets for families with an active lifestyle). Visit us to meet multiple generations, from pups to grandparents. Or follow us on Facebook to see what we're up to lately.  

SPIRIT BEAR

Hunter’s Heart Spirit Bear (ZZ's son) is a certified wildlife conservation detection dog. He finds bats and birds on wind farms to help reduce the impact of wind energy on populations at risk. Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the world. However, research shows that wind turbines cause hundreds of thousands of bird and bat fatalities in North America every year. Scent detection dogs like Bear assist in monitoring fatalities and help teams of scientists, companies, and governments find ways to reduce the environmental impact of wind energy.

One study showed that detection dogs using their noses are more than twice as effective as human eyes at finding fatalities, and they search large areas faster. Our dogs enjoy searching since they have the instinct to sniff and are highly motivated by food and toy rewards. They excel with low visibility targets, such as finding the tiny skull of an endangered species of bat using their sense of smell to search acres of soybean crops over 5 feet tall, where a handler can’t even see their dog under the foliage. A human would take much longer to part the leaves and search with their eyes.

Scent detection canines are essential team members helping scientists estimate fatalities under different conditions. For example, scientists collect the data from all surveys when turbines run at all wind speeds vs. when turbines only run at higher wind speeds (when bats are less likely to fly) to compare the outcomes. By finding the most effective strategies, we can help reduce the environmental impact of wind energy. The final report using data collected in the 2024 field season will be publicly available in the summer of 2025. Email Carla to request a free copy.

RICKARD

Hunter's Heart Rickards Red TD UTD LI-1 (ZZ's brother) has inspected pipelines in northern Canada to detect small leaks and help limit environmental impact, and found many elusive bedbug infestations.

When Rickard completed his field Tracking Dog title, he was the only dog of 18 entries to pass under the challenging conditions. He completed his Urban Tracking Dog title and ranked #1 Brittany for Lost Item Recovery NASDA LI-I in 2022. 

Rickard is friendly but focused, confident and unflappable. He loves retrieving, swimming, and chasing his sisters. 

• DOB: June 6, 2018
• CKC Reg #FL771325
• CHIC certified by the OFA
• Eyes CERF certified #BS-EYE621/26M-VPI.
• Hips #BS-19115G30M-VPI
• Elbows #BS-EL2105M30-VPI
• Breeder/Owner: Carla Simon

Rickard sired his first litter in summer 2022. Email Carla to enquire about stud service for approved females. 

ANDRE

Hunter's Heart Andre DeGrasse LI-1 (ZZ's son) ranked #2 Brittany for Lost Item Recovery NASDA LI-I in 2022. Andre is a certified wildlife conservation detection dog.

Andre is sweet, playful and an amazingly patient puppy raiser with his younger siblings. He passed CERF certification, and is being evaluated as a breeding prospect. He makes us smile every day.

ZZ

We're always striving to produce a better dog with every generation. Hunter's Heart She's Got Legs, "ZZ" is a great combination of the best of Boo x BB's scenting abilities, drive, temperament and health. We count on her to find elusive bed bug infestations, which she is happy to do.  

At home, she's a playful and affectionate mother who serves as a great role model so puppies go to their new homes with better manners. ZZ x Finn's 2021 and 2022 litters are maturing nicely as hunters, detection dogs, family pets and dogsports partners.

• DOB: Sept. 22, 2017
• CHIC Qualified by the OFA
• Hips: OFA Good
• Eyes: CERF 2020
• Patella: Normal
• CKC # ES723807
• Sire: CH HuntersHeart RedDevil Fantome FDJ CGN AN SGDC SDS-SP TOG AN AE SI MC MV
• Dam: HuntersHeart Black Betty NC NI NE PTE AGNJ
• Breeder/Owner:  Carla Simon

BB

HuntersHeart Black Betty NC NI NE PTE AGNJ, aka “BB” (ZZ's dam) is a liver & white female. She’s an avid gun dog with a keen nose, and the sound temperament needed for professional detection in every environment. BB is a retired bed bug detection dog. Around the house, she’s a gentle girl who likes snuggling.

BB won High in Trial in UKC Nosework, National High in Trial Agility Brittany (CKC) and was ranked #4 Agility Brittany in Canada (CKC, 2017). 

BB is the daughter of USA National Amateur Gun Dog Champion AFC DC CH GCH Triumphant’s To Hot To Handle JH x CH HuntersHeart Prairiestorm Vite FDJ MSCDC AGDC ADC AGNJV HPN NAC, CKC 2015, #1 Agility Brittany (CKC 2016) . 

DOB: Sept. 9, 2011
Hips: PennHip certified
Eyes: CERF certified
Patella: Normal
Click here to verify BB's results on the OFA website. 
Breeder/Owner: Carla Simon
CKC #YS441550

BOO

CH HuntersHeart RedDevil Fantome FDJ CGN AN SGDC SDS-SP TOG MN EV EC EI, “Boo” (2009-2024)

Boo (ZZ's sire) was a bed bug detection dog who wa renowned for his steadfast point. He loved to hunt birds and if they fall in the water, that was even more exciting. He taught many other hunting dogs to swim by example. He was a multi High In Trial winner and in Elite UKC Nosework Competition he searched a 3000 square foot area, to find 3 hides in under 38 seconds. In addition to qualifying in the field, Boo was Canada’s #2 agility Brittany and #4 show Brittany. 

Boo was the son of National Specialty Winner BISS Can/Mex/Int’l CH ATChC HuntersHeart Big Chief FDJ CDX RE CGC (who was Canada’s top agility Brittany for several years, ranked top 5 in both obedience and show, and won gold at the AAC Regional Agility Championships at the age of 12 years) x BPIG winner CH RedDevil’s Fire Without Flame CD.

Hips: OFA Good
Eyes: CERF certified
Patella: Normal
Breeder/Owner: Carla Simon
CKC # WW31371, AKC # SR61032302

CHIEF

National Specialty Winner BISS Can/Mex/Int'l CH ATCHC Huntersheart Big Chief FDJ CDX RE CGC (1999 - 2015)

Chief (ZZ's grandsire) loved to retrieve, and passed that on to most of his progeny. He was a friendly, happy worker, a staunch pointer and was our hunting dog for 16 years.  Years after his death, clients fondly remember Chief, and he's sadly missed. 

Chief's accomplishments included:
• Money wins in rally-obedience, obedience and agility
• Gold medal at the Regional AAC Agility championships, at 12 years of age.
• National Specialty Best of Breed, Best Brace in Show, Best in National Veteran Sweepstakes X 2, and National Agility prize winner (CKC)
• Winner of the Kong Cup Retrieving Challenge, 2002

• Canada's #1 Agility Brittany (AAC 2005-2008), #3 Obedience Brittany, #4 Show Brittany
• Top Sporting Dog in CKC Agility (Golden Retriever Club of Alberta 2007) 
• On the podium for 6 years at Regional Agility Championships
• Multiple group wins, including International Pointing Group 2nd (FCI)
• In international IABCA shows, awarded “V1”, the highest rating possible

DOB: Nov. 6, 2009
Hips: OFA Good BS10791G29M-PI
Elbows Normal BS3L277M29-PI
Eyes: CERF certified
Breeder/Owner: Dr. Carla Simon & Mr. Gary Andrusiek
CKC # JL612894, AKC # SR61032302

Photo of our foundation Brittanys, who are gone but not forgotten. From left to right: Storm (Boo's grand sire), Chief (Boo's sire) and Spirit (Boo's grand dam).