The first imports to the United States
In September,1924 Mr. J. Pugibet purchased Perlic de Pradalan, a beautiful bitch she arrived in Vera Cruz, Mexico in December. Perlic was from one of the best breeding strains of her time. Four years later Mr. Pugiber imported Djin des Vaux, the grandson of the French Ch. Rac II de Callac a dog which one many prizes in France for show and trials. Djin arived in Mexico in 1928. The first litter was whelped by Djin out of Perlic in September 1928. His kennel name was Casa Blanca Kennels.
Another pioneer was Louis A. Thebaud. He attended many trials in France and was an avid hunter shooter. He was on of the founding fathers of the breed sponsoring group and was the President of the Brittany Spaniel Club of North American, which later became the American Brittany Club. His first import was Clap de Callac about 1931. Clap was stolen a short time after arriving here. August 6, 1933 he again imported Edir du Mesnil and Genette du Mesnit. Edir gave no promise and was abandoned. Genette was imported in whelp, bred to Gredin du Mesnil. She was shipped to E. Chevrier in Whinnipeg, Canada. She whelped 6 puppies, these were raised under the kennel name of Avondale. Some puppies were sent to Montreal.
September of 1934 was the beginning of intensive efforts to establish the Brittany Spaniel in the United States. Mr. Thebaud imported Fanche du Cosquerou. Fanche had proven himself as a perfect field dog and in some opinions was the best field and hunting dog ever imported. He sired a litter out of Genette and was later shipped to Canada to serve some of the Gredin-Genette litter.
In January, 1935 we have yet another importer Clara G. Perry. She had raised a lot of Brittany's in France. She was very interested in the future of the breed and imported Gilda des Causes and Douglas de L'Odet. Both dogs were shown at Westminster and Boston. About the same time Louis de la Fleche, a native of the Brittany imported Keryvon de Basgard and Keryvette du Roselier both were recognized as good bird dogs and perfect type but slow for field trials. In April Mr. Thebaud imported two outstanding Brittany's, Hai du Cosquerou and Fenntus du Cosquerou. Fenntus was sired by the famous Ch. Aotrou de Cornouaille. A dog that won hundreds of prizes in shows and field trials. Mr. Pugibet then imported Histr de Cornouaille. Histr was one of France's really great Brittany Spaniels and boasted as his sire being internationally famous Ch. Flist II de Cornouaille. Just before leaving France she was bred to Ch. Gwennec de l'Argoat. The last importation of the year was Meg. Her most interesting pedigree shows close derivation from the basic stock of this breed.
Ch. Gwennec de l'Argoat and his full sister, Etolie de l'Argoat were imported in 1936 by Mr. Thebaud. Shortley after Dr. Henry Briggs imported Habask Guid de Sharvogue which was an outstanding show dog in France. She was the first Brittany to win under the American Kennel Club. Later that year Alan R. Stuyvesant imported Ch. Iane de Cornouaille a daughter of Histr. Iane and Gwennec were both considered by Mr Kermadec as the best Brittany bitch and dog he'd ever seen. Before leaving France Iane was served by Ch Dingo des Monts Noir and brought into this country some of the famous Ch Rac II de Callac strain. A day after Iane's arival, Jackette de Cornouaille and Ive de Sainte Yveline arrived. These were additions to Stuyvesant's kennel. A month later Mr. Stuyvesant imported three more Brittany's : Hasta de Cornouaille, Kira de Sainte, Yveline and Krak de Sainte Yveline. David Barbieri imported Tango, the seventh Brittany that was imported that year. Two more importations followed in 1937- Heda de Cotignac (Mr. Stuyvesant) and Ch Idoe de Cornouaille (Dr. C H Keogh)
In 1938 Mr. Stuyvesant continued to import, bringing in Isel and Job, both with interesting pedigrees and Kerza de Cornouaille and Kaer de Cornoualille. Most of the first imports had short life spans in these early years. Kaer won many trials in France and while in the United States.
The well known brother-sister combination of Tudor du Roc Hellou and Thais du Roc Hellou were also imported by Mr. Stuyvesant. Tudor was Best of Breed at a National Specialty Show and Thais was Best of Opposite Sex. They produced Allamuchy Valley Warrior, Warpath and Warlord.
Before the war, a few more dogs were imported, among them Iolette de Basgard (H. B. Conover) Kostic de Cornouallie ( H. B. Hostetter), Lettic de Pradalan (Dr. C. H. Keogh), Iva de Cornoualli ( A. R. Stuyvesant) and Lisco de Cotignac (E. S. Potter) Although Mr. Todd said he imported a Brittany but no records were found.
Later imports that would leave a stamp on the breed were: Tora de Cotignac, imported by Mr. Stuyesant for the Belchers of California. Wippy de la Vallee Bourault, imported by Raymond Machlett the only import to complete an American Field Championship.
Unan de Cornouaille, a French Champion imported by Raymond Machlett completed his A.K.C. Bench Championship and went on to make his mark as a sire.
Ratouss de Basse Bretagne and Follette IV of Pradalan were two on the most notable of the several liver and white imports of Dr. Keough.
Gelati Dell'Apulia was an import from Italy. Owned by Lorettta Stroup and produced Ch. Retta of Avono the only bitch to go from classes to Best of Breed at a National Specialty Show.
Ch. Wanda de l'Argoat imported by Mr. Stuyvesant for Mr. Kleeman was another notable winning her Bench Championship in the United States and was the dam of Dual Ch. Tigre de Klemanor.
If we count the accomplishments of American Breeders it might read this way:
First importer: Mr. Thebaud
Breeder of first American-bred litter: Mr. Pugibet
Importer of the most Brittanys: Mr. Stuyvesant
Importer of the most bloodlines: Mr. Stuyvesant
First entrant in A.K.C. shows: Miss Pery
Winner of the first A.K.C. championship: Dr. Briggs