About the Sovereign Brittany Family
In 2021 we purchased 100 acres of land in Osceola, IA (just south of Des Moines, 5 miles off of Hwy 35), and in 2023 we built a Barndominium on the property and moved from our home in Minnesota. We have a lovely 1000 sq ft dog room with 12 indoor/outdoor kennels, our 4 horses enjoy their spacious accommodations, and we keep quail on site almost year round to train our dogs.
Our two sons are 3rd generation dog owners, exhibitors, trainers, and breeders. Zach and his wife Tatum purchased our family home in Scandia, MN. Our son Jake also lives in MN, both boys working for our construction business. We make frequent visits to MN, and if it is more convenient for a family to pick up their puppy in MN, Zach and Tatum have graciously agreed to invite families to pick up puppies from their house.
Our dogs are house dogs and are our pets first and foremost. We normally have 6-8 Brittanys at home, and more out with our field trainer, Burchett Bird Dogs in Conway, MO.
We enjoy success in the conformation/breed ring as well as competing in field trials and the occasional hunt test. As part of our commitment to the sport of dogs we enjoy judging AKC dog shows, field trials, and hunt tests and sharing our knowledge with others. We average two to three litters of puppies a year.
Joe is currently the President of the American Brittany Club and Dawn is the Breeders Education Chairman for the ABC, previously served as the 3rd Vice President.
We are members of the American Brittany Club, Minnesota Brittany Club, Hawkeye Brittany Club, Minnesota Purebred Dog Breeders Association, and Land O Lakes Kennel Club.
Our History
Joe started out in Junior Handling at the age of 10 with Weimaraners, which his folks bred. His parents were professional dog handlers and he traveled with them and helped condition, train, and show the dogs. My Father, Dr. Charles Westman, practiced traditional veterinary medicine for many years and then specialized in acupuncture, chiropractic, and allergy elimination for dogs and horses before his retirement. I put my first obedience title (CD) on an Australian Shepherd when I was 10 years old and showed Aussies with my Mom competing in breed, obedience, and Junior Showmanship. Joe and I were all-breed professional handlers for many years, before we became AKC judges. We also took time out to raise two wonderful sons Jake and Zach, who also share a passion for the Brittanys.
Our first Brittany was 2xNBOB/BIS/BISS CH Chesabrits Code of the West CD(“Cody”), who was born in 1984 and came to live with us at the age of 8, after having been retired from his position as the #1 show Brittany in the country, and a Top 10 Sporting Dog. After getting him back in shape, we entered Cody at specialties, which he won from the Veteran’s class. We also took him up to Canada, where he finished his Canadian championship with two Group Firsts and a Best in Show. We decided to go to the American Brittany Club Nationals that year (1993), where we entered Cody in Novice A obedience, the Veterans Sweepstakes, and the regular Veterans class. He won the sweepstakes, took first place and qualified in the Novice A class, and went on to win his second National Specialty, this time from the Veteran’s class!
Some of our first Brittanys after Cody got us hooked on the breed, were Ch. S Chilcote Creditors Dow Jones (“Jonesie” – Cody daughter), Ch. Chilcote’s Sovereign Allspice (“Spice”), BISS Ch. Sovereign’s Know the Code, JH (“Moose”- son of Cody & Spice), and BISS Sovereigns Chase the Code MH (“Junior” a “Cody” grandson) all of which you can see on our Sovereign Champions page. We’ve had some amazing mentors along the way many of them already passed away now – Dorothy Macdonald, Shirley Chilcote, Kitty Murphy, Naomi Rigas, Diana Kubitz, Jessica Anderson-Weber, Judy Tighe, Nancy Clendenen, and others.
Thank you for visiting our website. If you have any questions or would just like to chat, please feel free to Contact us.
-Dawn 651-260-3272