Ch.
Almaden's Grace Under Fire
"Gracie"
Breeders: FG & Sherry Larsen
Owners: FG & Sherry Larsen
wh. 9/27/03
Click here to view Gracie's pedigree
"Gracie" is a sister to River, who I co-own with Bud & Sherry. Gracie was born a natural bob-tail, with just a couple of small vertebrae tucked in close to her body. Since that seemed to doom any potential hopes of competition, Gracie was meant to be the pet that would get to stay home with Sherry's daughter and family. Eventually it became clear that their fence would not hold a Brittany, and after Gracie's mother escaped and was killed by a car, Gracie went back to live with Bud & Sherry. Eventually, she also went for training with John Kline, who fell in love with Gracie and completed her early training and first summer in Montana. After John's retirement, Gracie went with trainer Ed Tillson for her first field trial season in 2007. She is a fast, smart and intense Gun Dog who is fun to watch. She got several placements with Ed, and one AFC point the first time I handled her in an Amateur Gun Dog stake. She is as beautiful on point as her littermates, and as Shadow's owner said when he saw a picture of her, if you hold your head that high on point, who needs a tail!
In the spring of 2007 I told Sherry we had been hearing so many compliments on Gracie, and her coat was in great condition, we should put her in some shows and see how she'd do, what the judges would think about a little bob-tailed liver girl. Gracie won twice in her first weekend, and in just 15 shows was a champion with two specialty wins and three majors to her credit, having won 1st or 2nd in her class all but once! Gracie's clean, sound movement, proper proportions, beautiful head and short, solid topline made her an easy winner -- although a few judges did have to check the standard and make sure that Brittanys are in fact allowed to be tailless!
Gracie's field career was also put on hold due to the effects of the housing market in California, but we hope to see her out on the circuit again to complete her Dual Championship in the future.
Gracie on point, November 2007
 sire "Shadow" |
 dam "Winnie" |
| GRACIE'S LITTERMATES: | |
 DC Almaden's River Of Shadows "River" owned by FG & Sherry Larsen & Jessica Carlson see River's page |
 Ch. Almaden's Lone Shadow Dancer "Dottie" owned by FG & Sherry Larsen Dual Pointed - see Dottie's page |
 Almaden's Rocky River "Rocky" owned by Katie Patrick & Sherry Larsen Dual pointed, Specialty Best Puppy winner |
and... |