Club de l'Epagneul Breton of the United States

26/08/2025

Let’s see those EB’s in celebration of National Dog Day!

13/08/2025

We are still energized by the insight, challenge, and encouragement José Luis Recondo shared with us earlier this year. Our recent blog post about his perspective sparked positive debate about how we can strengthen our community and advance the Epagneul Breton in the U.S.

So… now what?

We’re turning that conversation into action and keeping things transparent with clear priorities, tangible projects, and ways for every member to get involved. Learn why this matters to you, and how you can help shape the breed’s future.

Read the full blog post here:

The CEB-US remains energized by the insight, challenge, and encouragement shared by José Luis Recondo (the international leader of the breed and President of the AICEB). The blog post reflecting on his perspective has prompted thoughtful, positive debate about how we can strengthen our community an...

07/08/2025

🚨📬 The new CEB-US Magazine is almost here! 📬🚨

We’re getting ready to go to print — and all active members will receive a complimentary copy in the mail!

👉 Current members: Please take a quick moment to double-check your mailing address is correct.

👉 Not a member (or expired)? You’ll need to join or renew by Sunday, August 11 to be included on the print mailing list.

We’ll be submitting the final distribution list to the printer first thing Monday morning, so don’t miss out!

🖱️ Update or renew here: https://app.joinit.com/o/ceb-us

We can’t wait to share this with you — it’s packed with community stories, field updates, and plenty of beautiful EB photos.

22/07/2025

Upland season will be here before you know it! Whether you’ve been counting down the days or need a little nudge to get going, now’s the time to make sure you and your Epagneul Breton are ready to hit the field.

From conditioning your dog to sharpening your shooting skills and getting your gear in order, a little preseason prep goes a long way. We put together a practical guide with easy steps to help you start the season strong.

✅ Pre-season checklist
✅ Dog conditioning tips
✅ Gear prep and hazard planning
✅ Shooting refreshers

👉 Read the full guide here:

With upland season around the corner, now is the time to shift gears from dreaming to doing. Whether you live the bird dog lifestyle year-round or count down the weeks until that first crisp morning afield, it pays to start early and prepare with purpose.

18/07/2025

🎉 Big news for the Epagneul Breton community! 🎉

The Epagneul Breton is now officially recognized by NAVHDA — a huge milestone in securing the breed’s identity in North America.

While CEB-US remains focused on UKC testing and breed preservation, NAVHDA offers another respected venue to evaluate our Bretons in true hunting and testing conditions, keeping the bird dog tradition alive and thriving.

👉 If you’ve tested in NAVHDA International, learn how to update your dog’s records and why this matters for the future of the breed.

Read the full article here:

The Epagneul Breton has reached a significant milestone in the United States: official breed recognition by the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA). This is more than just a formality — it’s a meaningful step in reinforcing the breed’s identity and purpose in North Americ...

15/07/2025

In our recent member survey, many of you requested more practical, health-related content — especially topics that apply to active bird dogs in the field. While CEB-US is not a substitute for your veterinarian, we’re committed to sharing resources that support the well-being of your dogs, particularly as we head into the warmer months and upland hunting season.

This roundup includes three timely topics you’ve been asking about: heat stress and conditioning during summer, the rattlesnake vaccine question, and the ongoing debate around dew claw removal. Each includes helpful links for deeper reading or listening.

As part of our recent member survey, many of you asked for more health-related content — particularly practical topics that apply to active bird dogs. While the CEB-US is not a substitute for your veterinary professional, we want to share resources that align with common concerns in our community,...

04/07/2025

Happy 4th of July from the CEB-US

20/06/2025

📣 Meet your new CEB-US President, Jeff Pleskac!

From hunting guide to Conclave host to field trial judge, Jeff brings deep experience and passion for the Epagneul Breton. Based in Minnesota, he leads one of our most active regional clubs and is ready to guide CEB-US into its next chapter.

👉 Read his welcome letter and vision for the future:

As the CEB-US continues to grow and evolve, leadership grounded in community, experience, and commitment to the breed has never been more important. That’s why we’re proud to welcome Jeff Pleskac as our new President.

27/05/2025

🚨 Part 3 of “Lessons from José” is here! 🚨

In this installment, we dive into two of the most thought-provoking challenges AICEB President José Luis Recondo left with us at the 2025 Conclave:

The Couler — José emphasized that the dog — not the handler — must control the moment leading to the flush. Holding a dog rigid while we stomp around in front? Counterproductive and unnatural.

Judging Discipline — A winning run isn’t always worthy of CAC or CAG. These top placements should only go to dogs that fully meet the working standard of the Epagneul Breton. José reminded us: stingy judging preserves strong breeding.

📖 Click here to read the full post:

The CEB-US was honored to have José Luis Recondo of Spain as our esteemed guest foreign judge at the 2025 Conclave. This was a milestone for the breed in the United States and an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from one of the most respected authorities in the Epagneul Breton world. Mr. ...

17/05/2025

Part 2 of “Lessons from José” is live!

At the 2025 Conclave, AICEB President José Luis Recondo gave us unforgettable insight into what makes an Epagneul Breton truly exceptional.

In this next installment, we dive into:
✅ How the point should show physical and mental dominance over the bird
✅ Why the cobby build is essential to the breed’s power and balance
✅ The need to eliminate creeping Setter traits from both structure and style

If you care about preserving the identity and future of the Breton, this one’s for you.

🔗 Read Part 2 now: https://www.ceb-us.com/post/lessonsfromjose [If you read Part 1, scroll to the section header titled "Dominating the Bird"]

16/05/2025

CEB-US recently hosted a two-part Judges Seminar that pulled back the curtain on how our field trials are judged — and why consistency and clarity matter more than ever. Whether you’re an experienced judge, an aspiring apprentice, or a handler looking to better understand the rules of the game, these sessions offered invaluable insights into the TAN, GUN, OPEN, and Water Retrieve Test (WRT) classes.

👉 Click here to read the full recap, view key takeaways for each class, and access recordings of both seminars.

In February, CEB-US hosted a two-part online Judges Seminar that brought together over 50 passionate field trialers, judges, and aspiring apprentices from across the country. The goal? To ensure consistency in how our breed is judged, reinforce high standards, and elevate the quality and fairness of...

12/05/2025

José Luis Recondo, President of AICEB and one of the most respected voices in the breed, joined us for the 2025 National Conclave — and left us with important feedback and powerful guidance for the future of the EB in America.

In Part 1 of our recap series, we cover his first two key points:
✅ The importance of natural ability over training
✅ Why gait reveals the true quality of a dog

These insights are a must-read for anyone who loves, breeds, or handles Bretons in the field.

🔗 Read now:

The CEB-US was honored to have José Luis Recondo of Spain as our esteemed guest foreign judge at the 2025 Conclave. This was a milestone for the breed in the United States and an unparalleled opportunity to learn directly from one of the most respected authorities in the Epagneul Breton world. Mr. ...