Club de l'Epagneul Breton of the United States

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. ...

28/04/2025

🚨 Thank You to Tracey Jacobson! 🚨

As her term as President of CEB-US comes to a close, we want to recognize and sincerely thank Tracey for her years of dedication, leadership, and passion for the Epagneul Breton. A longtime board member and true advocate for the breed, Tracey stepped up during a pivotal time for the club — leading us through post-COVID challenges while always keeping the mission and the dogs at the center of every decision.

Under her leadership, CEB-US made huge strides in modernizing operations, growing community outreach, and protecting the breed’s future — all while Tracey led by example in the field, in the ring, and at events across the country.

👉 Click here to read more about her incredible impact and join us in celebrating Tracey’s leadership and lasting contributions!

As Tracey Jacobson’s term as President of CEB-US comes to a close, we want to recognize and thank her for her years of service, dedication, and leadership. Throughout her tenure, Tracey led with intention and purpose, using the CEB-US mission statement as a guiding compass for all major decisions....

25/04/2025

Whether you joined us in Iowa or followed along from afar, we want to hear from you! Help us improve future National Conclaves by filling out a short survey — one for attendees and one for those who couldn’t attend. Your feedback matters! [Responses are anonymous.] 👇👇👇

Whether you were able to attend this year's Conclave or are thinking about attending a future event, your feedback helps us improve planning while staying true to our mission of preserving and progressing the Epagneul Breton. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts:

24/04/2025

Whether you were in Iowa or watching from afar, we want your feedback on the 2025 CEB-US National Conclave! 📋

From seminars to trials, it was a packed week [read the recap! https://www.ceb-us.com/post/25conclaverecap] — now help us make future events even better. Take our short, anonymous survey (one for attendees, one for non-attendees) and share your thoughts (survey closes May 1)!

👉 https://forms.gle/MLVPjd16pvNV56M68

Whether you were able to attend this year's Conclave or are thinking about attending a future event, your feedback helps us improve planning while staying true to our mission of preserving and progressing the Epagneul Breton. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts:

21/04/2025

2025 Conclave Recap 👏 and Results 🏆

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Northwest Iowa for a week of bird dogs, camaraderie, and breed-defining moments. From wild bird field trials to thought-provoking seminars and unforgettable community gatherings, the 2025 National Conclave delivered hard truths, high standards, and a renewed commitment to the legacy of the Epagneul Breton.

Click below to read the full recap and see results, highlights, and reflections from an event that reminded us why we do what we do.

👉 Read the Full Recap:

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Northwest Iowa for the 2025 CEB-US National Conclave. We recognize the time, travel, and financial commitment it takes to be part of this event, and we’re deeply grateful to every member who showed up — to connect with one another, to evaluate our dogs, and...

07/04/2025

Watch the announcement from the 2025 CEB-US National Conclave for the 2025 Joyce Smith Scholarship recipients. Congrats to the winners!

At the 2025 CEB-US National Conclave, Ed Smith announced the winners of the 2025 Joyce Smith Scholarship Award. Watch the award presentation.

07/04/2025

CEB-US and the Epagneul Breton Foundation are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Joyce Smith Memorial Scholarship! This year, five outstanding young women have been selected to receive the scholarship as they embark on their college journeys. Please join us in celebrating the award recipients. 👏👏👏

👉 Click to read the full announcement. https://www.ceb-us.com/post/2025joycesmith