In 2019, the Jewish Light introduced Burton Wice along with “Daisee,”  his American Brittany (formerly Brittany spaniels) field champions. Wice, a retired research endocrinologist from Washington University School of Medicine, is one of the few amateurs who successfully breeds and trains his own dogs for national field competitions.

A legacy of champion bird dogs

Sadly, Daisee passed away earlier this year at 12 years of age but her legacy lives on with her offspring Gin and Tonic (“Ginee”) and littermate Miss Wendy Peffercorn (“Wendee”), as well as with Daisee’s granddaughter Miss Carona (“Rona”).

All three dogs live in the Jewish home of Burton and Sharon Wice. Rather than getting groomed for conformation events, the Wice dogs regularly romp around the backyard or the countryside getting in shape and honing their skills. Those skills revolve around finding and pointing to game birds. In field trials, Brittanys and other bird dogs are judged on their ability to locate and point game birds in a simulated hunt. Birds are not killed in these competitions.

American Brittanys in Jewish home thrive in field trials

The dog is judged on its natural instincts as well its ability to efficiently get from the starting point to where it finds the bird. That is usually in a bush or shrubs. Rona is very good at hunting for game birds. This specialized skill has made this 4-year-old American Brittany a top dog in competitions and field trials.

Rona’s rise as a national standout

The American Brittany Club’s Derby Invitational is a championship designed to identify young dogs who exhibit great potential for succeeding as adults. In 2022, when she was only 1½ years old, Rona was the top qualifying dog for this prestigious competition held in Booneville, Ark. She then went on to win the event.

Rona is something of a prodigy, as evidenced by racking up wins and placements in adult competitions and championships in Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan and Nebraska.

“Rona placed third in the American Brittany Club National Field Championship in 2024 alone” said Wice, 73. “And she’s got a first place in a whole lot of regional championships.”

A future generation of champions

A table in the Wice family room overflows with just some of her ribbons and trophies. Rona has carried on the family tradition by generating many more honors than even her mother or grandmother.

“Daisee was a multiple champion, but Rona is a multi-multi-multi-champion,” said Wice. “She’s surpassed Daisee. A lot of dogs are born with the ability, but it never happens. You have to have the skill, and to be able to use it.”

Like her grandmother Daisee and mother Wendee, Rona’s resume is filled with numerous field trial honors. Her American Kennel Club titles include grand field champion, two-time regional field champion, regional amateur field champion, field champion and amateur field champion. The line of champions is likely to continue to another generation of Wice dogs. Rona was bred in June with another Brittany that has a family history of notable skills in competition.