Brittany Spaniels

[Whiskers]

I am looking for information on Brittany Spaniels. I want to use them for upland game Pheasant, Grouse mainly. Anybody help me out? I understand they are a pointing retreiver dog. How difficult to train, are they high strung? The owners of these dogs I have spoken to give them high ratings. Is that because of loyalty or fact.
Thanks.

 

[Ridge Runner]

My uncle had a Britt and he was a great dog to hunt behind but man did he hate other dogs! even a female couldn't hunt the same field he was in. He wouldn't go after them but if they came near him man it was all on

Loyal to the bone if he knew you and wouldn't hunt for anybody else. The only draw back was having to pick and cut the cockle burs out of his hair. But I guess a bit of a shave before the season would help that. Great dogs

 

[Ithaca 37]

Here's where to get info:

http://www.navhda.org/links.html

http://versatiledogs.com/

Get on the message board at Versatile Dogs for any questions.

 

[danr55]

In my experience, Britts are high strung and nervous. They don't always bark a lot, but they will can go walk-about. I much prefer Springers to Britts.. besides, I think Springers have a slightly better nose than Britts and they are much calmer.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Whiskers,

Go for the Brit. They are excellent dogs, and have the best traits for upland birds with Pointing AND Retrieving.

I got my first Brit when I turned 12 years old, and trained him using the Gun Dog book by John Wolters(I think??). I like to think I was a good trainer, but as a 12 year old kid, I am guessing all the success I had was due to it being innate in the dog.

And he would hunt for anybody. I had uncles and neighbors who would come by and borrow him while I was at school or Football practice, and hunt with him. Never a problem.

He would also honor other dog's points, which is an awesome sight to see. His dad was a pretty good waterfowl dog, and would actually be used in the duck blinds until mid-November when it got too cold.

Like mentioned above, you can either cut the feathers on their legs to avoid burrs, or just spend time working the cockle burrs out. The long feathers on my dog's legs were to beautiful to shave, so I would just work them out after the occasional tangle.

Needless to say, I shed a tear or two the day I had to take him into the Vet's office 15 years later, and have him put down. I have avoided another hunting dog due to the intensity of that bond, and the sadness of losing a hunting partner of that caliber. I buried him under a big Elm tree at the farm, and put in my upland game vest in the grave with him. I have not seriously hunted Upland game since.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Actually, The best all around dog is a Pudelpointer. They have the highest average scores in the NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) testing system, which is a real comprehensive series of tests for dogs that point and retreive. Water retrieving is included. Here's some info on the testing:

"In 1969, NAVHDA established a system of comprehensive tests that truly measure all aspects of work for the versatile hunting dog breeds. The trialing systems in use in North America before this time were established for specialists. The NAVHDA system provides for testing at various stages of maturity. Performance records are kept and made available through our Test Information Service since they provide invaluable information for both breeder and buyer alike."

http://www.navhda.org/tests.html

Pudelpointers also have the highest average score in the European Versatile Hunting Dog testing system, which is even tougher than NAVHDA's.

Gunner, I know that's really hard when a dog gets old. Just focus on all the good times any dog provides.

Here's my Pudelpointer in some pictures on this old topic:

http://www.huntandlodge.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=001716

 

[Jak]

Whiskers, I have owned and or hunted behind Brits English Setters and Pointers, GSP,and a few rare breeds.The Brits I have owned have been the better all around hunting companion for me.
They were all natural pointers, retreivers and needed a little less heavy handed training.Most I am able to use freguent training sessions and let their natural abilities come thru.Some people call some breeds high strung. I find that to be a more of a breeding problem. I personally want a dog with a lot of drive. With care you can cannel it tio your benefit.The Brits I run now are out of Beans Blaze.I have hunted them in the South the Midwest and Canada and will stick with them.
Do you ever have the opportunity to hunt with or watch any Bird dogs work?It will help you decide. Do you want a dog that hunts close,(Brittany) or are you going to drop him out of a truck and let him run the ditches and field edges( Pointer)
I am a foot hunter ( although I get slower every year)
The best decision I ever made was to buy dogs of good proven breeding no matter which breed you choose.Ask a lot folks that own/hunt the different breeds.Good Luck
Jak

Do you have grouse in New Jersey?

 

[Whiskers]

Jak, what I am doing is research. I have an appointment to go watch some Britts work. I know everyone has their favorites. From Beagles to Wolfhounds, especially if they are breeding and selling them. I want a dog that works close. We don't have the wide open spaces that the folks out west have. Yes, we have grouse in New Jersey. Mostly Central and Northern. I also hunt Penna,Maryland and thinking about Southern Tier of New York.

 

[Big Sky]

I like Britts a lot. The Britt's I've had were very easy to train. They do have some energy and they are NOT a lap dog. Very faithful and highly protective of the family. Excellent family dog, but you wouldn't want to be a bad guy breaking in the house at night as they have the heart of a grizzly bear when it comes to protecting family. After I lost my first Brittany it took me over 15 years before I could talk myself into another dog. It was just like losing family. In fact it's been nearly 20 years and I still miss him.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Originally posted by Big Sky:
They do have some energy and they are NOT a lap dog. Very faithful and highly protective of the family.

After I lost my first Brittany it took me over 15 years before I could talk myself into another dog. It was just like losing family. In fact it's been nearly 20 years and I still miss him.

Big Sky,

Not a lap dog? Mine like to ride on the seat of the pick-up, and he had to always put a paw on my leg while I drove, just to be close.

Mine was a good in door dog (I never believed the "ruin their nose" bullchit if you brought them inside), and he loved water. In the summer, he would go off of diving boards just to get more swimming.

Not 20 years yet, but I still miss him after 13 years....

 

[imported_Smitty]

Hey Whiskers, call the Florida NRA Feild REp and tell Him I said to call you... he raises Brittanies and has been trying to talk me into one. His name is Al Hammond and he loves to talk to people..... the NRA link with his numbers is: http://www.nra.org/frame.cfm?title=Field%20Representitives%20-%20NRA&url=http://www.nrahq.org/fieldreps/index.asp

He may even have a puppy. Good luck!

 

[Toonces]

A friend of mine had a Brittany for many years, mixed reviews.

It was a very birdy dog but also hard headed.

I think the main mistake he made was buying a started dog from Kansas and then trying to hunt it in the NE. The dog was used to wide open spaces going after coveys of quail. This did not translate well at all to the hunting liberated pheasants, grouse or woodcock.

If you get a Brittany make sure you use a local breeder and train the dog in the same kind of conditions you expect to hunt. If your going to hunt in the NE I would not buy a Brittany from a midwest breeder.

My friend next bought a GSP from a local breeder and has had much better luck.

Personally I would take my lab over either.

 

[Whiskers]

How do Brittanies interact with other dogs? Anyone have any experience on that. I have a 9 year old female Pit Bull, and I don't want them competeing for dominant dog status.I like what I am hearing. There are two breeders of Brittanies close by, one right in town. When I am home, he isn't, and vice versa, but we get hooked up.

 

[1_pointer]

'Gunner- The football players didn't give you much chit did they? I know we were pretty hard on the waterboys!!!