New to the breed

Lynn · New to the breed

Good evening

This breed is completely new to me! Can anyone give me a brief list of the pros and cons? I've read a few websites, but I'd like to hear from owners themselves - not just breeders.

I've never owned a spaniel at all, but I really like what I've read on the various websites about this breed and I'd be grateful for any input at all.

I don't do field trials etc, but I do have quite a bit of experience in obedience and would want to take part in that, as well as agility.

I've also read that they generally get on with other dogs - does this apply to getting on with large dogs as well as dogs their own size?

Thanks in advance for any info!
(BTW, I live in Glasgow)

Kind regards

mcelkek

Good evening Lynn and welcome to the forum,

The Brittany may look like a Spaniel but don't let that fool you! The Brittany is a pointing dog and also retrieves. This along with its' hunting skills makes it a H.P.R ( Hunt,point, retriever) putting it alongside dogs like the german pointers, munsterlanders, vislas and weimaraners etc. The dog is equally at home in the field hunting as in the show ring or just curled up at your feet. I don't have any problems with my 4 and other dogs but that is down to socialising them well when young. Hope you enjoy reading and participating in the posts.

Keith.

guy

Lynn - welcome.

Firstly do not be lulled into thinking they will be like a spaniel. They operate to different rules. Technically a hunt point retrieve 'HPR' dog. They do what they say on the box with a particular emphasis on Hunt. Spaniels should work quite close to you say within about ten / twenty yards either side - although within a 'whip length' is often put as the ideal distance. (Historic ideal)

How are they as a pet? somewhere close to ideal if you understand what makes them tick. I have had spaniels (ESS) but would now not return to that breed. Simply put Brittanys are like spaniels on speed. If you want enthusiasm you have it by the bucket, if you want loyalty you've got it, if you want ability - it's yours. Agile, lithe, intelligent, hard working, hard playing, good looking ---- need i say more.

I will leave it to others to say how they get on with larger dogs. But from my perspective they get on with each other and new kennel mates with consummate ease.

Biddability - most learn very fast - in fact it is their intelligence that sometimes works against them in an average household.- they will often question what you want first.

if you do become convert you may not find one is enough. Laughing

Please feel free to ask any question - that is what this forum is all about.

Good luck

Mugi

Hi Lynn

I am a recent convert so thought I would put in my twopenneth from someone new to the breed.

My background is that I have owned dogs for the last 25 years either as family dogs or my own. My first dog of my own was a weimaraner and since then I have rescued a severly disturbed welsh springer, I then got a puppy deerhound and then I decided to rescue an older weim.

Circumstances changed and I was led to the best little dog ever - Mugi!!

Mugi came to live with me last year aged 10 yrs. He has a few minor health niggles but in no way is he a old dog in his mind or capability.

My first walk with an essentially city dog saw him hunting, he pointed a pheasant, flushed it and recalled to me. From that point on he started to show so much natural ability he and I have started attending gundog training.

So my assessment of an old Brittany is that they are very tough and active little dogs that don't know the meaning of growing old by the fire, they are busy and opinionated but at the same time they are adaptable and will settle nicely in the home enjoying creature comforts. Mugi gets on well with I would say 90% of the dogs he meets although he is somewhat aloof (I obviously can't say what is breed specific and what is his previous experiences). Sadly one dog he can't stand is my young deerhound, he is nervous of Brice and this manifests in aggression which starts from Mugi but is reciprocated by deerhound.

Mugi has made such an impression on me that Chase puppy joined the household a few weeks ago, he is now 3 months old and he is the boldest and most opinionated puppy. He is learning quickly but he is also very determined so we are having a few 'battles' regarding whose ideas rule, so far I have the upper hand Laughing

. Chase is a very friendly pup and he gets on with all the dogs he has so far met including my deerhound thankfully.

Brittany's do seem to hunt wider than most spaniels (and my weim) so putting aside the need for good foundation training you really do need access to safe land where they can stretch their paws.

I am definitely a convert and as Guy says, one wasn't enough but two probably is for the time being Laughing

.

Lynn · Thanks for the welcome

Thanks for the prompt replies - I'm impressed:-)

To give you a bit of background - my husband and I have owned dogs for the last 25 years - female cross Doberman/Rottweiler, female GSD, 2 male GSDs, female Boerboel, male Boerboel. I have always worked in obedience and agility with my dogs, plus protection work with the cross and the GSDs.

Can I ask another couple of questions about the Brittany?

I fully understand that they are primarily for hunting/retrieving - but will a breeder sell to me if I'm not going down that route? Also, I don't want to get involved in showing.

I see that the average hip score is currently 18 - do you know how many have been scored? How are these dogs with cruciate problems?

I'm looking for a breed that's 'relatively' healthy, not too big, not long-haired, easy to groom, friendly, outgoing, wants to please, likes to work (in obedience and agility) but is just as happy to be a couch potato when necessary! This dog must also be able to get on with another dog in the home - I have a large male 3.5years old who will be neutered within the next couple of months - I will be looking for a female pup. I have no intention or inclination to breed so will have her spayed at the appropriate age.

Is there an owner near Glasgow who would let me visit to see the breed in the flesh?

Thanks!

Mugi

Hi Lynn

I can't answer the health related questions, the breeder letting you have a pup as primarily a pet/companion should be no trouble at all though there are never that many pups available.

They are obedient and they are agile but these dogs do have serious hunting desires and so will be very easily distracted if birds or rabbits are in the vicinity. A few people do agility with them (and pup is on my club waiting list for when he is old enough) but your ideals drop from places to actually completing a course Laughing

, it is a special challenge and great fun but if you seriously want to compete then perhaps not the breed of choice. I have competed with my WSS which has been hard (not yet managed to complete a course but some of that has been driver error Embarassed

) but my trainer wants to have her video camera ready if Chase does start as she can't see him being cajoled into anything if he doesn't want to do it.

They are also not that keen on repitition and after doing a task once they are more than likey to say enough is enough, done it once so why do I need to do it again.

I love the breed and hope you can get to meet a dog or two to help you decide.

Annie as admin

Hi Lynn
Welcome to the group Laughing

I am a founder member of the club(have owned Brittanys since 1983), judge, breeder, Treasurer. I would have no other breed now, having come from Cockers, although I also have a relic from my late husband, his constant companion GWP bitch. Rolling Eyes

I could not have given you much more/better/more accurate information than my friends have already, except that male Brittanys can occasionally be dominant, but as you want a bitch there isn't that problem. There are only two of us breeding in Scotland that are members of the BCGB - Alithea Lockie in the Borders and myself in Aberdeenshire, so you might have to go to England for a pup. You could get a docked one there if it was considered to be going to a working home and the breeder was entitled to dock. You are very welcome to come up to visit - and stay overnight if it's too far in one day. I have a young natural bobtail dog (orange tricolour), a 6 year old docked orange and white bitch(hopefully his first wife Wink

) and a black and white natural bobtail 3 year old bitch (perhaps his second wife Laughing

)
The Hip score average is now down to 17 so you should ask for the hip scores of both parents (mine are 3/4, 3/5 and 7/7 respectively) We do not currently test the breed for anything else but a few slipping patellas have appeared - more from excessive exercise injuries than from inherited factors as far as I know(this can't be properly diagnosed till about 18 months anyway, the main symptom being a 'hopping' movement on a back leg, but rarley much pain). There have been a few umbilical hernias - again not a big problem, and the earlier epilepsy problems of the '80's' were eradicated a number of years ago. So basically it is a pretty healthy breed. I would be happy to sell a pup to anyone who is going to give it some work, and plenty of exercise, even though not gun or falconry. Some breeders are more likely to want their pups worked. As far as I am concerned the good home is what is required more than anything else. Lastly you shoudle expect to pay around £400 to £500 for a well bred pup of mostly French origin with some Champions in the pedigree. You can pay less - there are some on the market now for about £350, but they may not be line bred or pure French. It's up to you what you want. The pedigree doesn't prove the pup will work well or look good. Only time can give you that answer Wink

I have attached photos of my three
Annie

Click to see full size image

Liz

Hi Lynn and welcome to the forum. I've had Britts for 14 years (lost our original one - Mugi's mum - last month aged 14 and a half). We now have 2 bitches aged 10 and 5.

Britts love being alive and live at 100 m.p.h. They come on springs and have no brakes!

Mine live with a Weimaraner, and on the whole I'd say they get on pretty well with most other dogs - though they can be pretty assertive.

I've shown my dogs - don't work them for various reasons. I've been going agility for the last 2/3 years with our youngest girl and she can be a nightmare or angel depending on how many distractions there are.

We're in the Borders, around 35 miles south of Edinburgh, and if you'd like to meet up to see what the brats are like in the flesh, p.m. me and we can probably fix up a meeting.

New to the breed

Thanks for the welcome