Dog question - Brittany

[Cube Dweller]

I expect CDan and CruiserDrew to chime in on this one

Thinking about getting a family dog. I don't care at all about breeding the dog, showing the dog, registering the dog, etc. My requirements list in order of preference:

1. Great family dog, especially around young children. We have a 2 yr old and are trying for another. Want a great companion, especially for my wife and kid(s). My kid's sitter has a cocker spaniel and the loves her.

2. Medium size. I live in suburbia and have a tiny yard. If I do it, I'm completely dedicated to walking and exercising the dog. But I still don't want a large dog, during the day my yard is too small for a big dog or a nutso breed like a cattle dog.

3. Watchdog. Would like a dog that barks at strangers that approach our casita.

4. Bird dog.

I've considered labs, but too big. I'm kinda leaning towards a Britanny, from what I've read, they fit the bill, although being a pointer, they need exercise and attention to reduce the "pointerness". They are also available thru breed specific rescues, appealing to my cheapness and desire to give a pet in distress a good home. Plus I might get lucky and skip the puppy stage and miss out on getting a bunch of my stuff chewed up.

Input? How would she do running with me...5-7 miles or more?

 

[Gumby]

Grouseman has a few, IIRC.


Too small for me. Damn near a punter dog.

 

[wesintl]

5-7 miles a day shouldn't be that big a deal as long as you work them up to it.

might also check the gsp rescue. My female is only 21" at the withers and right about 45-50 lb, depending on how much I work her. It's slightly more than a brittney but I don't deal with all the hair either Both will need ample exercise.

good luck, I love brittneys too.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Well-We have a Springer Spaniel. Best dog ever. Medium size-40 pounds-calm, good with kids, likes to please. Extremely muscular and strong for their size. Has never once been mean to anyone. Not prone to snapping like Cockers. Can run all day at human pace. I've taken her up to 6 miles, but prefer to run by myself. Good in the house, in the yard and on trips. We don't have a huge yard and it's fine. They are suprisingly smart for a dog. It's hard to give specific examples but they "get it". They are clever to the point of being sneaky on occasion. She barks like she would bite the head off the mailman, or door to door salespeople. Of course, once she meets them, it's instant best friends. They are not guard dogs.

Also the worlds best pheasant dog even though I don't hunt with it. She puts up pheasants and quail all the time out on the bike path. Has been around guns and is not shy. Our springer wants to do whatever I am doing at the time. If it's garage cruiser work-great, if its a 5 mile run great, if it's a ride in the 60 to the hardware store-that's great too. You cannot exercise them too much. They are excellent companion dogs.

The down side is that you have to keep them clipped, and they shed. Ours has been healthy, but some breed lines are prone to hip problems.

I have heard that Brittanys are very similar. They are thinner, lighter and lankier as a breed, but basically similar temperment. I prefer the Springer coloring-dark brown and white. Most Brittanys are sort of orange. My next dog was going to be a Brittany, but now I think I'll just get another Springer.

You're on the right track for a family dog. The spaniels as a group are bred to work WITH people, and so tend to take commands well. Disposition wise, they are perfect members of the family, though I would avoid Cockers who can be cranky around small children.

 

[cruiserdan]

A Britt will run your ass off if you let it...

Our sons were infants around adult dogs. Britts love to run and are great companions. They will be wild in the house unless they are regular house pets in which case they come in and look around a bit and then settle down. You need to watch them around small children because they do have a high energy level and they can bulldoze small kids unintentionally trying to play. The larger the yard the better and you will need a very good fence. A britt can clear a 6 foot fence if he really wants to and they can also tunnel out.. They pretty much stay around if they are interested. Some do not like to be left alone for long periods of time and thats when they may want to go "on a trip.. ".

To effectively hunt with one you must work and train regularly. I have the cush job of being an offical gunner for our club's live-fire hunting tests and I have had the chance to shoot over some really great dogs. I like to watch the Britts work most of all.

I would suggest an adult rescue dog.


D-

 

[Cube Dweller]

Thanks guys. CruiserDrew, thought you had a Britanny, that's good feedback on the Springers...

 

[cruiserdan]

If memory serves, Springers are "flushing" as opposed to "pointing" dogs. That would be the major difference between the two when it comes to hunting. Britts also come in "liver and white" in addition to "orange and white" The liver ones can be confused with a Springer but the Springer has larger ears and usually has a longer coat.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Dan makes a good point about house behavior. Or Springer has house, but not bedroom privledges. She tends to spend the evenings inside with the family, but always sleeps outside. She stays outside if no one is home. When she comes in, she checks out every square foot of her territory at least twice and then settles in for whatever. They do not lie around like labs but tend to constantly "patrol". They would way rather play than sleep-that can, on occasion, get annoying. If you walk from one side of the house to the other, you can bet the dog is going with you, even if she's been sound asleep. Ours has never tried to dig or jump out of the yard, but she could if she wanted.

BTW Tony-any of the high energy dogs in the spaniel family need lots of exercise. A walk in the morning plus a run in the afternoon is perfect. If I don't have time to run with the dog, I take her to the park in the dark and let her run until I get tired of waiting for her. Seriously though, these dogs have so much energy, if you walked/ran them 4 times per day, they would go happily and still want more.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

If memory serves, Springers are "flushing" as opposed to "pointing" dogs. That would be the major difference between the two when it comes to hunting. Britts also come in "liver and white" in addition to "orange and white" The liver ones can be confused with a Springer but the Springer has larger ears and usually has a longer coat.

This is true. They "spring" the game from cover. If we're out in the wilds, she naturally works about 50 feet in front, and works back and forth looking for anything to put up or chase. Springers with go into crazy thick cover without hesitation. It's cool to see what they have built in, since as I said, I do not hunt with her and have not trained her to do any of this. Weirdly enough, with training, they make tolerable water dogs too.

Springers have 2 hair styles. The "show" breeds have very long hair like a Cocker. The "field" breeds like ours have much shorther hair-similar to Brittanys. I keep it cut to 1/4 inch in the summer.

The Spanials make awesome dogs. I really can't say enough good things about them. In my neighborhood, labs are in 50% of the houses. THey make great family dogs too. There is only one other family with Springers and they have 3. A Brittany will be even less common, which is a good thing. In terms of brain power, labs are 8th graders and springers are PhD students in physics.

 

[Darwood]

In my neighborhood, labs are in 50% of the houses.

That's funny. In my neighborhood, pitbulls and boxers are in 50% of the houses. I think that might say something about my neighborhood vs. Andy's.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That's funny. In my neighborhood, pitbulls and boxers are in 50% of the houses. I think that might say something about my neighborhood vs. Andy's.

Well-there are a few houses for sale, so if you and Meridith decide to make your move out of the Bayarrhea, we'll make an exception and allow you and your pits to live here. You will have to sign a prepurchase agreement to buy a yellow lab after 6 months.

Actually, there are not any pits locally-thank goodness. The closest thing is a guy three houses down who has an American Bulldog which is a really great dog, I don't see it as particularly dangerous. There are so many yellow labs, though, it is almost a joke. There is a dog play group at the school every morning, and you can't tell the dogs apart since they are all medium sized yellow labs.

 

[Rhinoliner]

I recommend a Vizsla

You might consider a Vizsla, they fit your requirements and are great dogs. I have owned one for over ten years and am about to get another one. These pics are from the breeder I am getting my pup from in about 3 weeks.

However, they really love to be around their people and should be kept indoors IMOP. Crate training is easy, they are highly intelligent versatile dogs. They could run all day long if you wanted them to, but they won't drive you crazy at home if you don't feel like taking them for a walk for a few days. No grooming and they don't even smell like a dog.

 

[Rhinoliner]

Here is a link with some information about Vizslas if you are not familiar with them. You may be able to find a rescued dog through this site also.

http://clubs.akc.org/vizsla/history.htm

 

[Mars]

I'll second that on the vizsla. My family has grown up with them, and they are the most intellegent breeds I have ever been around. Whether it be hunting, running, playing or just hanging out, mine have been amazing. The young one comfortably runs 6-10 miles with me now 3+ times a week, and will hunt strong all day. Fantastic pointers, excellent noses. Only warning is, they often times are very needy, dependent on people, and will have anxiety if left alone in strange situations. Solution...get more than one

Here's my folks' site with some pics... http://www.basaltbluffsvizslas.com

 

[sjpitts]

I have had several brits, and loved every one of them. When I was young my brittany followed me every day on my paper route.

But as Dan said, they are very energetic. I wouldn't get another one unless I had a huge yard, or the time to make sure they got a couple miles of running every day.

Jared

 

[BOUNDER]

I expect CDan and CruiserDrew to chime in on this one

Thinking about getting a family dog. I don't care at all about breeding the dog, showing the dog, registering the dog, etc. My requirements list in order of preference:

1. Great family dog, especially around young children. We have a 2 yr old and are trying for another. Want a great companion, especially for my wife and kid(s). My kid's sitter has a cocker spaniel and the loves her.

2. Medium size. I live in suburbia and have a tiny yard. If I do it, I'm completely dedicated to walking and exercising the dog. But I still don't want a large dog, during the day my yard is too small for a big dog or a nutso breed like a cattle dog.

3. Watchdog. Would like a dog that barks at strangers that approach our casita.

4. Bird dog.

I've considered labs, but too big. I'm kinda leaning towards a Britanny, from what I've read, they fit the bill, although being a pointer, they need exercise and attention to reduce the "pointerness". They are also available thru breed specific rescues, appealing to my cheapness and desire to give a pet in distress a good home. Plus I might get lucky and skip the puppy stage and miss out on getting a bunch of my stuff chewed up.

Input? How would she do running with me...5-7 miles or more?

I'm very partial to Labs and really size is not much of an issue - I have an 80 lb AKC purebred adopted female - keep her lean and life is good. Labs truly aren't supposed to be as big as some people breed them - just find a NORMAL size one. Labs are short hair, double-coated, not as spazzy as smaller dogs and they do everything you do. As for 5-7 mile run with a Brittany - no way - too much of a health risk for most dogs - even Labs. We ocean swim and 13 minute 3-mile power walks - works wonders. Ever consider a beagle? WE NEED A DOG ICON THINGY

 

[zcruiser]

My sister's Brittany is psychotic. If you're sitting in it's "spot" on the sofa, it will sit in front of you and do this wierd grunting thing.... It once barked so much on a weekend they were gone that it almost asphyxiated....

Get a chocolate lab...

 

[OZCAL]

My brothers and I were raised by a Brittany Spaniel. We turned out just fine.