Another common reaction has happened more than once recently with kids. Most retrievers also rank higher. Are you a Brittany fan? What is it?" With their sensitive and affectionate nature, they also make ideal pets for an active owner. Gun dogs, Bird Dogs, Field Dogs, Sporting Dogs and now Hound dogs, Pointers - American Brittany - Started Dogs, Posted on 02/18/2022 - - Last updated on 08/02/2022, Posted on 07/30/2022 - - Last updated on 08/01/2022, FC/AFC BBDS CA-CHING x BNJS DIRTY DOZEN DIXIE, Posted on 07/23/2022 - - Last updated on 07/23/2022, Posted on 07/20/2022 - - Last updated on 07/20/2022, Posted on 12/07/2021 - - Last updated on 08/02/2022, Posted on 07/16/2022 - - Last updated on 07/16/2022, Posted on 06/08/2022 - - Last updated on 07/08/2022, JAKES HAMMERING REBEL x FG BELLES SPECIAL BULLET, Posted on 04/23/2022 - - Last updated on 05/01/2022, Posted on 09/21/2020 - - Last updated on 09/30/2020, Reload Version 3.5 - August 02nd 2022 2005-2022 GUNDOG CENTRAL. Although Haha, I kid, I kid (Not really)! Besides having an exceptional nose, they can flush and retrieve on land and water, and they have the energy to go all day. As a young man in the Great Lakes area we ran an AB and other family members did as well. But, however they do it, with the right people and the right dogs and in the right circumstances, these perfectly innocent creatures can just somehow break through all of our crap and bring out the very best of what we can be. FYI. Brittanys fall into the versatile dog category. We have a male and a female EB. Just FYI, AMERICAN Brittanies are also allowed to be tri-color. closer and quarter tighter while the American Brittany adapts more Other than that she is very healthy and active. Agile, strong, and with a superb nose, hunting comes as naturally as breathing to the breed. Get the top Gun Dog articles delivered right to your inbox. objectives and breeding programs. This is probably a good descriptor of all bird dogs: high energy! Answer a few simple questions and find the right dog for you, Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side, Browse the AKC Marketplace to find the right puppy for you, Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration, Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid, 8 Things To Know About the High-Energy Brittany. Soon your Brittany should stop when he hears the word whoa. We understand that reaction. Published: 02/22/2018, edited: 01/08/2021. "I didn't say I like dogs, I like THIS dog!" Sign up with your email address to receive notifications of new blog posts. French dogs also can be black and white or tri-color, while American Brits are usually orange and white or liver and white. The AKC (www.akc.org) is of mixed feelings about any French-American differences, kind of like many humans in general. Only the English cocker and springer rank higher among bird dogs. High energy except when he's "no energy" luckily for us, that's every morning. Any advice on how to fix this would be great! How to Train Your Dog to Perform the Down Position, How to Train Your Dog to Ride a Bike with You, How to Train Your Dog to Fetch a Dumbbell, How to Train Your Dog to Use a Gentle Leader, How to Train Your Dog to Perform a Beg Trick, How to Train Your Dog to Search and Rescue, How to Train Your Australian Cattle Dog to Herd, How to Train Your Dog to Not Pee in the House, How to Train Your Dog to Lay Down from a Distance. century creations. Both are awesome hunters of fur and feather! Take your Brittany out in wooded areas and fields frequently and get him used to covering wild terrain and investigating quarry. the breed originated in the 1700s in Europe as a small but rugged all Start with short periods of time, several seconds, and work up to longer time periods. Consensus fewer dogs to distract a highly energetic and highly social Brittany pup. Beyond that, it's the individual dog, not the breed. To make another generalization, French Brits tend to work closer because they're bred to hunt with a walking hunter, while American Brits range wider, often in field trials with horse-mounted hunters. He saves the zoomies for evenings. Brits are the only pointing spaniel, but since they now aren't classed as spaniels by Yankees, that distinction doesn't mean much anymore. I don't think so, Doodle! Neither one of them have any physical ailments. Have a hunting dog for sale? Gun Dog Premium is the go-to choice for sporting dog owners and upland hunting enthusiasts. Download this e-book for guidance on these questions and other important factors to consider when looking for a puppy. They are lively and--generally--intelligent and people-oriented. Surely it's not for everyone, but, for us, taking the gamble on a high-energy breed was exactly the right way to go. While the AKC registers all of them only as "Brittany," the United Kennel Club has distinguished between French and American Brittanies since 1992. The AB of todays standards are much more in the vein of the GSP. All bird dogs are bred to greater or lesser degrees to be indefatigable in the field. We hunted behind pointers, setters and finally a Brittany. And, I think there's a fair-to-middling chance that being hit out of the gate with his energy and energy expenditure needs has made us better-than-average owners and has made him as a result a better-than-average behaved dog than many we've encountered this year - but certainly not all - we still have plenty of role model people and dogs who set a higher standard that inspire us and stretch us past where we are, but I'd say super eager first-timers paired with a Britt can definitely equal a pretty damn good brag dog. Some handlers reward the dog with continued hunting and reprimand with an end to the excursion if their Brittany does not perform the hunting behavior required. Our boy has many peculiarities and quirks that specifically endear him to us that aren't necessarily generalizable to the breed. Listen: The French Brittany with Trinity Kennels Project Upland Podcast Episode #88. My french brittany is an amazing hunter as he is able to find birds very well. With their joie de vivre and attachment to their people, Brittanys can make wonderful pets. Before initiating training for hunting birds with your Brittany, you should ensure your dog has a good handle on obedience commands and especially good off-leash recall. But it was the mid-1800s before the first dogs appeared that could reliably be called Brittanys. He challenges me every day to be my best and he richly rewards me for it. A programmer bird-dogging a program is someone who will check every single line of code until they find the single mistyped character that broke it. Complete access to a library of digital back issues spanning years of Gun Dog magazine. Lincoln always tries (and often succeeds in) tiring out his doggie pals. "Gorgeous Britt!" But, it's never far into the conversation when our status as first-time dog owners comes up and someone invariably stops cold with "Wait! They are also versatile as both pets and sport dogs, known for beinghard working, intelligent, independent, trainable, willing and friendly to people. Such a range of personality and qualities probably overlap with a lot of other bird dog breeds (my favorite category of dog), but for my money Brittanys are simply the best and I'll say that with complete confidence despite being a beginner in all things dogs - I just refuse to admit that it could be possible for other dog breeds to be as awesome as these little pocket rocket bird dogs. How to Train Your Brittany Dog to Bird Hunt, How to Train Your Older Dog to Walk on a Leash, How to Train Your Deaf Dog to Look at You. 2022 Outdoor Sportsman Group. His Calembour line was the first well-known one in this country and still is a dominant bloodline in French Brittany circles. Encourage scenting, allow your dog to look for prey. Our site uses cookies. Most Brittany dog people enjoy their multitasking hunting dogsand train them to perform several useful bird hunting behaviors. Attach a check rope, available at an outdoor sport store or gun dog supply store, to your Brittany's collar. Illustrations from the 1600s show a dog similar in appearance to the Brit. Maybe its because theyve evolved with us to be just enough like us to elicit a very familiar, bonding love without being too much like us to trigger the more negatively complex dynamics of human relationships. Once your Brittany is responding to commands to set and flush, remove the check rope and start hunting off lead. But it is very applicable to Britts. Then Dave Follansbee, the first editor of this magazine, turned me on to the French dogs after my American Brit was killed by a car (Brittanys, I'm convinced, have a death wish when it comes to traffic). I love my EB French Brittany. easy-going family companions. Once there were only a few French breeders in this country; now, there are many, along with two different French Brit clubs. AKC actually began in 1884 as a registry for sporting dogs (the Club's symbol is a pointer). Brittanys are also taught a release command to rush in and startle birds to take flightor rush into the open so hunters can take a clear shot, and sometimes Brittanys are even taught to go pick up harvested game in their mouths and return them to their owners. I still remember a quail hunt in Texas with a couple of guys who guided and owned something like 20 bird dogs among them. Reproduction in whole or in part without the express permission of Project Upland is strictly prohibited. Make your Brittany stand for a period of time. Learn how your comment data is processed. when I manage to do the exact right thing with him. Once your Brittany is responding well on a long lead, remove the lead and practice off-leash. We've had several older gentlemen stop us on the street and regale us with tales of childhood Brittanys they knew and loved, in their own homes, or in a beloved uncle's or their grandparents' house. A mother instantly replies with, "But, you don't even like dogs!" All Rights Reserved. Once responses are established, you can initiate live bird hunting in the open. The process to train a dog how to hunt is a very long one. So, yeah, I started with a Brittany. Allow your dog to scan and track the bird on a long leash to prevent harm to the bird from a young overexcited dog rushing the bird. This is considered heresy by those who cherish pointers or setters, but hey, who's to argue with a hundred generations or more of versatility? The expression "bird-dogging it" is pretty on-point when describing any action that is both meticulous and relentless. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale. They are great at plowing through dense underbrush to scent and locate game, have great instincts for the hunt, and are trainable so they can be taught a variety of commands and tasks that are useful in bird hunting. If your dog rushes the bird, restrain with long lead and correct your dog. All these tasks require that your Brittney work closely with you, stay focused on his handler, and take direction in the form of verbal commands or hand signals. One dude even cried right there in front of us. The "ideal" Brit is between 17 and 20.5 inches at the withers, and between 35 and 50 pounds. Use a pen-raised bird, like a quail or chicken, and show your Brittany the bird in a cage. Brittany bird dogs are the all-rounders of the sport dog set. All Gun Dog subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. It's the first thing you'll hear about them if you tell someone you're thinking of getting a Brittany - and it's good information. terms of having a strong nose and point, the two types are equally Both retain the instincts, purpose, and advantages of field bred versatile hunting dogs. Unique editorial written exclusively for premium members. Some worked cover better or found more birds than the rest, or hunted dead or retrieved better. and some with training. All rights reserved. Go Premium to recieve the follwing benefits: Already a subscriber? The Brittany is small enough to stay within the hunters range, while possessing a coat thats long enough to protect them from brush without getting stuck in brambles and hedgerows. Any bird dog can hunt gamebirds--it's what they do. Musings on bird-dogs,training, upland birds,upland hunting, and life in the middle years. The American Kennel Club, Inc. 2022. The three youngsters we kept all are healthy with no signs of dysplasia, but it could crop up in their later years. Practice walking with your Brittany. Let them blow off steam somewhere they can enjoy an unbridled run, play enthusiastically with the kids, or join you on the hunt. My spouse and family and best friends have always done that for me - brought out wonderful emotional complexity that is surprising sometimes to feel - but Lincoln does that for me in spades in ways unique to the bond between human and canine. As bright, trainable, and energetic as they are, Brittanys excel at dog sports, likeflyball, dock diving, and agility. Eb and Ab are split breed in UKC only. Sign In or start your online account. They all are compact, more so than just about any other bird dog breed except the spaniels. At the same time, these amazing dogs manage to be at turns regal, goofy, serious, amped-up, high prey-drive hunting dogs, super-affectionate and loving companions, complete nut-balls, stubborn and yet easily hurt in the feelings department. But, as is true of humans, every breed has its geniuses and dolts. Maybe the next day it would have been another breed, but on that day it was the Brit who found and held the most birds. being dropped in 1982. And so it is with me. We had no idea, that's just what puppies do, right? An accountant or auditor bird-dogging expense reports is someone who isn't going to miss a critical error or red flag for graft because they won't stop until they find it. CKC dates to 1888. When your dog locates prey of any kind, including birds, practice the command for set (freeze) and then release (flush). Difference is, they're wrong, but they're entitled to their incorrect opinion. Try to keep the line loose and encourage your Brittany to stay close to you. I've seen it over and over: guys who you'd normally think of as brick walls emotionally, breaking down and crying over their dogs, still with them or deceased. We understand that too. or start your online account, Already a subscriber? For basketball fans, the Brittany would be a point guard, able to do most anything in a game--maybe not slam dunk like a pointer or rebound like a setter, but able to create havoc in a variety of ways. Developed in the Brittany region of France hundreds of years ago, they were prized by medieval hunters and poachers because of their all-around versatility. (or perhaps even more frequent, "SHE'S beautiful!" After all, they're versatile both by definition and by inclination. When your dog finds the bird, command your dog to 'set' or 'freeze', if your dog stops, reward him, say good dog and provide a treat. One of the things that inspires my hubris-by-association is the reaction we get from complete strangers when we are out with Lincoln. 2014-2022 Project Upland Media Group, LLC. The distinction between the two types became official in 2002 by the United Kennel Club based on the recommendation of the French Brittany Gun Dog Association of America. They busted birds, couldn't find cripples or dead birds and rolled in cowpies. We were exactly those people over a year ago when we first started thinking about getting a dog and started noticing Brittanys in particular here and there. Subsequently, more precise breed standards in terms of conformation and athletic style emerged, leading to the separation of the American Brittanys and the French Brittanys. I have hunted with Chip Hidingers French Brittneys on many occasions and they are great dogs. Only dogs that have been named both Show Champion and Field Champion win the title. How do you know what breed is right for your family? from Europe was called the Brittany spaniel, spaniel In fact, the breed attained its 500th Dual Champion title in 2006. Keep your inexperienced dog on a leash at first, and let him observe the other dogs at work. Even as I contemplated giving them away, I realized that it was this individuality, this quirkiness, that made me love them. In the interests of full disclosure, I've been a Brittany man exclusively for 40 years, first with American Brittanys, then with French Brittanys. But they all had moments when they locked up, and it seemed a shame to walk in and spoil it. (The AKC dropped the "spaniel" from the name in 1982.). The French Brittany A Hunting Dog Profile, Understanding Shotgun Chokes How to Choose a Choke Size for Hunting, The Difference Between a Deutsch-Drahthaar and a German Wirehaired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer The Most Popular Versatile Dog in the World, Training and Troubleshooting the Recall Command with Dogs, Pheasant Hunting Ammo and Chokes A Pheasant Hunters Guide, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Information, History, and Eduard Korthals, Defining the Differences of the British Lab and the American Lab, Recovering Americas Wildlife Act with Senator Martin Heinrich, Vizsla: How the Hungarian Pointing Dog Propelled Through History to Today, Women in American Field Trials: Paving the Way, How Dogs Develop on Ruffed Grouse A Guide to Preparing a Dog for Grouse Hunting, The French Brittany with Trinity Kennels Project Upland Podcast Episode #88, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association. This rope is rigged around your hunting dog so that when you pull on the tail end the loop will tighten on your dog's flank. The Brittanys U.S. following grew in the 1960s field trial circuit when many American kennels began breeding for big running dogs. Just not black. Out of love for him, I will always strive to be the man my dog thinks I am. While I never would change to another breed, that doesn't mean that those who own shorthairs, setters, pointers or the myriad of other bird dog breeds aren't as passionate and as correct about the virtues of their dogs as I am about Brittanys. And who could resist? This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Please feel free to message again. Get everything Gun Dog has to offer. purpose hunter of fur and feather, todays Brittany types are In the United States, the original Epagneul Because we had several black and white puppies for sale, I had a golden opportunity to jack up the price, but I resisted the temptation and no doubt will go directly to Heaven (or, as Will Rogers is alleged to have said, "If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go"). We were horribly offended early on in a local dog training facility with a very large puppy training class when Lincoln rocked a response to a class command and the instructor, a lab owner, stopped to point out to the class, "but you guys don't understand, this is amazingly good for a Brittany!" always puffs us up a little and makes our hearts leap with pride in our boy. Many sport dog and hunting clubs have facilities for training bird dogs that are fenced and provide cover for birds being used as quarry during training. Training a Brittany to hunt birds can involve focusing on one behavior or task you want your dog to assist you with while bird hunting, but the versatility of the Brittany lends itself to performing many bird hunting tasks. Brittanys (in Europe and Canada they still are Brittany spaniels, but in the United States we have dropped the "spaniel") are of French origin, logically enough from the province of Brittany, which juts into the Atlantic Ocean like Charles DeGaulle's nose. Mark Twain said, "Heaven goes by favor. What's Included, Already a subscriber? AKC actively advocates for responsible dog ownership and is dedicated to advancing dog sports. Many of our unpublished pics of Lincoln look like this as photographing him often involves what feels like capturing a creature in constant motion. But, we've often been astonished that many of his lovable, clownish behaviors and wonderfully diverse facial expressions seem to be traits that other Brittanys we've met share. Your email address will not be published. What Is Your State's Flea-and-Tick Season? The first French breed recognition was in 1907, but it wasn't until 1934, the year I was born, that the American Kennel Club recognized the Brittany spaniel as a distinct breed. My first three Brittanys were American, two orange and white, one liver and white. Through occasional stressful growth periods, we adapted because we just thought this is what having a puppy was all about - we didn't know any better that not everyone had to figure out ways to stop an out of control pup zooming endlessly around a table or had to find two or three doggie friends to tag team him because he would successively wear each one out playing. And with that wonderful, very task-appropriate trait comes the consequence that they can be a handful if you're not prepared to give them daily opportunities to expend all that energy. Ensure that your dog has good off-leash recall and practice off-leash.
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