Brittany spaniels

[longwing]

Dunno if anyone has experience with these, but I want one when I find a house and settle down. Then only time I worked with one was ages ago, but I remember loving that dog...so eager and energetic, and gorgeous too. I guess the same could be said for all spaniels. But this one was a little smaller as well. I don't know which dog to get, maybe a Newfoundland (what lovely gentle giants they are) or a labrador or collie...or a husky of some kind, since I'll be living in a tough place...but hey, I dunno.
Anyways! Anyone have experience on Brittanies?

[redtailnut]

I've GOT TWO,

both still under two years old and yet to prove themselves as part of the team but had a few cracking years with a 8 yr old bitch before she died.

Most of my hawking is rabbits but the dogs prove invaluable in the wood on pheasant my old girl held a point for twenty minutes while a buddy recovered his FHH and got ready for the slip.

good size, fast (that can be a problem) will enter cover and never forget the Bird is boss.

Mike.

[chris]

Well I have a cocker only because he was a good deal would have rather had a Brittany or a springer but this guy is great and is actually starting to lissen better so he might turn into a desent hunting dog yet.

[longwing]

wow, so they can actually point? (forgive my extreme ignorance)

[chris]

Oh they can pooint the reseach I done shows that the spanniels where bred for falconry. The larger pups from the litter where used in the fields to flush under falcons the smaller dogs where kept to work the brush and thickets to flush wood cock. The field dogs went on to become springers and brittanies the smaller went on to become cockers. The american cocker where later developed as a companion dog but if you look hard enough you will still one that make excellent hunting dogs. Mine could do with a better trainer. But hey thats not his fault.

[redtailnut]

Mine could do with a better trainer. But hey thats not his fault

hey I'll second that,,

Brittany's are full HPR (Hunt, Point, Retrieve) breed and are regularly used in Field trials in the UK.

A pic.



I'll post a couple more pics in the Photo Section.

Mike.

[longwing]

Gorgeous...especially if they can point lol.
I should think these guys are quite difficult to train, being hyper lil spaniels.

[dgw]

I have hunted with a female Brit for the past 11 years. She has hunted under longwings, Coopers and a Harris'. In my location she has become an invaluable asset to my falconry.

The name Brittany Spaniel was dropped from the AKC back in 1984, as the Brittany is a true continental breed, which means it will work both fur and feather, points and retrieves. Spaniels are used primarily for flushing the game, hence the names used like Cocker or Springer. These dogs pause briefly and then flush the game, not a true point. Brits, are more akin to the setters and the pointers.

[m4tt]

can they nose out rabbits at all?

[chris]

oh ya mine finds all kinds of rabbits it's getting him to flush when the hawk's ready for the flush, plus getting him to ignore the ,deer ,the mice, the crows, and oter such things. He kinda puts his head down and goes at top speed over here over there, all on instink, head down find smell run hard not lissen, that seem to be the thought pattern with my dog.

[hawkaday]

Hi all, I'm new and have been lurking for a while and just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth on this one ;D.

can they nose out rabbits at all?

You bet! They are bred for birds but ours likes bunnies more. She is very smart and although she doesn't do birds she will stalk rabbits and points on them.

The best brittany I ever saw was my cousins dog, Moe. He would find anything for you, great dog. In my experience Brittanies are smart and haven't been hard to train and are very energetic in their work. A true working brittany is a joy to have.