My husband and I are thinking of getting a dog. After years of apartment living, we finally have a home with a fenced in back yard. He is thinking he wants to get a Brittany. I’ve read about them a little bit, but I thought I’d come here and see if anyone has any personal experience they’d like to share.
I think my biggest concern is that they seem to require a lot of exercise. My husband is a much more active person than I am. But I wonder how crazy he’ll be about talking the dog for an hour walk every night after work.
I work part time, so there will be days when the dog will be alone all day, and days when I’ll be around. We also have two cats.
Any Brittany owners want to give me the scoop on the good and the bad?
I love the brittany. They do require regular excersize. Always good to inquire about the temperament on a brittany, some of them tend to get a bit snappy after the age of 5. As with most pure bred dogs the brittany is often line bred and will tend to exhibit the traits common to his line. I would say they need more than a walk for excersize. They really enjoy training and it is good for the relationship you will have, maybe your hubby could get involved in a local bird dog training group, he would not have to shoot any birds if he didn’t want to.
I should have mentioned that my husband is a hiker, and he wants a dog he can take out on mountain trails and such. But that would be an occasional weekend thing, not an everyday thing. Even less in the winter. Do you think a Brittany would enjoy that sort of thing? Do you think they require more-than-a-walk type exercise every single day, or could something more vigorous on the weekend hold them over?
They are usually smart trainable dogs, which need a lot of exercise to be livable. I have met a couple who were literally crazed from the lack of it (especially as young dogs). They are the kind of dog I’d recommend that only very athletic people get. Someone who goes for a 5 mile run every day and can take the dog with, etc. An hours walk daily is what any old couch potato dog should be getting; an exceptionally active and athletic gun dog like a Britanny needs lots more than that. Serious behavior problems can be the result of not getting it.
They also shed a shitload of fine soft light-colored hair everywhere, which is not my favorite (actually it’s my least favorite).
Most dogs are good dogs for a few hours of hiking on the weekend. Only exceptions: giant, toy, and ‘deformed’ (dwarfed or brachycephalic) breeds.
The good folks at American Brittany Rescue can probably advise you as to whether the Brittany is a good match for your family’s lifestyle. If your husband is not into daily hour-long walks, consider adopting a mature dog or a three-legged dog. (Seriously. There are many “tripod” dogs who would make wonderful companions for folks who prefer a slightly less active lifestyle.)
If you decide to buy from a breeder, ABR can advise you on how to identify ethical breeders and how to avoid unehical ones.
Breed rescues are great sources of information, and also great sources of dogs who’ve spent a couple months with an experienced human who can tell you exactly what this particular dog will need. Breeds are not a monolith - it’s very common for there to be ‘working lines’ in a breed that will be very high energy and NEED a full time job to stay sane, as well as ‘show lines’ that are intended for the show ring and life as a pet. And individual dogs vary drastically. There’s a dog to match what you have to offer, it’s just a matter of looking until you find one. And not getting suckered by the first wagging tail attached to a completely unsuitable dog. That tends to be difficult.
Only exceptions: giant, toy, and ‘deformed’ (dwarfed or brachycephalic) breeds.