Brittneys as hunters?

BanannaMan · 08-30-2008, 06:29 AM

I'm thinking of another dog, one as a companion for my lab and two as another upland dog since my labs feet only seem to last for one day before he cuts them up too bad. Since I also do a lot of waterfowling I heard that some hunters use them for that also. Was also wondering if anyone had a preference for the American or French breed?

Pelagic Captain · 08-30-2008, 07:37 AM

Brittany's...I have owned many britts and have a similar problem as you.My current dog is a chesapeake that I just can't keep in shape for upland work..he get's to hot..unless it's very cool outside. He's a water dog. I would like to get another Britt ..hard to beat on upland work. To answer some of your questions...they do retrieve and will water retrieve to a point...they are not bred for cold water ...the big difference between retrievers and bird dogs is one retains heat while the other gives heat off.It would be hard on a Britt to make him sit quiet in a blind on a cold day. My Britts have all been the "american" variety...they are all french by origin. Many of the breeders today are either field trial oriented or show oriented..both are qualitys desired, however the trial bred dogs can run really big and that's not so good for a foot hunter. I could go on and on about britts and chessies. I am on the shady side of 60 and gunned over a lot of good dogs of all breeds but my heart will always be with Britts..
Should you locate a breeder in the area let me know..I have located some pups in northern washington and some in southern oregon ..good luck

Duckwheat · 08-30-2008, 07:39 AM

My brother had one as a kid and I picked one up as a 3 year reject (someone was moving). They are about as enjoyable a dog as I have been around, and I am a Lab guy.

THis dog hunts and never stops. When He gets home he is a joy to be around. We let the dogs in the house and he is a gentleman.

I think he is an American bred Brittany, A lot of fun.

DW

DogZilla15 · 08-30-2008, 07:49 AM

Lots of folks have adapted their Brittanies to water work but the odds are against you. Some have it some don't. This would be a topic for discussion with the breeders you contact. Let them be your guide.

Other choices that would serve you better would be the GWP/DD, GSP/DK or the WPG all superior water dogs to the Brittany.

Remember, what you end up with has more to do with the breeder than the breed.

A better place to discuss this issue is versatiledogs.com.

bassettmama · 08-30-2008, 07:59 AM

It seems from my experience, I've had both britts and GSPs that britts are great upland, but not so great for water. Same goes for the GSPs but they seem to adapt quite a bit better to water than britt do. It seems to be size related My husband uses his GSP for upland and water, and the dog LOVES both. to keep warm in water he uses a gortex float vest, it's also for saftey. Good luck on your search.

RGB · 08-30-2008, 09:22 AM

My Brittany will only go into water up to her ankles. She won't swim, and she won't retrieve.

DogZilla15 · 08-30-2008, 10:16 AM

Once you hunt with a good wirehair or Griff you'll probably never own another lab.....Oh how I love to twist the knife.......

scubaseth · 08-30-2008, 10:18 AM

I was told they aren't really water dogs. I told my parents that before I got into a canoe, and tried to leave him on shore. Ever since then I can't keep him out of the water. Of course I am not a duck hunter and have him sit in a blind cold would not be fun.

Scuba

CombinationLicense · 08-30-2008, 10:37 AM

The easiest way to tell the American Brittany from the French Brittany is by the color of their nose - pink nose = American and black nose = French. I have a French Brittany and she's not what I would call a water dog. I've also found that both Brittanys and Springers are not comfortable sitting in a duck blind for long periods. Mine at least don't like to sit still for that long and also tend to get pretty cold. Jump shooting is another thing altogether and retrieving a dead duck is the same as retrieving a dead pheasant - water or not.

"CL"

tafish7 · 08-30-2008, 10:50 AM

I've had a Brittnay for many years. Great dogs to hunt with and as good a family dog as you will find. Not the best water dog you'll ever find but they will hunt all day long and love you to death after the hunt is over.

Lucky Guy · 08-30-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelagic Captain

Brittany's...I have owned many britts and have a similar problem as you.My current dog is a chesapeake that I just can't keep in shape for upland work..he get's to hot..unless it's very cool outside. He's a water dog. I would like to get another Britt ..hard to beat on upland work. To answer some of your questions...they do retrieve and will water retrieve to a point...they are not bred for cold water ...the big difference between retrievers and bird dogs is one retains heat while the other gives heat off.It would be hard on a Britt to make him sit quiet in a blind on a cold day. My Britts have all been the "american" variety...they are all french by origin. Many of the breeders today are either field trial oriented or show oriented..both are qualitys desired, however the trial bred dogs can run really big and that's not so good for a foot hunter. I could go on and on about britts and chessies. I am on the shady side of 60 and gunned over a lot of good dogs of all breeds but my heart will always be with Britts..
Should you locate a breeder in the area let me know..I have located some pups in northern washington and some in southern oregon ..good luck

Try a guy named Kent Wilcox out around powell butte. If you can't find his number call Dan at Gunner's in Redmond at 541-548-1052. He breeds brittanys and GWP's. Good guy.

Doc_Rhen · 08-30-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogZilla15

Once you hunt with a good wirehair or Griff you'll probably never own another lab.....Oh how I love to twist the knife.......

Haven't seen a Griff or wirehair bust Ice swim out grab a duck, bring it back shake off and start panting

. Bird dogs are pretty amazing creatures, one of my Veterinary Professors bred Brittanys. They are pretty much everything that has been said, great bird dogs but if you do alot of cold weather blind hunting it is not really their thing. I have a lab that seems to do just fine on upland birds. I was actually worried about him when we started sage grouse hunting. Our area is very rocky and rugged, but at 11 years old and 90# when he is lean, ran hard three days with no problems. I know he is the exception for labs and you might find an exception (cold weather and water tolerant) in a Brittany as well.

Duckwheat · 08-30-2008, 07:35 PM

I better go and tell Jake the Brittany he is not suppose to go in the water or retrieve any Ducks.

I crippled up a pheasant that got across the Snake on me. I had marked it down, and went to get the boat. As I come around the bank Jake is just starting on his way back with the pheasant. Pretty far swim in some pretty good current.

DW

BanannaMan · 08-30-2008, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the info. The lab will take care of most if not all of the waterfowling, that and there is usually one or two other labs in the boat. My thought is that any water work by the pointer would be a bonus and probabally depends on the particular dog and breeder. The Brittney would mostly be for upland even though my lab does a really good job at that too. It helps he's 60lbs and built like a greyhound.

BigWaterBigFish · 08-31-2008, 06:39 AM

We had Brittany, he transitioned well from the Willamette Valley to Montana where we hunted ducks, pheasants, chuckars, hungarian partriges, sage hens, grouse, geese and the occasional furry creature.
We even took him for company on ice fishing trips and scouting hunts in the late season. He was a great dog, big by Brittany standards and like Duckwheat stated in a previous thread - probably didn't know he was suppose to hate water and the cold.
His replacement - who he outhunted till the day he passed - was a wirehair, now there was a dog, too - got him in Boise, ID and he was a champion of dogs and best friends.

billc_sbio · 08-31-2008, 11:23 AM

Wow they sure can be!

And they also make great "around the house dogs" (I think).

They're nice and close working.

Probably the BEST Pheasant Hunting dog I ever hunted over was this most incredible Brittany, something I'll never forget.

They're a bit "soft" and get their feelings "hurt" easier than a Lab, but they're still great to have around.

Ha ha, water? Well I've seen the one we had swim...in the Summer!

stillwater97 · 09-02-2008, 05:51 AM

My britt passed away last September 8th.

Best dog I've ever owned. Not much of a waterfowl dog unless you were jumpshooting canals or creeks. However, she was excellent on quail and pheasant and really really good at hunting heavy cover.

We are now looking to get another one.

scottishsetter · 09-02-2008, 06:14 AM

My 4 month old has a great nose. She will sniff the gravel where our horses went by hours prior, and then track up the road following the scent. Still young.