BRITTANYS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE. Yes they can make excellent family dogs and excel in many areas, but they do require personal attention every day, training and most do not make good "kennel" or outdoor dogs.

                  *  This breed is still bred to hunt and many of their behaviors and traits are due to that breeding. Brittany people love those very qualities, but it is essential that you be well informed before deciding on this breed. IT IS A MISCONCEPTION that all Brittanys are high-strung and need many miles of exercise everyday. This is not True if you have a good Fenced in Yard where they can spend some time and if you take the time to Obedience Train from the Start and if you where Careful to pick the right breeder. I will explain:  If you meet enough Brittanys from different lines, you'll find that what the breeders tell you is true - Brittanys are not a breed for generalizations. They range from mellow to extremely active, big to small, soft tempered to stubborn. But even Brittanys who run continuously outdoors will most often settle down when inside with their family AFTER THEY HAVE MATURED! This could take 2 years or so, plus Obedience Training! Some people can not get past the puppy and Teen Stage because of their Energy but did they really take the time to Train the Brittany ? Brittanys are smart and want to please you but they need that training and lots of human contact and love. For this reason they do not make good Kennel Dogs , they are Family Companion dogs that need to live with you as part of the Family. They need the direction and training to be good family members though. They may let you know they aren't getting enough attention by their undesirable behaviors, like:  Digging if left in the Yard alone to long , Chewing Stuffed toys to peices , Chewing Walls if left alone and lose in the home untrained to long and immature. In most Cases after the Brittany is Mature and well Trained they can be trusted in the house alone in time.  Some All Age Pure Field Trial only lines will be more High energy and farther running dogs so I recommend if you do not want to Field Trial and only want a Family Pet then look for a more balance line of Brittanys. One you might get from a Dual Breeder who breeds for both Show and Field so there is a Balance.

Again OBEDIENCE TRAINING IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED. Brittanys are very adaptable and an older dog can easily learn the rules of a new house and family, but a good obedience class is an excellent place to establish ground rules and form a bond between you and your dog. Healing may be a big Issue with some Brittanys! Some may rather Choke themselves and want to pull your arm off then heal so this may take longer to train but stick with it and seek proper training methods and they will learn ! Brittany Puppies like to Play bite and Jump up on people to greet them - so good Early Training is needed to correct this and child supervision is recommended until you can trust the puppy not to jump and the play biting stage it over. Brittanys don't have a mean bone in their Body if breed correctly but this play biting is a puppy stage. Brittanys do love Kids and after they are trained will have many happy years playing with any child . Before you let your Brittany run free off leash be sure you have trained a good Recall - to come when called!Brittanys again are Hunting dogs with Strong Noses and will run after a Scent so please do your Obedience Training first and be sure your Brittany will come when called! You can let them run free in a Controled secure Off leash park though.

LIKE ALL DOGS, Brittanys need food and regular veterinary care, including routine checkups and vaccinations. They are generally very good eaters, and must not be allowed to get fat (average weight is 30-42 lbs.). They need a few good toys, especially if left alone for long periods of time. NEVER RAWHIDE because it can chunk off in big peices and get stuck and lead to an Emergency Vet Visit! I recommend a Bull Stick though but not Rawhide!   Cow hoof to clean teeth, and a ball ( Bigger then a Tenis Ball - One of my owners dog got a Tenis Ball stuck in his Throat and died! )  , stuffed toys only under supervision just because some Brittanys will Rip them to shreds! , A good Rubber Kong Stuffed with Peanut Butter is great! .

 We highly recommend CRATE TRAINING for all dogs. Being crate trained makes housebreaking vastly easier, and will give the dog a safe way to travel. And if he ever needs to spend the night at the vet, it will be less traumatic if he has learned that a crate is a safe haven. Brittanys usually use a #300, or Intermediate, size crate (about 23" high).

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES of a Brittany is that it is not a high-maintenance dog in terms of coat care and upkeep. Coat maintenance is easy, with no clipping necessary if your dog is strictly a pet. It will need a good brushing with a slicker brush once or twice a week to get out dead hair (especially at the start of fall and spring), and to make sure the dog is free of parasites such as fleas or ticks. Don't forget nail clippers! Long nails are not only unattractive and ruin a dog's feet, but the longer they get the more danger there is of one being torn off. For the pet, bathe only when the dog is very dirty and a good thorough brushing won't do the job. You can use any basic dog shampoo for this. 

BRITTANYS USUALLY LIVE 12-14 YEARS, so anyone contemplating adoption needs to be prepared to make that kind of commitment to the dog. This is an active breed that will require plenty of daily attention for many years.

MALE or FEMALE?

PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE A PERSONAL PREFERENCE to the sex of their pet. But once again, Brittanys are not a breed for generalizations. Characteristics such as loyalty, affection, and ease of training are definitely NOT gender specific in this breed. While many people think female dogs are calmer and sweeter, quite often it is a neutered male Brittany that fits this description best.

CHARACTERISTICS VARY FROM DOG TO DOG, generally not within sexes. If you are getting a dog strictly for a companion, you should plan on having it spayed or neutered around 6 Months old, to young and their bodys may suffer in development with out the needed hormones. Spay or Neuter will eliminate many behavioral influences, such as possible roaming in the male or false pregnancies in the female and will help prevent possible health problems in older dogs like testicular cancer or ovarian cancer.

"FIELD" or "SHOW" BREEDING?

BRITTANYS ARE ABOVE ALL "DUAL" QUALITY DOGS. Brittanys have more Dual Champions (dogs which are Champions in field trials and bench show competition) than all Sporting breeds combined. Most Brittanys have a mild to strong hunting instinct. Some dogs need more training than others to develop their instinct, but no matter where you get your Britt from, chances are you should be able to make it into at least an average hunter.

IF YOUR PRIMARY INTEREST IS A HUNTING DOG, it would be best to find a breeder who tries to maintain a "dual quality" line by proving their dogs' abilities in field and show, and taking advantage of other "dual quality" lines to better their own.  It is important to meet the dog's parents or other close relatives, or talk to several people who have relatives if it's not possible to meet some. This should give you some idea of the temperament the dog may develop, as temperament does run in the line and is heritable. Look at the dog's pedigree and ask the breeder if there are dogs in the puppy's immediate background (not more than 3 or 4 generations back) from both field and show stock. Most Brittanys are from Dual backgrounds. Remember that the parents and grandparents are the most influential on the puppy's outcome. You should look for a pedigree with DCh. (Dual Champion), FCh. (Field Champion), and Ch. (Show Champion) combined, or, with dogs with "points" towards these titles. Look for hunting test titles JH, SH, and MH (Junior, Senior, and Master Hunter), which are more hunter's companion titles. Also ask the dog's breeder if the dog's parents or grandparents (or other close relations) are successful hunting companions. Be sure the parents, and preferably grandparents as well, are clear of genetic defects such as hip dysplasia and epilepsy. Require OFA or PennHIP certification for good hips on at least the parents. Ask if the breeder will offer help if you have any problems with the dog, or take it back if you ever need to find it a new home (responsible breeders will offer both these before you ask!). It is important to choose a breeder who is open and helpful with you, and who obtains genetic clearances/certifications consistently on ALL of their breeding stock.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A FAMILY PET & POSSIBLE HUNTING COMPANION, a rescue dog is a wonderful possibility. Although we often don't know anything about the rescued Brittany's background, there are few health and temperament problems in our breed. The rescued dog's foster family will have evaluated the dog and have a good idea of what type of home he needs and will do well in. Rescue dogs are placed as companions and we do not guarantee hunting ability, but several or our rescued Britts have indeed gone on to be faithful hunting companions in addition to treasured family members.

COMPETITION

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE MANY ACTIVITIES in which the Brittany is able to compete, be sure to discuss this with the breeder or rescue volunteer of the dog you plan to get, or talk to other people involved in that aspect.  There are many people in our breed who are willing to help newcomers get started. Any rescued Brittany can become eligible to participate in any activity except dog shows and field trials. The most common activities Brittanys often compete in are:

    * Field Trials (for the finished field dog or promising youngster)

    * Dog Shows (to find the dog that is structurally closest to the AKC's Standard of perfection) 

    * Hunting Tests (for hunting companions of all levels of ability) 

    * Obedience Trials (for the obedience trained dog) 

    * Tracking Tests (for tracking certified dogs who can follow a scent on the ground) Search and Rescue Dogs like one of my Dogs in Colorado - Tucker

    * Agility Trials (for dogs trained to go over, under, and through obstacles on a course) 

    * Junior Showmanship (for kids 10-18 with any breed dog - show handling judged, not dog) 

IF YOU GO TO AN EVENT in your area, many breeders/exhibitors will be able to help you get started with your Brittany in any of these areas.  Again, these are "DUAL DOGS" and many show exhibitors also hunt and compete in other activities with their Britts, so ask around.