Brittany

Great balls of fire! Life with a Brittany is never dull. This breed is smart, active, agile and relatively easy to train. For an active home with room for an active companion, you can’t do much better than the Brittany, a moderately sized dog with relatively few health or temperament problems. This dog can hunt, if that’s what you’re into, but for most people, the appeal is that the Brittany is athletic, bright and people-oriented. If you want a dog that will do anything you want to do as long as it’s active, this is a great dog for you. His wash-and-wear coat can be kept in shape with a weekly brushing to keep shedding under control, and he's typically friendly with other dogs, cats and children. But make no mistake: this is not a couch-potato puppy: The Brittany is a canine overachiever and needs daily, heart-thumping exercise to keep his high spirits from bounding off. Don't get a Brittany if you're not going to make him a part of your family, or if you're not going to give him mentally and physically challenging activities. That work doesn't need to be hunting, although the Brittany does remain very popular among people who value a good bird dog. The Brittany does well in all kinds of canine sports, including agility, flyball and obedience and will be an active participant in any human-centered activity as well, from running and hiking to playing fetch with the kids. When we say you need to keep your Brittany busy, we’re not just thinking of the dog but of you. Left to his own devices and without sufficient exercise, the Brittany can become destructive and noisy instead of the happy family dog he was meant to be. The Brittany personality ranges from mellow to active, soft to stubborn. Temperament can vary by gender. Neutered males have a reputation for being calmer and sweeter than females, but of course every dog is an individual. But all Brittanies love their family and seek attention from them at every opportunity. As a family dog, the Brittany is friendly, playful and affectionate. He loves kids and is protective of them. Unlike many Sporting dogs, he is wary of strangers, so he’s an excellent watchdog. The intelligent Brittany is willing to please, making him easy to train. He picks up hunting skills at an early age, and between hunting seasons he doesn’t forget what he has learned. Brittanies have a strong prey drive, but they can learn to get along with cats if they are raised with them. Pet birds or other small critters might not be so fortunate. The perfect Brittany doesn’t come ready-made from the breeder. Any dog, no matter how nice, can develop obnoxious levels of barking, digging and other undesirable behaviors if he is bored, untrained or unsupervised. And any dog can be a trial to live with during adolescence. In the case of the Brittany, the “teen” years can start at six months and continue until the dog is about 18 months old. Fortunately, Brittanies are sensitive, smart and want only to please. That gives you a head start in training them, especially if you start early. Start training your puppy the day you bring him home. Even at eight weeks old, he is capable of soaking up everything you can teach him. Don’t wait until he is 6 months old to begin training or you will have a more headstrong dog to deal with. If possible, get him into puppy kindergarten class by the time he is 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize. However, be aware that many puppy training classes require certain vaccines (like kennel cough) to be up to date, and many veterinarians recommend limited exposure to other dogs and public places until puppy vaccines (including rabies, distemper and parvovirus) have been completed. In lieu of formal training, you can begin training your puppy at home and socializing him among family and friends until puppy vaccines are completed. Talk to the breeder, describe exactly what you’re looking for in a dog, and ask for assistance in selecting a puppy.