wanting a Brittany

[jetjockey]

Have you found a difference between male and female?

Females tend to mature a little faster, but other than that there isn't any difference.  You can't tell one from the other in the field.

Springerfan.  I've never seen a wild bird you had to kick for them to fly.  It can happen on released birds, but I've seen sprinters bring released birds back to hand because the bird wouldn't flush.  Different strokes for different folks.  I hunt over 4-12 different field bred, and champion springers for pheasants every year.  Awesome dogs, but I'd take a pointing dog 90% of the time.  For me watching a pointing dog nail a bird is a lot more enjoyable than watching flushing dogs.  And in head to head hunts, we shoot just as many pheasants over my one Brit than we do over braces of springers that get swapped out to remain fresh.  However, in corn or clean milo (fields with good rows to run down) a springers are money and hard to beat.

[KFhunter]

By putting too much pressure on a dog and having it shut down.  Being too "hard" on a dog rather than letting them figure things out for themselves.  Brits are very smart and love to please.  If you whack a Brit when they screw up you probably wont get the same response that youd get if you whack a Pointer or GSP.  They often take it in stride and don't care.  In most cases, you can put more pressure on a GSP, Pointer, and even Setters.  But typically you don't need to put the same pressure on a Brit to achieve the same results.

listen to what he says, I was used to training labs and I took that and applied it to a Britt.  Wow what a difference!

With a lab you can apply a whole lot more pressure and they just won't quit, with a Britt they like - "this ain't no fun anymore, I'm gonna roll over and show you my belly"

Wtih Britts, you gotta keep em having fun...they almost too smart for their own good

[Hermit]

I just got a Brittney. Be hunting with him next week to see how he does. I've been hunting with a asian retrever the last couple years. Be different hunting with a trained pointer....... Course I'll have the asian retrever along too.

[halfpipe88]

True, watching a dog pin down a bird and have the control to wait for you is a sight to watch. It makes harvesting a bird just a small part of the hunt. Watching the dog work is the real excitement.

[GrousePointer]

Damn Pointers, I don't know how these old guys (yes, one of them is the late Bob Wehle) can keep up on foot let alone see the dog work...

Elhew Dog

I know of guys who run flushers at the edge or beyond of what is considered acceptable. Their mindset is "shut up and keep up" and they shoot a lot of birds over their dogs.

It's all in how you train them to handle and wish to hunt.

[Maligator]

Watching the dog work is the real excitement.

I totally agree, being outdoors is great but being outdoors with my dog and watching him have a great time is even more enjoyable!!!!!

[SpringerFan]

Watching the dog work is the real excitement.

I totally agree, being outdoors is great but being outdoors with my dog and watching him have a great time is even more enjoyable!!!!!

Agreed.......I have more fun watching dogs work. They just love it.

[Birddogman]

Dave walker dogs at one time were some nice pure bred Brittanys, but a lot of controversy has come up in regards to his breeding practices.  You may pay for a brittany, but you may get some pointer, or Settter as a direct sire.  As someone said before there are some nice breeders in enumclaw, wa. named Clem and maryilynne Little.  They have had many many nice dogs (national champions and the most winning-est Bitch of the breed NFC/DC Shady's Tia Maria).  They are active in the WA britt club still and have a line on who is breeding nice dogs.  Another guy is Jim House out of St. helens, OR., he has had a national champion as well and several national caliber dogs.  He is still breeding and you can contact him through the Oregon Brittany club.  Both parties will produce the best Field trial and hunting caliber dog you could find locally.  Very few breeders in WA and OR are producing above average hunting dogs, but charge like they are.  My advice is look outside of the west coast and convince yourself that it is worth it to buy out of state.  NFC/NAFC Peter Gunn has produced nice puppies, Jim John Kennels has some links to Tequila Joker stuff and that is really nice stuff to get involved in.  Call Paul Dorine in CA. (brittany Pro) and you may see if he has anything out of Tequila Smoker or Ed Tillson (tequila kennels) who owned Joker and see if he has pups down.  If you are going to pay the price for a good dog, then look around.  What you get with a good dog is a proven bloodlines, good genetics, health, stamina, bird sense and an aptitude that will make training and and hunting more enjoyable for everyone.  When it was all said and done my pup was $1200,  $800 for the pup and $350 to ship plus crate and health cert.  This dog is out of DC Hi Proof Whisky and a bitch out of DC/AFC The Whiz kid (the Little's dog).  Worth the money considering you will pay $800 for a pup locally you wont get anything out of.  my 

A lot will say that isn't true and that you can make your dog into something, but why spend that time.  I bought a pup and when he was 8 weeks and I flipped that wing for him, he stuck it and held.  He hunted cotton tails, chased robins and ripped around.  good foundation for hunting and I didn't have to teach him it.  I cultivated his given instincts and it works.

Good luck and PM me if you have questions or want some contacts.

[jetjockey]

I agree with birdogman 95%.  Don't get too hung up on the "rumors" of breeding practices though.  There have been "rumors" of almost all the winning dogs, including the Littles.  That's the problem with making "dual champions" so important in a breed.  The people who have show dogs like to start rumors because the show dogs typically can't compete with the trial dogs in the field.  That's one of the reasons many of the show people don't like when the trial Pros show up at their trials......  As far as different lines of Brits are concerned, I've seen most of the lines run that birrdogman is speaking about.   I don't agree with him about all the dogs mentioned, but for the most part, we are on the same page.  If you really want a well bred Brit, look outside the PNW to open up your options.....  Btw.. Tia Maria is no longer the winningest one hour female in breed history. 

[FamilyMan01]

halfpipe88........

Take a look at Wind Mountain Brittanys.  I purchased a terrific dog from them (Connie Strom) last March and am ecstatic over how "birdy" and trainable the pup has been.  I visited with Connie and her dogs before I purchased my pup and was very pleased with her respect and integrity for the breed. 

Feel free to PM me if you want any more info or pictures.

[wally hartwell]

I live in eastern WA and have britts if you would like to check out there dispisotions and maby go for a hunt with us I dont think you would want any other dog

[Happy Gilmore]

Huh, i stepped on about three wild roosters on the Indian res in SoDak. My Chessie also pointed quite a few birds for 10 seconds. About what is required to qualify a pointing lab in the apla. Lol

[Birddogman]

I am curious....who is the winningest female Britt?

Anyways, there are some local dogs that could work out for your needs.  First thing to do is write down what you want out of a dog, color, trainability (look at parents), natural pointing instinct, and size to list a few.  Visit breeders. If they don't want to show off their dog(s), don't buy from them!  A breeder should be proud of what they are putting out and looking to better the breed, not make a buck if they can make two Britts hump!  A lot of people that "don't' care" about pedigree tend to just be out to make up a buck.....  
Jetjocky is right, the show people are in another world and tend to keep the show Britt in a box......the standard and any deviation is a horrible mistake....*censored*.
I have seen in standard britts hunt and run like hell as well as 50lb Britts.

My best advice is put down what is important to you and stick with it because opinions are like *censored*s....everyone has one.

[jetjockey]

Birdogman..  Tequila with a twist is now the winningest 1hr female in breed history. Shes also accumulated more Purina AA points than any female in history.