French brittany breeder

[ungrounded]

I'm new to bird hunting and am currently looking for a for a bird dog.  I was wanting a recommendation for a good breeder.
Thanks

[Birddogman]

Where do you live?  If you are in WA.  Goldy Coates has links to French Britts.  You can reach her through Lennie Gedsell who is the WA Brittany Club VP (i think).  She lives south in Olympia area I think.

Just curious.....why French Britts?

[wildweeds]

My vet has a couple french britts,he got them both from the midwest.The youngest one he has is about 4 months old.He's a Bham guy.

[ungrounded]

Was looking for a easy smaller dog to train, but I'm still open to suggestions...

I think that I'll be doing most of my hunting at the pheasant release site in ferndale, but might do so duck hunting as well. 

[wildweeds]

My computer skills suck but I've got pictures of dogs that are 18 months old that hunt and handle good enough for a first timer,ray charles could shoot birds over them.They point steady and for the amount of times I've worked them are really good dogs allready,better than some I have owned at 4 years old.Ducks would be scratched from the list though as they are setters.Nothing against brittianys but if combo hunting is your thing a German wirehaired pointer is going to be your best bet IMO.

[Stilly bay]

Ducks would be scratched from the list though as they are setters.Nothing against brittianys but if combo hunting is your thing a German wirehaired pointer is going to be your best bet IMO.

 
 setters arent the strongest retrievers but they will retrieve. My Gordon will out retrieve my labs in the yard. last season he made couple across river retrieves for ducks and pheasants both. my new recruit english setter is proving to be a decent ( for a setter) retriever as well.

french britts are really cool dogs but for a newbie to bird dogs I would recommend a GSP or a GWP from NSTRA lines.

[jetjockey]

I would agree that if your going to be hunting a lot of ducks then they GWP is probably a better choice.  I also prefer the American Brits over the French Brits as well.  They are typically slightly bigger and run a little more, which IMO is a good thing.  There's also a bunch of them out there that duck hunt as well, but a GWP is a better duck dog typically.   I have yet to be impressed with GWP's in the upland fields however, and I've hunted over, and seen a fair amount run.  Any breed you chose will be a compromise somewhere.

[AspenBud]

If you go the GWP route, inquire about sharpness with breeders you are looking at. Some like fur more than others.

Other good breeds to check out that would make good duck/upland pointers...

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Spinone Italiano

[skinzner]

Another breed to think about is the Pudelpointer.

http://cedarwoodgundogs.com/

[AspenBud]

Another breed to think about is the Pudelpointer.

http://cedarwoodgundogs.com/

I forgot about them. Another good choice.

[Happy Gilmore]

The French Brits' I've been around are kind of spooky/weird dogs.

[Birddogman]

GWP...not a mid range pointing breed.  Big dog.  I have know several GWPs to kick some major ass in FTs.  Good for upland and better than average in the water.  If you went for one of Weeds Setters you will be impressed.  Nice dogs and weeds stands behind his dogs.  If you go the Brittany route I would stick with the american lines.  One you find better genetics (locally) and two you will pay less and get a better dog.  They have a stronger retrieve, but I would look at the parents.  Jim House in OR. competed in pointer trials where retrieve was part of the completion of the event (a "Call back" to retrieve).  He finished MANY brittanys Field Champs and many Master hunters (MH requires retrieve).  If you want a good Britt, call him. 

Poodlepointer....that sounds like a high priced mutt (JMO).  If you want a pointer, buy a pointer.

[wildweeds]

Thanks for the gracious comment birddogman,the kids are grinning.Holding out for the right female to breed definately paid off.

GWP...not a mid range pointing breed.  Big dog.  I have know several GWPs to kick some major ass in FTs.  Good for upland and better than average in the water.  If you went for one of Weeds Setters you will be impressed.  Nice dogs and weeds stands behind his dogs.  If you go the Brittany route I would stick with the american lines.  One you find better genetics (locally) and two you will pay less and get a better dog.  They have a stronger retrieve, but I would look at the parents.  Jim House in OR. competed in pointer trials where retrieve was part of the completion of the event (a "Call back" to retrieve).  He finished MANY brittanys Field Champs and many Master hunters (MH requires retrieve).  If you want a good Britt, call him. 

Poodlepointer....that sounds like a high priced mutt (JMO).  If you want a pointer, buy a pointer.

[jimmy z]

My French britt is an awesome dog. My first bird dog! Easy to train, very smart, came out of Willamette valley ore in Eugene. Stock From the bend britts from Goldy Coats. He is 18 months, I've been shooting birds over him for a year. And he is a fetching machine.

[ungrounded]

Nice, I'm picking mine up tomorrow.