Stop me!

[ponyparty]

Someone I know has a litter of Brittanys available. I’ve always admired the breed. I’m not sure it would be altogether sensible to get one though. Somebody stop me

 

[AmyMay]

You’re asking entirely the wrong crowd!!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

As Amymay says, you’re asking the wrong people! You NEED one (actually, two!)

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Lovely dogs, have two friends doing agility with theirs.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Lifes too short… get the dog

 

[AmyMay]

An ex member on here has one. She absolutely adores him. She does (I think) canicross with him.

 

[ponyparty]

They’re cracking dogs. I met them at Crufts years ago and was absolutely smitten.

You lot are enablers I’m going to have a long hard think about it while I’m on holiday (in Tenerife at the moment).

I have been considering a second dog for absolutely ages. Wanted a rescue but with a young child and another dog it’s practically impossible to find anything suitable.

My only concern is that I’d have to make alternative arrangements for when I’m in the office - my mum wouldn’t have 2 for me, she’s got a very elderly Maltese so it wouldn’t be fair on her. And as I’ve recently started a new job I’m in the office a fair bit at the moment. So it’s not brilliant timing. And actually I worry about whether my dog will accept a new puppy.

But I so want one and they’re fab breeders, her husband has written a book about the breed which they provide a copy of with every pup, I know I would have a lot of support from them if I needed it. It’ll be their last litter so I kind of feel like it’s now or never!

 

[AmyMay]

Mucho high energy…

 

[misst]

Just googled them - lovely looking dogs - I think you should get one

 

[Jenko109]

From what you have said, it sounds like now is perhaps not the right time.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

They’re cracking dogs. I met them at Crufts years ago and was absolutely smitten.

You lot are enablers I’m going to have a long hard think about it while I’m on holiday (in Tenerife at the moment).

I have been considering a second dog for absolutely ages. Wanted a rescue but with a young child and another dog it’s practically impossible to find anything suitable.

My only concern is that I’d have to make alternative arrangements for when I’m in the office - my mum wouldn’t have 2 for me, she’s got a very elderly Maltese so it wouldn’t be fair on her. And as I’ve recently started a new job I’m in the office a fair bit at the moment. So it’s not brilliant timing. And actually I worry about whether my dog will accept a new puppy.

But I so want one and they’re fab breeders, her husband has written a book about the breed which they provide a copy of with every pup, I know I would have a lot of support from them if I needed it. It’ll be their last litter so I kind of feel like it’s now or never!

I’m going to imagine they’re similar to springers? Get a puppy! Can you take some annual leave for the first couple of weeks he/she would be home? There’s always ways and means. We were very stuck when we first got the boys, Aunty B wasn’t in a fit state, she’d always just had the older boys if we were both working. Fortunately, a mate stepped up til we found a walker/home visits started. Go on, do it!

Is the weather nice in Tenerife? Ve just been for a walk in the p!ssing rain, we’re all soaked!

 

[EllieBeast]

They’re a fabulous breed but certainly not for the faint hearted!

Of all the Hunt Point Retrieve (HPR) breeds (who are all very clever and can be complex to train due to the multiple aspects to the job they were bred to do), these guys are seen as one of the most challenging due to their incredibly high hunting drive. They can be hard headed to train too.

They will 100% need a job to do- be it gundog work, agility etc. If you’re willing to put the time and work in, they are often fabulous family dogs.

I’ve met a few through various HPR training clubs, they’re awesome, just need to have their very clever brains kept busy

 

[druid]

Huge drive and they basically have to think everything was their idea in training, they have a huge sense of "fairness" according to the old HPR guys. They're goregous but not an easy breed and definitely need a job

 

[ponyparty]

High energy is fine by me, as long as they’re able to switch off in the house. Would definitely have to do something like agility - there’s a club very local to me.

I’d like to think I could handle the challenge of the breed, with support and advice from the breeder. I mean, I’ve got a Manchester Terrier which I wouldn’t class as a particularly easy dog! Very different breeds though, I appreciate.

But yeah it isn’t amazing timing-wise. Trying to be sensible... My heart is fighting my head, big time

I shall continue to ponder this week while I’m away. It’s a bit cloudy and overcast today but I’m glad of it, i can only do so much lazing around poolside before I get bored. It’s my son’s first holiday abroad and he’s absolutely loving it

 

[FinnishLapphund]

High energy is fine by me, as long as they’re able to switch off in the house. Would definitely have to do something like agility - there’s a club very local to me.

I’d like to think I could handle the challenge of the breed, with support and advice from the breeder. I mean, I’ve got a Manchester Terrier which I wouldn’t class as a particularly easy dog! Very different breeds though, I appreciate.

But yeah it isn’t amazing timing-wise. Trying to be sensible... My heart is fighting my head, big time

I shall continue to ponder this week while I’m away. It’s a bit cloudy and overcast today but I’m glad of it, i can only do so much lazing around poolside before I get bored. It’s my son’s first holiday abroad and he’s absolutely loving it

1) Is it likely that you'll ever come across another Brittany puppy bred by a couple so experienced with the breed that one of them have written a breed book about the breed?

2) When is anything completely perfect? Isn't there usually something on the negative side that you need to work around?

3) If you worry what your Manchester Terrier might think about a puppy moving in, would it be possible to perhaps find a doggy daycare spot for the puppy near the route to leaving your Manchester Terrier with your mum + her elderly Maltese when you go to/from work? That way your Manchester Terrier would get some hours away from the pup to relax.

 

[Moobli]

There’s never really a right time to get another dog. You can make it work if you really want one

 

[Above the snowline]

Only if you have enough time for at least the next 2 years. If in doubt do nought. Good idea to keep in touch with the breeder- some of the puppies may have puppies in the future. How old is your terrier?

 

[EllieBeast]

High energy is fine by me, as long as they’re able to switch off in the house. Would definitely have to do something like agility - there’s a club very local to me.

I’d like to think I could handle the challenge of the breed, with support and advice from the breeder. I mean, I’ve got a Manchester Terrier which I wouldn’t class as a particularly easy dog! Very different breeds though, I appreciate.

But yeah it isn’t amazing timing-wise. Trying to be sensible... My heart is fighting my head, big time

I shall continue to ponder this week while I’m away. It’s a bit cloudy and overcast today but I’m glad of it, i can only do so much lazing around poolside before I get bored. It’s my son’s first holiday abroad and he’s absolutely loving it

If you do go ahead, I definitely recommend going to HPR specific training- even if you don’t plan to work him/her in a conventional, gundog sense- you’d be amazed how much better you’ll understand their thought processes by seeing and training them in the environment they were bred for

If you let me know your vague area, I may be able to recommend some helpful HPR clubs. Although the breeder sounds like a fountain of knowledge anyway.

 

[Ratface]

As Amymay says, you’re asking the wrong people! You NEED one (actually, two!)

Definitely, two. Company for each other and double fun (and trouble!) for you.
Off you go!

 

[druid]

Ask the breeder realistically if they think one of their dogs would fit into your lifestyle? Manchesters are a cake walk compared to a working bred Brit in terms of brains and training.

 

[Clodagh]

Think how much it’s going to cost you to have to pay for day care every day while you are at work.

 

[ponyparty]

Ask the breeder realistically if they think one of their dogs would fit into your lifestyle? Manchesters are a cake walk compared to a working bred Brit in terms of brains and training.

I think, if I’m still giving it serious consideration by the time I get back from hol, I will have a good old chat to her and see what she reckons.

 

[ponyparty]

If you do go ahead, I definitely recommend going to HPR specific training- even if you don’t plan to work him/her in a conventional, gundog sense- you’d be amazed how much better you’ll understand their thought processes by seeing and training them in the environment they were bred for

If you let me know your vague area, I may be able to recommend some helpful HPR clubs. Although the breeder sounds like a fountain of knowledge anyway.

That’s a good idea! I’m in Worcestershire…

 

[ponyparty]

Think how much it’s going to cost you to have to pay for day care every day while you are at work.

Well. Yes… but I only HAVE to go in twice a week, really. And it would be so worth it.

 

[Clodagh]

Well. Yes… but I only HAVE to go in twice a week, really. And it would be so worth it.

Look, I have 5 dogs and one, possibly two on order. So fill yer boots! No more going to Tenerife though, kennels cost more than a hotel

 

[SkylarkAscending]

DONT DO IT PP You’ve just started a new job, Frank would hate a puppy being around (particularly a spaniel), Brittany’s are like Tigger on speed and would not be settled & quiet at home - just remember George, and he was a walk in the park compared to a Brittany

Oh and we both know that whilst they SAY you only “have” to go in 2 days a week that is depending on business needs, and they can require you to be in the office 5 days a week if the job needs it (depending on how they’ve written your contract obviously )

 

[ponyparty]

DONT DO IT PP You’ve just started a new job, Frank would hate a puppy being around (particularly a spaniel), Brittany’s are like Tigger on speed and would not be settled & quiet at home - just remember George, and he was a walk in the park compared to a Brittany

Oh and we both know that whilst they SAY you only “have” to go in 2 days a week that is depending on business needs, and they can require you to be in the office 5 days a week if the job needs it (depending on how they’ve written your contract obviously )

Frank would just have to darned well get used to it. He will have to at some point, as I am definitely getting a second dog… one day. But you’re probably right. It is appallingly bad timing. Wahh

And yes, they can ask me to go in 5 days as per my contract; I’d just go and work elsewhere though I’m never doing 5 days a week in the office again!

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

We had a brittany type rescue when I was a kid. They're really friendly dogs (we used to joke that there was no risk of her ever hurting us children because she had no teeth left!) but this particular one was a handful, not helped by an inexperienced family and an unknown past. She famously ate a whole buffet spread minutes before a dinner party, caught a sparrow mid-flight whilst she was on a lead and swallowed it whole in front of my eyes (see the no teeth part), had an oops littler conceived whilst she was chained in a walled garden (we forgot that the male could also jump in) and was never toilet-trained. She was a skilled escape artist. She was chained because she could pull herself over the (tall) wall using a tree branch. She would sit next to the electric fence electrifier and listen to the clicks to time dashing through the six strands of electric tape. Once her puppies were born, we made them all pen with shed to live in, and it turned into an arms race to keep her in, and even then, it never completely kept her in (I suspect she may have used one of her offspring as a springboard).
She was also friendly to people and dogs, put up with anything we did to her (think dressing up) and tough as old boots. She lived to an estimated 19 years.
I'd actually love another Brittany one day, now I've got more dog experience and if I can ever afford to turn my garden into fort Knox.
Just so you're warned!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Someone I know has a litter of Brittanys available. I’ve always admired the breed. I’m not sure it would be altogether sensible to get one though. Somebody stop me

No

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

All I want to say is everyone tells me springers are bonkers and need loads of exercise/stimulation. I am currently not in a position to offer lots of exercise and at 19 months, my 2 working bred ran round the enclosed woods today then reconvened at the exit, shattered. They then snoozed all afternoon and are currently sound asleep on various beds. They get used to your routine.

The naughty one was Bear, pet bred, soon to be 13, who disappeared for 10 minutes and returned totally worn out. Youngsters were in view the whole time. Get them in a routine and they will respond.