Brittany Spaniel...

It really depends on the dog.
I have a male i cant have around a unaltered male, even after he got fixed. And he will try to mark any where we go that's new
I have a female in heat right now and you wouldn't know it unless you really watch her. (Keeps herself very clean)
Another female i have will bleed all-over without a care in the world.

I've heard of some females can cause more fights that males but from my personal experiences is usually males causing issues with other males. Females might go at it once and figure out the pecking order. The males keep going at it to be the head dog
 
Hey Ice_man I second the sunburst Brittany’s in Ontario Or! They have some great dogs, they cross french Brittany’s and American Brittany’s to get their own hybred. They are great dogs and Gabe uses them alot! Very proven genetics.
I just got a Brittany pup last December. Previously I had a GWP and a Brittany when I was in high school. This Brittany was very mouthy as a pup we have corrected him hundreds of times but he still likes to put his mouth on things, especially your hand. He’s not aggressive in biting just likes to taste everything, I would say it has gotten better since he has been getting his permenant teeth. He’s almost 8 months now and has calmed down quite a bit. But the 3-5 months stage he was crazy, similar to what you think of with a GSP. He has calmed down a lot though and is getting to where he enjoyable to be with and can be trusted with smaller kids (he liked to jump on the small ones and little kids just can’t correct that like older kids and adults).
Also I forgot how much Brittany’s like to roll and eat poop!!💩 we live on 5 acres with chickens goats, 4h sheep and horses. He is always eating or rolling in poop. That can be managed though, I just haven’t got a perimeter collar up to separate him from the rest of the property.

With all this being said I like him very much!! There was a month or 2 that I thought I was going to go crazy or that my wife was going to give me an ultimatum, but he is definitely maturing and is going to be a great companion! He is always carrying something in his mouth, which I take as a good sign of retrieving. Some American Brittany’s aren’t great retrievers. Plus he jumped in the canal yesterday my last Brittany did not like water. My recommendation is do your research. There should be a lot of Brittany’s close to you, find someone who does the hunting you do and go with them. I got mine from a guy who sold my friend a pup. They are field trial dogs, but mine isn’t running crazy far. Maybe he will but I go to the breeders to help me with bird introduction, gun introduction ect. It has been a great relationship cause he wants his pups to succeed. I will never trial my dog, but I plan on getting out a lot this fall/winter on chuckar! Good luck on your Brittany journey!!
What the heck is it with the poop rolling?! Can't even count how many times ours has ridden home under the tonneau cover in the bed of the truck after finding a pile of fresh crap 😂
 
Anybody have a preference on male or female? Any reason why? I can imagine it’s a pretty personal choice. I also think sometimes you can have a personality and/or hunting drive difference. I go back and forth quite a bit.
I have a strong preference for male dogs as well. With current research showing the negative effects of neutering/spaying, no interest in dealing with a female and her cycle.
 
Anybody have a preference on male or female? Any reason why? I can imagine it’s a pretty personal choice. I also think sometimes you can have a personality and/or hunting drive difference. I go back and forth quite a bit.

I have both (setters) heat isn’t a big deal and I like puppies from time to time. It’s dog to dog personality wise, males I’ve had are more lovey than my females which tend to be a bit more independent.
 
I'm looking to get my first bird dog/pup. I grew up with GSP and labs my whole childhood and loved hunting behind them as upland game dogs. With getting a new pup I want to transition from doing less waterfowl and focusing a little more upland game. I've looked into a GSP but am highly considering getting a Brittany. I also do want a pointing breed. Nothing more nostalgic or beautiful than a good point on upland game.
I know GSP I may get a dog that hunts a little harder but have a more energetic dog at home. With Brittany's my understanding is they can be more mellow at home but maybe don't have the natural drive of a GSP.
This will more than likely be an indoor dog as well. Having a smaller frame Brittany is also a plus. Since hunting season is mostly September-January it will be a family pup half the year and hunting dog during the fall months. So I'm looking for a dog/breed that transitions well.
Am I off my rocker with wanting a Brittany?
Also, if you do have a Brittany I would love to see some in the field photos!
Thanks!
Sorry this response is six months after the question. Your handle is ice-man. Brits generally handle the cold better than the GSP. Energy levels are determined, generally, by selective breeding. My Brits are out of Hall-of-Fame field trial stock. They are energetic and run big. I’ve hunt with other Brits from stock selectively bred for close work. Bidablity, is often a function of the breeder’s effort to socialize the pups. My first pup came from a back-yard breeder who really did not know what he was doing. She was good with the family, but the only way anyone else could get close to her was if they had a shotgun in hand and she thought they were taking her hunting (not good when you live 13 miles from town at the end of the power line and the only way the dog lets you in is if you are carrying a gun). My other five Brits came from a breeder who gave them much love from day one. They are affectionate to the point of being obnoxious.

You asked for photos of dogs in the field. Here are a couple. In one, there is three feet of snow pack under the dogs and they are pointing a snow-roosted grouse. The other shows them pointing a woodcock. And finally, one showing my granddaughter with her first bird (woodcock) shot over a point.

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I have a strong preference for male dogs as well. With current research showing the negative effects of neutering/spaying, no interest in dealing with a female and her cycle.
What current research are you talking about? I know vets who own female sporting dogs and all of them say you should spayed them if you aren't going to breed them. Certain cancer risks go way up in females that go through many heat cycles and are not breed.

The key is to spayed them later in life then the humane society says. No way should you spayed them at 6 months. You should wait closer to 2 years old and they are completely done growing and had a cycle or two.
 
What current research are you talking about? I know vets who own female sporting dogs and all of them say you should spayed them if you aren't going to breed them. Certain cancer risks go way up in females that go through many heat cycles and are not breed.

The key is to spayed them later in life then the humane society says. No way should you spayed them at 6 months. You should wait closer to 2 years old and they are completely done growing and had a cycle or two.
In addition to the strong relationship between joint/bone/ligament strength that's fortunately become more mainstream, removing the organs that produce estrogen/testosterone from a mammal slows metabolism, blunts hypertrophic response to training, decreases energy etc.

Google "Disruption of hormones due to spaying and neutering"

FWIW, vets learn in the same dogmatic environment that MDs do, where a massive % of current norms are actually improper/harmful. Just look at how many offer titer tests prior to vaccine boosters, hate on raw food and recommend kibble, or still chop nuts at 6 months.
 
Having male dogs i will never neuter unless medically have to.

The raw vs kibble debate in certain instances for dogs with food problems i can see raw having benefits but on average in my world of retrievers it has shown not to be better or worse.
 
Having male dogs i will never neuter unless medically have to.

The raw vs kibble debate in certain instances for dogs with food problems i can see raw having benefits but on average in my world of retrievers it has shown not to be better or worse.
Without de-railing the thread into a raw vs. kibble, or intact vs. neuter debate, papers like this are a good read for owners who may not see immediate results in raw vs kibble. Macronutrient profile only tells us so much...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-98066-0

Dozens of papers with the same findings available online, most kibble is full of toxins. Most of those toxins are carcinogens.

Some of the newer freeze dried natural kibble looks interesting, but I like knowing exactly what is going into my dogs bowl.
 
Without de-railing the thread into a raw vs. kibble, or intact vs. neuter debate, papers like this are a good read for owners who may not see immediate results in raw vs kibble. Macronutrient profile only tells us so much...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-98066-0

Dozens of papers with the same findings available online, most kibble is full of toxins. Most of those toxins are carcinogens.

Some of the newer freeze dried natural kibble looks interesting, but I like knowing exactly what is going into my dogs bowl.
I didnt see where they listed what food was tested that would be interesting. Also the fact its all chinese imported food really has no bearing on the quality food made here in the USA.

When i see 12 year old labs running all age stakes they must be doing something right with their health and nutrition is my view point.
 
I didnt see where they listed what food was tested that would be interesting. Also the fact its all chinese imported food really has no bearing on the quality food made here in the USA.

When i see 12 year old labs running all age stakes they must be doing something right with their health and nutrition is my view point.

There are studies done all over the world, largest one was in Brazil. Not a good look if US companies (32 of them in the study I linked) are sending poison to other countries, and I highly doubt they keep "the good stuff" for domestic sale.

Nutrition is just one component of longevity, along with fitness, genetics, etc. If I can control the quality of all of those...why wouldn't I?
 
There are studies done all over the world, largest one was in Brazil. Not a good look if US companies (32 of them in the study I linked) are sending poison to other countries, and I highly doubt they keep "the good stuff" for domestic sale.

Nutrition is just one component of longevity, along with fitness, genetics, etc. If I can control the quality of all of those...why wouldn't I?
Doesnt name the 32 though. If they are testing ol roy , iams, science diet and blue buffalo makes a difference vs kinetic, inukshuk and pro plan.

Are you gaining anything from that control that is measurable I would rather spend time training, trialing and hunting vs mixing up the raw food. Im not against it I just have not seen enough proof of it being any better by any measurable metric when compared to the quality dry food.

You know what they say get two dog trainers together and the only thing they can agree on is the other one is doing it wrong haha.

These are the kind of conversations I like having at tests I dont always have to agree but most the time I can learn something
 
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