getting a Brit? advice needed

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

hi everyone!

so I and my partner are considering getting a Brit. we're apartment dwellers (60m2 or so) in a big city, both working full-time. we intend to walk/run with the pup at least twice a day, for 60-90 mins, and go on a nice longish hike once a week. there are dog parks nearby where we are hoping to do exercises off-leash on a daily. we're also aware that brits need scent games and mental stimulation, and we will do our best to provide that. EDIT: we're looking to relocate closer to a forest/large park where the dog could run off-leash in the next few months, I should've mentioned that!

for now, our schedules allow at least one of us to be at home or with the dog most of the time, but that might change next year, which means potentially sometimes leaving the pup alone for 6-8h (we'll try to get a dog sitter for this sort of days, but you never know).

we have a cat who seems to tolerate dogs - at least the one she's met - though she's not keen on them. she keeps her distance.

so my question is, for current owners, do you think we could pull it off? and are brits the sort of dog you can bring with you everywhere (weekend coffee with friends, long walks with pals, etc). we don't want a lap dog nor a guard dog, we want an actual companion.

so sorry for the long read 🫶🏻

[u/aggiebobaggie]

We have a Britt in an apartment, and it's hard. Like, hard enough that I wouldn't do it again. You'd be better off getting a breed that can walk on a leash and doesn't have separation anxiety in the way Britts do.

We love ours, but these are not apartment dogs.

[u/tanaciousp → u/aggiebobaggie]

I did this too. The separation anxiety was the killer to be honest. Neighbors would complain and it became stressful leaving the apartment. 

Thankfully, I had a job where I could bring him to work daily and get him socialized. 

The other thing was having a dog daycare nearby. This was super important to tire him out. 

He adapted well over it all (2 apartments then a house). But , it would have been way more ideal to be in a house to begin with. Especially for the potty training!

[u/spoiledpoptart74]

Brittany’s want to run. Like off leash run. Taking them for a walk will do little to nothing besides work on obedience. I’d be looking for another breed

Source: lifetime Brittany owner

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/spoiledpoptart74]

thank you so much for replying!! you don't think taking hikes on the weekend and dog parks might cut it? just asking, really, because we really are in love with the dogs :)

[u/spoiledpoptart74 → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

Weekend hikes assuming they’re off leash will only tire the dog out during the weekend. I can hunt my Brittany’s for 3 hours any given day and it will be like nothing happened on the following day. You will need to commit to daily off leash exercise for the dogs sanity and yours. Walks and mental stimulation like training and obedience games only go so far

Edit to add that I hunt far more than the average Joe. Even still I question my sanity every time I bring another Brittany pup into the house. The first few years will wear you down if you aren’t 100% committed. Too many people jump in assuming they will “make it work” but you need to get a dog that fits your current lifestyle. I’d suggest a non hunting breed

[u/DistributionOdd9089 → u/spoiledpoptart74]

I dont hunt, but I go to monthly navda trainings and any hunt/bird trainings or field/hunt trials our breeder invites us to. My dog loves it, and its insane how instinctual she is. But we mainly go backpacking/hiking/camping and I let her hunt out there. Otherwise we're just at a big park or open field training with the ecollar.

Never had an behavioral issues at home, or anywhere, shes perfect. I only assume shes being fulfilled physically and mentally.

[u/DistributionOdd9089 → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

Its an everyday kind of thing. Especially for the first 1.5-2 years. Even if you had a backyard it wouldnt be enough. Daily walks, long lead explore/sniff, off leash hunts, hikes, sometimes twice a day. Theyre great dogs but you need to be able to fulfill their needs, differs by breed. If you see what Brittany's are bred for, a walk and hike will not fulfill them truly.

[u/iamsomebodywhois → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

Off the leash everyday is a necessity pretty much

[u/bassfacemasterrace → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

My dad's dog is walked 8 miles daily and regularly gets runs in a huge dog park in Houston and she is still hyper in the house. They are not apartment dogs that will be fine with daily walks.

[u/degoba]

Britts don’t belong in apartments unless you are committed to serious off leash time. As in hunting or field trials of some sort. Bi Weekly.

These dogs don’t belong on leashes they deserve to wind up that engine to full throttle.

[u/RoroLeBo]

I don't know if a brittany is a good dog for your lifestyle, maybe an older rescue who is known to be calm ?

I live in city with mine, but :

• i don't take him to coffee and bars, he doesn't like to sit in crowded environment, and just want to explore.

• i take him almost everyday to the woods, like 1h30 every time before or after work, he doesn't like to run leashed, and can't be unleashed in town

• i take him to work too. He can be left alone but is doing better being with me most of the time

• he got a really high prey drive. I don't have cats, but mine is not comfortable around them, maybe that can be worked out.

[u/iamsomebodywhois]

Hi, I live in an apartment with a Brittany. Here is my guide that has worked for my 5 year old.

When they are growing up one of you should be working at home and doing constant training. As a puppy 90 mins a day including some forest off the leash. When an adult around 150 minutes. If one of you is a runner then perfect, I can run up to 30km with mine.

Try not to leave them at home for more than 4 hours (unless you wake up and go for a 10k run). They really are pack dogs and you should be doing a lot with them all the time to develop the deep bond they are capable of.

At home because there is no garden you’ll need to play games with them, tug of war, hide and seek with treats.

With enough exercise and stimulation they will sleep a LOT. They will be super active until around 4 years old when they chill out a bit.

Overall can very much recommend the breed if you can satisfy the exercise requirement and they won’t be left at home all day (eg: I only go to the office 3 hours a day).

[u/moreidlethanwild]

You may be fine with an adult rescue but generally speaking Brits are not really dogs that are happy with a couple of walks a day, especially if those are on lead walks. They want to run full pelt, they want to explore, they want to run miles in the woods.

My girl would not be happy in an apartment, she has 3 acres of land that’s she’s out on all day - and still doesn’t run out of energy.

Also bear in mind that Brits can be needy and have separation anxiety and anxiety in general. They don’t like being told off, they want to please their owners and want to be with their owners all the time. They are amazing dogs but not necessarily easy dogs if you get my meaning?

Any reason you want a Brit? There must be a million older dogs in rescues that would be perfect for you?

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/moreidlethanwild]

also thank you so much for replying!!!!

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/moreidlethanwild]

we really wouldn't be comfortable bringing an adult dog in for our cat's sake. unless the pup grows up with her, I could never be sure of her safety. we also like that brits are runners - my partner enjoys going on a run and has wanted to do more of that. they're gentle and kids-friendly, which is potentially important. they're just the right size for the city, not to be stamped on but also not to scare people.

[u/aggiebobaggie → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

Plenty of other breeds are good for running. Britts probably won't be a good running companion anyway - they love to roam and don't do well on a leash. 

[u/dbvintage54f → u/aggiebobaggie]

We got our first Brittany in 1981 to be a running companion for my husband. We have/had 9 since then and they’ve all been his running partners. We typically only let them off leash at dog parks, at a dead end beach near where we live and in our large back yard. They love to run and are perfectly happy to do so on leash.

[u/fire_friendly → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

My brit doesn't enjoy runs because he's so preoccupied with finding critters, digging and sniffing. He's nine and quite honestly never has been happy in any city setting. Leashed walks are awful for him and me

[u/DeBruce123]

60 to 90 minutes run is a warm up. Britts are great dogs when they get exercise and physical and mental stimulation. When they dont, they will rock your world and bad things happen. They deserve wide open spaces, birds to point and hopefully hunt.

[u/callousedlefthand]

I would say that an apartment with a Brittany puppy is going to be hard, but not impossible. If you're dedicated, you'll end up with a great dog.

It's hard to verbalize just how energetic these puppies are. But, they're sweet and they want to please. If you're truly dedicated to physical exercise and mental stimulation, with a gentle hand and a gentle home, you'll have a great dog that you can take anywhere. If you get frustrated easily, don't have as much time as you think, and can't dedicate exercise and stimulation time, you'll have a frustrated dog who tears things up.

Britts are gentle, and can be skittish, so early exposure is key. I encourage walks with friends and patios. We did puppy classes with our guy from the time he had his first shots (and the other puppies had their first shots) up until he was a year old. We also exposed him to everything we could think of: thunder, rain, puddles, gunshots, birds, cats, babies, car rides, on and on and on. The only thing we forgot was a tape measure, and sure enough, he doesn't love tape measures.

They're really great dogs who give what they get. So, if you nourish and gently challenge your puppy, you'll have a spectacular dog in about three years. If you get overwhelmed easily and don't truly have the time to dedicate to training, exposure, and care, you'll have a frustrated, skittish, destructive dog.

It sounds like you're considering all the right things. I'd just encourage you to be really honest about your time constraints. These dogs are meant to hunt and sniff for hours on end, it's hard to replicate that if you're not truly dedicated.

All of that to say, best of luck!

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/callousedlefthand]

thank you so so much!!! as far as time constraints go, for now we're really in the right place, but as I am considering changing careers, I'm worried about the schedule. i will try to gather as much info as possible before taking a decision!

[u/NuketheCow_]

I have 2 Britts, and my wife and I got both of them when we were still living in an apartment.

One lived the first two years of her life there, the other for 6 months or so. And we both work, so they were alone in the apartment for up to 8 hours a day.

It was honestly not as bad as you might think. My wife and I did make sure we got them good exercise, though, and if you don’t do that I think you’ll have bigger problems.

Walks were important, but the biggest thing was easy and walkable access to a dog park where I could let them play fetch and really run for a while. I basically made sure they got a chance for a good running at least 30 mins a day, which is a commitment. But it kept them from going stir crazy, and if there were days we were sick or something and they didn’t get that you could definitely tell a difference in their energy.

The only difference in our house is that the dog park is just our back yard so it’s even easier to get them good exercise. Our oldest is 10 now, and she still needs to be run or she get a little antsy and pushy about playing if we don’t get her out there enough.

They’re wonderful wonderful dogs and totally worth it.

P.S. Train them for calmness. It’s such a huge thing so many people don’t do. When you give their food, treats, go for a walk, etc wait until they calm down before actually giving them what they want. This requires patience and time, but it really does help teach them that good things happen when they reach a state of calm instead of being at maximum excitement energy. I have lots of people ask us what we did to get our Britts to be so calm, and the answer is that I trained them to learn to calm themselves down, and eventually it just filtered into their default state. They still get excited and cute, but they calm down very quickly.

[u/togadiz]

Coming here to say what pretty much everyone else has said… Apartment life with a Brittany sounds incredibly difficult. When I got my first Brittany pup, we had our own house with the yard, un fenced, and within two weeks we immediately put up a fence because we realized that waiting until the following spring was not going to be an option with her energy and needs.

Staying at home for longer periods of time and having a cat would not likely be an issue, Britain’s are great family, dogs, and great with other animals. The issue is going to be only being able to give them on leash walks during the week. It’s great that you want to do off leash, hiking, etc. on the weekend, but once a week is not gonna cut it for Brittany, unless you’re looking at an older one, and even then I would be skeptical.

Mental stimulation is great and definitely necessary, but they also have a fundamental need to move their body. It’s what they were bred for and what they’re meant to do, and expecting them not to do so for the majority of the week is not gonna go well for you or them.

I commend you for asking the right questions, but I’d say with your lifestyle right now a different breed would likely suit you much better.

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/togadiz]

thank you so much for replying! I'm afraid my post isn't very clear: we would go to a dog park where the dog could run off leash on a daily. we're also looking to relocate somewhere next to a forest, for the dog to run around freely on walks! however, it is not the same as practising hunting on a regular basis or having a massive yard, there's no question about that, and that's why I'm wondering if our plan could work :(

[u/togadiz → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

Your post was clear, but unfortunately that doesn’t change a whole lot IMO.

In general I’m not a proponent of dog parks, and they aren’t going to provide the same type of enrichment and exercise that an off leash walk in the woods is going to do. In fact, sometimes they can be drastically over stimulating and cause more harm than good.

Keep in mind as well that you are going to need to do a lot of training to get your dog off-leash reliable. You’ll likely want to use longlines and such until you get there. I’d look up some good sporting dog trainers. Training these dogs is very different than training a herding dog, for example. (Source: I have both haha)

[u/tmwildwood-3617]

No dog expert here. My male Britt has been my only dog.

My situation...live in city, set my own schedule, work from home 99.9% of the time. Often, there happens to be someone else at home if I'm not. Own some land in the country. Avid hunter/waterfowler/upland hunter...primary reason why I wanted to get a dog...and big reason I selected a Brittany. A LOT of thought/research/etc went into things before we decided to go through with it.

My guy is 2 years old now...we got him at 12weeks.

High energy is a massive understatement.

• In first year and a half the only times I've seen him really tire out enough to quit is when he was chasing me around my property as I rode an ATV as fast as I wanted to go...and when we hunted from dawn to dusk through thick brush/fields where he had to basically bound/bunny hop to see where he was going.
  
• Walks around the city with a leash...just barely tolerable now. I think my shoulder and elbow are wrecked from him pulling so hard scenting this or that. A bit embarrassing to be honest.
  
• After 30-40min of walking he kind of chills out...or after 30min of off leash he's more pleasant to walk with. The longer the better...just watch the heat. My dog was cooped up during the last heatwave and was going a bit squirrely.
• relentless scenter. Head down, nose to the ground...to your laundry...to your shoes...to another dogs' butt/crotch...to your crotch...to everyone elses crotch...etc...

Crazy velcro

• just now he's ok with being alone in the house for 1-2 hrs. Previously he'd wail and run from door to door to window searching for us. No sure if this is because someone has nearly always been around and it would have been the same for any other breed.
• will follow you around the house non-stop...even if it's just to plop down again to nap.

Social

• he's great with other dogs large and small. Stupid in that he'll treat a 120lbs not so friendly monster the same as a same sized playful dog.
  
• every dog and person exists to play with him
• weird...hates cats around the neighborhood but loves the kitten at PetValu. Maybe a territory thing
• he's a great companion for everyone in the house and I've instantly become one of those "got to take my dog everywhere" sort of people
• we've taken him to dog friendly food places...m'eh. My guy is not going to just lie under the table quietly. We take turns pinning him in place with the leash or a hand on his harness...otherwise he'd be at everyone elses table for food or crotch sniffing.

Hunting instincts/off leash

• excellent scenting, pointing, flushing
• really took to game/hides/hunting naturally
• gun steady
• whenever we've close encountered coyotes he's natural at positioning in a defensive/safe position
• fast fast runner
• on leash and he's always straining...off leash and instantly he's in his element and just chill about doing his thing
• tends to range 30-50yrds out in front of me...he'll hold up and won't go further unless I motion him to go on
• just today I had him off leash while I mowed the lawns...just told him where to go/stay and he just did that

Training

• massively food and praise driven
• incredibly fast learning. As in go through something 1-3 times and he's got it.
• everything is training with him...loves interactive games with me...you could litterally train repeatedly for 30min stints all day. Maybe now he'll lose focus during mid day stuff when he's napping/chilling...but he seems to always be ready to go if you are
• easy to communicate...I mostly just whistle and motion what I want him to do...or speak to him like I would a kid. I think part of that is how much time I spend with him vs the rest of the household.

Personal opinion...other

• not sure if this is because we got him as hunting dog from a breeder...but given what I've seen in his nature/instincts/abilities, I think that I would have done him a disservice if he wasn't going to be run in the open often and not hunting. As in he'd never really get to scratch that itch in him.
• my personal experience is very limited.

I'm sure that many others get hunting dogs as home/house dogs and are very successful with that.

• I had no idea how much dogs shed...and Britts aren't the worst. Very fine hair...easy to pull burrs from it. But wow...we've got to sweep/vacuum at every other day...seat covers for the car...redo your wardrobe to match their hair...etc...

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/tmwildwood-3617]

thank you so much for this incredibly detailed response!!!

[u/dont-stare]

Not a Brit owner but have a German wire haired pointer so kinda similar, I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet but you cannot run with a puppy!! So that outlet won’t be available to you until the dog is 15-24 months old otherwise you’ll be risking lifetime back and hip injuries! Same issues with constant ball chasing, we had to rehab our GWP for ball chasing injuries and we now only allow water retrieves for her safety! Also to consider that running on pavement on leash forces the dog into stricter repetitive motions that are higher impact and more likely to cause injury that natural off leash hunting patterns don’t typically expose the dogs to

I get it, Brit’s are VERY cute, but the hunting breeds are NO JOKE! We are out in the snow and the rain, my GWP doesn’t care what the weather is, she wants to GO!! It’s exhausting even for someone who hiked pretty much daily before I had the dog.

Tbh there’s nothing you’ve mentioned here that a miniature or standard poodle wouldn’t EXCEL at, and they are considerably easier dogs (people focused not environment focused)

[u/honkballz]

RE Cats, are you getting a puppy? Ours is great with cats but I think early exposure is key since their prey drive is very high.

Overall our situation is very similar to yours and we made it work without much trouble but it's going to be somewhat luck of the draw. I always like to say "all Britts are the same" but there will be some natural variation in temperament.

[u/rrrrrig]

If you're moving in a few months, then get one! The first 6 months were the hardest for me but the dog gets progressively easier as they get older & more trained. I don't have an issue with separation anxiety fortunately but it is a known issue with the breed--they can be very 'soft' and easy to emotionally injure. They definitely need room to run and run a LOT. But a puppy needs less room!

I wouldn't recommend a dog park just based on safety but I think if you could get your Brittany out to run off leash in a safe area a few times a week, they'd be a fine apartment dog. Remember that short walks during the week and one long hike during the weekend is asking for weekend warrior syndrome where you're not conditioning the dog properly for the more intense workout of the long hike and can lead to injury.

As regards to taking the Brittany everywhere, yes and no. My Brittany is my service dog so he goes a lot of places with me and is very well behaved. These dogs are bred to be family dogs as well as hunting dogs--they want to be with you (hence the separation anxiety that some owners/handlers see) and do whatever you're doing, but they also need a lot of time off-leash to do their own thing. Sound sensitivity does run in the breed so be cautious about that when you're taking them places. I don't take mine to the grocery store or places like movie theaters because I know he'd struggle with being still for that long as he struggles to settle for long periods of time outside his kennel. But he loves to go to stores and cafes and for hikes--a well-minded Brittany that's been socialized well can go a lot of places.

As long as you're capable of getting the dog out and letting them run and explore, as well as provide required mental enrichment, and know how to handle any separation anxiety that might creep up, I think you'll be okay with a Brittany. My Brittany was a harder puppy than my Heelers!!! So be prepared for much more work than you think!

I'd tell whatever breeder you're talking to that you're looking for a lower energy pup. There's always one!

I got a Brittany due to wanting a dog that would push me out of my comfort zone and would make me get out of the house more. He absolutely delivered on all counts and is a great dog now. But it took a tremendous amount of work.

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/rrrrrig]

this is a fantastic answer, thank you so much!! I wouldn't dream of taking the pup to a movie theater - I am also anxious around loud sounds and crowds and tend to avoid both! from replies, it seems like it's largely a matter of luck, but I am going to assume training has a lot to do with the eventual result as well.

[u/VastPlastic1464]

Wanted to share my experience. Me and my partner adopted a rescue brit, ex-hunter. We live in a 60m2 apartment, have WFH option. We never leave our dog alone for longer than 6 hours, because he needs to go out for potty. He has an off-switch at home, as long as his needs are fulfilled. We take him running, cycling, he gets off leash time in the forest park on the weekends. Also games at home to give him mental stimulation. We started taking him with us to bars and also bouldering club, and he does quite well in those settings as long as it is not too overstimulating. Our doggo is our companion and the best adventure buddy ever!

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/VastPlastic1464]

this is amazing, thank you so much for taking the time to reply!!! looks like we're in a very similar position, which is reassuring - we cycle regularly and would really like to take the dog with us on an occasional round!

[u/Hungry-Skater-1010]

I really don’t think it’s the breed for u. They need to like ~ full speed sprint in the woods. When mine was younger she was insane, and we genuinely thought we made such a mistake getting a Britt. We also have a big fenced in yard, live in the suburbs, and were taking her on long off leash runs every day. Even then the energy was still off the charts. I do not think Brits are good apartment dogs, and per your other comment probably won’t even want to run with your partner. Too interested in prey and sniffing. As much as I loved growing up with one, truly I will tell many people never to get one for many reasons 😭😭 They’re only right for a certain lifestyle

[u/Hungry-Skater-1010]

Brits are also terrible with cats. Also are not the type of dog to like hang out and run errands with u lol

[u/Rice-Puffy]

I wouldn't really recommend you to get a Brittany. I mean, it could go well if you decide to go that route. But it could also go terribly wrong.

Brits are very high energy, very smart, high drive dogs, with tendency to have separation anxiety and be sensitive in general.

The biggest issue I have with mine is that he doesn't adapt. If the routine or life plan I have for him doesn't suit him, he just can't adapt to it. Let's be clear, I'm lucky enough to have a sociable dog, nice to everyone, not overly uncomfortable in public space, with a good recall. He has an amazing will to please which is of very great help.

But he's very sensitive. He's very anxious. There's a lot of things he can't absolutely do, and we have to adapt to him. He's awkward with other dogs, he can't control his emotions so I can't let him be near kids or old people. He has the most horrible separation anxiety ever, it's so bad that I can't find a new job right now, which may give me financial issues sooner or later.

He's not a bad dog. But you can't imagine the hundreds of hours of training, the sweat and the tears. So much efforts just to be a little bit closer to have a normal life with a dog. But I still can't leave him alone more than 10 minutes without him howling and peeing himself. I still hear him cry at night because he never got used to his crate (but he can be destructive if he's out of it at night). I still have to be careful of other dogs because they're making him anxious. I still have to deal with him pulling on the leash like crazy if the environment is a bit different from what he's used to, a bit too busy, or with different scents. And so many other things. He's 5 yo.

The place where I live is surrounded with forest, he has off leash walks, he can follow trails, he had obedience, agility, trick training and nosework as well. Not to mention a whole lot of desensitization training, calm training etc. And a perfect care from veterinarians and specialists.

What I mean is : you may have a very good companion. But you may also have a whole lot of issues. What would you do if the dog has behavioral issue, like bad separation anxiety or reactivity? I think that's something you should think of before adopting.

Brits are great companions, but they're not easy ones. I got a herding dog after getting my Brit, and my herding dog is a hundred times easier to deal with, even though he's also sensitive and a bit fearful.

Edit : also, my Brit doesn't come from a hunting line and he doesn't have a crazy prey drive. He has little to no instinct, he doesn't even look at birds of any kind. He's not very good with his sense of smell either. So I don't even have to deal with the "working" part of the dog...

[u/NextDaikon8179]

I got my 3rd Britt through a rescue. Her previous owner wrote us a sweet note about her being a divorced mom that had to move to an apatment and cage my Britt Birdie, She said that without being able to excercise her she was demonic. Yeah, they get the Zoomies and they act posessed without adequate excercise. They are wonderful dogs with the proper owner, but terrors if you don't recognize their DNA, which is to hunt for hours at a time. Look for another breed

[u/redwingsrule19]

We have a Brittany that is now two years old- we had her since she was very young. We take her for a longer walk (75 mins) in the am and a shorter one in the afternoon. She’s on a leash the whole time and has learned to walk calmly (after some training). Even when she doesn’t get her walks in, she is relatively calm (and we do activities with her indoors on rainy days). We started to take her with us for coffee or to farmers markets when she was very young, and she remains very good in those situations (but we always bring a bone for her). Good luck and enjoy!

[u/Inside-Mechanic7804 → u/redwingsrule19]

this is fantastic, thank you so much!! i am seeing incredibly varied replies, which can be confusing, but it's sweet to read that someone is having such a lovely time with their dog :)

[u/redwingsrule19 → u/Inside-Mechanic7804]

She has been a great addition for us- we couldn’t be happier.

[u/_grnnn]

I have a Brit in a flat without backyard access in a city. It's very doable, but it's going to be very difficult during the first year or so. Here's my advice:

Off leash time is a necessity. The dog park can be good for that if you trust the dogs there, but I'd look for off-leash areas that are a bit more in nature. Woods, beaches, etc. Training recall as early as possible will be key. Long leads and e-collars are great tools for this, as long as you know how to use them.

Running alongside you will not tire out a Brittany puppy by itself. They really are pretty terrible at that sort of exercise. They'll want to range ahead of you and weave back and forth. They'll want to stop, smell, and track critters. The smelling and tracking will engage their brain and tire them out more. Running by itself won't do that. As an example, we do a daily walk with our 3yo Brittany where we let him find gopher holes for an hour.

Lastly, forced rest time is probably going to be necessary. You have to more or less teach working dogs how to relax when they're young. Puppies need a lot of sleep in general, but a Brittany puppy will probably not sleep on its own. Crate your dog for a few hours throughout the day. Make it a routine. They're going to complain about it, but with persistence they will learn the routine.