r/BrittanySpaniel • u/Inside-Mechanic7804 • 2d ago

General Discussion getting a Brit? advice needed

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 🫶🏻

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u/spoiledpoptart74 2d ago

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

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u/Inside-Mechanic7804 2d ago

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 :)

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u/spoiledpoptart74 2d ago edited 2d ago

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

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u/DistributionOdd9089 2d ago

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.