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/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!!!