Springer or Brittany spaniel?? Mostly pheasant work

[lungdeflator]

Any thoughts? I'm not hardcore pheasant hunter and I'm not going to spend a ton of money on training so yours thoughts on which one would be better "out of the box"?

[Ufatz]

First, you do not have to spend "...a ton of money on training" you can do a good job of basic training yourself with just a little bit of time. I would tend to go with the Britt because it is my suspicion the dog would have more "hunt" in its genes then any cocker bred in this country unless you can find a long line of dependable cockers somewhere close. Best pet, maybe a cocker. Best natural hunter-all things considered would, in m y mind, be the britt.

But if you don't want to train and aren't much of a hunter how about picking out a nice rescue dog for the family? Best of luck....and any dog you get just needs a little kindness and some attention and some patience.

[jjz]

What do like to hunt with a pointer or flusher? That is the real question, either will be a fine hunter given comparable training and good genes. But if you dont want to put in time training they will both drive u nuts hunting.

[wdgold]

My grandfather had 2 springers during his hunting years. A friend of his had a Brittany, from what my dad observed he said he would take a springer before a Brittany.

[NoWiser]

It all depends on whether you like hunting behind a pointer or a flusher. Growing up I did not have a hunting dog so I borrowed my uncle's springer whenever I pheasant hunted. She was a great hunter and family dog. I hunted quite a few years with her and had a blast. She did great in the brush and trees getting the pheasants up while they were still in range.

Eventually I got my own dog and decided on a britt after hunting behind some pointers. I was a broke college student so didn't spend a ton on the dog and couldn't pay for training. I worked with him a little but he developed naturally into an awesome hunter. Hands down I enjoy hunting with him more than the springer just because I enjoy watching a pointer work much more. He is the most well behaved of all the dogs I've ever had. The only thing he wants in life is to hunt, and get let in the house where he can lay on the rug and be close to people. My next dog will also be a britt. In instances where the pheasants run like mad, he isn't quite as good as the springer was. He does great in 90% of places we hunt, and the bonus is being able to take him grouse and woodcock hunting to let him find birds way off the trail.

[Tom7227]

How do you like to hunt? When working with my lab it was a run and gun, back then with groups that were way to large. I got a Brit and it was more like going for a walk. You amble along and the dog goes on point and you go over and take your chances.

I have had all my dogs trained by pros. It is pretty simple. I don't have access to the number of birds they have and IMO a dog needs to be one birds to succeed. I also didn't have the time or the patience to do it correctly. Depends a lot on where you live, how often you can get out, and whether you can get a reasonably priced supply of birds. I dropped $150 for a hunt at a game farm that lasted less then two hours. The trainer I use charges $200 a week and works the dogs every day.

[Ufatz]

I am at a loss to understand what the hell I was thinking about when I responded to the request!!1 Where did I get Cocker Spaniel out of Springer Spaniel? Ha Ha Ha! Obviously you can scratch my reply. But....I think I would still go with Britt over Springer. Have hunted over both but I think the Britt is a better hunter/companion.

Now I think it's time for my nap and medication again. Ha Ha Ha!!

[lungdeflator]

Thanks for the replies guys. I know I can train myself, and plan on it, I was just wondering if one had a better natural ability or if one "learned" better. I have never hunted over a pointer but I really enjoy the time afield and watching the dogs work the scent. So maybe a pointer would be better if they are slower? I grew up with springers grouse hunting northern mn so pheasant hunting western nd is a little different.

[lungdeflator]

Also, if I can find one this winter, is it reasonable to expect to hunt with it next fall? Dog would be approximately 10 months

[Tom7227]

Some Brits work close and others range out. I saw a bunch one time that were hunting while on horses! Check out the bloodline you are going to buy from and make sure that it's what you want.

[brittman]

I have owned 5 Brittanys over the past 30 years and my brother has owned 4.

IMO - You do not need a professional trainer. Build the bond with obedience and be patient.

Professional trainers often only spend 15 - 20 minutes with each dog twice a day. You can do that before and after work. My experience is pointing pigeons in a thrower trap in the summer (warm, green grass) does not help all that much.

Note the picture in my avatar. She retrieved 15 mallards and 12 geese in a barley field on a cool October morning. Next day she pointed a half dozen roosters and numerous hens. Week before she had a couple good days in the MND grouse woods.

Start with a dog from good breeding stock and you will go along ways in being satisfied with a Brittany.

[R. Miller]

Brittany IMO

[Ufatz]

Brittman, that is a nice looking little dog. And I think you have made a solid argument in favor on the breed. If I weren't such a lifelong Lab guy I have often said I'd own a Britt, for their hunting abilities and because they are such personable and cooperative little dogs.

Have had some memorable days shooting over them in WA and MT.

Have fun!

[PurpleFloyd]

Also, if I can find one this winter, is it reasonable to expect to hunt with it next fall? Dog would be approximately 10 months

One of my current Springers was born in May and She was flushing birds like a machine in October. She put up hundreds of birds in her first season and has never looked back. You have to decide what level of training you want the dog to be at before you take them out. We had tons of birds that year and the best thing you can do is get them on birds IMO.

Don't ask what breed is best for you on a forum because nobody knows how you hunt and what you expect of your dog when not hunting so they can only tell you what their preference is. Different breeds have different things they excel at and you need to define first what you want (flusher vs pointer) how you hunt( wide open vs narrow bands vs thick cover) and go from there.

[Kyhl]

I think your first decision is to figure out which style you like to hunt behind. I guess it could be that you don't care.

I'm a pointer guy and love watching pointers work, and working with pointers. I feel more connected to the dog, the hunt, and the prey when hunting behind a pointer which translates to greater satisfaction for me. I don't get that affect when working with most flushers.

[PurpleFloyd]

I think your first decision is to figure out which style you like to hunt behind. I guess it could be that you don't care.

I'm a pointer guy and love watching pointers work, and working with pointers. I feel more connected to the dog, the hunt, and the prey when hunting behind a pointer which translates to greater satisfaction for me. I don't get that affect when working with most flushers.

that is a good point. OTOH I hunt behind flushers and to me I feel more connected to the dog because you cannot take your eyes off of them or lose sight or they will flush a bird you are not ready for. Having hunted behind pointers if they are doing their jobs you just stroll along and wait for the beeper to go off, then move up and wait until you get good and ready and then execute the flush. Although with my knees getting bad and my beltline increasing I can feel a bit of complacency kicking and and I am seriously considering scaling back to a pointer.

[401TE]

Scaling back to a pointer, eh? You must hunt behind slow moving pointers. My Britt covers a lot of ground and I am at a fast walk when hunting alone. Can't take your eyes off a pointer, either, especially without a beeper in deep cover. If you do you won't know the dog is on point.

Regarding the original question, it really depends if you want a pointer or flusher. I hunt a lot of grouse most of the fall and pheasants maybe 5 days a year. My Britt does well at both with a fair amount of training by me.

[gspman]

A Springer or a Brittany will work well for you. Decide if you want all your birds flushed or if you want them pointed. Then go from there.

[PurpleFloyd]

Scaling back to a pointer, eh? You must hunt behind slow moving pointers. My Britt covers a lot of ground and I am at a fast walk when hunting alone. Can't take your eyes off a pointer, either, especially without a beeper in deep cover. If you do you won't know the dog is on point.

Regarding the original question, it really depends if you want a pointer or flusher. I hunt a lot of grouse most of the fall and pheasants maybe 5 days a year. My Britt does well at both with a fair amount of training by me.

Don't take it too hard, I was just ribbing the pointer guys I like all configurations of dogs and generally promote all of them unless someone gets too high and mighty with one breed or another.