Is a Brittany HYPER?

I love everything I read about the Brittany – except that some reports claim they can be hyper. On the other hand I have read that Brittanies are NOT hyper, but they ARE active.

Wanting to see for myself, I met with a Brittany owner. This 9 month old dog was certainly more than I could handle….she jumped on us and she just couldn’t settle down. The owners did say that she doesn’t get many (any?) visitors, she had never seen children before (I took my two young girls with me.) The dog spends the day in a 10foot by 10 foot outside kennel that it can’t see out of. They admitted that they hadn’t been the kind of owner that they wanted, and that the dog was not getting the exercise and socialization it needed. Now I’m scared of Brittanys.

I want a dog that I can do agility with, one that is smart and small. I love the look of the Brittany and it’s sporty and tough demeanor. I want an active dog since I walk for an hour every day, my husband bikes and runs and my girls love to play fetch.

My question is: Is the dog’s behaviour a reflection of the breed or it’s home life. I’m wondering if I have what it takes to own a Brittany. (P.S. I WILL do obedience training…lots….and I’m a stay at home mom.)

Brittanys are good-looking dogs who attract compliments. They are always happy, friendly, and affectionate. They could well be the perfect dog for families who play hard, love the outdoors, and want a dog to share it with them.

However, the Brittany isn’t for everyone. For one thing, his energy level might be more than many people bargain for. Brittanys have an irrepressible joy of life and a high level of enthusiasm for everything they do, whether that’s playing with the kids, seeking out birds, or simply enjoying life with a good, stretched-out, no-holds-barred run. If you don’t have the same energy and enthusiasm, it can be difficult to keep up with a Brittany.

Check this link for more information.

http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/brittany/overview

Another thing you might want to consider would be an older Brittany. I don’t mean ancient, but maybe four or five years old. They’re still going to be very active but it will be more purposeful activity. After all, puppies are a handful anyway and puppies of a high energy breed are going to be bouncing off the walls. And you ain’t seen nuthin’ til you have to deal with the energy level of an adolescent high energy breed! (Think Olympic-level athlete.) You might want to check out American Brittany Resue or NBRAN. Both rescue groups use foster homes for their dogs and so can give you a real-life evaluation of any dog they have…whether it gets along with kids, cats, other dogs, whether it’s just normally active or way over the top.

Can you tell I really like this breed? But not every breed is everyone’s cup of tea and I applaud anyone who takes choosing their dog very seriously.