I had a Brittany spaniel show up this morning at breakfast time. He’s on the borderline of “running thin” and “poor” with long nails. But obviously socialized to people - he was cautious this morning but is letting me handle him this evening.
I’d bet he’s a hunting dog, from his attitude and condition. What do Brittanies hunt? I’d think birds - but what birds are in season now?
I’m trying to think where to look for whoever lost him, so if I knew what his former job might’ve been, it would help.
Brittanies are bird dogs from what I recall researching the breed.
delightful little dogs from what I understand.
(I had a beagle mutt, 2 people who saw her said ‘Spaniel’ when I saw the beagle…lead me to look Brittanies up)
If you can['t find the owners, you might have yourself a delight! 
[QUOTE=Alagirl;5615805]
If you can['t find the owners, you might have yourself a delight! ;)[/QUOTE]
He’s a nice little fellow, all right.:yes:
And he proved to me tonight that I need not worry about stray dogs getting into my pastures. He tried to follow me out to groom and fly spray, but Quanah and Houdini each took one look and charged - gave the poor dog the bum’s rush right back outside the fence.
Bram, my old gentleman, allows him to drink from his water trough. But when Jamie (well, I have to call the poor dog something, right?;)) tried to enter Brammie’s stall, Bram escorted him right back out again.
We’ll see. I thought DH would blow a gasket, so I just waited for him to notice the new dog. But all DH said was, “Look at those ribs! He needs feedin’.” Yeah. That’s why I married him.:yes:
awwwwww, give that man of yours a big hug! :lol:
Brittanys are guns dogs which point and retrieve, most usually upland game birds (quail, grouse, dove, partridge, pheasant.) 'Useful hunters and affable pets.
Awww…yes, upland game. Not sure “whats in season” in your neck of the woods because many brittanys will hunt just about anything that they can find.
I have had 3, my first boy is now deceased so I only have 2 now. So I’m a big fan.
Call your local vets and see if there is a local brittany or hunt club that might know where he came from. They can be “runners” so it might not be from your very immediate area…they can cover a lot of ground very quickly so he could be from some distance away.
There are also several brittany rescue groups - the American Brittany Rescue is nationwide and could help replace him if no owner is found (and you cannot keep him).
http://www.americanbrittanyrescue.org/
PM me if you need any help. Good luck!
LOL, I was contemplating calling first dips on the pooch…but I have to keep the pet population down, we are planning a big move…got too many as it is. :no:
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Here are my two planning their next hunt :
And my oldest guy (just before he died) with my puppy:
Brittanys are awesome dogs. Years ago, I worked for Dennis Jordan, owner of Jordean kennels, top breeder of Brittanys in the country. Got to know a lot of his dogs, and would take in a Brittany any day.
Brittanies are super-nice dogs! I vote you notify the local vets/hunt clubs (try shooting ranges, too; people will tie their dogs to the trucks while they shoot clay pigeons to get the dogs used to gunshot, and even if he didn’t escape from a truck at a shooting range, it’s a good place to spread the word) and let them know that you’re fostering Jamie until his owner shows up . . . that way there’s a chance that you’ll get to keep him!
But ditto what other people said about the wandering. Like most of the birdy gun dogs, they’re bred to follow their noses and work at a distance from people, so they’re easy to lose. I recommend tracking collars and micro-chipping if you’re going to “foster” for a long time. My parents don’t let their gun dog out in the yard unsupervised (it’s unfenced). She’s allowed to run, but she’s got an electric collar and they try to keep her in eyesight. She gets a little zap if she gets too far away.
Paint, some deer doggers use bird dogs, and deer doggers will also run fox if there is an open season on them. Only regulated season I know of that is open now is spring gobbler; but you’d have to check your state’s game laws to be sure. Season coming up is squirrel, I think.
[QUOTE=Simkie;5615991]
Brittanys are awesome dogs. Years ago, I worked for Dennis Jordan, owner of Jordean kennels, top breeder of Brittanys in the country. Got to know a lot of his dogs, and would take in a Brittany any day.[/QUOTE]
:yes: Ollie is my puppy’s g-grandfather. :yes:
Definitely bird dogs!
SIL, who is into Beagles and poodles herself, had a relative move in who was going through a rough split with his wife. Relative came with several Brittanies; he had loved hunting with them. Into the back yard (tightly fenced) they went.
Alas, enter new neighbor with free-range guineas. :no:
Guineas somehow got into fence. Brittanies got into guineas, to the great detriment of a few guineas before people could get home to intervene. Neighbor, brother, and SIL had a BBQ and got to meet each other under less than ideal conditions. Since it happened in the fence and the dogs were confined, neighbor was understanding. Still, as SIL said, “This isn’t the way you want to get to know your neighbors better.”
[QUOTE=JSwan;5616196]
Only regulated season I know of that is open now is spring gobbler; but you’d have to check your state’s game laws to be sure. Season coming up is squirrel, I think.[/QUOTE]
Ha! I forgot about turkeys. Don’t know why - they were gobbling away while I was feeding yesterday morning. Hmm. Just before little Jamie showed up, now that I think about it.
Fox? Yes, could be. I think we have a fox pen nearby. The last hunting dog to stay awhile was Trixie the beagle, who got out of the fox pen just before her people went away for a weekend horse show. Trixie had a collar, though, which was how we were able to trace her folks. Jamie showed up without any id on him.
I’m leaving town in a couple of hours (throwing a wedding shower for my niece) but when I get back I’ll start putting the word out to the local hunters. (Not to worry, DH will be home to take care of all resident and transient critters.)
A beagle that finagled her way out of an enclosure?
Nah, that never happens.
I wondered! Those Jordean dogs all had a very specific red color unlike any others, and your puppy has it!
Ollie was in the clinic all the time, and he was my buddy Great dogs!
There is a Brittany rescue org, if you can’t keep him. http://www.americanbrittanyrescue.org/index.php?module=abrForms&type=coord
[QUOTE=Equibrit;5616885]
There is a Brittany rescue org, if you can’t keep him. http://www.americanbrittanyrescue.org/index.php?module=abrForms&type=coord[/QUOTE]
Yes, and they’re a well-organized bunch, too.:yes: I emailed them the night Jamie showed up, and I’ve had two follow-up emails from them already.
I don’t know if Jamie was anyone’s hunting dog after all. He doesn’t know anything about fetching, or sitting, or any sort of command at all. We’re working on his recall - he doesn’t know “come” or “here” but is such a sunny little fellow that, once he figures out you want him to come to you, he makes a beeline full-speed-ahead.
I have a Brittany!
They will hunt any kind of bird. Mine is also very fond of pointing squirrels and crickets. The spaniel has actually been removed from the name because they don’t hunt like spaniels (they flush birds out). Brittanies point and then retrieve.
They have a really strong prey drive - without a lot of consistent, gentle training, Brittanies in the field will just follow those birds or whatever until they are so turned around they can’t get home. They also have “puppy ADD” - if there is a squirrel or bird in their sight, they are completely oblivious to everything else around them. Sadly, I think this is one of the reasons there are so many Britts in rescue.
And I am totally biased, but they are also very people oriented and just have the happiest, silliest personalities.
[QUOTE=LShipley;5620738]
They have a really strong prey drive - without a lot of consistent, gentle training, Brittanies in the field will just follow those birds or whatever until they are so turned around they can’t get home. They also have “puppy ADD” - if there is a squirrel or bird in their sight, they are completely oblivious to everything else around them. .[/QUOTE]
Alas, there is apparently an exception to every rule.:winkgrin: I’d thought Jamie could do something about the mouse population on my back porch - but DH reports that a mouse strolled nonchalantly past Jamie’s nose and Jamie didn’t act as if he even saw it. Maybe once he settles in he’ll get more in touch with his inner predator.
He is very happy and silly though.:yes: He all but turned cartwheels when I came back from my trip yesterday evening.
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